AMC Spirit

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AMC Spirit
Manufacturer	AMC
Production	1979-1983
Assembly	Kenosha, Wisconsin Brampton, Ontario, Canada
Predecessor	AMC Gremlin
Class	Subcompact
Body style	2-door sedan 3-door liftback
Engine	122 in³ (2.0L) Audi/VW EA827 I4 151 in³ (2.5L) GM Iron Duke I4 232 in³ (3.8L) I6 258 in³ (4.2L) I6 304 in³ (5.0L) AMC V8
Related	AMC Gremlin AMC Concord AMC Eagle

The AMC Spirit, a subcompact automobile produced by the American Motors Corporation (AMC), was introduced in 1979 to replace the Gremlin on which it was based, and was sold through 1983.

[edit] 1979

The 1979 Spirit continued where the aging 1970-78 Gremlin left off, but added fresh styling and a sporty liftback model to the existing sedan body style. Riding the Gremlin's 96" wheelbase, the changeover from Gremlin to Spirit sedan included larger rear quarter windows whose trailing edges now paralleled the slope of the Kammback tail. This effect drastically improved outward visibility, especially from the backseat, and gave the car a more modern, if less distinctive look. At the front, a new combination of grille, headlights, and parking lights was surrounded by a slim chrome loop effect. Quad rectangular headlamps were side-by-side and sat atop slim, horizontal amber rectangular parking lights. A new rectangular grille with widely-spaced horizontal bars revealed the AMC logo set in a circle in the grille center. New aluminum bumpers with black end caps debuted to effect lighter weight and a more crisp appearance in vogue with the times. At the side, the Spirit sedan added circular rear marker lights that featured the AMC logo outline in foil "chrome" in its center. The B-pillar was now covered by a blackout beauty panel that featured vertical ribbing. Many of the suspension upgrades seen on the 1978 Concord were transferred to the Spirit to give it a more civilized driving experience. New door trim panels were seen, along with base, DL, and leather-lined Limited trim lines that heaped more equipment into AMC's subcompact that ever before. The 1978 Gremlin instrument panel was carried over, but with a woodgrain overlay seen on DL and Limited models.

The new liftback, however, was the center of attention for 1979. Riding the same wheelbase as the sedan model, the liftback was identical to the sedan from the doors forward, but instead of a chopped Kammback tail, it featured a sloping fastback look. Quarter windows stretched back to meet slim C-pillars, and kicked up slightly from the belt line at the rear. The liftback featured a proper rear hatch "door", with a large glass window inset. The rear fascia had a recessed look, with wide rectangular taillights that featured loop-type foil chrome overlays. The rear license plate stood upright and hid the fuel filler cap behind it. The sloping roof, while attractive and effective in transforming the familiar Gremlin shape into something new, fresh, and sporty, sacrificed some headroom in the car's already vestigial rear compartment. A "GT" option package with aluminum wheels, blackout trim, an optional rear spoiler, and other sporty features offered AMC a decent competitor to Ford's new-for-1979 Fox-based Mustang.

The standard engine on both models was AMC's trusty 3.8L inline-6, with the thrifty and advanced 2.0L I4, and 4.2L I6 optional, while the 5.0L V8 was offered as an option only on the liftback. 1979 would mark a (one-year) reprisal for 5.0L V8 availability in the 96" wheelbase AMC chassis. The last time the two were available together was in the 1976 Gremlin. The four, sixes, and V8 could be mated to either a standard 4-speed manual transmission or an optional 3-speed automatic with either floor or column shift, depending on trim and options. A 3-speed manual transmission was only available as a delete option on the sixes.

The AMX model was transferred from the Concord hatchback to the Spirit liftback body for 1979 and came with either the 4.2L I6 or 5.0L V8. The AMX featured a flush blackout grille with an AMX emblem in its lower driver's side corner, fiberglass wheel flares, rear spoiler, Turbocast II aluminum wheels, blackout trim, GT really tuned suspension, floor shift transmission, an optional hood decal, and other sporty touches.

[edit] 1980

Minor changes greeted the Spirit line for 1980. The 2.0L VW/Audi-sourced I4 was replaced by a GM-sourced 2.5L Iron Duke I4. AMC had incurred high costs and slow sales from its deal with VW/Audi and their 2.0L I4, and the Iron Duke afforded slightly more power at a lower price to AMC, allowing them to make it the Spirit's standard engine, rather than optional, as the 2.0L was from 1977-79.

The 3.8L I6 was dropped from the lineup, as was the 5.0L V8, leaving the 4.2L I6 as the only engine option, and the only engine available in the AMX. No major exterior changes were seen, except on the AMX, as its grille emblem moved to the center.

All AMCs, including the Spirit, received a new rust-proofing process called Ziebart Factory Rust Protection. This comprehensive process included aluminized trim screws, plastic inner fender liners, galvanized steel in every exterior body panel, and a deep-dip (up to the window line) bath in epoxy-based primer. AMC backed up its new rust protection program by adding a 5 year "No Rust Thru" component to its successful Buyer Protection Plan.

[edit] 1981

Even fewer changes were made to the 1981 Spirit line. A new crosshatch grille with a single crosshair element completed the changes at the front of the Spirit. New optional "Noryl" wheelcovers were added. The leather-clad Limited models were canceled, leaving the DL as the top-rung model. The liftback still featured a GT package, available on both base and DL trims, with both engines. The AMX did not return for 1981. All AMCs were marketed under a new "Tough Americans" ad campaign, which sought to highlight the warranty and rustproofing measures that AMC took with their cars.

For 1981, AMC introduced Eagle models (SX/4 liftback and Kammback sedan) based on both Spirit body styles.

[edit] 1982

Changes to the Spirit for 1982 were mostly mechanical. A new 5-speed manual transmission was offered as an option, and new low-drag front disc brakes were standard. Together, they allowed the 2.5L Spirit to achieve 37mpg on the highway, according to 1982 EPA estimates. For those who ordered automatics, the 3-speed unit's ratios were more widely spaced to afford even automatic-equipped cars better mileage.

[edit] 1983

The Spirit's final year was more notable by what was missing from the line. The Spirit sedan, having sold poorly due to familiar styling and little marketing, was pruned from the line. So were the 2.5L Inline-4 and base liftback, making all 1983 Spirits 4.2L-equipped liftbacks in either DL or new GT trim. The GT package became a full-fledged model separate from the DL for the Spirit's swan song. Ads stressed the greater level of standard equipment in both Spirit DL and Spirit GT, which sold for $5995 and $6495, respectively.

More notably, for 1983, AMC introduced the new Renault Alliance, which was a much more modern, space-efficient, fuel-efficient, front-wheel-drive subcompact car than the rear-drive Spirit was, with its now 14 season-old platform. Next to the new '83 Alliance, the Spirit seemed unnecessary, and after sales slowed to a trickle by the end of '83, it was quietly canceled as AMC released the Alliance-based Encore hatchbacks for 1984.

[edit] Spirit AMX

1980 AMX finished in Classic Black

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

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, unique steering gear, adjustable Gabriel (brand name) 'Strider' shock absorbers, heavy-duty disk/drum brakes, unique AMX grille, Turbocast II 14x6 rims with Goodyear 'Flexten' GT radial 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 glove compartment door. 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 304 in³ V8 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 racecar 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.

[edit] Not to be confused with

The Spirit model name was used by Chrysler Corporation (now DaimlerChrysler) which took over AMC in 1987, for a four-door sedan called the Dodge Spirit from 1989 to 1995.

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AMC Spirit