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

[Can-Con]

err, ok...

[Zoom Zoom]

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

 

Thanks! These are one-off decals printed on a friend's color laser printer for my own model, I'm not going to print more or sell any. 

[1972coronet]

I seem to recall that AMT kits always had Michigan licence plates . 

It bothers me when I see incorrect California plates , especially vintage plates (1963-1969 , and 1970-1980). Take the Monogram 1971 Hemi'Cuda convertible.:  its plates are1964-issue ! 

Edited October 22, 2016 by 1972coronet

[tim boyd]

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...

 

Bob....that is totally killer!  Really sharp.  Sorry we missed each other at the NNL Nats....would have been good to catch up....Cheers....TIM 

[oldcarfan]

I went by the LHS to look for the AMT Pacer kit. They didn't have either it or the MPC Pinto wagon, but they did have the MPC Pacer so that was good.

[Rob Hall]

I have a couple MPC Pacers, never had the AMT wagon..thinking about doing one stock and one as a phantom panel wagon w/ no rear seat, steelies, and the side window blanks. 

[peteski]

Thanks! These are one-off decals printed on a friend's color laser printer for my own model, I'm not going to print more or sell any. 

I love the woodie look Bob!  I you aren't planning on making more decals, how about sharing your decal artwork?

[Nova-ss]

Adam,I sure appreciate your fun and interesting way of reviews. and the (Loser car) titles are cool.I always look forward to your words about it.you indelve into the back history...which I just love that knowledge. I have read your review. ..but will go back and reread it again..its ablast and just freakin enjoyable,relaxing. .thank you..I hope MPC/Round2 corp reissues all of these cars.like the Chev Chevette...again thank you.have a great day....Chris

[Daddyfink]

That does it! I am getting one! Maybe two! 

[1972coronet]

I've noticed two *curiosities* regarding this much welcomed release : 

1. No catalytic converter

2. The ddreaded two-piece plastic-y tyres 

Thanks ,Round2,  for producing this awesome kit ! Every time I look at its box art and its splendid contents , I take a trip down memory lane ?

[Zoom Zoom]

Bob....that is totally killer!  Really sharp.  Sorry we missed each other at the NNL Nats....would have been good to catch up....Cheers....TIM 

Thanks Tim! The Toledo show went by too fast...

[Nova-ss]

I've noticed two *curiosities* regarding this much welcomed release : 

1. No catalytic converter

2. The ddreaded two-piece plastic-y tyres 

Thanks ,Round2,  for producing this awesome kit ! Every time I look at its box art and its splendid contents , I take a trip down memory lane ?

Dude I hear ya.its such a pleasure . ..Chris 

[Lunajammer]

I was totally unaware of the repopped '77, my favorite version of this car. I'd been working out the details of converting the '78 to '77. Thanks for the update Faust.

Hey Zoom, SUPERB! 

 

Edited October 27, 2016 by Lunajammer

[ZIL 111V]

Happy to see the AMT Pacer Wagon kit back (been a pretty long time!), remember getting the original kit way back in x-mas of 1978, since the holiday season (in stores) is slowly approaching:

 

[Faust]

Nice!

That's likely the last time any Pacer got such loving attention!

[unclescott58]

Why is this car looking better, and better every time I look at them. I liked them when they first came out. But, for many years I was lukewarm on them. Now.... They starting to look pretty cool again.

 

[Chuck Most]

I went by the LHS to look for the AMT Pacer kit. They didn't have either it or the MPC Pinto wagon, but they did have the MPC Pacer so that was good.

If you wanted to you could make a really nice Pacer model with a little kitbashing between the two. The MPC's engine is the better of the two, while the AMT has the superior chassis. You can even swap out the hood and grille from one to the other with a little bit of work- I found out it's not a direct part-for-part swap, but it is workable. 

[Ace-Garageguy]

Why is this car looking better, and better every time I look at them. I liked them when they first came out. But, for many years I was lukewarm on them. Now.... They starting to look pretty cool again.

 

I always kinda liked 'em. I REALLY like this...

         

 

[Chuck Most]

I always kinda liked 'em. I REALLY like this...

I'm going to take a wild guess you've already stumbled across the builder's blog, but for the benefit of everyone...

https://pacertruck.wordpress.com/category/pacer-pickup/

[Faust]

Why is this car looking better, and better every time I look at them. I liked them when they first came out. But, for many years I was lukewarm on them. Now.... They starting to look pretty cool again.

 

I think there are a few reasons.

1.) Age and comparison. When the Pacer came out, there were a lot of "normal" looking cars that, despite the big crash bumpers and smog restrictions still looked kind of like they did in the 'glory days' of the late '60s early '70s. The Pacer was so different and oddly proportioned that it didn't fit in. Now, though, cars are a lot thicker and rounder than they were then. I mean, look at things like Civics, and how big and rounded they've gotten. Altimas and Maximas are pretty rounded and thick, and the new Lincolns are to, to name a few. Well, the Pacer is also round and thick. The wraparound lights were also a bit weird. We were used to corner lights on the side, tail lights and indicators on the grille and back end. However, the Pacer is wrapping them around. Now, wraparound is so extreme that some cars seem to have more side head- and tail light glass than front or back! 

Thus, like in everything else, AMC was WAAAAY too far ahead of its time. Also, it's a "compact" wagon/hatch. Those weren't cool then, but they are accepted now for sure. I think, then, that maybe time has caught up with the Pacer, some 40 years later.

2.) Familiarity, or lack of it. They say "Familiarity breeds contempt". right? Well, when you put the awkwardness of the Pacer's styling against it's contemporaries (as in 1) and then mulitply it by quite a lot... you get sick of seeing the weird little bloated ticks, right? However, how often do see them now? Now, almost any old car looks cool, just because it has survived! Hell, I even give a thumbs up to a local '89 Escort (perfect shape.... unreal!) when I see it! It's just a joy to see something that's different from everything else on the road.

3.) Geek = cool. Pacers are still geeky. But (thankfully) geeky is cool now, and the Pacer can come into it's own without living up to pretensions. it's got a future-retro look, and that's a good thing today.

I agree with you; I find myself liking a lot of cars that I didn't give two hoots about  before, and some of the reasons above are part of that, I think.

Okay, enough deep thinking on a Sunday morning. My brain hurts now!

[Daddyfink]

I think there are a few reasons.

1.) Age and comparison. When the Pacer came out, there were a lot of "normal" looking cars that, despite the big crash bumpers and smog restrictions still looked kind of like they did in the 'glory days' of the late '60s early '70s. The Pacer was so different and oddly proportioned that it didn't fit in. Now, though, cars are a lot thicker and rounder than they were then. I mean, look at things like Civics, and how big and rounded they've gotten. Altimas and Maximas are pretty rounded and thick, and the new Lincolns are to, to name a few. Well, the Pacer is also round and thick. The wraparound lights were also a bit weird. We were used to corner lights on the side, tail lights and indicators on the grille and back end. However, the Pacer is wrapping them around. Now, wraparound is so extreme that some cars seem to have more side head- and tail light glass than front or back! 

Thus, like in everything else, AMC was WAAAAY too far ahead of its time. Also, it's a "compact" wagon/hatch. Those weren't cool then, but they are accepted now for sure. I think, then, that maybe time has caught up with the Pacer, some 40 years later.

2.) Familiarity, or lack of it. They say "Familiarity breeds contempt". right? Well, when you put the awkwardness of the Pacer's styling against it's contemporaries (as in 1) and then mulitply it by quite a lot... you get sick of seeing the weird little bloated ticks, right? However, how often do see them now? Now, almost any old car looks cool, just because it has survived! Hell, I even give a thumbs up to a local '89 Escort (perfect shape.... unreal!) when I see it! It's just a joy to see something that's different from everything else on the road.

3.) Geek = cool. Pacers are still geeky. But (thankfully) geeky is cool now, and the Pacer can come into it's own without living up to pretensions. it's got a future-retro look, and that's a good thing today.

I agree with you; I find myself liking a lot of cars that I didn't give two hoots about  before, and some of the reasons above are part of that, I think.

Okay, enough deep thinking on a Sunday morning. My brain hurts now!

I think you have something there when you consider that this was the Motor Trend car of the Year!

Edited October 30, 2016 by Daddyfink

[unclescott58]

Jesse, the '77 Caprice deserved Motor Trend's Car of the Award. It was a heck of nice car right off the bat. Though I do like the Impala a little bit better. Especially the '77 - '79 Impala coupe. The '77 Chevys were the right car for the times. And unlike the down-sized full-size cars that followed from Ford and Chrysler, GM's B and C have always looked good to me.

And Adam, I think you basically hit the nail right on the head with the Pacer. I also think they're a bit like old Beetles, they're so ugly they are now kind of cute. I have only one bone to pick with analysis of the Pacer's styling. I do not see the present day cars being either as cute or ugly as the Pacer. And comparing modern cars to the Pacer is an insult to the Pacer.

 

 

Edited October 30, 2016 by unclescott58

[Rob Hall]

I'd love to see a '77-79 Impala or Caprice in 1/25th...love those cars.

[unclescott58]

Oh, and the '89 Escort? Other than the pre-80's Escorts from Britain, I've never liked Escorts. The '81 and later Escorts may have been good cars. But they're styling was just boring, like most other front-wheel drive sub-compacts and compacts of time. Though I got to admit, if Round 2 even reissued MPC's Escort EXP model kit, I'd buy one. The EXP was plain ugly. But, it wasn't trying to look like any other car on road at the time. Kudos to Ford for trying something diffent at the time. It may have not been a big seller because of it styling, and ability to seat only two people. But, like many other loser cars, I have a soft spot for it.

 

[unclescott58]

I think you have something there when you consider that this was the Motor Trend car of the Year!

 

Back to Motor Trend's Car of the Year Award. They've picked almost as many loser for Car of the Year, as picking good ones like the '77 Caprice. Car of Year Winner/losers include the '60 Chevy Corvair, the '71 Chevy Vega, the '74 Ford Mustang II (though I would debate this one), the '76 Volare/Aspen twins, and the '80 Chevy Citation. All innovative designs for their times. I think Motor Trend did the right thing at the time by awarding them all Car of the Year. I like all of the cars on above list. I would love to get a model of the '60 Corvair and '71 Vega. I have the Mutt II, the Volare, and a Citation. I love them all.

 

Edited October 30, 2016 by unclescott58