AMT '77 Pacer Wagon - a new loser out of box!

[Faust]

Everyone knows that I love loser cars. I seem to gravitate towards the odd, eclectic, underpowered and unloved. Well, there aren’t too many cars that are more of all of those things than the AMC Pacer! That’s why I was so stoked when I got my hands on the MPC ’78 coupe from Round 2 a couple of years ago. I’d seen the on the second hand market, and wasn’t about to pay what they wanted there.

It never occurred to me that there would come a day that we’d be able to actually go into a shop and CHOOSE between two different Pacer kits!  However, when I saw the new AMT ’77 Pacer Wagon in a local shop, that’s exactly what happened! Two different kits, of two different body styles and two different years. It’s loser Nirvana!

While I don’t normally get too excited by AMT’s, there’s nothing not to like about this one. I mean, it’s a Pacer wagon and it comes with all kinds of crazy custom bits! Check out the newest addition to the Pacer model kit family out of box here:

https://adamrehorn.wordpress.com/round-2-amt-125-1977-pacer-wagon-out-of-box/

 

 

 

Edited October 20, 2016 by Faust

[SSNJim]

Is the grille and hood interchangeable with the MPC kit?

[Faust]

I'm not sure. Technically, they should be since both are 1/25... but there's likely going to be some minor issues.

Has anyone out there tried it? 

[lysleder]

Great review Faust! (as always)

About those license plates, it is funny that they are made as an actual postal code for a place in the territory where it is (supposedly) issued. Without knowing that, I would assume them to be constructed vanity plates reading "enforce eighty two". I have no idea what that would mean though. Maybe a Canadian could say, eh?

[Art Anderson]

I'm not sure. Technically, they should be since both are 1/25... but there's likely going to be some minor issues.

Has anyone out there tried it? 

It would be doubtful, as originally, the Pacer sedan was tooled and produced by MPC, while the station wagon was an AMT tool.

[DaveM]

But most importantly,  "Featuring CB Radio!"  (Anybody else remember those things.  They were the '70s version of texting!)   

[1930fordpickup]

But most importantly,  "Featuring CB Radio!"  (Anybody else remember those things.  They were the '70s version of texting!)   

Dave 23 was visible from my bedroom growing up. Everyone in the area had one for at least a short time.  They were a blast with the  things being said. 

[SSNJim]

But most importantly,  "Featuring CB Radio!"  (Anybody else remember those things.  They were the '70s version of texting!)   

Remember? I've got one. CBs are still heavily used by motorcyclists. A CB was a factory option on my 2007 Honda Goldwing (and has been every year since 1980 or so). I use it to talk to my buddy with the standard factory CB on his 2014 Harley Davidson Ultra Classic. They are both fully integrated into the bikes - you'd never know they were there.

[Fat Brian]

I grew up in a Pacer exactly like this one. My dad traded in his 68 LTD with a 428 Police Interceptor and C6 in a bought a straight 6 auto, tan on tan 77 Pacer. At some point in the early 80's he gave it to his parents who drove it until the late 80's. I remember countless trips in this lackluster, poop colored sadness factory. It was constantly breaking down, my dad said that some of the parts were Ford and others were GM and he was convinced that AMC raided the reject parts bins of the other manufacturers and used them on their cars. I'm going to have to build at least one of these to represent that somewhat disappointing part of my childhood.

[randyc]

I will never build this one, Adam.  But I sure enjoyed the write up and wondered myself about the decals.  Nothing really threre to be offensive, but seems weird nevertheless.  I love the reviews. 

[Edsel-Dan]

I built the Original issue of this wagon.

I do Not remember any decals other than maybe license plates and stripes

As I watched M*A*S*H at the time, I would have remembered any

"Packo's" labels

[Zoom Zoom]

I'm currently working on an original issue of this kit; fun so far. Not sure if there were any decals in the original kit, mine didn't have any, and don't see any referenced in the instructions. I did make my own decals for seats and woodgrain since most Pacer wagons seem to have had woodgrain trim. I kind of had to build this one after the Pinto Cruising Wagon...

 

[Aaronw]

 

snip

this lackluster, poop colored sadness factory.

snip

I'm going to have to build at least one of these to represent that somewhat disappointing part of my childhood.

 

I love these two phrases. Perhaps somebody would be inspired to start a pathetic cars of the 70s - 80s GB.  

[Chuck Most]

Turned mine into a pickup...

And used the graphics on something even crappier, a Hyundai Pony...

 

[Jantrix]

Some pretty extensive scratchbuilding and kitbashing, but I enjoyed this kit.

[Fat Brian]

 

I love these two phrases. Perhaps somebody would be inspired to start a pathetic cars of the 70s - 80s GB.  

 

I'm proud of that first line, that really paints a picture.

[Don Sikora II]

I'm currently working on an original issue of this kit; fun so far. Not sure if there were any decals in the original kit, mine didn't have any, and don't see any referenced in the instructions. I did make my own decals for seats and woodgrain since most Pacer wagons seem to have had woodgrain trim. I kind of had to build this one after the Pinto Cruising Wagon...

 

Looks great, especially the pattern on the seats. When I was a kid, the neighbor had a dark red Pacer wagon with that same interior in red.

From what I remember, the original annual issue of the stock wagon didn't come with any decals. The original-issue of the custom panel version had a sheet that included markings for Tony Packo's Cafe in Toledo, Ohio. The old sheet references Hungarian hot dogs which I'd guess inspired all the Hungarian-themed decals in the new kit.

[Faust]

I grew up in a Pacer exactly like this one. My dad traded in his 68 LTD with a 428 Police Interceptor and C6 in a bought a straight 6 auto, tan on tan 77 Pacer. At some point in the early 80's he gave it to his parents who drove it until the late 80's. I remember countless trips in this lackluster, poop colored sadness factory. It was constantly breaking down, my dad said that some of the parts were Ford and others were GM and he was convinced that AMC raided the reject parts bins of the other manufacturers and used them on their cars. I'm going to have to build at least one of these to represent that somewhat disappointing part of my childhood.

"Poop Coloured Sadness Factory"... EPIC. I am so ashamed that I could not have come up with this line. Truly inspiring and LOL-inducing words. Yes, I LoL'ed on that one, and when I read it to those around me, they did the same. Well done, sir, well done! 

I love the woodgrain and the whitewalls! Where did you get such nice whitewalls? 

As for the Hungarian decals, yeah, it's the customizing kit that came with them originally. Tony Packo's is a real place, and he created the "Hungarian Hot Dog Craze", which there really kind of was, it seems. 

There's some seriously great work being done on these cars. I think the guys at Round 2 should be pleased! 

[Craig Irwin]

Yes Tony Packo's is a real place, I've ate there.

[unclescott58]

I like your reviews and enthusiasm for "loser" cars Adam. I too like these types of cars for some reason. I bought my Pacer wagon about a month ago. And I'm very pleased with what I found in the box too.

 

[unclescott58]

I'm currently working on an original issue of this kit; fun so far. Not sure if there were any decals in the original kit, mine didn't have any, and don't see any referenced in the instructions. I did make my own decals for seats and woodgrain since most Pacer wagons seem to have had woodgrain trim. I kind of had to build this one after the Pinto Cruising Wagon...

 

Any chance of making more and selling those decals? I really like them.

 

[oldcarfan]

Remember? I've got one. CBs are still heavily used by motorcyclists. A CB was a factory option on my 2007 Honda Goldwing (and has been every year since 1980 or so). I use it to talk to my buddy with the standard factory CB on his 2014 Harley Davidson Ultra Classic. They are both fully integrated into the bikes - you'd never know they were there.

My dad still has a CB in his 1986 Toyota pickup with the twin antennas, Lear camper shell and the rectangular bumper mounted fog lights. He's stylin'!

[Can-Con]

Great review Faust! (as always)

About those license plates, it is funny that they are made as an actual postal code for a place in the territory where it is (supposedly) issued. Without knowing that, I would assume them to be constructed vanity plates reading "enforce eighty two". I have no idea what that would mean though. Maybe a Canadian could say, eh?

Never mind what it means, just forget you ever heard it, OK. 

[lysleder]

Never mind what it means, just forget you ever heard it, OK. 

err, ok...

[Fat Brian]

"Poop Coloured Sadness Factory"... EPIC. I am so ashamed that I could not have come up with this line. Truly inspiring and LOL-inducing words. Yes, I LoL'ed on that one, and when I read it to those around me, they did the same. Well done, sir, well done!

Your writing style in these reviews inspired me a bit. I actually have great memories of riding around with my grandparents in that car but even by the early 80's my family knew the car was something to be ashamed of. They all would make little jokes about it say how much of a steaming pile it was.