In 1980, American Motors (who desperately needed more sales) crossed a Concord car with a Jeep 4X4 platform to create the only 4WD automobile built in the U.S. (at the time). Called the Eagle, the station wagon version was the most popular body style, and these early crossovers were in production through 1988 (under Chrysler’s watch at the end, who had acquired AMC the year before). The seller has a 1984 edition of the Eagle wagon which nearly looks like it has just come out of a time capsule, with just 67,000 miles on the odometer.
After American Motors emerged from the merger of Nash and Hudson in 1954, it was always searching for ways to be different. Examples include the American (a compact), the AMX (a GT car), and the Gremlin (a quirky) subcompact. Oh, and let’s not forget the Pacer (an odd duck). When the Hornet compact was reinvented as the Concord in 1978, that set the stage for the development of the Eagle with its Select Trac system, enabling drivers to switch from 2WD to 4WD at the flip of a lever (I think you had to be stationary at the time).
Between 1980 and 1988, AMC built 113,300 Eagle wagons, 27,500 sedans, 30,100 SX/4s (a Spirit-based 4X4), and a few other variants in lower numbers. The Eagle wagon seen here was one of 21,300 assembled in 1984, which was its second-best year in terms of sales. We’re told this beauty has only had two owners and we assume both treated it with kid gloves. The paint is original and shiny and there are no signs of rust.
The interior is equally inviting and nothing in there looks amiss other than perhaps some fading of the carpeting near the floor shifter for the automatic transmission. Oh, and there’s a crack in the steering wheel. AMC’s venerable 258 cubic inch inline-6 appears to be under the hood, and we’re told it runs flawlessly at 67,000 miles. The air conditioning blows cold, and no mention is made of any attention or repairs that might be needed.
Located in Melville, New York, this sweet survivor is available here on craigslist for $15,995. Try and buy a more recent crossover at that kind of price. If you need something to carry the kids around that can also climb up a mountain, it’s hard to beat an AMC. And you might stir up some dialogue with it at Cars & Coffee. And kudos to Mitchell G. for this excellent tip!
yup, 1st cross-over?
Any way these R great esp 2nd 1/2 of production w/the
“off” button (not sure early models went 2WD part time
or may B it wuz the other way round?)
Right sized, right motor, right configuration (wagon).
Only ‘no’s’ 4 me were the slanted rear (less haul space)
and co of manufacture. Dont forget when
buying older vehicles U buy against the others of that
Y/M/M. So what was offered then? The big 3 but not in
cross0ver fashion (so nuttin?, no, tru dedicated sm trucks,
wagons or pass. cars, not a bad thing) and by better made
manufacturers… Still, I’d take a hard “Yes” if able to bring this
un home~
I worked in the service department of an AMC/Pontiac Dealership back in the day. If you’re concerned about the manufacturer, don’t be. The AMC’s were the single best built vehicles that I ever worked on. They NEVER came in for warranty repairs. The only common parts failure was the driver’s side upper door hinges on the two door Hornets. AMC’s were excellent cars well before their time. . . . . The FBI used Ambasadors with the 390 V8 exclusively. Quite the sleeper, for a heavy car!
I too experienced the failure of both door hinges wearing on a 73 2 door Hornet hatchback. The heavy doors would sag and misaligned the door latch to the striker that ended up breaking in the door frame.
I brazed both strikers back in place and got new hinges, made sure to keep greasing the moving hinge parts and never had that problem again.
I love these, I wonder if a 4.0 litre will bolt right in.
It will but only early 4.0s had the mounting bosses on the block for the front differential and they were not drilled and tapped.
I had an ’82, you had to stop to shift the transfer case. It had a little pin to pull down in order to move the lever. I think it was a vacuum actuator that didn’t work very well on mine and sometimes it wouldn’t shift in/out while stationary. It made a bad noise followed by a bang and the whole car would jerk when it shifted, but it kept on going. What a great car it was.
My parents had this same car back in the day, It was a very good vehicle , we live in upstate N Y good car for winter roads !
I used to see one of these running around downtwn. Minneapolis. Besides that I only saw one other one owned by the father of two brothers that ran a great shop in NE Mpls. suburb of New Brighton.
I like the vinyl strips on the seats; adds a certain class to the interior. Color is appealing in & out.