1971 AMC Matador

Muscle car powered by 1971 AMC Matador engine family.

Exact-year Matador sedan front three-quarter view retained as the stock-presenting family baseline for body, grille, trim, lamps, glass, and wheel covers.

Bodies Two-door hardtop, four-door sedan, or station wagon

Configurations hardtop, sedan, wagon, Machine Go Package

Engine range 232 six through optional 401 V8

Chassis Coil springs front and rear

Production Exact configuration ledger remains unresolved

Story

1971 AMC Matador

The 1971 Matador family combined two-door hardtop, four-door sedan, or station wagon with hardtop, sedan, wagon, Machine Go 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 and 258 sixes and 304 V8 handled regular service, while 360 and 401 V8 paths supported the strongest factory configurations. Transmission, induction, cooling, exhaust, axle, emissions equipment, and dates must match the selected engine path.

Chassis and brakes

The intermediate used independent coil-spring front suspension and a coil-sprung four-link live rear axle. 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 Matador sedan frontal detail retained for grille, hood, lamps, bumper, trim, glass, and wheel-cover context.**CZmarlin via Wikimedia Commons · CC BY-SA 4.0

Price history

Values

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

Original Price

A verified original price is not yet available for this car.

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

232 or 258 inline-six AMC inline-six with one-barrel induction by application · Regular Matador path · engine assembly / specification
304 V8 304 cu in with two-barrel induction · Matador V8 path · engine assembly / specification
360 V8 360 cu in with two- or four-barrel induction by application · Matador and Machine Go Package path · engine assembly / specification
401 V8 401 cu in with four-barrel induction · Top Matador performance application · carburetor / specification

Transmission

Factory transmission Three-speed manual by engine application
Factory transmission Four-speed manual where factory listed
Factory transmission Automatic transmission matched to engine and axle application

Options

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

MACHINE-GO Machine Go Package factory · performance · Engine, induction, exhaust, cooling, chassis, wheels, stripes, and records must agree.
401 401-cid four-barrel V8 factory · performance · Engine, cooling, transmission, axle, dates, and records define one application.
FOUR-SPEED Four-speed manual factory · performance · Gearbox, clutch, pedals, shifter, axle, and records must agree.
TWIN-GRIP Twin-Grip differential factory · performance · Carrier, ratio, housing, dates, and records define one installation.
POWER-DISCS Power front disc brakes factory · safety · Calipers, rotors, hydraulics, wheels, dates, and records must agree.

Paint

A1 Snow White factory · solid
A2 Classic Black factory · solid
B1 Medium Blue factory · solid
G1 Medium Green factory · solid
P1 Medium Red factory · solid
Y1 Mustard Yellow factory · solid

Production

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

1971 AMC Matador family total · disputed

Authenticity

Rear Axle and Ratios summarized from reviewed factory and marque references.Classic Muscle · Reference illustration

Model-year identity 1971 Matador VIN or serial, body tag, title, shell, drivetrain, trim, protected finish, and ownership evidence that agrees · VIN or serial plate, body or trim plate, chassis, title, build records, and ownership history · fraud detection
Engine and transmission Configuration-correct engine, induction, transmission, controls, stampings, castings, and dates · Engine, induction, gearbox, shifter, pedals, stamp pads, castings, dates, and records · numbers matching
Axle, brakes, and suspension Application-correct axle, ratio, brake system, steering, springs, links, and dampers · Axle housing and carrier, brakes, steering, suspension, dates, service records, and build evidence · date correctness
Paint, exterior trim, and cabin Plate- and record-supported finish, moldings, badges, wheels, upholstery, instruments, and controls · Body and trim plates, protected paint, upholstery, hardware, dashboard, and restoration records · trim correctness

Still Researching

production No reviewed public ledger reconciles 1971 Matador production by body, model, engine, transmission, axle, paint, trim, options, plant, date, and surviving-car status.
paint colors Reviewed references establish representative factory colors but not a complete body, trim, stripe, special-order, plant, and build-date compatibility matrix.
interior Broad cabin equipment is documented, but the complete upholstery color, material, body, option, and production-date matrix is not publicly reconciled.
authenticity markers Public model references cannot prove one survivor's born-with shell, drivetrain, chassis components, paint, trim, options, or component dates.