1976 AMC Gremlin

Compact performance powered by 1976 AMC Gremlin engine family.

Exact-year, stock-presenting Gremlin X retained as the family baseline for the 1976 grille, lamps, bumper, hood, windshield, X graphic, wheels, glass, and stance; restoration and equipment remain specific to the photographed car.

Models Base 7646-3 and Custom 7646-5

Engines 232 six standard; 258 six or early-year 304 V8 optional

Packages Custom-only Gremlin X and Levi's trim

Chassis Independent front, leaf-spring live rear, drums or front discs

Production 52,941 reported total; 826 reported 304 V8 installations

Story

1976 AMC Gremlin

The 1976 Gremlin family combined two-door, four-passenger subcompact with folding rear seat and lift-up rear window with Base model 7646-3, Custom model 7646-5, 232 inline-six, 258 inline-six, 304 V8, Gremlin X, Levi's trim 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 was standard, the 258 optional, and the 304 V8 remained an early model-year option before cancellation after a reported 826 installations. Outputs, transmission and axle applications, emissions hardware, cooling, exhaust, chassis details, component 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

The 96-inch-wheelbase Gremlin used independent coil-spring front suspension and a leaf-spring live rear axle. Four-wheel drums were standard, while manual or power front discs, Twin-Grip, power steering, and heavy-duty suspension were optional. Axle, brake, steering, wheel, tire, spring, damper, and anti-roll-bar details remain power-team- and date-specific. 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.

Profile view of the same exact-year X retained for the two-door body, quarter glass, side graphic, wheel openings, slot-style wheels, roof, liftgate, and bumper context.CapCase via Wikimedia Commons · CC BY 2.0

Specs

Car type: Compact performance
Seats: 4
Body: Two-door, four-passenger subcompact with folding rear seat and lift-up rear window
Engine: 1976 AMC Gremlin engine family
Horsepower: Approximately 90 or 95 SAE net hp with an inline-six; 120 SAE net hp with the 304 V8
Torque: Configuration-specific factory rating follows engine, induction, emissions equipment, and transmission
Carburetion: One-barrel induction on the 232 and 258; two-barrel induction on the 304 V8

Equipment

Base and Custom trim on one 96-inch-wheelbase body
232, 258, and final-year 304 power teams
Custom-only Gremlin X and Levi's packages
Twenty cataloged AMC exterior colors
Twenty-one-gallon fuel tank and 26.9-cubic-foot cargo index with rear seat folded

Linked Parts

Price history

Values

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

Original Price

Base MSRP $3,051

Gremlin Base with 304 V8 (1976)
Reported early model-year price before V8 cancellation.
1976 AMC Gremlin production, engine, and base-price entries
Base MSRP $2,889

Gremlin Base with six-cylinder engine (1976)

1976 AMC Gremlin production, engine, and base-price entries
Base MSRP $3,160

Gremlin Custom with 304 V8 (1976)
Reported early model-year price before V8 cancellation.
1976 AMC Gremlin production, engine, and base-price entries
Base MSRP $2,998

Gremlin Custom with six-cylinder engine (1976)

1976 AMC Gremlin production, engine, and base-price entries

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 Gremlin X with the hood open retained for engine-bay, induction, cooling, brake, firewall, grille, and package context; the visible engine and restoration remain subject-specific.**Christopher Ziemnowicz via Wikimedia Commons · CC0

232 inline-six 232 cu in; 8.0:1; one-barrel; approximately 90 SAE net hp · Standard Base and Custom power team · engine assembly / specification
258 inline-six 258 cu in; 8.0:1; one-barrel; approximately 95 SAE net hp · Optional Base and Custom power team · engine assembly / specification
304 V8 304 cu in; 8.4:1; two-barrel; 120 SAE net hp and 220 lb-ft · Optional early model-year path; 826 installations reported before cancellation · engine assembly / specification

Transmission

Factory transmission Fully synchronized three-speed manual with floor shift; standard by advertised application
Factory transmission Three-speed manual with fuel-saving overdrive for six-cylinder applications; advertised early and discontinued during the model year
Factory transmission Four-speed floor-shift manual introduced during the model year; production-date and power-team evidence required
Factory transmission Torque-Command three-speed automatic with column or floor selector by trim and seating configuration

Options

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

CUSTOM Gremlin Custom model 7646-5 factory · comfort · Model number, trim, carpeting, steering wheel, door panels, moldings, grille, stripes, tag, and records must agree.
258 258-cubic-inch one-barrel inline-six factory · performance · Engine, induction, emissions equipment, transmission, axle, cooling, dates, and records must agree.
304-V8 304-cubic-inch two-barrel V8 factory · performance · Require early production and complete engine, transmission, axle, chassis, emissions, cooling, exhaust, date, and record evidence; a swap alone is not proof.
GREMLIN-X Custom-only Gremlin X package factory · appearance · Spear-side decal, slot-style wheels, trim rings, black rear panel, instrument overlay, insulation, front anti-roll bar, decals, and records define the package.
LEVIS Custom-only Levi's trim package factory · comfort · Blue denim-look nylon, branded buttons, door trim, headlining, visors, fender decals, body tag, and records must agree.
OVERDRIVE Fuel-saving manual overdrive factory · performance · Six-cylinder application, production date, gearbox, controls, axle, and records must agree; early catalog availability does not prove late production.
FOUR-SPEED Midyear four-speed manual factory · performance · Production date, engine application, case, controls, clutch, axle, and records must agree.
TWIN-GRIP Twin-Grip differential factory · performance · Carrier, housing, ratio, lubricant, power-team application, dates, and records define one installation.
FRONT-DISC Manual or power front disc brakes factory · safety · Disc hardware, hydraulics, assist, wheels, drivetrain application, dates, and records must agree.
HD-SUSPENSION Heavy-duty suspension factory · performance · Springs, dampers, front anti-roll bar, engine application, dates, and order evidence must agree.

Paint

**Exact-year Base-trim Gremlin retained to distinguish its restrained side treatment, steel wheels, hubcaps, body, grille, lamps, bumper, and stance from Custom and X equipment.**Greg Gjerdingen via Wikimedia Commons · CC BY 2.0

P1 Classic Black factory · solid
H4 Dark Cocoa Metallic factory · metallic
H8 Autumn Red Metallic factory · metallic
J2 Brandywine Metallic factory · metallic
6E Burnished Bronze Metallic factory · metallic
H7 Aztec Copper Metallic factory · metallic
H6 Golden Jade Metallic factory · metallic
6D Sand Tan factory · solid
G6 Sienna Orange factory · solid
6P Firecracker Red factory · solid
6T Nautical Blue Metallic factory · metallic
G9 Medium Blue Metallic factory · metallic
6R Brilliant Blue factory · solid
6K Limefire Metallic factory · metallic
6A Marine Aqua Metallic factory · metallic
6C Evergreen Metallic factory · metallic
6B Seaspray Green factory · solid
6J Silver Frost Metallic factory · metallic
6V Sunshine Yellow factory · solid
G7 Alpine White factory · solid

Production

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

1976 AMC Gremlin total · 52,941 · reported
304 V8 installations by engine · 826 · reported

Authenticity

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

VIN, model, body, and trim identity 1976 Gremlin VIN and title with model 7646-3 Base or 7646-5 Custom body, trim, sequence, and ownership history that agree · VIN and derivatives, title, body structure, model and trim evidence, rear-glass opening, labels, build records, and ownership documents · fraud detection
Engine, transmission, axle, and production date 232, 258, or early-production 304 reconciled to its permitted transmission, axle ratio, emissions equipment, cooling, exhaust, component dates, and records · VIN and build evidence, engine stamps and castings, induction, emissions labels, transmission case and controls, axle housing and ratio, cooling, exhaust, and dates · numbers matching
Custom, Gremlin X, and Levi's equipment Model- and record-supported Custom trim plus complete X or Levi's content when ordered · Model number, body tag, build and sales records, protected graphics, grille, wheels, instrument panel, insulation, seats, upholstery, labels, door panels, headlining, visors, and decals · trim correctness
Paint, chassis, cabin, and options Tag- and record-supported finish, stripe or vinyl roof, seats and upholstery, controls, brakes, suspension, steering, wheels, tires, accessories, and component dates · Body tag, Color and Trim Book, protected paint and upholstery, graphic layers, roof seams, cabin, chassis hardware, invoices, build evidence, and dated parts · date correctness

Still Researching

production The reported 52,941 total and 826 V8 installations do not resolve Base versus Custom, six-cylinder displacement, transmission, axle, X, Levi's, brakes, paint, trim, plant, date, export, or survivor intersections.
transmission The early factory catalog advertises overdrive while the published year account reports an overdrive cancellation and four-speed introduction; no reviewed running-change bulletin establishes exact serial or date boundaries.
paint colors The factory catalog lists 20 AMC colors but directs model applications to the dealer Color and Trim Book; complete Gremlin, X, stripe, vinyl-roof, trim, supplier, plant, and running-date combinations remain unresolved.
authenticity markers Public model-year references cannot establish one survivor's born-with body, trim, engine, transmission, axle, chassis, finish, cabin, packages, options, component dates, or ownership history.