1974 AMC Matador X Test Drive

Posted on 14. Jan, 2012 by in AMC, Test Drives

1974 AMC Matador X is long on style but short on economy

As if to answer its “what’s a Matador” TV spots, AMC unwrapped this swollen coupe to replace the pillarless hardtop’s for 1974. Despite a shorter 114inch wheelbase, it was styled partly for high speed aerodynamics in stock car racing, but did little there or for Matador sales. For $3699 the sporty “X” coupe had a 255bhp 401 as its top engine!

The Car and Track complaints about the Matador X didn’t stop there though. In Lindemann’s words the Matador was “thirsty”, averaging a dismal 11.3 MPG while Car and Track had the car. This road test ends with the host wondering why “in an era of shortages, of which fuel heads the list, that so much emphasis was placed on styling and so little on economy”.

Jalopnik

1974 AMC Matador

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7 Responses to “1974 AMC Matador X Test Drive”

  1. Rob

    28. Apr, 2012

    man its almost painful watching these 70s slug wagons wallow through corners.

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  2. Mahmoud

    22. May, 2012

    I had a 77 Barcelona coupe in the dark claret red/burgundy two tone coboinatimn with 360cub inch loaded. I fell in love with that car in 1980 it was affordable for me at the time for a 4yr old used car-a lot cheaper than the comparable Monte Carlos Cougars etc of the day. Sadly, I only had it 5 months had to sell it when I moved in to Wash DC. It was not the most reliable car but had a nice 8track sterio, road very nicely looked like nothing else on the highway..crank windows all!

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  3. Miradart

    22. May, 2012

    I was never a big fan of these strange looking cars, but I’d still want one in my dream museum.

    That body roll is epic, at 2:15!!

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    • Dakota

      22. Jul, 2012

      OK reality check. The 1974 Matador Coupe sold over 62,000 ciepos for the first year production. Then the gas crisis hit and sales slumped as for all the automakers. The coupes final total production was just under 100,000 units in 1978. It was not style that killed it.. It was the 13mpg with the 360 amc v8. I currently own one as a everyday car and it is reliable and comfortable. What a beauty!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

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  4. Will Poundstone

    20. Jul, 2012

    it sounds like the car was designed with a 60s attitude rather than a 70s attitude

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