Cumberland Green Metallic is the color of this 1979 AMC Spirit Sedan; it isn’t black, even though it looks like that in the photos. It’s a dark green specified 9H on the body tag, which the seller included a photo of, along with dozens of other great photos. They have it listed here on eBay in Mullins, South Carolina, and they’re asking $7,999, or you can make an offer.
The resemblance to the AMC Gremlin is unmistakable in the profile photo above, and pretty much in any of the exterior photos that show the unique design. I get a strong Eagle Kammback look here, as this one seems to be lifted an inch or two for some reason. Maybe they were starting to give it a Carolina Squat, but ran out of time or money. Just kidding, of course, but it does look taller than normal, doesn’t it? The AMC Spirit was made from 1978 for the 1979 model year, until the end of 1983, and they came in this body style, and a sloping hatchback model.
The sides seem to be showing some waves, but the seller says the “paint looks original,” and the body lines are “straight as an arrow,” so maybe it’s just me. The Gremlin shape is unmistakable here as well. Here’s what the rear cargo area looks like, or some of it. I’m not sure what the wheels are from; they aren’t shown in any AMC brochure from 1979 that I saw while doing research on this car. They say this car came to their South Carolina showroom from California, so hopefully it’s solid.
The seller mentions leather seats, but this is a base model Spirit Sedan, and these are clearly vinyl seats. If it were a Limited trim level, it could have had nice leather bucket seats. These seats look perfect, both front and rear, and other than some discoloration of some of the plastic dash elements, the interior looks nice. They have included several underside photos, and kudos to the seller for providing so many good photos of this unique car.
The dirty engine is a VW Group/Audi-sourced EA831, a 2.0-liter SOHC inline-four with 80 horsepower and 105 lb-ft of torque when new. It’s passed through a column-shifted TorqueFlite three-speed automatic, sending power to the rear wheels. They don’t say how it runs, but mention it’s had a full service with new fluids and filters, and it could sure use a quick detailing to bring it up to the level of the rest of the car. Any thoughts on this Spirit Sedan?
Poor AMC. Here’s our brand new car old car, the Spirit!
I got a Gremlin for my daughter when she was in high school. at first she hated and was embarrassed. Then all the kids loved it and she was really cool. The Gremlin gas cap had more time in her back pack than on the car.
I had a 79 with this body style. It was Russet in color with the body side striping similar to the slant back version. This body style was only available for 79 as AMC was using up the remaining 78 Gremlin bodies. Mine was the 232 cui that had quite some pep. My dad bought an 82 slant back with the 258 cui. Great little cars, never rusted with the anodized sheet metal.
If the Spirit and Eagle wiki articles are to be believed, this bodystyle (aka Spirit “sedan” or Eagle Kammback) was produced up through ’82, the last two years in both Spirit (RWD) and Eagle (4×4) variants, and only discontinued as of the ’83 model year.
Looks like it will rattle your fillings out sitting so high! Wonder what’s underneath, big block springs?
When I first viewed this sitting so high I was thinking all-wheel drive like the Eagle, but then I thought Gremlin? If these have a timing belt, shouldn’t it be changed asap? Also check transmission fluid.
And don’t gas it up after midnight!
me too Dave, but in reverse order.
AND
I was wrong on both accounts.
I bet driving this would almost be the same as my ’90 XJ 2dr.
This would be pretty nice with the six-cylinder engine but it must be a real slug with that 2 liter VW engine, automatic, and AC! About all that would be worse would be a heavier Concord with that combination. (I once saw a Concord like that in a junkyard.)