Re: 79 AMX identification

["Jeff Reeves" <jeffr@xxxxxxxxxxx>]

Taillights never wrapped around on a Spirit. You're talking Concord.

Looking at the taillight ID numbers won't help either---from 79-83 all
Spirit taillights used the same DOT numbering and they all would show a "79"
somewhere in the sequence to identify they were in compliance for a 1979
design car. 

To identify this car as a true AMX, you'll have to do as Frank Swygert
suggested--look at the body code on the door trim tag (assuming the driver
door is original and still has the trim plate) or drop the steering box to
verify the serial number stamped there matches the last 7 or so digits of
the VIN plate. Frank said the AMX was a top-level *Concord*, but that was
only true for 1978. 1979 and 80 AMX was a Spirit based car. 

I don't recall maroon being an available color for an AMX--I think the 79
AMX could be had in red, white, yellow, blue, silver and black. Of course,
all this is just what I recall off the top of my head since I don't have my
reference books here at work with me. In regards to the black dash
panels--something in the back of my mind says that the AMX could be had with
either black or the aluminum looking panels, depending on whether the car
had the standard or deluxe interior. But, again, I don't have my reference
material here with me at the moment. 

Regarding the lack of body flares--these could have been removed at any
time. If the car was repainted, there would be no evidence of the flares, as
they simply attached to existing points and screwed into the same holes used
by garden-variety wheel trim moldings. 

Here are a few things you can look at that a true AMX should have regardless
of paint color or flares: Full gauge package, including tachometer and the
four-gauge pod  beneath the dash; sport steering wheel; front swaybar that
is approximately 1" diameter and a rear swaybar that's about (I think) 5/8"
diameter; rear three-piece spoiler; left and right remote controlled black
sport mirrors.

Jeff Reeves
79 Spirit GT
72 Javelin SST
69 Ambassador DPL

Message-ID: <BAY20-DAV7801FDB924545121DCB82AC900@xxxxxxx>
From: "Jim Blair" <carnuck@xxxxxxxxxxx>
To: "amc" <mail@xxxxxxxxxxxx>
Subject: Re: 79 AMX or not?
Date: Sun, 2 Jan 2005 23:50:53 -0800

A: The tail lights have double digits for the year and after '77 they went 
to wrap around the corner style, like Eagles, but a bit different. My '77 
AMX was Maroon and so was my '83 Eagle wagon. Numbers behind the steering 
box too IIRC.


From: Jesse <j2sax@xxxxxxxxx>
Subject: 79 AMX or not?
To: mail@xxxxxxxxxxxx

OK, maybe you guys can give me advice concerning
this... a maroon 79 AMX, supposedly.  I just want to
make sure.  It's fairly rough 79 AMX, VIN is right,
title matches, though it's out of state and not
transferred from previous owner ... was a v8 4 spd (no
drivetrain now, decent AMX grille.

Doubts...
It's Maroon... actually a cool color, but factory?

It has a solid black dash (no woodgrain, no aluminum).


No flares... doesn't look like it ever had them.

So, other than the VIN on the dash, is there anyway to
verify the year of the vehicle other than the VIN?
Aren't the taillights a way to tell the year?  How do
you decipher this?  Are there any other ways?
Something on the frame or somewhere a little more
stable?  It's not too hard to swap lights!

The guy that currently has it has a field load of hack
jobs that don't give me confidence... but who goes
making fake AMX's unless they're real AMC FREAKS!

Thanks for your help,


Jesse