The Gremlin
In the 1970s if you were in the market for a subcompact and the Ford Pinto or Chevrolet Vega didn’t appeal to you, the Gremlin was a great choice. Of course, a gremlin is defined as a “small, mischevious gnome” and it’s synonyms include elf, troll, goblin, and hobgoblin— all words you want associated with your car, right? AMC marketing said of the Gremlin it was “a pal to its friends and an ogre to its enemies.”
When the American Motor Corporation (AMC) introduced the Gremlin in 1970 it was touted as an economical car. The drawbacks were it only offered two doors and the backseat was truly tiny, although the wide body gave it a comfortable ride for folks in the front seat, according to Time magazine. The hatchback design was new at that time.
The Gremlin was produced until 1978 when sales had fallen as newer subcompacts were introduced to the market.