There may be a law on the books in the great state of Wisconsin that every gearhead must own at least one AMC project during their life. BangShift member Mike is proving that he’s totally obsessed be starting on a second one! Mike alreadybrought back a 1969 Javelin from the depths of despair and he has now begun on a totally bitchin’ Gremlin that was an IMSA road racer. Being a former motorcycle racer, he is going to bring this one back to 1970s vintage IMSA specs and take it road racing, complete with the hot rodded I6 engine that lives in the nose of the car!
The car came into Mike’s possession last spring when he and a pal hauled it home to Cheese-consin from the previous owner’s place in Virginia. It was an active race car from somewhere in the mid 1970s into the early 1980s, and from there it just sat in the corner of the shop. From the looks of the photos the body is in great shape and this is not going to be a deal that requires the shell to be reconstructed. That’s not to say there isn’t a bunch of work ahead for Mike, though.
Mike says that the car needs a new cage, which will be the first order of business. Once it is up and running (and painted purple at the direction of his wife…hey, happy wife – happy life, right?) he will autocross the car until he feels comfortable enough with it to start some actual full track racing in vintage races.
It is super neat that Mike will keep the AMC inline six engine in the car (for a while anyway). It was raced in that form apparently and the engine has already been externally modified with a header, intake manifold, and carb. Under the valve cover is anyone’s guess. He’ll obviously get that figured out before wailing on the car.
Hit the link below to check Mike’s build thread. We’ll be following this one close. What a neat car!
LINK: An IMSA Road Racing Gremlin Gets a New Lease on Life
I’m so glad Mike has brought this project to the light of day for us here at BS.com see unfold. I cant wait to see that first YouTube clip of it cuttin’ cones at an AutoX somewhere in the future!
Large fun can be had with a Gremlin.
Get one today!
Jeremy, I can guarantee that moving under its own power nearly as fast as your Mustang!