So the AMC Pacer just doesn’t speak to you because it never actually paced anything? How about an AMX Spirit AMX heavily customized to pace the IndyCar World Series in 1981?
The seller claims 450HP and it might be true with 18 pounds of boost on a 4.2L I6. As noted below, this engine was used in just about every AMC product at the time and is best known as a Jeep CJ engine. It was never factory turbocharged, however, so the work was farmed out, as was the construction of this car. It still wears a cool Autodynamics badge.
This is a one-off worthy of its own Wikipedia entry (could have been entered by the seller), so it’s very hard to say what this is worth. It has a reserve, but the starting price was low enough that this has garnered eighteen bids already.
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West Palm Beach, FL
$12,800 with 18 bids and reserve not met
The styling isn’t typical AMX – I see some Starion/Conquest in it, though this preceded that by quite a few years.
Aside from the wing, there’s a hint of Mustang in the rear.
Open the door and there’s no doubt this is an early 80s, turbocharged product.
Interior is purposeful.
This is pretty much a turbocharged Jeep CJ inline six (also used in essentially every AMC at the time).
Ad text:
Marino Performance Motors is proud to announce the arrival of this very rare special (1of 1) 1981 American Motors Corporation AMX Turbo PPG Indy Car World Series Pace Car with only 4,069 original miles! This exclusive, one of a kind, AMX Turbo appeared throughout the US in 1981 as one of the five official pace cars for this 14 race series. The AMX Turbo made its debut as the official pace car for the Milwaukee 150 on June 7th, 1981! All five pace cars were funded by PPG Industries that year to help create one pace car for each of the major American car companies to develop free hand, a concept vehicle based on existing production models of that time for each manufacturer. This allowed each American automaker to showcase a high performance vehicle to demonstrate the skills of the automotive industry at that time. This actual car being offered for sale was the pace car built for AMC and later personally owned by AMC Vice President of Design, Richard Teague as well!
He began this special task by selecting a Spirit as the base vehicle. From there the body was replaced with a more aerodynamically-efficient, fiberglass shell. The build was handled by Autodynamics out of Troy, Michigan. It also included a unique ram air induction system designed into the rear quarter panel, and a fully integrated rear deck spoiler. The interior was reconstructed to include new front bucket seats and a special roll bar and cage. Teague next took a docile 258 CID 6 Cylinder power plant and turned it into a monster! Using an exhaust driven turbocharger built by Turbo Systems and a Porsche fuel injection system this one off car now produced 450 HP! This car measures 164 inches long and 72 inches wide with a wheelbase of 96 inches!
If you are looking for a unique piece of AMC/AMX history look no further. There was only one car built for this project and here it is! Car comes with all documentation and photos in the description. Please feel free to contact us with any questions you may have!
Features
This AMX Turbo Pace Car has many options including desirable features such as:
1 of 1
Headlight Covers
Flush Fit Rear Window
Dash created by Turbo Systems
3-inch Rollbar
Leather Door Sills
2 Fire Extinguishers
Rear Wheel Drive
Turbocharged
Fuel Injected
18 PSI Boost
16-inch tires