1979 AMC AMX

           

    

In the late 1970s and early 1980s, the Pontiac Trans-Am was one of the most exciting muscle cars around. It was one of the best-handling and quickest cars around, and its breathtaking looks, complete with special wheels, special badging, emblems, stripes, and the hallowed fire-breathing "Flaming Chicken" hood sticker made it a legend. The Trans-Am, like Burt Reynolds's Bandit, lived and breathed pure 1970s-era machismo.

Like the Chevy Monza Spyder and Royal Knight El Camino, the AMC AMX of 1979-1980 tried to capture the Trans-Am's magic by emulating the sizzle while ignoring the steak.

The original AMX of the 1960s was a truly legendary supercar; its combination of compact size and powerful V-8 made it the most potent car in AMC's woebegone history. A decade later, today's Muscle Car Poseur was the sad marriage of a proud name, a garish hood decal, AMC's hoary old 304 V-8, and the AMC Spirit.

Don't remember the Spirit? Think of AMC's Eagle Wagon, only less advanced and less popular.

Unsurprisingly, it didn't really work. Though the Spirit was a decent enough family car for the time, it was embarrassing to drive around a wildly extroverted car that could only manage a 13-second sprint (saunter?) to 60 mph.

When given the choice between the AMX and a Trans-Am, the driving public could pretty easily see through the empty testosterone and pick the actual sporting machine. The latter-day AMX has mercifully been all but forgotten, but in its empty promises it is still a poster child for the Muscle Car Poseur phenomenon.

These are actually the original AMC publicity photos, courtesy of this enthusiast's page.

--Chris H.

Comments

[Scotty on June 27, 2008 at 01:49 AM]

The Spirit AMX's weren't all that bad, I mean, they did come 25th and 43rd overall out of a field of 120, and 1st and 2nd in their class. They were also were the fastest on street tires. ;)

http://www.motortrend.com/classic/features/c12_0511_1979_nurburgring/index.html

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bQqysjI9gM4

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rUCpknhTVmU

But then again, I'm a bit biased; I love AMCs.

[Jim Bob on December 01, 2008 at 04:43 PM]

I have had a Spirit DL for almost 20 years now, most of which have been spent not running. Mine has a AMC 360, and I did the swap by stripping 2 Spirit AMX's, a Gremlin X (rear axle), and several other cars. It does not handle well no matter what you do to it, and parts are now very hard to come by. It's my first car and I still have it, but I can't wait to get rid of it.

[carlososeasmontenegro cardona on April 19, 2009 at 01:55 PM]

yo tengo uno amc amx v8 lo he corrido a 280km

[Uncle Buck on May 31, 2009 at 02:13 PM]

I just got a 79 AMX with the big motor,and I need EVERYTHING!!!!!
Where can I find parts?

Ramblurely@yahoo.com
thanks, Uncle Buck