The original 1976 AMC Pacer used in the iconic film "Wayne's World” is up for grabs this weekend at a Barrett Jackson auction in Las Vegas.
The car known in the movie as the “Mirthmobile” has secured a place in ’90s pop culture history thanks to Mike Myers, Dana Carvey, and their characters’ singalong rendition of Queen’s Bohemian Rhapsody (check out the video clip below)...
Exterior modifications made to the 1976 AMC (American Motors Corporation) Pacer for the film included baby blue paint over the original yellow finish with addition of flame decals.
Tow hooks were welded to the front subframe, steel plates welded to the rocker panels for camera supports, heater and air conditioning were removed, rear wheel housings were modified to fit speaker boxes, a hole was drilled in the roof for the famous liquorice dispenser and components were removed from the inner dash to accommodate the cup dispenser and a door mechanism above the sealed-off glove box. The studio also went with a mismatched wheel combination of chrome spoked wheels in the rear and factory hubcaps in the front.
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 re-chromed and the body was refinished with Nason base coat/clear coat to match the movie colour.
The complete front end, including steering rack, was rebuilt. The exhaust, water pump, power steering pump, alternator, battery, belts and hoses are just some of the mechanical parts replaced during the refinish of the motor. Other items restored or refinished include the grille, headlamp doors and bumper cushions; all mouldings and the weatherstrips were replaced.
All the props inside the car are original. The 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 are the upgraded speakers and stereo (the 10" restoration speakers are not functional as there never was an amp in the car).
The stereo system is operational, however, and ready for the winning bidder to do their own rendition of "Bohemian Rhapsody” as famously performed by Wayne, Garth and their friends in the movie (see the video clip below).
Barrett-Jackson’s Las Vegas auction takes place from 13-15 October. The Wayne’s World AMC Pacer – #Lot 608 – is offered with no reserve.
UPDATE: We understand that the AMC Pacer 'Mirthmobile' was sold for $37,400. That's more than any other Pacer has achieved at auction and clearly an indication of the appetite in the market for vehicles with a solid TV or movie history.