AMC Spirit

AMC Spirit
1979 AMC Spirit GT
Overview
Manufacturer	American Motors Corporation (AMC)
Production	1979–1983
Assembly	Kenosha, Wisconsin, United States Brampton, Ontario, Canada Mexico City, Mexico (VAM)
Designer	Richard A. Teague
Body and chassis
Class	Subcompact
Body style	2-door sedan 3-door liftback
Layout	FR layout
Platform	AMC's "junior cars"
Related	AMC Gremlin AMC Concord AMC Eagle
Powertrain
Engine	122 cu in (2.0 L) Audi/VW EA827 I4 151 cu in (2.5 L) GM Iron Duke I4 232 cu in (3.8 L) I6 258 cu in (4.2 L) I6 282 cu in (4.6 L) I6 (Mexico) 304 cu in (5.0 L) V8
Transmission	3-speed TorqueFlite automatic 4-speed manual 5-speed manual
Dimensions
Wheelbase	96 in (2,438 mm)
Length	167 in (4,242 mm)
Width	72 in (1,829 mm)
Height	51 in (1,295 mm)
Curb weight	2,521 lb (1,144 kg) base sedan
Chronology
Predecessor	AMC Gremlin
Successor	Renault Alliance/Renault Encore

The AMC Spirit was a subcompact marketed by American Motors Corporation (AMC) from 1979 to 1983 as a restyled replacement for the Gremlin. The Spirit shared the Gremlin's platform and was offered in two hatchback variations, each with two doors — marketed as sedan and liftback. Manufactured by AMC in Wisconsin and Ontario, as well as under license in Mexico, the Spirit was also marketed from 1981 to 1983 as the Eagle SX/4 with four-wheel drive.

Performance versions of the AMC Spirit competed in road racing. The B.F. Goodrich tire company sponsored a two-car team of Spirit AMXs in the 24 Hours Nürburgring race track. The AMXs were the first American entries and they finished first and second in their class out of a 120-car field in this grueling 14.1 mile (22.7 km), 176 turn road race. AMC Spirits were also privately campaigned in International Motor Sports Association (IMSA) Champion Spark Plug Challenge and Racing Stock Class events, as well as in drag racing.

The new AMC Spirit was largely a restyled Gremlin that had been manufactured from 1970 to 1978. Many engineering and equipment upgrades introduced on the 1978 Concord were now transferred to the sub-compact Spirit. The suspension system was revised with "soft-ride" mountings for the coil springs over A-arms in the front and the rear live-axle with leaf springs to improve ride and handling. Attention was also focused on sound-deadening, corrosion protection, and other engineering features included among others, lightweight aluminum bumpers, lock-up automatic transmission converter, and higher-compression six-cylinder camshaft and pistons for economy, performance, and emissions.