The AMC Matador Is a Rare Gem
Though AMC is no longer around, their Matadors are. They may not be the most remembered of the brand’s models, but the Matador was definitely a gem of its time.
Written by Hannah DeWitt
Reviewed by Kathleen Flear
When you think of AMC vehicles of the 1970s, you probably conjure up images of the Pacer, which most people thought of as an eyesore, or the Gremlin. One model the brand produced at that time isn't as well-remembered today, but it was a
classic car
in its time. The Matador made a splash when it first came out. The brief run of the AMC Matador
The Matador lineup was introduced for the 1971 model year and ran until 1978. The vehicle's first generation was a refresh of the brand's Rebel car that was offered from 1967 to 1970.
The name "Matador" was a decision AMC officials came up with to move away from anything resembling the unrest America was going through in the 1960s. Plus, the muscle car was declining due to the new government-imposed limitations at that time. Rebel, they felt, wasn't going to fit the bill, so they chose a more exciting name instead.
According to
The Truth About Cars
, the Matador was a midsize version that was offered in a four-door sedan, two-door hardtop, and station wagon body styles. While it was fashioned after the Ambassador line, its wheelbase was at least four inches shorter than the full-sized vehicle. The car went through a few changes during its short run, like rubber bumper guards in the rear to name one. To meet NHTSA's bumper regulations of the time, AMC added thicker bumpers and front rubber shock absorbers to the Matador. The brand sold quite a few of these vehicles, but most went to fleets, taxis, and the police force for commercial purposes. Sales weren't strong enough after 1975, so the brand shut down the Matador line in 1978.
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What did the AMC Matador offer?
MORE: So Ugly It's Cool: The Legend of the AMC Gremlin
One of the most interesting offerings was the slew of engine options. These vehicles came with a 3.8-liter inline-six cylinder and a 4.2-liter inline-six, which were standard with the station wagon. Other options were the 5.0-liter, 5.9-liter, and 6.6-liter V8 engines.
With the wagon, you could opt for a small rear-facing third-row seat, which gave the vehicle a capacity to hold eight passengers.
AMC's coupe-style model had frameless glass doors, a 114-inch wheelbase, forced air heating, wall-to-wall carpeting, reclining seats, front disc brakes, an automatic defogger, and a large cargo area to store all your stuff.
How did it compare to its rivals of the time?
MORE: 3 Coolest AMC Cars
Back when the Matador first came out, one of its biggest rivals were the Ford Torino, which could produce 360 hp. Other rivals were the Plymouth Satellite Sebring and the Chevy Chevelle. For the first few years, AMC saw more sales than its competitors due to the bold, sleek styling the Matador had, especially with its Coupe body style, which saw over 62,600 sales the first year on the market, according to
The Truth About Cars
. But, the most appealing part of AMC's line was the Buyer Protection Plan they were offering at that time. It was basically a 12 month/12,000-mile warranty that had a twist. AMC made a promise with each purchase to repair anything that went wrong with the car. The only exception was the tires. You were given a warranty phone number to use and a loaner vehicle if it was necessary.
Insuring a classic like the Matador
No Matador is rolling off the production lines these days, and AMC as a company is no longer around, but you could still possibly find this gem on the used classic market, although it might not be easy. Finding insurance for it or any other retro vehicle can also be a huge headache with all the insurance agencies out there to browse through.
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