Halloween Has Passed, But This Gremlin Isn’t Scary

 

Normally, AMC-stands for American Motors Corporation, but this time it stands for American Mild Custom. Who takes a 1971 Gremlin and customizes it? Only one guy we know: Mike Lowe out of Loveland, Colorado.

It takes some intestinal fortitude to have a go at a Gremlin – a car absolutely no one would even consider making a custom out of – yet the best part of this build is that the Gremlin is not scary. It is actually done very well.

We caught Mike and his Gremlin cruising around at GoodGuy’s 18th Annual event at the Ranch Complex in Loveland, and asked him about it. He told us he bought it in 2006 and has been working on it for the past eight years, and Mike says it’s still not done to his satisfaction (are they ever?).

When he first got it, he was going to make it a daily driver. However, after deciding the stock six was a bit anemic, he found a ’95 Jeep Wrangler 4.0 liter, straight six-cylinder that was about the same size as the original six, but with fuel injection and better ignition. It would make the little Gremlin scoot around town quicker and more efficiently, so he coupled that with a Ford T-5 5-speed, and shortened driveshaft making the diminutive car a ball to drive.IMG_2136

Mike loves oddball stuff, so much so that he owns a 1932 Nash three-window, a 1958 Nash Metropolitan, 1959 Vespa 400, and a 1971 AMC Ambassador. How much more oddball stuff can one own? To answer that, Mike stated that he has owned 13 Gremlins over the past 17 years – stockers to big-motored drag cars. He loves the fact that AMCs can be built different. He said the best thing about AMCs and oddball cars is there are absolutely no rules. So, why not build one unlike everyone else’s car?

Mike’s occupation lent itself to the work on the Gremlin. He’s currently working at a collision shop in Boulder, and has been doing paint and body for 14 years, and worked on cars for as long as he can remember. He loves collision work with some restoration/hot rod work here and there. As time went on and he got older, his love for hot rods and customs grew, and his skills polished. However, building a car on a mid-20 year-old’s income was tough as the budget did not allow to buy parts.  It became a matter of “cut this, move that, add this, and weld it all in. According to Mike, “you don’t need money for early style customizing.”

The motor and transmission had to be raised up into the frame three inches for ground clearance, which also made for a lot of fun fitting it all under the hood so that it closed correctly. Change just one thing, and you must change two more to accommodate that change.

A custom scratch-built intake (neighbor Quentin helped with that) and a scratch-built fan shroud were also added. The firewall and shock towers were reworked and all spot welds and seams were smoothed as well. The front suspension is modified stock and the rear is a triangulated four-link with airbags. Friends, Ian and Dave, helped get this done. The wheels are stock  but powder-coated pearl white, and NOS dog dish caps cover the nuts.

Mike found that the stock engine was underpowered so he decided an engine swap was the first thing the little car needed.

After the engine swap, Mike decided to do a full custom job on the car. Most of the ideas on the Gremlin came from wanting to learn how to do custom stuff, and the best way to learn anything is by doing it. So, why not put an early-style metal dash in, like cars of the 50s and 60s?

Mike walked around swap meets to see what spoke to him, and visited salvage yards to listen to old cars. A ’50 Ford dash literally yelled at him to take it home. When he picked up that dash, he knew it was time to build something totally radical, and really show he’s been a paint and body specialist since 2001.IMG_2149

He removed the stock dash and shortened up the Ford dash he picked up at the local salvage yard. Shorten isn’t exactly accurate, cut up is a better description, as the Ford dash was miles wider than the Gremlin’s. The tray underneath it is scratch built. The wiper motor is hidden away under the dash. As a “daily driver” the car needed a heater and core – which came from a Toyota 4Runner donor.

The seats are ‘91 Subaru buckets and the headrests were tossed out. The center console is modified ‘05 Subaru. There is normally a back seat and a cargo area in the rear, but Mike decided he needed a full package tray. Under the package tray is a small trunk area with two compressors and a five gallon air tank for the air bags. There’s probably 50 plus hours of sheet metal fabrication in the interior alone.

Normally a Gremlin has a rear seat and small storage area, Mike eliminated that and now uses the area for the air bag compressor.

Mike then priced out a professional interior job and surmised he’d still be saving up his money for that, so he decided to take a couple of upholstery classes at Community College, purchase a sewing machine and dive in. He fabricated the headliner, carpet, seats and door panels.

Can't afford a professional interior? Go to upholstery school, learn how the pros do it and go buy the material, just as Mike did.

Outside there are a lot of small touches: PPG and Sherwin Williams paints were used, Toyota colors – purple and white. Every body panel has had work done to it. The grill bar is a ‘57 Buick mounted in a modified stock grille. All emblems and handles were shaved. The front and rear side marker lights were also shaved for a cleaner look. The front wheel well lips were rolled. All of the body seams were shaved and worked, along with the drip rails and cowl vents for that little extra attention to detail. A Lot of these little things were done to the car that most people won’t notice, but they will like the look.IMG_2137

After all the body work was completely finished, Mike primed and blocked the car three times. The jambs and interior metal were shot at his home garage. The balance of the car was shot at his job in Boulder with good friend KC help. After all the extra finishing was complete, the scallops were laid out and clear was shot over the entire body.

Everything except for the exhaust and pinstriping was done by the owner. Even more amazing is the fact that all work, except the exterior paint, was done at home in his single car garage. Mike is modest, wanting to make sure everyone reading this understands he didn’t build the car by himself, unlike other “builders” that take credit for everything done on the car.

In order to finish the car in time for the GoodGuy’s event in Loveland, in September he had the car striped. The pinstriping was a collaborated effort by Beth Kearney (Lil Dame pinstriping) and Jeff Lytle (Gearhead Graphics). Beth placed all of the ‘Gremlins’ on the grille, underhood striping, the center console and the grille bar. Jeff did the scallop outlines, interior striping and the American Motors logo on the hood.

IMG_2144Mike said he could not have built this car without the love and support of his wife, Karen. Thanks to her, his father George, and all his friends who weren’t mentioned, as well as his understanding neighbors who came over and helped.

Mike’s ultimate goal is to open his own shop soon and call it “Lowe Life Speed Shop.”

About the author

Roger Jetter

Roger’s interests in cars started at 14 with a ’40 Ford pick-up until he bought his first ’57 Chevy at age 16. That car is featured in the first two books he’s written about the 1960’s and growing up in the Midwest. He’s authored several more books as well and has built several cars over the years that have received major coverage in magazines and won plenty of awards. His current build is a 1948 Cadillac Sedanet, although his current 'driver' is a '55 Cadillac Coupe DeVille.
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