Story
The Hornet Hatchback arrived for 1973 as AMC's practical fastback answer to the compact performance market. It shared the Hornet's 108-inch wheelbase, but the gas-spring liftgate and folding rear seat opened as much as 22.9 cubic feet of cargo space when equipped with the optional Space-Saver spare. The public page treats it as one model-year identity, model 7303-7, rather than splitting ordinary engines or the X appearance group into duplicate cars.
AMC offered four engines. The 232 one-barrel six was standard, followed by the optional 258 one-barrel six, 304 two-barrel V8, and 360 two-barrel V8. Factory net ratings were 100, 110, 150, and 175 horsepower respectively. Manual and Torque-Command automatic choices varied by engine, and the 360 was automatic-only. A four-speed was not in the factory hatchback matrix.
The optional X package changed the experience without creating a separate mechanical identity. Rally stripes, an X emblem, slot-style wheels, and a sport steering wheel supplied the visible cues. The 360 remained a separate engine choice, so stripes, wheels, or an X badge do not prove a 360 car. Likewise, a current V8 or manual transmission cannot establish how a specific hatchback was built.
Underneath, six-cylinder cars used 9-inch drums while V8 cars used 10-inch drums; front discs were optional. The chassis combined twin-ball-joint front suspension with coil springs and a live rear axle on semi-elliptic leaf springs. Axle ratios followed the engine and transmission schedule, and Twin-Grip was optional.
Reported production totals 40,110 hatchbacks, including 876 with the 360. Those engine counts are useful context but remain secondary until a factory allocation report is recovered. For an individual car, use the complete VIN, left-door body plate, engine code, transmission evidence, axle details, protected finishes, and original documents together.