1975 AMC Matador

Brougham Coupe

8 - Cyl.

Automatic

Gasoline

1975 AMC Matador Brougham Coupe - No Reserve! Up for auction is a 1975 AMC Matador Coupe in Brougham trim. The car has AMC's 304 c.i. V-8 mated to a Torque Command 904 3-speed automatic transmission. The car is equipped with the following options: a tilt steering wheel, air conditioning, and a rear-window defroster. I purchased this car from an individual who I do not believe was completely honest with me about the car's condition. To avoid any surprises, I am disclosing all information I know about the car and its condition. I'm an AMC enthusiast and knowledgeable about Matadors, so if the information below doesn't answer your questions, I will be happy to try to answer your questions about the car. Body As you can see from the pictures, many areas of the car have been sprayed with primer, and some still have the original paint. This was the previous owner's doing, not mine: apparently, he was trying to create a "custom" car (this explains the three paint squares on the rear of the car ... apparently, he was looking for the right color). The side trim and rocker panel/lower body trim were removed from the car by the previous owner, as were the "Brougham" badges from the C-pillar (again, to create a "custom" car). He also removed the antenna from the passenger-side front fender, and the front and rear side marker lights. The trim around the windows and rear lights is still intact, as are the "AMC" and "Matador" badges on the trunk lid. Some trim around the front headlights is missing. The previous owner removed the driver's side mirror (a non-remote type ... I have it and it will go with the car). I have all of the trim (as well as the antenna and side marker lights) and mounting hardware that he gave me, and it will go with the car. From working around the car, I can tell you that there are some areas of rust. I haven't taken the driver's rocker panel cover off, but there appears to be some rust beneath it. Moreover, there appears to be small areas of rust showing through the primer near some of the wheel wells. The underside of the car is relatively rust-free, through there is some rust near the area beneath the driver's footwell. The trunk is free of rust and is actually in very nice shape. The body is free of dents, with the exception of a small crease on the driver's door and another small crease on the driver's side front fender. The weatherstripping around the driver's and passenger's windows will need to be replaced, but the weatherstripping around the trunk appears sound. As you can see from the photos, the windshield is damaged near the top left corner: according to the previous owner, a piece of concrete fell from a truck on the freeway and stuck the windshield. The car can be driven with the windshield as it is (i.e., it doesn't really block your vision), but it should be replaced. The other glass is intact and free of damage. As you can see, the bumpers have been removed from the car. Again, the previous owner did this, not me. I have the bumpers: they are intact and will go with the car. Engine The engine is AMC's trusty 304 c.i. V-8. I have done the following work to the engine: 1) installed new valve cover gaskets; 2) installed new spark plugs; 3) installed new spark plug wires; 4) changed oil and filter; 5) installed new battery; and 6) installed new fuel filter. According to the previous owner, he replaced the power brake booster. The brakes work very well, so he may have been honest about that one. I have not changed or flushed the coolant, but it looks relatively fresh. It appears to have a relatively new voltage regulator and distributor cap. According to the previous owner, he "overhauled" the carburetor. I can't verify that, but the carb looks to be in good shape. The engine runs very well: it starts very quickly each time. The automatic choke works well: the car idles high until it warms up, and then drops back down to normal idle speed. The car also idles well, without vibration or hesitation. The engine does not smoke or burn oil. When I bought the car, I drove it about 120 miles back to my house, and it didn't miss a beat. I drive the car a few miles each day: the car accelerates smoothly and does not hesitate or knock. All smog equipment is intact and appears to be functioning, though this car is exempt from California smog check/test requirements. I cleaned the top and underside of the engine with a scrub brush and some Gunk degreaser so I could tell if it was leaking any fluids. It has a very small oil leak that appears to be coming from the the front oil pan seal (I could be wrong...it's often difficult to tell where leaks come from). There do not appear to be any coolant or other fluid leaks. The car does not overheat: even when idling in traffic, the temperature gauge only rises about 1/4 of the way up. The previous owner had the gas tank removed, cleaned and sealed, and reinstalled. It appears they did a good job: the outside of the tank has a rust-inhibiting sealer on it as well. I have the invoice from the company that did it, and it comes with a lifetime warranty against corrosion. Transmission/Differential As I said, the transmission is a 904 3-speed. It shifts very well when driving the car. I replaced the transmission fluid, filter, and pan gasket. The transmission appears to leak a bit of fluid from two places that appear to be common for Torque Command/Torqueflite transmissions. One small leak appears to be coming from the rear extension housing seal, and another small leak appears to be coming from where the speedometer cable attaches to the side of the transmission housing. The differential does not whine or make any other odd noises. I haven't done any work on the differential, but the differential cover appears to be leaking a small amount of differential oil. I have purchased the cover gasket, but have not had a chance to install it. It will go with the car. Suspension/Brakes/Tires The suspension appears to be in good shape, though some parts appear to have light surface rust. I replaced the rear shocks. I lubed all of the grease fittings in the front suspension. The ball joints and steering linkage appear to be sound. The suspension has the typical groans and creaks when the car is being driven, but there are no loud knocks or vibrations. The car tracks straight on the highway and the front end does not vibrate at all: I was quite surprised at how smoothly it drives. According to the previous owner, the car had a complete brake job recently. I cannot verify this, but the car stops very well. There are no brake fluid leaks, and the fluid level in the reservoir is high and stable. The brakes make no squealing or other noise. The parking brake works well. The tires have a lot of tread left on them, and do not reveal any suspension problems (i.e., they're not worn on one side). The spare tire is no good, but I'll include it with the car because the wheel it's mounted on is still good (and even comes with the original hubcap). Electrical The car does not appear to have any electrical issues. All headlights (both low and high beam), taillights, turn signals, and reverse lights work well. The interior dome light works well. The dashboard lighting works well. The blower motor and climate controls work well; however, the air conditioning does not blow cold. The compressor clicks on when the selector is moved to "AC," so maybe the system just needs to be recharged. This car has a rear defroster (not a rear defogger fan as some Matadors had). I have not been able to verify whether the rear defroster grid works. The key buzzer and "idiot" lights are functional. All gauges (fuel, temperature, speedometer) work. Interior The carpet is dirty and stained in the front. The front seats are in good shape, and free from rips and tears. They move back and forth and recline without a problem. The decorative plastic covers on the seatbacks are cracked, however. The armrest on the driver's door is beginning to separate from the trim panel, and the pull strap is missing. The driver's door trim panel is in average shape: the one on the passenger side is much better, with the pull strap and armrest intact. The rear seats are in excellent shape. The rear parcel shelf is intact and has no cracks, though some of it is sun-faded. The headliner is in good shape, as are the visors. The dashboard is free of cracks or splits, but the screw-on defroster vent cover is cracked. The front dash panel and kick pad are in good shape, but the previous owner sloppily cut out the radio/lighter panel in order to put in an aftermarket radio. I removed the aftermarket radio (it looked silly) and the Mickey Mouse panel he had put on, and there is now a hole there. The cigarette lighter is present and works. Conclusion As you can see, I've done my best to disclose everything about the condition of the car. If you have any questions, please feel free to contact me. They only made about 23,000 Matador coupes in 1975, and I'd estimate there are probably about 1 to 5 percent of those are still in operation. Whether you need a parts car, would like to restore a Matador, or would like to create a custom car, this car would be a good start. I've been getting a lot of comments from my fellow e-Bayers that I am selling the car for far too low a price. Well, my loss is your gain, I suppose. Because this car is 35 years old, it's being sold without a warranty of any kind (express, implied, or other). The car is located in the San Fernando/Sylmar area of Southern California, and may be picked up there. The car drives well (I drove it over 100 miles home), but if you live in Maine, I wouldn't drive it home. The winning bidder must pay a $500.00 deposit via PayPal within 24 hours of the auction's end. The balance may be delivered (preferably, in cash) when the buyer picks up the car (but in no case more than 3 days after the auction ends). Thanks for reading all of this information. Good luck!