# AMC Matador

The AMC Matador (racing version) was a stock car built by [American Motors Corporation](https://www.edgepedia.org/american-motors-corporation) (AMC) that competed in the NASCAR Winston Cup Series, winning five Cup races between 1973 and 1975 with drivers Mark Donohue and [Bobby Allison](https://www.edgepedia.org/bobby-allison).<sup>[1](https://autosportworld.info/en/cars/amc-matador-amc/)</sup><sup> • </sup><sup>[2](https://stockcarracing.fandom.com/wiki/American_Motors)</sup> It was powered by an AMC engine and was backed by Penske Racing in a part-time effort for much of its Cup tenure.<sup>[1](https://autosportworld.info/en/cars/amc-matador-amc/)</sup><sup> • </sup><sup>[2](https://stockcarracing.fandom.com/wiki/American_Motors)</sup>

| Key fact | Detail |
|---|---|
| Series | NASCAR Winston Cup Series, raced by AMC from 1972 through 1978<sup>[2](https://stockcarracing.fandom.com/wiki/American_Motors)</sup> |
| Race wins | 5 Winston Cup victories<sup>[2](https://stockcarracing.fandom.com/wiki/American_Motors)</sup> |
| Drivers | Mark Donohue (1 recorded race, 1 win, 1 pole) and Bobby Allison (4 recorded races, 4 wins, 4 poles)<sup>[1](https://autosportworld.info/en/cars/amc-matador-amc/)</sup> |
| First win | 1973 Winston Western 500 at Riverside, driven by Mark Donohue<sup>[3](https://www.nascarreference.com/mfg/mfgwinsum.php?MfgID=10&Series=1)</sup> |
| Best season | 1975, with 3 wins and 3 poles<sup>[1](https://autosportworld.info/en/cars/amc-matador-amc/)</sup> |
| Technical note | One of the first oval stock cars to use four-wheel disc brakes<sup>[2](https://stockcarracing.fandom.com/wiki/American_Motors)</sup> |

## Background and development

American Motors entered NASCAR with the Matador model in the Winston Cup Series from 1972 through 1978, and also raced the Javelin in the Grand American Series.<sup>[2](https://stockcarracing.fandom.com/wiki/American_Motors)</sup> The factory effort with [Roger Penske](https://www.edgepedia.org/roger-penske)'s team began with research and development in 1971, and the resulting car competed in the 1973 to 1975 NASCAR Cup seasons.<sup>[4](https://www.pbcommercial.com/cars-we-remember-history-of-amc-muscle-cars-and/)</sup> Racing pundits initially scoffed at the notion of an AMC entry, but the car was innovative in being one of the first oval stock cars to use four-wheel disc brakes.<sup>[2](https://stockcarracing.fandom.com/wiki/American_Motors)</sup>

The 1972 season saw several appearances by an AMC Matador belonging to Roger Penske and driven by Mark Donohue; this is the same car that was later campaigned by Bobby Allison.<sup>[5](https://wwnboa.org/hartman.htm)</sup> Across AMC's full NASCAR tenure, the manufacturer's first race was the 1971 Myers Brothers 250 and its last the 1978 [Coca-Cola](https://www.edgepedia.org/coca-cola) 500, with five race wins and no manufacturers' championships.<sup>[2](https://stockcarracing.fandom.com/wiki/American_Motors)</sup>

## Race record

According to the racing-car database record, the Matador competed from 1973 to 1975, took part in 5 races, and recorded 5 wins and 5 pole positions.<sup>[1](https://autosportworld.info/en/cars/amc-matador-amc/)</sup> Its wins by year were 1 win and 1 pole in 1973, 1 win and 1 pole in 1974, and 3 wins and 3 poles in 1975.<sup>[1](https://autosportworld.info/en/cars/amc-matador-amc/)</sup>

**Mark Donohue's win.** Donohue won the 1973 Riverside NASCAR race on 21 January 1973, the car's first recorded victory.<sup>[1](https://autosportworld.info/en/cars/amc-matador-amc/)</sup> NASCAR Reference lists this as the 1973 Winston Western 500.<sup>[3](https://www.nascarreference.com/mfg/mfgwinsum.php?MfgID=10&Series=1)</sup>

**Bobby Allison's wins.** Allison took over the car and won the 1974 Ontario NASCAR race on 24 November 1974, listed by NASCAR Reference as the L.A. Times 500.<sup>[1](https://autosportworld.info/en/cars/amc-matador-amc/)</sup><sup> • </sup><sup>[3](https://www.nascarreference.com/mfg/mfgwinsum.php?MfgID=10&Series=1)</sup> In 1975 he won three times: the Winston West 500, the Rebel 500, and the Southern 500, the last two forming a sweep of the 1975 races at [Darlington](https://www.edgepedia.org/darlington).<sup>[3](https://www.nascarreference.com/mfg/mfgwinsum.php?MfgID=10&Series=1)</sup><sup> • </sup><sup>[2](https://stockcarracing.fandom.com/wiki/American_Motors)</sup> Allison also won a Daytona 500 Qualifying race in 1975 and finished second in the [Daytona 500](https://www.edgepedia.org/daytona-500) itself a few days later.<sup>[2](https://stockcarracing.fandom.com/wiki/American_Motors)</sup>

## Summary of wins

| # | Race | Driver |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | 1973 Winston Western 500 | Mark Donohue<sup>[3](https://www.nascarreference.com/mfg/mfgwinsum.php?MfgID=10&Series=1)</sup> |
| 2 | 1974 L.A. Times 500 | Bobby Allison<sup>[3](https://www.nascarreference.com/mfg/mfgwinsum.php?MfgID=10&Series=1)</sup> |
| 3 | 1975 Winston West 500 | Bobby Allison<sup>[3](https://www.nascarreference.com/mfg/mfgwinsum.php?MfgID=10&Series=1)</sup> |
| 4 | 1975 Rebel 500 | Bobby Allison<sup>[3](https://www.nascarreference.com/mfg/mfgwinsum.php?MfgID=10&Series=1)</sup> |
| 5 | 1975 Southern 500 | Bobby Allison<sup>[3](https://www.nascarreference.com/mfg/mfgwinsum.php?MfgID=10&Series=1)</sup> |

## The road car

The Matador was also AMC's passenger car line, sold in models including a coupe, a 4-door sedan, and a 4-door station wagon, and documented in AMC's 1974 full-line sales brochure alongside the Gremlin, Hornet, Javelin, AMX, and [Ambassador](https://www.edgepedia.org/ambassador).<sup>[6](https://www.autopaper.com/1974-amc-matador-gremlin-hornet-javelin-amx-ambassador-sales-brochure-original.php)</sup> A 1975 Matador was offered with a V-8 360 CID 4-barrel engine with an automatic transmission.<sup>[7](https://rosap.ntl.bts.gov/view/dot/10596/dot_10596_DS1.pdf)</sup>

## References

1. [Race car AMC Matador in motorsport. Full information, Autosport World](https://autosportworld.info/en/cars/amc-matador-amc/)
2. [American Motors, Stock Car Racing Wiki](https://stockcarracing.fandom.com/wiki/American_Motors)
3. [NASCAR Manufacturer Wins, NASCAR Reference](https://www.nascarreference.com/mfg/mfgwinsum.php?MfgID=10&Series=1)
4. [Cars We Remember: History of AMC muscle cars and racing, PB Commercial](https://www.pbcommercial.com/cars-we-remember-history-of-amc-muscle-cars-and/)
5. [A Chronicle Of Chrysler's Involvement In NASCAR, Winged Warriors/National B-Body Owners Association](https://wwnboa.org/hartman.htm)
6. [1974 AMC Matador Gremlin Hornet Javelin AMX Ambassador Sales Brochure, AutoPaper](https://www.autopaper.com/1974-amc-matador-gremlin-hornet-javelin-amx-ambassador-sales-brochure-original.php)
7. [Automotive manufacturing assessment system: final report, ROSA P](https://rosap.ntl.bts.gov/view/dot/10596/dot_10596_DS1.pdf)

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*Topic: Encyclopedia › Technology and the built world › Transport and spaceflight › Road transport › Automobiles › American automobile models › Full-size and family sedans*

*Initially written Sep 17, 2026 · Reviewed: Oct 15, 2026 · Edited: Oct 15, 2026 · Last review: Oct 15, 2026*

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