Mirthmobile from “Wayne's World” Could Be Yours Once Again
Arguably the only reason why the 1976 AMC Pacer is still famous is because of its role as Garth Aldar’s Mirthmobile in the 1992 movie Wayne’s World, particularly the scene where Wayne, Garth and their buddies perform a memorable lip-synced rendition of Queen’s Bohemian Rhapsody.
Well, the baby blue-coloured three-door hatchback with flame decals on the sides is back in the news. The original car from the movie—not some sort of replica—will be sold at the upcoming Barrett-Jackson auction in Scottsdale, Arizona (Jan. 22-30, 2022).
Of course, it won’t the first time. The Mirthmobile has traded owners on a few occasions already. It appeared in a 2015 episode of Pawn Stars and was sold for $37,400 USD by Barrett-Jackson a year later.
According to the auctioneer’s website, every effort was made in the extensive restoration to bring the car 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, while 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). The stereo system is operational. All the props inside the car are original, including the famous licorice dispenser.
Will the Mirthmobile fetch a higher price this time around? We’ll see. Just like what Wayne said about his coveted electric guitar, maybe the car’s future owner is out there saying to themselves: “It will be mine. Oh yes, it will be mine.”
UPDATE (01/28/2022): The winning bid was $71,500 USD, or about $91,200 CAD at the current exchange rate.