We have a few AMC experts in the Barn Finds family of readers and members and I’ll need your help on this one. Whatever this car ends up being, a Spirit GT or a Spirit AMX with a GT package, the seller has it listed as a 1979 AMC Spirit AMX and it can be found posted here on craigslist. It’s located in Gonzales, Louisiana and they’re asking $12,995.
Seeing the AMX badges on this car got me excited, and then seeing a few other things that seem to be missing got me wondering. Where’s the front air dam? That bumper doesn’t look right to me at all. And, there are no fiberglass wheel arches which I thought all AMC Spirit AMXs had? There’s an AMX badge on the glove box door, or there should be, but this one says “Spirit”.
Whether someone put a few AMX badges on an AMC Spirit GT or this is a stripped-down Spirit AMX, this is one cool car. The seller says that it has the rare GT Package, but I’m still not convinced that it’s an AMX. As I said, hopefully one of the AMC experts out there will give the real story in the comments section. The wheels look similar to what all of us teenagers wanted back in the mid-to-late-1970s, “50s on the back, 70s on the front”. That was our motto back then.
The interior looks good other than some seam separation on the front seats. I believe that the Spirit AMX would have had simulated aluminum dash overlays rather than the wood as seen here, and of course, the AMX badge on the glove box door rather than one that says Spirit as seen here. We don’t see the back seat at all or the rear cargo area under the hatchback which is unusual since the seller has provided a ton of great photos. Thankfully, they did provide a video here on YouTube and we get a glimpse of the back seat at the 1:10 point. You’ll notice the ladder bars in the video, whoa! And, the sound of that 304 V8 thumping away is about as cool as it gets. Oh yeah, and it has a 4-speed manual, too!
Here’s that thumping AMC 304 cubic-inch V8 which would have had 125 horsepower and 220 ft-lb of torque but I’m guessing that this one may have a little more power than that but I don’t know for sure. This car sure looks good, whatever it is. The biggest question remains: is this a Spirit AMX or a Spirit GT? My vote is for the latter.
Wasn’t It 50’s on the front and 70’s out back? For that raked look and less sidewall roll up front? Better handling that way I think. I could be wrong…
I don’t know if I’ve seen a car with fat tires on the front and skinny tires on the rear?
Did you ever see the reversed 65 gto where the rear and front were reversed? weirdest stuff I ever saw
Very wrong….you need tarred and feathered
Bigs on front little in back would get you laughed outta school
the 50 an 70 refers to the aspect ratio….a 50 series tire is not going to be as tall as 70 series tire. shorter the tire sidewall the better the handling, less sidewall flex, but can affect ride quality. you can have a 8in wide 50 and a 10in wide 70 with same rim diameter an its going to be raked to the front…..shorter in the front, taller in the back……
The 50’s and 70’s refer to different things these days.
Don’t get confused.
I had a 65 Mustang with E’s up front G’s out back.
whether its E, F, G, or whatever letter designation, the first of the series were the width. its in millimeters now such as 215, 225, 235 an so on. In the 70s you would use a 60series tire because it was shorter in ratio to its width for wheelwell or fender clearance not because it was necessarily wider just because it was a 60
Well, I’m probably showing my age some here, but in the late ’60s and early ’70s the 70 series tire became very popular. But then when 60 series tires became the thing to have the hot setup was big “L” 60 series in back like M/Ts (Mickey Thompsons) and smaller tires in front like seen on quarterile cars. So, most of us would run something like an F70 in front and a bigger, wider L60 in back, and even bigger if they would fit. It gave your car that “tuff” dragster look and more rear tire to put down that muscle car horsepower.
BF Goodrich ” Tiger Paws” was what we ran back in them days…..the point I’ve been trying make tho is the “L” is what made it wider not the “60” ….you ran the F70 because an F was narrower than L….the 70 was a taller tire in relationship to its width……..if you had an F70 and a F60 on the same size rim the F70 is a taller tire, case closed
Not AMX, never heard of Spirit GT, definate aftermarket hood scoops, its a nice clone of nothing…my guess
My girl friend in 1979 bought a Spirit GT, 304 V8 with 4 speed, it came with spoiler/and inside hatch release, sway bars and those wheels. This is definitively the GT. Hers had cloth interior and tac in dash board, extra gauges in front of 4 speed and console.
I had a 79 Spirit GT. It was equipped with four speed and the same wheels shown. The 304 was optional with the 258 standard. They came with blacked out moulding and bumpers. This is a GT with AMX stickers, or it appears to me. The rear spoiler is right but the wheels while looking the same as factory, seem wrong to my eye. No way worth this coin. I encourage people to get the last dollar, but realism has to enter the picture, especially when I can buy a cherry XK8 or Camaro with twice the horsepower for this money.
Thanks for the info, Dave, that makes sense.
Awesome, love the rims!
I love any car sporting those turbines! I had set identical to these I carried onto 4 different cars Made every one 110 percent cooler
V-8, 4 Speed, Light Little Car, Not Many Left, Have Fun, Drive It Like You Stole it.
There were many options back then if you ordered your car through the dealership. Hood scoops are aftermarket for sure but, the rest looks correct. Neat little giddy up!
Seeing AMX badging on a car like this is nothing short of depressing, in every way!
Why? This generation of AMX had more racing wins than the previous generation. It’s one of the few American cars that can claim victories internationally..
Look up Team Highball for some enlightenment on just how successful these AMC’s could be.
This is not an AMX or a GT, just a Spirit DL with turbine (wrong ones) wheels and a badge from the salvage yard. Silly little scoops on the hood,
What’s that about?
As Ed used to chortle, “You are correct Sir!”
Looks like someone got an Autozone GC for Xmas and bought some hood scoops!
Well said Tommy!
Well, I’m probably showing my age some here, but in the late ’60s and early ’70s the 70 series tire became very popular. But then when 60 series tires became the thing to have the hot setup was big “L” 60 series in back like M/Ts (Mickey Thompsons) and smaller tires in front like seen on quarterile cars. So, most of us would run something like an F70 in front and a bigger, wider L60 in back, and even bigger if they would fit. It gave your car that “tuff” dragster look and more rear tire to put down that muscle car horsepower.
Also, that Grill looks like it’s from an ’81 – ’83. J.C. Whitney hood scoops as well. And I thought GTs came with black bumpers instead of chrome. My guess is that it’s neither a GT and certainly not an AMX. Not sure it’s a “79 either. It may very likely be a Spirit with some badging and add-ons.
If I had the extra space, I’d be tempted to pick up one of these and set it up for some road course action. Recreate the Nürburgring entry…
the grill is wrong for an AMX also
Definitely not an AMX. It’s either or in 79 which you could buy an AMX OR a GT. This one just has AMX badging ant is missing the spoilers and window louvers. Nice car though, I would drop a AMC 401 in it but the T-5 tranny would need to be changed along with it, very weak.
If the 304 and 4-speed are original, that makes this car interesting in its own right, but I believe it’s neither an AMX nor a GT. Both specialty models include black bumpers and instrument panel trim. An AMX would also have a unique grille and front air dam, both of which are absent here. In fact, the grille is from an 81-83 Spirit. The rear spoiler was lifted from an AMX or, perhaps more likely, an Eagle SX/4.
79 was last year AMC put V8s in their vehicles. This is not a Spirit AMX but Spirit GT, you could get the GT Package into 1983, last year of Spirit. The Spirits are very light and amazingly quick, even with AMC six cylinder. The AMX would have a 9 in VIN, the GT does not. More off my site Planet Houston AMX http://www.planethoustonamx.com/main/AMC_VIN.htm The rims are called AMC Turbines and Turbine II really neat rims, even now. Hope someone ends up with that nice car, in Austin craigslist 5 years ago black 79 AMX 304 for sale 13,000 original miles sold $15,000, even original air in tires.
Very wrong engine color… my pet-peeve.
I bought a brand new black Eagle 4×4 in 82 that looked almost exactly like this. Loaded with every option. I loved that car and wish I wouldn’t have traded it in when the family started to grow.
There are too many exciting cars to buy before spending money on this one , many camaros , firebirdsand corvettes to be enjoyed
Unless you have spare change and want to ride around with the ugly attention getter!
Ya there’s never to many Camaros our vets🤔sarcasm😁
I remember hoping the re -emergence of the AMX name was going to breath excitement back into AMC.. Wishful thinking wasted
I have a Spirit DL which is 4 cyl and a manual 4 speed. All the trim is aluminum/stainless, bumpers and raw aluminum turbine rims- car looks “correct” that way. The GT came with a 6 and an auto with blacked out trim, bumpers, and rims. I’m a little gray with the 8 being offered other than AMX. A very fun car to own and operate… It gets more attention than any car I’ve ever owned. People literally stop me to take pics of it! I bought it because its just sooo uncommon-that’s the way I like it. This one has some redish hues showing up in the drivers door and the door jamb-study the pics. The rear tires are too big. I have 235/60 14 cooper tires and 14×8 turbine rims all around and she handles very nice. Cool car but at that price…..no. BTW, AMC doesn’t have “numbers matching”.
Beautiful looking car. I love the grille of this car.
I would rather have this than pretty much any Camaro, Corvette, or other common car. I just like having something that you don’t see too often. You go to a car show and all you see are Camaros, Chevrolet, Mustangs, so on. Gets boring. And I like those cars too, but it gets boring.
Penny for penny , at 13 k there are plenty of cars that will give you a better experience and look
Faster accelerating, faster breaking , better handling are all points that would be cheaper than 13 k
And probably no carburetor so no rich eye watering condition
Now , if the seller drops the price by half , then i could understand someone choosing to buy it cause its a cheap ride
But 13 for an oddball amc , if you need so much attention , get a shrink or a flashing hat !
Face it guys , being an amc fan doesn’t have to blind you to the fact that this is an ugly one …
Maybe it is because I am laid up with covid and not feeling well, but I took extreme offense to your comment.
I was trying to be nice, but frankly I generally can’t stand the cars you like. They just don’t appeal to me since I have grown older. I used to like them as a kid, but I have grown up. I never really understood Corvettes (I get mad at myself when I see one I like, but it does happen), but for the most part the Camaros & such are generally over-rated mullet mobiles. I had a mullet when I drove them. I know what I speak of lol.
But I usually don’t say these things because I don’t want to offend anyone.
I was born & raised here in Milwaukee, have a lot of family in Kenosha. Your attitude toward AMC products sucks. Like my attitude toward cars you like. The difference is I have enough tact to either find something good to say, or I stay quiet. I recommend you learn the skill of tact.
For the record, I just got released from prison in August. I am sick of conforming. I don’t need added attention, I just don’t feel the need to be like everyone else.
This is a cool car! Anyone else gotta talk crap?
Well , stevie
I am truly sorry that i offended you as it was not my intention but i ,as an individual am entitled to my opinions and whatever you decide to say on my choices will NOT affect me
I love 2 seater convertibles and rv ing so take a crack at it
But i have owned amc’s and eagles and the eagles gave me the lifelong need for awd
Even owned a spirit , was a dog and still is in my eyes
My opinions
Your opinions
Their opinions
Are all good
Learn to laugh and be stupid like i am
I am not , never have been and never will be politically correct and look at where it got us all
I am sorry that you ended up in prison and hope you can deal with your life issues , don’t forget that we ALL have some
I love discussing all topics with people while holding a drink but cannot deal with threats , i respect others opinions and like debating and foremost , i love life , the sun , the vacations, working on all cars even if i hate some !
Have a happy new year and dont forget to live your life with a smile
Claudio, that is a classy, tactful response. You earned my respect back.
I will NEVER try rv-ing, but I understand the appeal. 2 seat roadsters I am all about, as long as it is not a Corvette lol.
I guess we can agree to disagree, and I will respect you as long as you respect me. Fair enough?
Ahaha , i have a convertible corvette, a convertible bmw z3 and a convertible 2000 sunfire , you could bug me all day long and we could argue and still have respect for each other cause we share the same car passion !
I have never had a boat but being very close to 60 , i have better get moving on it …
And don’t forget , we were probably all mullet heads before , and possibly red necks too , its our younger years and we must cherrish our past and keep improving ourselves !
Happy new year my no found friend !
Correction
Ahaha , i have a convertible corvette, a convertible bmw z3 and a convertible 2000 sunfire , you could bug me all day long and we could argue and still have respect for each other cause we share the same car passion !
I have never had a boat but being very close to 60 , i have better get moving on it …
And don’t forget , we were probably all mullet heads before , and possibly red necks too , its our younger years and we must cherrish our past and keep improving ourselves !
Happy new year my new found friend
Salute, my new friend.
I ordered a 1982 sx/4 with optional 5 spd. and push button rear hatch release.I also added the special color combination so I could get a red car.They only offered red with the sport package which I didn’t want. I had the dealer install the rear spoiler at the dealership cause it just didn’t look right without one. Those were the days when you could order almost anyway you wanted.Later I put G-60’s on keystone classics on all four wheels and side pipes. Had exhaust shop hook them up.Traded it in later after a girl I was dating said back seating was to small. Stupid mistake. She broke up with me a year later. Not having the car hurt more than not having her. I really miss that car wish I still had it.