Certain signs make you realize that you’re starting to clock a few years. One of those is looking at classic cars that recently emerged from decades in storage and realizing that you can remember those cars when their original owners were driving them off the showroom floor. That is the case with this 1979 AMC Spirit DL Liftback. A previous owner parked it in around 1994, and the seller recently commenced returning it to a roadworthy state. There are still some tasks remaining, but it does run and drive. It isn’t perfect, but its solid nature leaves the new owner with the choice of performing a light cosmetic refresh or retaining it as an original survivor. Located in Littlerock, California, you will find the Spirit listed for sale here on eBay. The bidding has already raced past the reserve to sit at $4,000.
When the seller located this Sable Brown Spirit, it had been in storage since around 1994. Dragging it into the light of day revealed marks and imperfections that accumulated thanks to some careless placement of items during the hibernation. There is nothing horrendous, and the Spirit may respond positively to a wet sand and buff. If I were to buy this classic, that would be my approach. It is unlikely to become a mega-dollar classic, so unless I felt comfortable with tackling a repaint myself, a sand-and-polish-process may prove the most cost-effective solution. The panels are pretty straight, with only the occasional minor blemish or mark. AMC placed great emphasis on its rust prevention program, and when combined with this car’s life spent in California, its rust-free status is no surprise. Otherwise, the trim looks good for a survivor, the glass is flawless, and the Rally wheels add a perfect finishing touch to the exterior.
While buyers could order their new Spirit with a four-cylinder engine, more than 60% paid the extra for a six. That is what we find lurking under the hood of this survivor, although it isn’t clear whether it is a 232ci or 258ci motor. The rest of the drivetrain includes a three-speed automatic transmission, power steering, and power front disc brakes. If this car features the 232, its power output should be 90hp, while the larger unit boosts it to 110hp. Neither allows the Spirit to qualify as a muscle car, with the ¼-mile ET sitting between 19.2 and 20.8 seconds, depending on the engine capacity. The seller has begun the process of returning the vehicle to a roadworthy state. They have replaced the fuel hoses, fuel pump, fuel filter and installed a new master cylinder. The tires are pretty old, and while they hold air, the seller recommends replacing them before hitting the road. The Spirit runs well and yard drives. There is still work required before it returns to its rightful place on our roads, but the buyer will commence the process with a vehicle that seems mechanically sound. The seller claims that it has 45,000 genuine miles on the clock, and while they don’t mention supporting documentation, the car’s history makes the claim plausible
If any aspect of this AMC packs a surprise, it is its interior condition. The seller identifies a small but potentially repairable tear on the driver’s seat and a sagging headliner. Otherwise, its shape is impressive. The Beige vinyl upholstery looks excellent. There is no significant wear or fading on the carpet, while the dash and pad show no evidence of sun damage or cracking. The impression is that the buyer will spend more time than money whipping this aspect of this classic into shape. It also isn’t badly equipped. The buyer receives air conditioning, an AM/FM stereo radio, and a tilt wheel. Admittedly, that doesn’t place the Spirit in Cadillac territory, but it rates well for a car considered affordable family transport.
AMC produced 52,714 examples of the Spirit in 1979, with the majority (36,241) featuring a six-cylinder engine under the hood. The company’s emphasis on rust prevention means that many that appear in today’s market will be more solid than similar vehicles from other manufacturers. However, as with many cars from this era, owners drove these classics until they needed significant work. Most elected to cut their losses when this occurred and send them to the scrapyard. Finding good ones today can be challenging, but this car shows promise. If the bidding doesn’t advance much further, it could also represent an affordable project car for the right person. Could that person be you?
If you’re gonna go back, not the late Carter years in a brown Spirit! Nooo!
Guy that bought these babies, back in the day? Were definitely making a statement. “I Hate Cars.”
Nothing wrong with these, last forever….
I remember when these were on the market. I was way too young at the time to drive, but I thought the Spirit was AMC’s best looking car.
I have to work at it now, but I still love Root beer !!
It’s hard to believe a 1979 could be as old as it is… This is a great looking car..the 232 and 258 are very good long-lived engines
My brother had one of these for a short time. He used it in the SCCA Showroom Stock class. I think it was in SSB. He used to say it was faster than anything else, but couldn’t go around any corner. So you would try to go as wide and take up as much space as possible.
I drove it one semester in college when he was overseas
I like it and have wanted one for years now. If it was not so far away from me, I would give it a try.
The top pic from the side….it resembles the infamous Ford Pinto.
So this could have been AMC’s answer to that bomb.
Did some research and AMC’s quirkiness seems to be attributed
to the merger of Nash (which had some real quirks) Rambler (did too)
and Hudson which formed AMC.
Never thought of it as looking like a Pinto. Ouch. Spoke wheels and rear spoiler really make them sort of pop. Many shops can pump up the power on those 6-cylinder engines.
The Spirit was a much, much better looking Gremlin. Nothing more and nothing less. I had a ’73 Gremlin X ordered new from the factory. 258 six, three on the floor. It was my first new car. $2500.00. Bulletproof. Drove it for four years and got bored with it and sold it after buying a 1976 VW Scirocco which threw a rod at 26,000 miles. Would have been better off being bored. The Spirit was the Gremlin that should have been. They might have sold a lot more of them. I still have a 2003 Jeep Grand Cherokee with the 4.0L six that was the last iteration of the venerable AMC engine. Every time I start it, it reminds me of the Gremlin because the engine sounds the same.
The author says the carpet is fine but looking at the pictures shows otherwise
I had one of these , sold it at a profit !
Not much leg room for the back seat, like the modern pony cars. Yet the Pinto had lots! Go figure.