For Sale: 1979 AMC Spirit in Morgantown, Pennsylvania

8135 1979 AMC Spirit Hatchback

"The Spirit is proof there's been a dramatic change in thinking at AMC. For years it tried to out-VWVW, out-Datsun Datsun and out-Toyota Toyota, only to be met with less and less success. AMC may have pioneered the economy subcompact thing in this country, but those foreigners have stolen the show." Car and Driver, February 1979

For consignment, a 1979 AMC Spirit with unknown mileage. This race car ran at Atlanta Raceway, according to our consignor, from 1979 to 1983 and now presents in decent, barn find condition.

NO TITLE-SOLD ON A BILL OF SALE ONLY

Exterior
AMC used the red, white and blue motif to decorate their high performance and race cars as an ode to the United States and this car wears those colors along with some typical decals, racing numbers, and hand painted sponsor and driver name. There are no lights and the grille has been replaced with a screened unit that keeps track debris out while three hood pins keep the lid on the car and an aluminum wing keeps the car grounded. It's got plenty of bumps and bruises and some patchwork using riveted aluminum pieces, keeping things light. The 13-inch wheels carry racing tires, the windows are plexi, and the gas filler has been moved up closer to the C-pillar.

Interior
Pure race mode on the inside with a full roll cage, bare metal floors, a single bucket seat, and a padded 3 spoke steering wheel. The dash board is basic with a Holman Moody toggle panel and five gauges. The shifter is on the transmission hump and retains its boot which keeps dirt out of the linkage. Surface rust is noted in the footwells and on the gas tank in back while the rest presents with fitting patina.

Drivetrain
Under the hood is what our consignor says is a 2700cc inline four cylinder with a 4-barrel carburetor. It's mated to a 4-speed manual transmission routing power to the Ford 7.25" axle in back. The bay is caged and naturally, there are no fender wells.

Undercarriage
Lots of surface rust, corrosion and mud on the bottom but everything seems to be intact. Disc brakes are on front and drums in back while the single exhaust is not impeded by a muffler and exits to the side. Suspension consists of coil springs in front and leaf springs in the back.

Drive-Ability
Our consignor states the car will run off a bottle and as such, we were not able to lap this racer.

Thinking about getting into the racing game? Or looking for a project to make a vintage racer street legal to take to shows? Maybe you're an AMC collector or have a racing museum. So many possibilities with this one!

NO TITLE-SOLD ON A BILL OF SALE ONLY

Classic Auto Mall is home to more than 1,000 classic and collectible vehicles for sale via consignment in a climate controlled 336,000-square foot showroom (that's more than 8 acres!). The largest single location consignment dealer of classic and collectible vehicles in the country is located in Morgantown, Pennsylvania, just 1-hour west of Philadelphia off Exit 298 of the I-76 Pennsylvania Turnpike. For more information visit www.classicautomall.com or call us at (888) 227-0914. Contact us anytime for more information or to come see the vehicle in person. There is no guarantee of mileage. A $299 Dealer Administrative fee is not included in the advertised price.

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