853 horsepower in any AMC is more than enough power, but placing that kind of bullet between the fenders of a 1981 Spirit Kammback (essentially, a renamed Gremlin) is  pretty ballsy move. They are light on their feet, and have this tendency to go nose-first into the air if the rear tires can hook at all. Yet it is that same lightness that is attractive to racers who can get past the looks, but it’s a special kind of insanity to bolt all of that together into a street-legal package that can be driven anywhere.

Let’s get right down to business: the motor is a 9.2:1 compression 406 small block Chevy that inhales through a Weiand 6-71. The air mixes with two Rob’s Mix Shop-modified Holley 750s feeding E85 in before hitting the cylinders and escaping through hand built headers, custom cutouts, and out through mufflers. Other goodies include a whole bevy of Comp Cams items, including cam, timing set, lifters, rods and valve springs, an MSD distributor and ignition system, and Accel coil. Running the power out to the spooled 9″ rear end is a Powerglide that we’re sure shifts like you were hit in the back of the head by Thor’s hammer.

Once you get past the blower through the hood, you could be forgiven for thinking that this was some kind of restoration job. The Spirit has either lived a very easy life or has been treated to a restoration, but either way the car is in beautiful condition. The Ansen-like wheels on mismatched white-letter tires is a nice touch and plays down the seriousness of the motor under the hood. We know some AMC fans, and we know one individual who is going to have heart palpitations when they see this monster…

eBay Link: 1981 AMC Spirit Kammback