Have you gotten your “Adam-12” reference out of your system yet? Hurry up if you haven’t, then check out this copper-colored tank. Since we already had a Chevy, a Ford and a Mopar cop car up for the day, what the hell, why not an American Motors product while we’re at it? The 1973 Matador was a re-nosed version of what had started out as the 1970 Rebel. As “The Machine”, and especially in two-door form, the car looked at least on-par with it’s peers of the day. Come 1974, AMC would have a sudden and severe lack of good judgement and approve of the styling design best known as the “coffin-nose” that afflicted the Matador and Ambassador lines until they were eliminated completely by 1978. 
AMC might have been running on hopes and prayers most of it’s existence, but selling Matadors to police units was like giving candy to a baby. That might have had something to do with American Motors offering up the cars at cut-rate prices to keep cash coming in, but that’s usually the way most fleet-style cars are made and sold: en masse and on the cheap. And who is the undisputed king of “bought from the lowest bidder”? The government, of course, so it’s no surprise that this Matador is wearing a GS tag on it’s body. What was the car used for? Hard to say without knowing it’s history, which the seller isn’t too forthcoming about. But do you really care if you’re looking for an AMC sedan? Nope. Just be happy you found one in this condition!
eBay Link: 1973 American Motors Matador
Opening bid at $12,000 and no takers? Shocking. He claims he spent $14,000 on the restoration.
I can almost see William Conrad doing a barrel roll across the hood!
I can’t argue with that since he was the shape of a barrel!
Too bad it didn’t come with the 401.
I worked for the Border Patrol as a mechanic during this time. We had a fleet of these and boy they would scoot with the 401 engines in them. When they were surveyed out, lots of BP agents had buddies bid on them because as Border Patrol employees we could not bid on our own car auctions. I had one for a week while I went to school in Burbank. I had no trouble at or above the speed limit any time I wanted. Since it was an AMC fordor nobody paid any attention to it. Perfect sleeper!
I wouldn\’t be surprised if the engine is a group 19 source.