AMC Spirit

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AMC Spirit
Manufacturer:	AMC
Production:	1979-1983
Predecessor:	AMC Gremlin
Class:	Subcompact
Body style:	2-door sedan 3-door hatchback
Engine:	122 in³ Audi/VW EA827 I4 151 in³ GM Iron Duke I4 258 in³ I6 304 in³ AMC V8
Related:	AMC Concord AMC Eagle VAM Lerma

The AMC Spirit, an automobile produced by the American Motors Corporation, was introduced in 1979 to replace the Gremlin.

[edit] Design

The Spirit was available in two body designs. The sedan version was nearly identical to the Kammback-like Gremlin, but with a more conventional rear side window design. The liftback (hatchback) version was a new design and was well-received at the time.

The Spirit used the front-end sheetmetal and dash of the contemporary AMC Concord, with the exception of the grille, front marker lenses, and hood. The Spirit was the last model AMC made using an automobile platform. American Motors was able to develop a new brand by maximizing its scarce resources.

The Spirit was discontinued along with the Concord in 1983.

[edit] Engines

A Volkswagen/Audi-designed 2.0 L I4 engine was optional in 1979 only. This was also available in the Gremlin and Concord, as well as the Porsche 924 (although the Porsche was fitted with Bosch fuel injection instead of carburetors on the AMC models). This engine provided improved economy, but was not as powerful as the standard 258 in³ I6. Because of the expense of acquiring the rights to the new 2.0 L engine, AMC made it as an option. This engine was rarely ordered and was replaced in 1980 with the GM Iron Duke four, which was then made standard equipment. American Motors' V8 engine was available in the Spirit for 1979, the last year V8s were available in AMC passenger cars.

Factory installed trim/striping/two-tone paint/molding combinations, packages, or options on the 1980 Spirit and AMX models.

[edit] Spirit AMX

An AMX version of the Spirit liftback was offered for 1979 and 1980. It featured special color-matched fender flares & front air dam, 'Rally-Tuned' suspension with front and rear sway bars, adjustable Gabriel (brnad name) shocks, unique AMX grille, Turbocast II 14x6 rims with Goodyear RWL (raised white letter) tires, rear spoiler, special striping package, hood & door decals, console shifted automatic or manual transmission with 'Rallye Gauge' package, as well as simulated aluminum dash overlays with AMX badge on the glovebox. Changes in standard AMX equipment for 1980 were black flares & air dam, optional road wheels, and no simulated aluminum dash overlays. See: 1979 and 1980 compared and 1980 Data Book

The biggest powerplant on the 1979 AMX was AMC's 304 in³ V8 capable of reaching 60 mph in 13.4 seconds. For 1980, the only engine was the 258 in³ I6. Still, it was the last car to wear the AMX name and has achieved some degree of popularity with AMC enthusiasts.

[edit] AMXs at Nürburgring

In October 1979, the B.F. Goodrich tire company sponsored two-car team of AMXs in the twenty-four hour Group One endurance race at Germany's legendary Nürburgring race track. Not only were these American Motors AMXs the first American entries in this historic race, but they also finished #1 and #2 in their class out of a 120-car field in this grueling 14.1 mile (22.7 km), 176 turn road race. They were the fastest cars on street rubber, BFG T/A radials.

Amos Johnson and partner Dennis Shaw were the team principals and drivers in the North Carolina based "Team Highball". The new 1979 V-8 powered AMX was already homologated to meet Group One production car based rules. Two street-stock cars (AMC 5.0 liter with four-speed transmission) were obtained by "Team Highball" less than three weeks before a transport ship would sail to Europe. With almost no prior time on the race course, the team qualified the cars in 20th and 21st overall. The track tested both the cars and their new street tires, but both finished the race with one car in 25th and the second in 43rd overall. Another unique aspect of these historic racecars is that they were among the few ever to have had a period documentary film ("The Ultimate Challenge") done about the racecar preparation and race experience.

Source: Gary Witzenburg, Race for a Day: An AMX Adventure at Nurburgring, Automotive Quarterly, Volume 19, Number 1, pages 30-39.

AMX Turbo PPG pace car

[edit] Turbo pace car

An AMX Turbo Pace car was built to be one of four official safety cars in the PPG IndyCar World Series for the 1981 auto racing season. Using the Spirit liftback body, the race car was designed by Richard A. Teague, AMC's Vice President of Automotive Design. The car was constructed by Autodynamics of Troy, Michigan under contract from PPG Industries. The turbo-charged and fuel-injected 258 in³ I6 was built by Turbo-Systems Inc. to produce 450 horsepower. (Source: 1980 AMC Press Release) This car was the final chapter in the AMX story.

[edit] VAM models

Mexican government-owned automaker Vehiculos Automotores Mexicanos (VAM) made a vehicle called the VAM Lerma, which was based on the Concord's chassis with the Spirit's body parts.

	American Motors Corporation Historic:
Rambler:	Ambassador by Rambler | American | Classic | Marlin | Rambler | Rebel
AMC:	Ambassador | AMX | Concord | Eagle | Gremlin | Hornet | Javelin | Marlin | Matador | Mighty Mite | Metropolitan | Pacer | Rebel | Spirit
Renault:	LeCar | Alliance | Encore | Fuego | Medallion | Premier
AMC & Rambler Concept Cars:	Rambler Tarpon | AMC Cavalier | AMC AMX-GT
Affiliated with:	American Motors Corporation | AM General | Chrysler | Hudson | Jeep | Kelvinator | Nash Motors | Nash-Kelvinator | Rambler | Renault | Australian Motor Industries | Vehiculos Automotores Mexicanos
People	Roy Abernethy | A.E. Barit | Roy D. Chapin Jr. | George W. Romney | Richard A. Teague | George W. Mason | Gerald C. Meyers | Edmund E. Anderson | François Castaing
[ edit ] Category

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