The round, striking design and large windows of the AMC Pacer made the compact car a real eye-catcher in the mid-1970s. It was American Motors Corporation’s first compact car to meet the needs of modern families. The idea was to create a car that was practical, efficient and stylish – and the Pacer achieved this in its own, very unique way.
Critics described it as a “fish on wheels” and sales figures were modest. Nevertheless, the Pacer found its place in pop culture as a freaky vehicle in The Wayne’s World. There, it became a symbol of the quirky, unconventional style of the 1990s, the opposite of ambition. It has been cult ever since. More than just a means of transportation, it is also a piece of cultural history. A very slow one.
