Launched in 1975, the AMC Pacer was something of a breath of fresh air in the small-car segment. Compact but roomy, it had plenty of glass and a friendly, ducklike face. It was also reasonably thrifty ...

It was the car critics loved and then hated, and it has gained its own following among classic car lovers. American Motors Corporation (AMC) produced the Pacer from model year 1975 through 1980.

Behind all the jokes and insults, the AMC Pacer is actually a car with a great deal of history. It began as radical new design from an underdog company. In an attempt to combat the big, bland, boxy ...