1972 AMC Hornet

Compact performance powered by 1972 AMC Hornet engine family.

Exact-year view retained for body, trim, glass, lamps, bumpers, and wheel context; condition and restoration details remain specific to the photographed vehicle.

Bodies Two- or four-door sedan, Sportabout station wagon, or two-door hatchback

Configurations Hornet, Hornet SST, Sportabout, Gucci Sportabout

Engine range 232 or 258 inline-six, or optional 304 V8

Chassis Coil-spring independent front, leaf-spring live rear, with available front discs

Production Exact configuration ledger remains unresolved

Story

1972 AMC Hornet

The 1972 Hornet family combined two- or four-door sedan, sportabout station wagon, or two-door hatchback with Hornet, Hornet SST, Sportabout, Gucci Sportabout 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 Hornet family covered several bodies and 232, 258, and optional 304 engine paths. Body code, engine, induction, transmission, axle, brakes, package content, dates, and records define one configuration. Transmission, induction, cooling, exhaust, axle, emissions equipment, and dates must match the selected engine path.

Chassis and brakes

Hornet sedan, hatchback, and Sportabout bodies shared AMC compact suspension, while springs, brakes, axle, steering, wheels, and tires varied by body and powertrain. 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 view retained for body, trim, glass, lamps, bumpers, and wheel context; condition and restoration details remain specific to the photographed vehicle.**Christopher Ziemnowicz 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

Hornet 232 inline-six 232 cu in with one-barrel induction · Regular Hornet path · engine assembly / specification
Hornet 258 inline-six 258 cu in with one-barrel induction · Optional six-cylinder path · engine assembly / specification
Hornet 304 V8 304 cu in with two-barrel induction · Optional V8 path · carburetor / specification

Transmission

Factory transmission Three-speed manual
Factory transmission Floor-shift manual by application
Factory transmission Torque-Command automatic

Options

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

SST Hornet SST factory · appearance · Body code, trim, moldings, cabin, finish, dates, and records must agree.
SPORTABOUT Sportabout station wagon factory · other · Body code, roof, tailgate, cargo trim, springs, wheels, tires, and records must agree.
GUCCI Gucci Sportabout package factory · appearance · Sportabout eligibility, fabrics, colors, trim, emblems, dates, and records must agree.
304-V8 304 V8 factory · performance · Engine, induction, cooling, exhaust, transmission, axle, emissions equipment, dates, and records must agree.
TWIN-GRIP Twin-Grip differential factory · performance · Carrier, ratio, housing, dates, and records define one installation.
POWER-DISC Power front disc brakes factory · safety · Calipers, rotors, hydraulics, assist, wheels, dates, and records must agree.

Paint

Exact-year SST sail-panel detail showing the Butterscotch Gold D5 and Frost White A1 two-tone boundary, bright window moldings, and SST emblem; the visible finish remains specific to the photographed car.Christopher Ziemnowicz via Wikimedia Commons; resized for web · CC BY-SA 4.0 derivative

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

Production

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

1972 AMC Hornet family total · 0 · reported

Authenticity

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

Model-year identity 1972 Hornet 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 1972 Hornet 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.