I would have to check on this, but from memory I think fewer than 1,000 V8 Gremlins were sold in the 1976 model year. Obviously the fuel crisis was hitting hard. It's a shame the Gremlin GT of the late 70s wasn't available with the 304 because that would have been a neat ride.
It's a mystery why they brought back the 304 V8 for the Gremlin in 1979 MY. I think it was because up to that point the gas price was easing, 1978 was a record year for the US car industry, and AMC itself was actually recovering going into 1979 MY. They were on the up.