zzdcar
Home
/
Reviews
/
Buying
/
Celebrate Valentine's Day The Right Way In The Wayne's World Pacer
Celebrate Valentine's Day The Right Way In The Wayne's World Pacer-November 2024
2024-02-19 EST 22:09:26

Image for article titled Celebrate Valentine's Day The Right Way In The Wayne's World Pacer

Look, I know it’s a little early to start thinking about Valentine’s Day, but I have a treat for you just a box of chocolates. How about the 1976 AMC Pacer used in Wayne’s World? Yep, this is the actual car used in the movie, and it’s the Barrett-Jackson auction block.

The AMC Pacer was the automaker’s take on the compacts sweeping the United States. AMC marketed the thing as being as wide as a full-sized car, but with the economy of a small car.

Image for article titled Celebrate Valentine's Day The Right Way In The Wayne's World Pacer

The Pacer’s surface area was 37 percent glass, far more than the average car back then and practically unheard of today. Sadly, its unusual style made it a bit of a mocking stock; a perfect ride for two slacker buddies in a 1992 comedy film that debuted on Valentine’s Day.

In Wayne’s World, Wayne Campbell (Mike Meyers) is a rocker still living in his parents’ basement in Aurora, Illinois. He has a public-access television show with his buddy Garth Algar (Dana Carvey). Together, the two embark on a misadventure that provides laughs nearly 30 years later. And the vehicle for their story? Garth’s blue “Mirthmobile” Pacer with mismatched wheels, a cup dispenser, a ceiling-mounted licorice dispenser and flames on the side.

Image for article titled Celebrate Valentine's Day The Right Way In The Wayne's World Pacer

After the movie the little car became a museum piece. It ended up in the hands of the in northeast Illinois. The Museum — famous for its collection of original movie cars — held onto it for a while before in 2004. After the sale, it disappeared for years.

It reappeared in a 2015 episode of Pawn Stars of all places.

Pawn Stars’ Rick Harrison said he got the car for $9,500 in a sorry state and not even running, a steep discount off of Volo’s $15,000 ask. Harrison restored the Mirthmobile not just to a nearly-perfect state but made it appear almost exactly as it did on the silver screen.

The Barrett-Jackson listing notes what was done in the restoration:

“Every effort was made in the car’s extensive restoration to bring it back to its movie condition. All bolted-on body parts were removed, and the exterior body was stripped to bare metal. Bumpers and original wheels were rechromed and the body was refinished with Nason base coat/clear coat to match the movie color. Seats and the headliner were recovered, and all interior panels and dashboard were refinished. The only part of the restoration not true to the movie is the upgraded speakers and stereo (the 10-inch restoration speakers are not functional as there never was an amp in the car).”

Image for article titled Celebrate Valentine's Day The Right Way In The Wayne's World Pacer

The end result looks excellent. Everything you remember from the movie is there, including the aforementioned licorice dispenser.

The refreshed 4.2-liter inline-six is ready to wow you with its 100 HP and its three-speed automatic is there to keep things slow and steady.

Image for article titled Celebrate Valentine's Day The Right Way In The Wayne's World Pacer

I imagine the buyers of this car will be more excited about being able to have their own jam session with the upgraded stereo.

This is actually not the first time this car’s crossed the block. The freshly restored car sold at Barrett-Jackson for $37,400. That makes this a movie car that you can own hopefully without having to drop an incredible amount of money. The Mirthmobile goes up for auction again .

Comments
Welcome to zzdcar comments! Please keep conversations courteous and on-topic. To fosterproductive and respectful conversations, you may see comments from our Community Managers.
Sign up to post
Sort by
Show More Comments
Buying
At $18,500, Would You Lean Toward Buying This 2022 Ford Mustang?
At $18,500, Would You Lean Toward Buying This 2022 Ford Mustang?
Today’s Mustang is being sold by a towing yard, which means it’s probably a lien sale. Let’s see if this clean title convertible is priced to put a new buyer on the hook. The general consensus on last Friday’s was that it would be the perfect car for someone...
Nov 7, 2025
At $5,900, Is This 1984 Nissan 720 4X4 A Solid Deal?
At $5,900, Is This 1984 Nissan 720 4X4 A Solid Deal?
According to its seller, today’s Nissan 4X4 shows “pride of ownership.” Let’s see if it would take swallowing one’s pride to pay its asking price. Opinions were split on how well the design of yesterday’s has held up over the years. Some of you commented that the design still...
Nov 7, 2025
At $950, Would You Go All-In On This 1984 Plymouth Colt GTS Turbo Project?
At $950, Would You Go All-In On This 1984 Plymouth Colt GTS Turbo Project?
One of the calling cards of today’s Plymouth Colt is its “Twin Stick” overdrive gear change, which gives the car eight speeds going forward and two in reverse. Let’s see if this project car has anything else to offer. Just as Goldilocks discovered when appropriating Papa Bear’s lifestyle and...
Nov 7, 2025
At $8,600, Would You Go Topless In This 1994 Cadillac Eldorado?
At $8,600, Would You Go Topless In This 1994 Cadillac Eldorado?
The seller of today’s Caddy claims they should be selling it at auction but says who’s got time for that? Let’s see if we have the time for this custom convertible at its non-auction price. Many of you agreed that the $950 asked for yesterday’s was “chump change.” Even...
Nov 7, 2025
Someone Willingly Paid $16,000 For A Maserati Ghibli On Cars & Bids. Don’t Make The Same Mistake
Someone Willingly Paid $16,000 For A Maserati Ghibli On Cars & Bids. Don’t Make The Same Mistake
Let’s cut right to the chase: buying a is not a good idea unless you have deep enough pockets for the upkeep. For those not in the know, they’re sirens. They draw you in with their premium Italian image and sweet songs of and then go in for the...
Nov 7, 2025
Which One Of You Suckers Is Going To Pay Over $32,000 For A 25-Year-Old Toyota 4Runner
Which One Of You Suckers Is Going To Pay Over $32,000 For A 25-Year-Old Toyota 4Runner
The (and Tacoma) have a death grip on used values. It’s been this way for years. Go ahead, go try and buy any TRD trim that’s a couple of years old; it’ll cost you as much as a new one — not that you could buy a new one...
Nov 7, 2025
Copyright 2023-2025 - www.zzdcar.com All Rights Reserved