By Shant Jaltorossian
Clearly, I’m a masochist, given the number of classic car ads I’ve gone through despite not having the ability to get one. Well, here’s another one. This one is a bit more special then most.
Muscle car fans worth their salt should be well aware of the 1968-1970 AMC AMX. Fewer know about the AMX package available for the 1971-1974 Javelin. Almost no one knows about the AMX trio of the late 1970s: Hornet, Concord, and Spirit.
Here is an example of the final AMX, the Spirit. This seems to be in respectable shape, especially compared to the rusted heaps that most Malaise Era AMCs are. If a King Cobra Mustang II isn’t obscure enough for you, this should be just about perfect.
The AMC lunatic in me wants this, despite its many shortcomings. I am beyond hope.
Here is part of the ad:
Just arrived from Carlisle PA, Spring show. This AMC Spirit AMX is from NC, 2 owner, recent ground up restoration. 99% rust free, orig. AMX 1 of 1,834, originally with a 304-2V, now has a 77-360 V8 with 52,000 miles. Edlebrock intake and new 600CFM carb., 268H comp. cam, Headman Headers, Factory 4 spd., tach and gauges, console, PS, dual remote sport mirrors, am/fm, full tinted glass, factory turbine wheels, window louvers, side louver vents, multi orange/red/black stripes from Phoenix Graphics shown in a beautiful 2 stage base coat clear coat paint.
[Link: Hemmings]
Jeff Glucker
Yankee. Echo. Sierra.
Good thing I have no money left because I'd buy this is a heartbeat.
Yes, that will do nicely. Have it washed and brought to my quarters at once.
Firecracker Red FTMFW!!
Yank crap motor put LS in
Speaking as a proud owner of a car powered by an LS motor; nope.
Parsing that required me to spend a baffled few seconds thinking "but the LS is Yank crap too…"
The AMC 360 isn't a bad engine. With the engine improvements, the power/weight ratio for this later cousin to the real AMX's should be Big Cheap Fun.
An AMC 390 or 401 could be amusing in this car, but would probably require a lot of welding and suspension mods, and the real idea with this thing is to get it out on the street before summer's gone…
Here are my thoughts for it:
Steel racing style wheels.
2" lower.
Raspy carb'ed V8 that idles like a coffee can full of nickels.
Keep the paint.
Muncie M22 trans.
Roll cage.
Holy shit!
It's 1% rust. That's like 35 pounds!
Really wanted one back in 1980, was looking for my first car. Walked into the dealership in Bally, Pa., they had one on the showroom floor. Looked all around it, in it, waiting for a salesman. Nobody paid me any attention. Finally I asked someone for help. The response was, "We'll get somebody right out for you." 15-20 minutes later I left.
Now is your chance to get one.
This is a most wonderfully bad idea.
What a conundrum, keep it stock or replicate this…
<img src="http://img.gawkerassets.com/img/18tch0ydyuzbtjpg/ku-xlarge.jpg"width="600">
<img src="http://img.gawkerassets.com/img/18tciia74biocjpg/k-bigpic.jpg"width="600">
http://www.planethoustonamx.com/stuff/amx_team_hi…
or on http://oppositelock.jalopnik.com/amcs-one-two-fin…
I think I'd keep it as it is
The team highball cars are awesome. I still need to watch all of the documentary of their assault on the Nurburgring on YouTube.
It would probably make more sense to pick up a regular Spirit out of a junkyard and build a track-car tribute from it, rather than wasting a Spirit AMX
It always pains me to see a car and car ad like this. "recent ground up restoration 1 of X with the 304 V8 now has a modified non original engine". So the car was not restored, it was restomodded, and unless you find the freak among freaks it is not worth as much as it could have been if it was properly restored. Then to add insult to it all after all the money spent on aftermarket hot rod parts and the larger engine he crippled it and mostly made those modifications moot by keeping that CAFE inspired 2.87 to 1 rear axle ratio, undoubtedly with out a traction enhancing differential.
These cars aren't desirable (except to AMC-heads) and aren't really rare. The original tape stripe kit went with somewhat lackluster performance.
"Body restoration with a big stonking engine swap" makes this car more desirable, not less, IMHO.
I'll concede the "aren't desirable" comment, despite its inherent Internet Keyboard Warrior flavor, but to say this car isn't rare is akin to declaring the world flat. They built ~2000 of these things, 30+ years ago. I can't remember the last time I saw ANY AMC product on the street (other than the '63 wagon I own)… nevermind a Spirit AMX or any of the most-recent 4×4 cars they built.
AMC cars on the street are rare. That's a fact.
I have a all original 1979 spirit amx up here in canada have only seen 2 others ! unfortunatly in a scrap yard
my whole family enjoy driving it and it is often the first one taken would buy another if the oppurtunity arose
i too have an all original 1979 amx spirit with the 304 and the window sticker 🙂 Also have never seen another that hasnt been modded. I thought about it but i just cant imagine changing this car.
What are you asking for the car