Putting fender flares and window louvers on a car like the AMC Spirit was only part of the recipe for creating the brawny AMX liftback. A number of other enhancements were made that gave these beefed-up Spirits some actual street cred, though this 1980 example here on eBay is a long way from seeing any actual street use. Bidding is active but the reserve remains unmet.
Louvers everywhere! This example hasn’t moved in eight years, according to the seller, but it did last run about five years ago. As a 1980 model, this received the only engine option available – the venerable 4.2L inline-six – which is a fine motor, but the ’79s could be optioned with the 304 V8. No matter what, that V8 is going to make some better noises than the six, but parts availability should be decent for either mill.
The Spirit looks fairly straight up and down the sides; it will need paint if you’re a perfectionist. The cabin appears sound for a project that’s been laid up for a few years, with nothing that strikes me as so offensive that you couldn’t live with it while the car endures a rolling restoration. Part of the AMX upgrades include the floor-shift automatic and gauge cluster seen here.
The more serious hardware included front and rear swaybars, front disc brakes, adjustable shock absorbers and a number of aero upgrades including front and rear spoilers. While cosmetically tired, all of the visual enhancements are still in place which makes me somewhat confident the other bits are, too. Bidding has cleared $1K but the reserve remains unmet.
I say swap in an LS, add the 4WD system from Eagle and bring the cosmetics back to factory spec. Budget, all-American, ur-Quatro.
I say drop in a beaffed up 401 convert to 4 speed, or Doug Nash 5 speed fix up as you drive, upgrade suspension. Always liked these with a v-8 wish I had money and a place to work on it, great buy for next owner
60f100,63gmc,67bird,68f250,69cdv,69galdrop,69travco,72gmvan,73ranch,73vwvan all $
Oh, AMX, look what they did to you,,,you were once so proud. I suppose, it was the early 80’s. Historically speaking, I guess it’s significant, this is what the AMX, and most muscle cars for that matter, were reduced to, although, I’d hope younger generations don’t think this is representative of what an AMX means to us old motorheads. AMX was as bad as it got, and we in Wisconsin were very proud of that. This? Not so much.
I’m sure that sitting in the mud for five years isn’t going to have done much for the underside of this particular AMX.
I remember looking at one of these as a possible replacement for the often-mentioned ’77 Skylark hatch, but the lack of a V8 put me off. I ended up ordering a special-customer-order dove-grey-with-crimson-velvet-interior ’80 Buick Century Regal sedan with a wheezy V6, wire wheel covers, HD suspension and a moonroof. It would have been just as slow, but pimpmobiles don’t need to go fast… ;-)
This one should be saved. Everything is there, and some hard-to-get stuff like the window louvers, arm rest/gauge-package,and chin-spoiler are as well. Yes the automatic tranny is unfortunately present too, but at less than 900 made, I hope some AMC-o-phile comes to her rescue. Like the ‘78 Roadrunners, these will never be a sound investment, but they do represent the last-of-the-lasts for the AMX and as such, I hope someone DOESEN’T buy her to drop in an SBC.
Any time I see the words “small block chevy” used in conjunction with anything but a generic motors product, it practically makes me gag.
I saw this on one of my local backroad runs last month. It is currently sitting in a small graveyard of all things AMC (pacers, hornets, jeep charokees, and a couple eagles). Being in Johnstown, you need to look out for rust and by how far the car is in the ground, I would say it has a bit.
Looks like I’m not the high bidder anymore, oh well
Mitch, sounds like you’d be smart to stay with that bid. Don’t bid more. That would be making the same mistake twice.
Nice old car needs about $25,000 dropped into it with full body off restoration and all new amc running gear like 401 with amc turbo 400 tranny and model 20 amc rear end with 3:54 gears, new interior and then it will be a sleeper for sure.
Looks like there is still hope Mitch. Ended: Jun 03, 2018 , 9:37PM
Current bid:US $1,825.00
Reserve not met
[ 31 bids ]
if looking for a driver is different these cars are very affordable,and if you desire to modify you are not hacking a six figure muscle car I am building an 80 spirit amx clone with a 351w ford with a t5 and Lincoln Versailles 9″ rear and it is not so valuable that I would be afraid to drive.i hope to drive the wheels off it over the next few years and I hope this car sees a similar future