When Mert drove this thing onto the lot we both started laughing our tiny asses off. Been a long time since we’d seen a Pacer! Both of us grew up in the midst of the Pacer/Gremlin era of American motoring. Japanese auto makers were looking to … what’s that word that means to completely suck out the innards and life blood from a living beast, leaving only a dessicated shell? Whatever that word is, that’s what Toyota and Honda were in the process of doing at the time. It was a time before American auto makers could be assured of one bailout after another, gas prices were going wild, and they were in a panic. Their panic was a generally good consequence of the oil shock of the early 70s. At least they had to reevaluate, which they’re not doing much of now. But Gremlins and Pacers and a whole list of ill-advised and frankly hilarious chaos came out of North American factories (US, Canada and Mexico) in response.

This little Hot Wheels Packin’ Pacer, like a time machine from the late 1970s with its excellently preserved decals and paint, forces observers to wonder just what is being packed here. But then you look in the back, and there’s like a drag racing motor back there. Isn’t that dangerous? Looks dangerous! But they probably know what they’re doing. Mert says no problem. Take it for a test drive today!

HOT WHEELS PACKIN’ PACER, MADE IN HONG KONG 1977, EXCELLENT CONDITION $18