1973 AMC Matador Solid Restoration Candidate Full Ownership Documentation

1973 AMC Matador 4 door Additional Info:

Up for bids is my 1973 American Motors Matador 4 door Sedan.The car is factory equipped with the following:360 V8 2 barrel $43.85Torque Command Column Automatic Trans $244.70Two tone (Custom Red top painted at dealer for Perdue) $36.50Split Reclining Front Seats $95.85Black Wall Tires H78x15 $64.80 (15" wheels were an option)All Season Air Conditioning $377.45Power Steering $111.35Power Brakes - Front Disc $81.35Tinted Glass All Windows $42.00AM Push Button Radio $69.55 (Equipped with Aftermarket Motorola AM to FM Transmitter)Heavy Duty Handing Package (Sway Bar, etc) $37.95Protection Group (Bumper Guards, etc) $19.95Remote Control Deck Lid Opener $13.95Total $4241.25 New
This car was built specifically for Perdue Farms, Inc and shipped to Somerset-American, Inc in Pocomoke City MD when new from Kenosha WI in 1973. Perdue then sent the car from their HQ in Salisbury Maryland to Regional Offices as a fleet vehicle for salesmen in Statesville, NC. While it was in Statesville starting January 15, 1973, it was professionally tended to by Dixie AMC/Jeep, Inc. After one year and 44,000 miles racked up on the Matador (Perdue kept the roads hot between Statesville and Salisbury), Perdue traded it in for a new 1974 Matador. It was purchased locally by Mr. Henry Johnson at Dixie AMC Feb 22, 1974. He traded his 1964 Pontiac 2 Dr for it.
In 1979, Mr. Johnson traded it in again at Dixie, this time with being an 6 year old car with higher mileage, Dixie sold it at auction where Danny Stikeleather, the Service Department Manager at Dixie purchased it for his wife. Danny had known the car throughout its life as his signature is throughout the service records page in the owners manual from 1974 to 1978 with 84,000 miles.
From 1979 to 1993, Mrs. Stikeleather drove the car as her daily driver. Danny had a blue vinyl top put on over the Matador Red paint to match the blue interior. The top has since deteriorated and been mostly removed and there is no rot under it at all. In January of 1993, Danny had his wife park the Matador as with over 155,000 miles he knew one of the lobes on the camshaft had worn and one cylinder was losing compression. The car was parked in his barn in Statesville NC with intention to fix it, but never did and was not removed until when I purchased it in March 2016. I have gotten the engine to turn over to make sure it was not stuck.
The interior will need new carpet but the seats are in very nice shape except for one tear in the upper back of the drivers seat as shown in the photos. The body is rock solid except for small holes at the corners of the rear glass and some crust above the drivers side wheel arch. Floor pans, unibody, and trunk pan are all rot free. The car has not felt rain since 1993.
While the car was parked in the barn, the windshield unfortunately was vandalized and the car will need a new windshield. The car other than that is complete down to the hubcaps and certified AMC Accessory tow hitch added by Mr. Stikeleather. Also included are the original AMC OEM Rubber Floormats! A rarity in good pliable condition as these are, and a full set of 4.
My starting price is my minimum. I feel as solid of a car it is, with all the history known, the accessories it is equipped with and the paperwork to back it all, I will be listing this car for bid just this one time. If it does not sell, I will keep it. I do not *need* to sell this car, I just won't be able to tend to it anytime soon and could use the covered spot for another project. eBay charges me $50 per vehicle listing if I sell it or not, so I am not risking $100 or more to sell a car I don't *need* to.
Buyer to pick up the Matador and have it paid for within 14 days of auction's end.
Car has a clear North Carolina Title.
Thanks for looking and please message me or call/text me with any questions. I am available after 5 pm during the week, anytime on the weekend. 302.233.5332