If you want to go vintage racing, there are loads of “typical” choices: the Porsche 911, the Datsun 510, the BMW 2002. However, who wants to be typical (well, aside from people who want to actually win)? The AMC Spirit is clearly the nonconformist’s choice, and the car shown here is a real-deal, raced-in-period example that has been slumbering in a barn. It doesn’t have any sort of wild, high performance engine swap, but looks like it was set up to be a genuine track car that relied on the talents of its driver rarther than raw horsepower to be competitive. Find it here on eBay with a Buy-It-Now of $29,000.
Almost $30K seems like a very heady ask for a car like this, but if it’s been built the right way, it’s likely somewhat difficult to replicate the build for the same money. Rusty Acres is a real place, with a quick Google search showing it was a salvage yard in Jacksonville, Florida that had been around for decades. The owner apparently had a reputation for dirt track racing back in the day, but this AMC appears to be set up for road course competition. I don’t think it belonged to the ownership group behind the salvage yard, but if you can track down the owner, he might know more of the history behind this AMC that his business supposedly sponsored.
The AMC Spirit is not the strangest choice to convert into track car use. Some of you may recall that AMC raced the Spirit in the IMSA series, and plenty of privateers used the model successfully in SCCA racing. There’s a small but mighty community of AMC enthusiasts who have deep knowledge of these cars, including which ones were sanctioned by the factory and which were built by individuals who perhaps completed at significant levels on their own dime. Regardless, I’m sure there’s an AMC expert watching this auction who knows a thing or two about this car’s history. According to the listing, it previously raced at Atlanta Motor Speedway, now known as EchoPark Speedway.
Engine-wise, the AMC uses a “…. 2700 cc inline four cylinder with a 4-barrel carburetor,” according to the listing, and is paired with a 4-speed manual and Ford-sourced 7.25 rear end. The car is has a proper roll cage and other race-spec changes, such as the removal of the headlights and grill with the entire section screened in to protect against racing debris. It squats down nicely on racing slicks and 13-inch wheels which are stuffed into the fender wells. The IMSA connection makes any AMC set up for racing a conversation piece, and the asking price could perhaps be justified with more evidence of its competition past. Do any of you recognize this AMC Spirit race car?
Jacksonville has had at least one dirt track since the the mid ’60s and still has at least one in the area today. I had a Senior Master Sergeant working for me at the Navel Air Station that raced a ’55 Chevy at the local track. He was the owner/builder and had 2 excellent drivers that won everything there was to win. This car could be typical of the types of cars in the ’70s that raced dirt, pavement, and road courses. Tires look like pavement units and could run SCCA road courses and probably did. Had fun parking our ’55 Healey among all the pickups and hot cars of the day.
If you’re referring to Jax raceway, they are long gone although there are plans for a venue in nearby Callahan. I stayed in Jax after I retired from RR. Would be nice to go to some tracks locally. Bigger problem is the locals that complain about the noise and traffic. Seems the world is less tolerant than years before. There was a small 1/8 mile drag strip using an old air strip in a nearby town and was getting some success with the venue. So this is Florida and water isn’t far away. So sound carried through the night and people complain. The end.
Wouldn’t that seat be built for going left? I’m guessing it was a paved circle track racer?
Cool car, but not worth anywhere close to the asking price unless it could be proven it had some sort of factory association or build history. Lots of people (flippers) selling old race cars seem to think the the worn out race car they found should be priced like a desirable muscle car. They don’t understand the pricing dynamics that most race cars, especially ones sitting for years are not particularly valuable. Race cars actually tend to sell for very reasonable prices through race oriented sites or word of mouth at tracks. Cars advertised privately by sellers that don’t race or spend time on the business end of a race track are quite amusing.
This seller would probably be lucky to get 1/4th the asking price in its current condition.
Steve R
THIS..is finally..the nicest one left!! LOL..I love this..takes me back..happily…Also..that’s a Ford Pinto(among other cars) engine..AMC fans will be furious..at least it isnt an LS :D
that underside is scary – there is a reason this car was parked. The term “clapped out” springs to mind. As others have said, unless it has some awesome history/provenance, you could build one for less money starting from scratch.
This car ran in what NASCAR called the “International Series” around 81 to 83. In 1978 or 79 NASCAR created a new series for compact cars (Vega’s, Pinto’s, Monza’s, Capri’s, etc) called Baby Grand. The series was renamed the International Series in 1980, and became the NASCAR Dash Series in 83.
A quick look at the Ultimate Racing History site shows that Glenn Groff (the name on the roof) raced in 5 NASCAR Baby Grand/International Series/Dash Series races between 79 and 83. He raced a Mustang at Dover in 79 and 80, at Atlanta in 81 in an unknown car and at Daytona and Atlanta in 83 in an AMC. His best finish was 13th at Dover in 79. Ultimate Racing History has no other listings for him in a professional race series, but he may have raced in a series similar to Baby Grand and Dash at a local “Saturday night” small oval?
Throughout the 70’s and into the 80’s, IMSA ran a series for similar compact cars first called IMSA RS (Radial Sedan). That later became the Goodrich Radial Challenge and finally the Champion Spark Plug Challenge. Unlike the NASCAR Baby Grand et al Series that ran on ovals, the IMSA Series ran on road courses, but some of them were run on the infield road courses at track like Daytona and Talledega. The IMSA Series rules required the cars to be much closer to stock than this car with most modifications being limited to shocks, exhaust and some minor engine upgrades. The IMSA RS/Goodrich/Champion Series raced on street radial tires and stock production wheels, not racing wheels and slicks like this car. Up until 72, the SCCA had an under 5 liter class for the Trans Am with rules and cars similar to IMSA RS.
I’ve been involved in vintage road racing for years and this car could probably be made to fit into one of vintage race groups/classes. Cars with documented race history from the IMSA RS series and Trans Am under 5 ltr class can command some pretty serious money. I don’t think there is anywhere near the same interest in former NASCAR Baby Grand, etc race cars. At the buy it now I suspect this car will be available for a while. You can get into some pretty quick MG’s, Triumphs and other race ready vintage sports cars for a lot less money, and even some early Corvettes and faster cars than this AMC for not much more money.
Thank you for sharing your knowledge and the history lesson.
Steve R
Has a stroker pinto motor in it..prudy cool