Topic: Final Drive: 1979 AMC Spirit AMX

[Autos_Editor]

Dirty deeds, done dirt cheap.
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[Blueprint]

Considering what it's based on, the Spirit was a good-looking little thing back then. I remember seeing the AMX and SX (?) versions around as a kid, friendly little things compared to the bad-boy Camaros and Firebirds that sold in droves a the end of the '70s.

Very nice example, hope it finds a good home!

And great write-up, as usual 

[D70]

A classic that is often forgotten

https://www.flickr.com/photos/d70w7/15187968737/in/photolist-p97iXX-poyfLj

[pcsp]

Enjoyable read, Brendan. Humour was spot on; I mean you can only be so serious when writing about a 1979 AMC Spirit. Brought back memories; never had one, but they frequented the streets of St. John's in the 70's and 80's. Styling is fairly timeless. Put some 19" wheels on it and it could pass muster today. The visibility from inside appears awesome. Most cars today could only wish for driver sightlines that good. Old cars are like old music - it's not so much the product, as the memories of the time that they generate that makes them significant.

[Brendan McAleer]

Old cars are like old music - it's not so much the product, as the memories of the time that they generate that makes them significant.

Truth.

[Firm]

Another great read Brendan. Very cool car too, the black and orange is perfect on this stubby little thing.

[redman]

Fun read. Thanks

AMC products were odd ducks but were unique and spearheaded some different in the auto industry at the time influencing other brands and their product line.

Still get excited when I see a classic Javelin.

[Fobroader]

Fun read, but yeah, I had totally forgotten about that car.

[KD]

A friend's brother owned one of these back in the day.  He was always wheeling in dealing in (mostly muscle) cars and probably went through several a year, but this was not one of the standouts in any way.  It looked pretty good, but was gutless as hell and everything felt loose.  He didn't keep it for long anyway.

I thought the AMC 4x4 cars were cool and way ahead of their time as it turns out.  Some of their cars wee weird enough to become cult classics though IMO.  Cars like the Matador, Gremlin and Pacer were pretty distinct looking and I'm probably forgetting a few as well.

[Brendan McAleer]

A friend's brother owned one of these back in the day.  He was always wheeling in dealing in (mostly muscle) cars and probably went through several a year, but this was not one of the standouts in any way.  It looked pretty good, but was gutless as hell and everything felt loose.

I see I forgot to put in the horsepower estimate for that 401ci: 400-500hp. And loose.

[Just4u2c]

Brad here.. Proud NEW owner of this leashed mutt.. Mr. McAleer, your friend Bruce, just gave you the exact experience in this car that you were able to describe this car to a tee..
Back story: My parents bought one new in 79.. drove it for like 70k miles or so then parked it, saved it for when I got my license.. It was my first car... I loved that thing, and I was dumb.. Lots of tickets. Lots of Shennanigans. But it taught me a lot. It built some of the greatest memories I have, along with many of my friends I have recently found out. I always wanted to put a 401 and a 5 speed in it. Bad on me though, I put it into a corner too hard and an evil minivan munched it. ALL my fault.. I went on to buying a 64 Rambler American 2dr HT and dropped a 304 in it with some paint and wheels and drove it until the real world hit and I turned 18... Then, well the fun ended for me for a while with cars.
I took a few years from muscle and went European stuff.. Newer VW's and Audi's and some Beamers...
Just a month ago I got rid of my car and thought about what I wanted.. I wanted my very first car.. Looked really quick online for an AMX. I found 2.. One with 7800 original miles for $20 grand.. And one not so hot of shape for $13 grand.. I gave up.. I just happened to ask my dad (who looks for cars to buy all the time) saturday morning if he had seen an AMX though. He had, on craigslist, in Seattle area. Well I hit the web, and found Bruce's..  I emailed him and headed to the bank. I pulled out all the money I could get my hands on minutes before they closed still waiting on a reply.  And then I got one... Mind you, we are about 450 miles from Bruce. Across another countries border and going on the hope he will keep it for me..
We get there and I light up the ignition and it was mine.. I didn't even need to drive it.. I didn't think about the fact I had to take an untested 38 year old car for 8 hours of driving.. Went for a quick loop with Bruce, shook his hand with a transfer of some dough, and drove off into the sunrise.. Yep, it was still that early..
I babied it all the way home and it did great!!! I was beat and stuffed with so many emotions I didn't even notice all the attention it got.. My wife followed me home, and she got to see all the people stare and take pictures.. I was just in my own little world in this joy.. It drives AMAZING.. I am a mechanic.. There are a lot of new cars that don't track this well.. I was tired from a 900 mile trip, but the next day me and my wife went for another. It was gorgeous out and the car shined..
I live in central Oregon. The roads are long and open out here. There are canyons to cruise, city strips to rumble through. And cars shows every weekend around here.. I have let it stretch its legs a little already. I have already gotten more compliments on it than I can believe.. What am I going to change on it? Not much.. I am going to go through the suspension and replace everything and get rid of those sounds that make people a bit uneasy from the passenger seat. I am going add some period correct seats.. And then I am going to enjoy it. Car shows to just inform people that there are other old hot rods than Novas and Camaros and Mustangs...
It is going to be daily driven, just because here in the land of 300 days of sun, it can be daily driven.. Thank you AMC for creating this, but not so many to flood the market. Thank you to the person who swapped in this new life into this kitten to make it a lion. And thank you Bruce for taking care of it while I looked for just this car.  And finally, thank you Brendan for capturing this car in your perfect description for all of time..

Brad

[Sir Osis of Liver]

^ Epic! Congratulations, man!

[Fobroader]

Awesome man, this car is all kinds of win!!

Sent from my Galaxy S3

[Sir Osis of Liver]

That's awesome. Great story. I know this car is going to give you a lot of pleasure.

From central Oregon, eh. My favourite state by far. I think in the past I have driven every state road from north to south and west to east and vice versa.

You didn't die from dysentery? 



https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Oregon_Trail_(video_game)

[tooscoops]

that game rocked...

anyway, congratulations brad! i think the amc's not only are funky little runabouts, but due to the rarity of them (who the hell saved them?!) they might even go up in value... not much, but at least enough to cover the wear and tear so that you should always be able to get your money out of it.

i would choose one of these over all the other fake muscle cars of the era... none were that quick, but at least this was quirk.

[Brendan McAleer]

*snip*

That's so awesome - sounds like the car found its perfect home!   

[Blueprint]

What a happy ending  !

The Spirit hatch was amazingly stylish in 1979 for something that still had the front clip of a Hornet.

The other body style is even rarer - the classic Gremlin Kammback glass hatch, but with bigger side windows. Get that one as an Eagle and you have one heck of a unicorn!

[mixmanmash]

Brad here.. Proud NEW owner of this leashed mutt.. Mr. McAleer, your friend Bruce, just gave you the exact experience in this car that you were able to describe this car to a tee..
Back story: My parents bought one new in 79.. drove it for like 70k miles or so then parked it, saved it for when I got my license.. It was my first car... I loved that thing, and I was dumb.. Lots of tickets. Lots of Shennanigans. But it taught me a lot. It built some of the greatest memories I have, along with many of my friends I have recently found out. I always wanted to put a 401 and a 5 speed in it. Bad on me though, I put it into a corner too hard and an evil minivan munched it. ALL my fault.. I went on to buying a 64 Rambler American 2dr HT and dropped a 304 in it with some paint and wheels and drove it until the real world hit and I turned 18... Then, well the fun ended for me for a while with cars.
I took a few years from muscle and went European stuff.. Newer VW's and Audi's and some Beamers...
Just a month ago I got rid of my car and thought about what I wanted.. I wanted my very first car.. Looked really quick online for an AMX. I found 2.. One with 7800 original miles for $20 grand.. And one not so hot of shape for $13 grand.. I gave up.. I just happened to ask my dad (who looks for cars to buy all the time) saturday morning if he had seen an AMX though. He had, on craigslist, in Seattle area. Well I hit the web, and found Bruce's..  I emailed him and headed to the bank. I pulled out all the money I could get my hands on minutes before they closed still waiting on a reply.  And then I got one... Mind you, we are about 450 miles from Bruce. Across another countries border and going on the hope he will keep it for me..
We get there and I light up the ignition and it was mine.. I didn't even need to drive it.. I didn't think about the fact I had to take an untested 38 year old car for 8 hours of driving.. Went for a quick loop with Bruce, shook his hand with a transfer of some dough, and drove off into the sunrise.. Yep, it was still that early..
I babied it all the way home and it did great!!! I was beat and stuffed with so many emotions I didn't even notice all the attention it got.. My wife followed me home, and she got to see all the people stare and take pictures.. I was just in my own little world in this joy.. It drives AMAZING.. I am a mechanic.. There are a lot of new cars that don't track this well.. I was tired from a 900 mile trip, but the next day me and my wife went for another. It was gorgeous out and the car shined..
I live in central Oregon. The roads are long and open out here. There are canyons to cruise, city strips to rumble through. And cars shows every weekend around here.. I have let it stretch its legs a little already. I have already gotten more compliments on it than I can believe.. What am I going to change on it? Not much.. I am going to go through the suspension and replace everything and get rid of those sounds that make people a bit uneasy from the passenger seat. I am going add some period correct seats.. And then I am going to enjoy it. Car shows to just inform people that there are other old hot rods than Novas and Camaros and Mustangs...
It is going to be daily driven, just because here in the land of 300 days of sun, it can be daily driven.. Thank you AMC for creating this, but not so many to flood the market. Thank you to the person who swapped in this new life into this kitten to make it a lion. And thank you Bruce for taking care of it while I looked for just this car.  And finally, thank you Brendan for capturing this car in your perfect description for all of time..

Brad

And just when I was going to ask Brendan the contact info for Bruce...   Congratulations!

I loved my road trip through Oregon.  I spent 2 days running my 300ZX at Oregon Raceway Park back in 2010.  Absolutely love the curves & rolling hills.

[Arthur Dent]

Nice article and great ending to the story. Sounds like the car found the perfect owner.

I saw one of these last weekend. Had a GM LS V8 motor swapped in.