1971 AMC Gremlin

Compact performance powered by 1971 AMC Gremlin engine family.

Exact-year all-original two-passenger Gremlin retained as the stock-presenting family baseline for profile, fixed rear glass, body, trim, lamps, bumpers, and body-color steel wheels; condition remains car-specific.

Bodies Two-passenger fixed rear glass or four-passenger folding rear seat

Engines 232 one-barrel six standard; 258 one-barrel six optional

Transmissions Three-speed column or floor manual; Shift-Command automatic

Chassis Independent coil-spring front, leaf-spring live rear axle, 9-inch drums

Production 76,908 total: 2,145 two-passenger and 74,763 four-passenger

Story

1971 AMC Gremlin

The 1971 Gremlin family combined two-door two-passenger subcompact with fixed rear glass, or four-passenger subcompact with folding rear seat and optional lift-up rear window with two-passenger, four-passenger, Gremlin X package, six-cylinder handling package configurations. This page keeps those factory choices together without treating an engine, stripe, badge, or trim package as a separate car identity.

Engines and transmissions

The 232 one-barrel six was standard and the longer-stroke 258 one-barrel six optional. The two engines shared a 3.75-inch bore but differed in stroke, output, transmission availability, and axle application; stamps, castings, induction, controls, cooling, axle, dates, and records must reconcile to one car. Transmission, induction, cooling, exhaust, axle, emissions equipment, and dates must match the selected engine path.

Chassis and brakes

Every 1971 Gremlin used twin-ball-joint independent front suspension, semi-elliptic rear leaf springs, and 9-inch drums. Power assist, a front anti-roll bar, and the six-cylinder handling package were optional; the factory table does not list Gremlin front discs. Brake, steering, spring, damper, axle, ratio, wheel, and tire equipment varied by configuration and must be reconciled to factory and car-specific records.

Body, trim, and proof

Start with VIN or serial, body tag, title, shell, and ownership history. Then reconcile drivetrain, chassis, protected finish, cabin, trim, dates, and records. Replaceable badges, stripes, wheels, or a swapped engine cannot establish factory configuration.

**Exact-year four-passenger rear view retained for the optional lift-up rear window, hinges, opening, lamps, fuel filler, bumper, roof rack, stripes, and rear-body context.**Christopher Ziemnowicz via Wikimedia Commons · CC BY-SA 4.0

Specs

Car type: Compact performance
Seats: 4
Body: Two-door two-passenger subcompact with fixed rear glass, or four-passenger subcompact with folding rear seat and optional lift-up rear window
Engine: 1971 AMC Gremlin engine family
Horsepower: 135 gross hp with the 232, or 150 gross hp with the optional 258
Torque: Configuration-specific factory rating follows engine, induction, emissions equipment, and transmission
Carburetion: Single one-barrel carburetor on either AMC inline-six

Equipment

96-inch wheelbase and 161.2-inch overall length
Two-passenger fixed rear glass or four-passenger folding rear seat
Standard 232 or optional 258 inline-six
Gremlin X appearance package
Optional Twin-Grip and six-cylinder handling package

Linked Parts

Price history

Values

Nominal dollars from original price sheets, auction archives, and approved value references.

Original Price

Base MSRP $1,999

1971 Gremlin four-passenger two-door sedan (1971)
Exact-car window sticker base MSRP before $550.50 in factory options and $175 transportation; it does not establish the two-passenger price or every effective-date revision.
1971 AMC Gremlin AMO 2015 show - all original 6of6.jpg

Values move with paperwork, originality, options, condition, venue, and body style. High bids and guide values are labeled separately from completed sales.

Reference records

Options, Colors & Components

Source-backed details for trim, chassis, production, and authenticity.

Engine Details

Exact-year 258 one-barrel engine bay retained for inline-six architecture, air cleaner, induction, cooling, power-brake hardware, emissions label, firewall, and service context; exact components and condition remain car-specific.Christopher Ziemnowicz via Wikimedia Commons · CC BY-SA 4.0

232 inline-six 232 cu in; 8.0:1; one-barrel; 135 gross hp at 4,000 rpm and 210 lb-ft at 1,600 rpm · Standard two- and four-passenger engine · engine assembly / specification
258 inline-six 258 cu in; 8.0:1; one-barrel; 150 gross hp at 3,800 rpm and 240 lb-ft at 1,800 rpm · Optional two- and four-passenger engine · carburetor / specification

Transmission

Factory transmission Three-speed manual with column shift for the 232
Factory transmission Three-speed manual with floor shift for the 232 or 258
Factory transmission Shift-Command automatic with column selector for the 232 or 258

Options

Exact-car window sticker retained as documentary context for a $1,999 four-passenger base MSRP, optional 258, floor shift, stripes, custom interior, steering, brakes, and other equipment; it does not price every Gremlin configuration.Christopher Ziemnowicz via Wikimedia Commons · CC BY-SA 4.0

258 258-cubic-inch one-barrel inline-six factory · performance · Engine, induction, cooling, transmission, axle, emissions equipment, stamps, castings, dates, and records must agree.
GREMLIN-X Gremlin X model package factory · appearance · Body-paint grille, spear stripes with engine-litre emblem, slot-style wheels, D70x14 tires, interior trim package, and records define the package; stripes or wheels alone do not.
HANDLING-6 Six-cylinder handling package factory · performance · Heavy-duty springs and dampers plus the front anti-roll bar must agree with the ordered equipment and records.
TWIN-GRIP Twin-Grip differential factory · performance · Carrier, ratio, housing, application, dates, and records define one installation.
CUSTOM-INTERIOR Four-passenger custom interior package factory · comfort · Seats, upholstery, appointments, body configuration, and records must agree.
LIFT-UP-GLASS Four-passenger lift-up rear window factory · comfort · The opening glass, hinges, latches, weather seals, body structure, and records must agree.

Paint

Exact-year all-original four-passenger Gremlin retained for body, opening rear glass, roof rack, rally stripes, trim, lamps, wheel covers, and option context; the pictured equipment belongs to this documented car.Christopher Ziemnowicz via Wikimedia Commons · CC BY-SA 4.0

A1 Snow White factory · solid
A2 Canary Yellow factory · solid
A4 Skyline Blue factory · solid
A5 Midway Blue Metallic factory · metallic
A6 Midnight Blue Metallic factory · metallic
A7 Limelight Green Metallic factory · metallic
A8 Meadow Green Metallic factory · metallic
A9 Raven Green Metallic factory · metallic
B2 Burnished Brown Metallic factory · metallic
B3 Quicksilver Metallic factory · metallic
B4 Charcoal Gray Metallic factory · metallic
B5 Deep Maroon Metallic factory · metallic
B6 Electric Blue Metallic factory · metallic
B7 Brilliant Green Metallic factory · metallic
B8 Mustard Yellow factory · solid
B9 Matador Red factory · solid
C1 Golden Lime Metallic factory · metallic
C6 Surfside Turquoise factory · solid
D3 Baja Bronze Metallic factory · metallic
D9 Wild Plum Metallic factory · metallic

Production

Engines and Induction summarized from reviewed factory and marque references.Classic Muscle · Reference illustration

1971 AMC Gremlin total · 76,908 · reported
Two-passenger by body · 2,145 · reported
Four-passenger by body · 74,763 · reported
232 inline-six by engine · 58,083 · reported
258 inline-six by engine · 18,825 · reported

Authenticity

Transmissions summarized from reviewed factory and marque references.Classic Muscle · Reference illustration

Serial and body identity 1971 Gremlin serial, title, shell, two- or four-passenger structure, and ownership history that agree · Serial plate, body structure, fixed or opening rear-glass hardware, title, and ownership records · fraud detection
Engine and transmission path 232 or 258 one-barrel six reconciled to the permitted manual or Shift-Command path, axle ratio, emissions equipment, dates, and records · Serial and build evidence, engine stamps and castings, induction, transmission case and controls, axle, emissions labels, and component dates · numbers matching
Gremlin X package Package-supported body-paint grille, spear stripes and engine-litre emblem, slot-style wheels, D70x14 tires, interior trim, and records · Build or sales records, grille, protected stripe evidence, emblems, wheels, tires, cabin, and dated hardware · trim correctness
Paint and cabin Body-tag and record-supported exterior finish, stripe treatment, seat arrangement, upholstery, rear-glass equipment, and controls · Body tag, protected paint, interior structure, upholstery, rear-glass opening, controls, invoice or window sticker, and build evidence · date correctness

Still Researching

production Reviewed body-and-engine rows reconcile to 76,908, but no audited public ledger breaks production down by transmission, axle ratio, package, paint, trim, plant, date, or surviving-car status.
paint colors The exact-year source lists AMC colors across all models but does not provide a complete Gremlin body, package, stripe, plant, and production-date application matrix.
interior Factory literature establishes seat forms and package availability but not the complete upholstery code, color, body, package, and running-change matrix.
authenticity markers Public model-year references cannot establish one survivor's born-with shell, drivetrain, chassis equipment, finish, trim, options, or component dates.