1979 AMC Spirit AMX

Compact performance powered by 1979 AMC Spirit AMX engine family.

Exact-year view retained for body, trim, glass, lamps, bumpers, and wheel context; condition and restoration details remain specific to the photographed vehicle.

Bodies Two-door liftback coupe

Configurations AMX with 258 inline-six, AMX with 304 V8

Engine range 258 inline-six or optional 304 V8

Chassis Coil-spring independent front, leaf-spring live rear, and power front discs

Production Exact configuration ledger remains unresolved

Story

1979 AMC Spirit AMX

The 1979 Spirit AMX family combined two-door liftback coupe with AMX with 258 inline-six, AMX with 304 V8 configurations. This page keeps those factory choices together without treating an engine, stripe, badge, or trim package as a separate car identity.

Engines and transmissions

The AMX combined the 258 inline-six or optional 304 V8 with manual or automatic driveline choices. Powertrain codes, emissions equipment, axle, chassis hardware, and dates define one car. Transmission, induction, cooling, exhaust, axle, emissions equipment, and dates must match the selected engine path.

Chassis and brakes

The Spirit used AMC's compact independent front suspension and leaf-sprung live rear axle. AMX tuning added anti-roll control, with axle and spring details tied to powertrain. Brake, steering, spring, damper, axle, ratio, wheel, and tire equipment varied by configuration and must be reconciled to factory and car-specific records.

Body, trim, and proof

Start with VIN or serial, body tag, title, shell, and ownership history. Then reconcile drivetrain, chassis, protected finish, cabin, trim, dates, and records. Replaceable badges, stripes, wheels, or a swapped engine cannot establish factory configuration.

**Exact-year view retained for body, trim, glass, lamps, bumpers, and wheel context; condition and restoration details remain specific to the photographed vehicle.**Herranderssvensson via Wikimedia Commons · CC BY-SA 3.0

Price history

Values

Nominal dollars from original price sheets, auction archives, and approved value references.

Original Price

A verified original price is not yet available for this car.

Values move with paperwork, originality, options, condition, venue, and body style. High bids and guide values are labeled separately from completed sales.

Reference records

Options, Colors & Components

Source-backed details for trim, chassis, production, and authenticity.

Engine Details

258 inline-six 258 cu in with two-barrel induction · Spirit AMX standard engine path · engine assembly / specification
304 V8 304 cu in with two-barrel induction · Spirit AMX optional V8 path · carburetor / specification

Transmission

Factory transmission Four-speed manual transmission
Factory transmission Three-speed Torque-Command automatic transmission

Options

Engines and Induction summarized from reviewed factory and marque references.Classic Muscle · Reference illustration

304-V8 304 V8 factory · performance · Engine, induction, cooling, exhaust, transmission, axle, emissions hardware, dates, and records must agree.
TORQUE-COMMAND Torque-Command automatic factory · comfort · Case, controls, cooling, axle, and records must match the engine path.
TWIN-GRIP Twin-Grip differential factory · performance · Carrier, ratio, housing, dates, and records define one installation.
AMX Spirit AMX appearance and handling package factory · performance · Body code, spoilers, flares, graphics, grille, chassis equipment, cabin, and records must agree.

Paint

P1 Classic Black factory · solid
P2 Alpine White factory · solid
P3 Firecracker Red factory · solid
P4 Sunshine Yellow factory · solid
P5 Wedgwood Blue Metallic factory · metallic
P6 Concord Maroon Metallic factory · metallic

Production

Transmissions summarized from reviewed factory and marque references.Classic Muscle · Reference illustration

1979 AMC Spirit AMX family total · 0 · reported

Authenticity

Rear Axle and Ratios summarized from reviewed factory and marque references.Classic Muscle · Reference illustration

Model-year identity 1979 Spirit AMX VIN or serial, body tag, title, shell, drivetrain, trim, protected finish, and ownership evidence that agrees · VIN or serial plate, body or trim plate, chassis, title, build records, and ownership history · fraud detection
Engine and transmission Configuration-correct engine, induction, transmission, controls, stampings, castings, and dates · Engine, induction, gearbox, shifter, pedals, stamp pads, castings, dates, and records · numbers matching
Axle, brakes, and suspension Application-correct axle, ratio, brake system, steering, springs, links, and dampers · Axle housing and carrier, brakes, steering, suspension, dates, service records, and build evidence · date correctness
Paint, exterior trim, and cabin Plate- and record-supported finish, moldings, badges, wheels, upholstery, instruments, and controls · Body and trim plates, protected paint, upholstery, hardware, dashboard, and restoration records · trim correctness

Still Researching

production No reviewed public ledger reconciles 1979 Spirit AMX production by body, model, engine, transmission, axle, paint, trim, options, plant, date, and surviving-car status.
paint colors Reviewed references establish representative factory colors but not a complete body, trim, stripe, special-order, plant, and build-date compatibility matrix.
interior Broad cabin equipment is documented, but the complete upholstery color, material, body, option, and production-date matrix is not publicly reconciled.
authenticity markers Public model references cannot prove one survivor's born-with shell, drivetrain, chassis components, paint, trim, options, or component dates.