It’s strange to think that $5,000 doesn’t get you far in the car game anymore. Seriously, have you tried to find a good ride for under five grand that has soul, or something to excite you, that doesn’t suck or doesn’t require another five thousand dollars to put it back on the road? Best of luck, it’s a difficult search lately. But you know what isn’t difficult? Finding over-hyped, over-priced rides that are cool, classic and have that “x-factor”, that thing you can’t quite put your finger on that makes you really want it. And the more off-the-wall, the better. Now, that doesn’t mean you go out and find a Cadillac limousine on a truck frame sporting a 6-71 blown Buick mill, though if you do, share pictures because that would be pretty badass. Okay, maybe showing you what I mean would be easier…

Since it’s been nearly 35 years since American Motors was absorbed by Chrysler, let’s remind the younger readers what is going on here. American Motors, for a good portion of their early days, specialized in small, frugal cars that were a fresh alternative to the chromed out barges of the day. Then, in the mid-1960s, AMC decided to expand into other markets. They tried a personal luxury coupe years before they became a thing with the Rambler Marlin. They went into the ponycar market with the Javelin, the traditional intermediate musclecar market with the Rebel “The Machine”, and even had not one, but two junior supercars: the SC/Rambler and the Hornet SC/360.

But then there were the larger cars. AMC had two which were effectively twins: the luxury-themed Ambassador and the Matador, the slightly re-worked Rebel. The Matador sedan was…well, it was a four door. What do you want? These were exactly what they were: a basic V8 and hubcaps were pretty much the order of the day no matter what. But add in nearly fifty years of age and a very well-sorted wheel  and tire package, and suddenly…wow. Never though that an AMC Matador sedan would do it, but man, if you wouldn’t rock this thing, we don’t know what to tell you. And there’s no reason to rock it: a GM 700-R4 automatic gives you the overdrive you desperately need for the interstate and the original radio has been modified for Bluetooth. Link your phone, throw the shifter into drive, and go for a cruise.

Facebook Marketplace link: 1973 American Motors Matador sedan