For years, the AMC Gremlin has been the butt of automotive jokes. After offering some success for the now defunct automaker, the Gremlin became known more as a car for nerds than a sensible,

classic car

from the ‘70s.

Jon Stewart’s line in Comedians in Cars Getting Coffee about a running Gremlin being “the sound of virginity” summarizes the car’s reputation pretty clearly.

But as prices affordable classics rise at classic car auctions, the opinion of this uniquely styled car is changing.

Jerry

looked around for what could be discovered about this paradigm of ‘70s automotive ingenuity.

Gremlin car history

MORE: A Classic '70s Eyesore: The AMC Pace

American Motors Company (AMC) developed the Gremlin in 1970 to compete with the Chevy Vega and the Ford Pinto, two American-made compact cars that also developed unsavoury reputations.

The first year’s base model was nothing to write home about—128 horsepower, vacuum-operated windshield wipers, and 13-inch wheels.

Hagerty

says its coupe-style rear didn’t even open, forcing its owners to load it from the doors.

But AMC improved the car over its nine-year run, introducing a four-door model the following year and a 150-hp

V8 engine

the year after that.

High fuel prices forced the company to drop the V8 by 1976, but the VW/Audi-built inline-six that replaced was the smooth-running gas-sipper drivers wanted back then. For better or worse, it was enough to save the eccentric sub-compact car. Production ended after 1978.

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The Gremlin’s current following

Jerry Seinfeld is not a fan of the AMC Gremlin. What can he say about it on his way to pick up Jon Stewart for an episode of Comedians in Cars Getting Coffee? “It has an interior. It has an engine. It has wheels.”

But Stewart’s affinity for it highlights the source of the car’s newfound popularity—nostalgia. It was the first kind of car Stewart owned.

The stereotypical car enthusiast would prefer the 315-hp ‘68 AMC AMX Seinfeld quickly switches to. But for many of the up and coming classic car fans, it’s all about going back in time.

Another thing the Gremlin has going for it is scarcity. Plenty of limited-editions and AMC-approved custom models were designed and produced in small qualities.

These unique Gremlins add even more eccentricity to a car already known for being weird. That, and its original purpose as an economy car means very few were left in good condition, driving up auction prices for the few that remain.

Car insurance for an AMC Gremlin

MORE: How Is Hagerty Keeping Car Culture Alive?

AMC stopped producing Gremlins after 1978, making them easy applicants for

classic car coverage

. But not all classic car insurance policies are the same. Many of them are priced based on an agreed value between the provider and the policyholder.

No matter what type or level of coverage you’re looking for, Jerry can help. A licensed broker that offers end-to-end support, the Jerry app gathers affordable quotes and helps you switch plans. The average Jerry user saves $887 a year on car insurance.

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