1979 Spirit Limited
This car came from Washington state originally,
and found its way to Lewiston Idaho for a while. I
got it from there. It is a stock 304/4-spd
with front/rear swaybars, tilt, ralley gauges, leather interior, tach, turbocast wheels,
and sunroof. The body is one of the most
solid original AMC bodies I have ever seen. There
is 0 rust through on this car. At the worst
there is some light surface rust starting where the paint is thin. And the paint is pretty thin in a couple spots. This car is still factory undercoated like day
one, and the floors and rockers are PERFECT. Rear
quarters are PERFECT. Front fenders are
PERFECT. I think you get the point. It has some very minor dings, but overall just
needs a quick paintjob to be perfect. The
interior needs a little work, as the pics show. The
304 runs strong, with what appears to be 150k (50,xxx miles showing) miles. It uses no oil that I have been able to see. The 4-speed shifts absolutely flawlessly, and the
tranny feels real solid. This car has 2.87:1
gears and it cruises down the road beautifully. I
put brand new BFG Radial TA tires on it, and they are 245/60 in back and 225/60 in front. I also put brand new KYB gas-adjust shocks on it. Needless to say that with those sway bars and wide
tires, it handles like it’s on rails. The
only thing lacking to give this car a “10” on the “fun-scale” is a
posi rear. I did lower the car a bit, so the
front end may need an alignment. As far as
the engine goes, it runs real strong, but needs carb work.
Every time I mess with a 2-bbl carb I screw it up, so I will leave that for the
next owner. I wanted to put a Performer and
600 Holley on it anyway, whick is why I never worried about it. It floods when you shut it
off and go to start it again, and seems a little jerky while keeping it at a steady speed
I have only had this car for a couple months and have hardly had a chance to drive it,
other than the trip home 200 miles. I thought
this was going to be the perfect little family fun car that all 4 of us could just get in
and go, and it would be, except that it seems to be really cramped with us all in there
(it is a short wheelbase car after all). The
gas gueage doesn’t work, and the electric locks do not work. I have no idea why.
I also never had time to monkey with the gas gauge.
Anyways I have been looking for a wagon to pull my car trailer around for the last
couple years, and recently one popped up on E-bay just 80 miles from me (73 Ambassador
with factory 401 and tow package) so I had to buy it.
So something has to go, and that leaves the Spirit.
I would love to keep this car just for cruising around town by myself or with the
wife, but how practical is that with a 6 & 9 year old?
I will be going to the Summer Nationals in St.
Paul on July 17th & 18th and would be willing to trailer it
there for nothing for the winning bidder, or I can deliver to the 50th in
Kenosha the last weekend in July for $100 extra. Otherwise
I can help arrange shipping but the winning bidder will pay all costs. There is a local company that usually will deliver
almost anywhere in the lower 48 for under $900.
Enjoy the pics!
If you have any questions, please call (218)
681-8144 and ask for Todd. My e-mail addy is
Thanks for looking!
Todd Jesme
