AMC Pacer

Pricing

"Never spend more for an acquisition than you have to."
3rd Ferengi Rule of Acquisition

Parts

drum brake

If you want to use a Pacer as your daily driver, you have to realize that many spare parts are not readily available in your average parts shop around the corner. Having found the right corners, though, the problems are much smaller than one might think. The big advantage of the Pacer is the availability of most mechanical parts. If the Pacer is complete and driveable at the time of purchase, it's quite easy to keep it that way. Very helpful is the fact that AMC used the same or similar components through its complete model lineup. Many things were adapted by Chrysler when AMC was bought, so even parts of 90s' Jeeps can be made to fit, like the 4.0 engine, or the automatic transmission, which originally was bought from Chrysler.

If you need parts, shop around. Prices differ very much between dealers.

Cars

Armaturenbrett

Shopping around gets some more complicated when you are searching for whole Pacers. If you want to buy, say, a Camaro or a Beetle, the classifieds in Old Car Trader or even classic car price charts give reliable information. At present, the Pacer is not yet considered a classic by everybody. And though it was a mass produced car, not too many are left today. The bad image helped diminishing Pacer population. Buyer and seller both can have hard times finding each other.

Larry Mitchell, president of former AMC World Clubs, predicts in his Buyer's Guide of 1994 a sunny future as collectible for the Pacer — five out of five stars he only awards to the Wagon, though, because of its less odd looks, compared to the Coupe. In my opinion, the Pacer Coupe is going to be desired much more — because of its uniqueness. The AMC enthusiast may prefer the Wagon, but there is a growing Pacer crowd of mostly young people who don't want an AMC, they want a Pacer. And those people prefer a Coupe by far. All the Pacer questions people sent me via this website concerned the Coupe.

If you want numbers, check Ebay, where Pacers in all conditions show up every once in a while. V8 Pacers are scarce and sought for — although they are barely faster than a 258 Pacer with 2 barrel carb, but much less economical. Big advantage of the 304 Pacer is that it can take any AMC V8 engine easily, even the Really Big Engines. A V8 can also be made to fit in a 6 cylinder Pacer, but not as easily.

In any case, take your time when searching for a car. A little patience can save you a lot of money. Of course it is possible to find a Pacer for less than $1,000. But be aware that a restoration also costs money, that it can cost a lot of money, and that the restoration of a Pacer that was kept in shape by loads of bondo costs too much money. Rather buy a better one for a little more or one that wears its wrinkles and scars with pride.

Buyers' Guide Extras and Originality Exhaust/Pollution Control Rear Supension Transmissoin Steering and Front Suspension Engine Body Contacts Prices Windows and Interior

[Contacts] [Pricing] [Windows and Interior] [Engine] [Body] [Extras and Originality] [Steering and Front Suspension] [Transmission] [Rear Suspension] [Exhaust/Pollution Control]

© 1999-2010 Wolfgang A. Mederle. All rights reserved.
Last modified: 2019-12-25 16:17