Regular readers will be aware of my admiration for AMC. It was a minnow that swam within a school of sharks, achieving some genuinely interesting and exciting results on a minimal budget. No vehicle better personifies (autofies?) its achievements better than this 1981 Eagle Limited Wagon. It broke new ground with its drivetrain combination, which brought full-time all-wheel-drive technology to a Station Wagon for the first time. Our 1981 Eagle presents superbly, but there is more to this classic than good looks. It is in sound mechanical health and is loaded with almost every option available in that model year. Its most pressing need is a new home, with the seller listing the Eagle here on eBay in Harrison, Arkansas. They set their BIN at $21,500, and I must say a big thank you to Barn Finder T.J. for spotting this beauty.
Platform sharing is nothing new, and almost every manufacturer has followed the practice many times. AMC released the Eagle in 1970, basing it on the existing Concord underpinnings. The resultant vehicle featured crisp and modern styling while managing not to be a bland Wagon that blended into the scenery. The original owner ordered this Eagle in Copper Brown Metallic, one of the best shades offered in the 1981 AMC palette. Its presentation is hard to fault, especially for an unrestored classic of this vintage. The seller says this gem mainly sees service in shows and parades, and the overall condition makes this entirely believable. The paint shines beautifully, the woodgrain looks flawless, and the panels are laser-straight. AMC focused heavily on corrosion prevention strategies, which makes this Eagle’s rust-free status unsurprising. The exterior is clean, while the underside shots confirm this car is as solid as the day it was born. The trim is exceptional, and the flawless glass retains the VIN etchings, confirming it is original.
The original owner loaded this Eagle with factory options to make life on the road pretty pleasant. The new owner will receive air conditioning, leather seatcovers, power windows, a tilt wheel, and an AM/FM radio with a power antenna. The seller states everything works as it should, although the A/C requires a recharge. Otherwise, this interior carries the hallmarks of a classic that has been treated respectfully. The leather exhibits no signs of wear and damage, looking as supple and inviting as the day the original owner took possession. The dash and pad are perfect, the carpet is free from wear, and the back seat looks like it has never seen occupants. The most vulnerable area of any Station Wagon is the rear cargo area, with carelessness typically producing stained carpet and scored plastic. This Eagle has avoided those issues, with the rear cargo area in almost showroom condition.
The most profound change to the 1981 Eagle was AMC’s decision to adopt the 2.5-liter General Motors “Iron Duke” four-cylinder engine as the standard powerplant. However, many buyers followed the lead set by this Eagle’s original owner by ticking the box beside the 258ci six that produces 110hp and 200 ft/lbs of torque. Selecting the larger engine brought the three-speed automatic transmission, with the manual only offered on the four. The change to the entry-level engine wasn’t the only mechanical update performed by AMC in 1981. Eagle buyers ordering their Wagon during the last half of that model year could opt for the “Select Drive” system. This placed a switch on the dash, allowing the driver to disengage the AWD feature so power fed to the rear wheels only. AMC promoted this as a fuel economy measure, which many buyers found attractive in an era of rising fuel prices. The seller has recently spent a considerable sum on this classic to ensure it is mechanically healthy. It received a new master cylinder, lines, and other brake system components. They also replaced the tires, shocks, plugs, plug wires, and other parts. The Eagle runs and drives perfectly, and with only 58,000 genuine miles under its belt, it should offer a new owner years of reliable motoring enjoyment.
The classic market is cyclical, and it is common for a particular model to be rarely seen for months and for a few tidy examples to suddenly emerge from the woodwork. Such is the case with the AMC Eagle Limited. This is the second one I have seen in two weeks, and both have been stunning. The other was a 1983 model with a similar odometer reading. Its condition was not quite to the standard of our feature vehicle, and it fell short on a couple of factory options. That seller asked $18,000 for that Eagle, but this owner set their BIN at $21,500. Reader comments on the last article were positive, although some questioned whether the price was too high. I expect a similar response now, but it will be fascinating to gauge which you believe to be the better buy. This one is more expensive, but I feel the additional expense might be justified. Do you agree?
Oh, once there was a car in Arkansas,,,wow, there’s an interior that will keep you awake. Color enhanced maybe? I don’t remember them that loud. What a car. One could say, the zenith in AMC /Rambler history. Say what you might, this car had it all. AWD, hatch, cushy interiors, great heat/a/c, stout and proven mechanicals, assembled by people who GAVE A DARN,,,again, it was very popular in the midwest. Before the Subaru OOOOOtback, these were the choice of most rural mail carriers. I bet some are still used for that today. Not this one, as rust killed many. I’ve seen Eagle wagons that didn’t look like this, and rightly so, spending their entire life in winter. How one got to Arkansas, is anyones guess. The poor in line 6, look at it, gasping for breath. Never, besides what Chrysler did to the Slanty, have I seen a motor so choked off, yet,,it worked. A testament to the motor(s) itself.
So, BFs nation, what do you do? Only 2 “viewers ” and no bids, so obviously, interest is limited and the price is too high. But say you get this for half what they’re asking, ( oh, don’t worry, they’ll take it by and by) it really should be used in a winter environment, and the certain kiss of death, OR, for $10grand, it could just be driven to the beach,,,for years to come. Great find but too much.
Did they disappear in the spring,fall and summer??
I must say… The first photo especially looks like it came from a sales brochure. This looks like it was very well kept. My wifes dad had one years ago, brown 4wd 258 straight six, but it had a 5 speed. That 5 speed helped a lot, and it got decent gas mileage for the time too. And snow, forget about it, nothing could stop that thing. Ive heard people say that these were just as good if not even better than Jeeps in the snow because they weighed more. I know my father in laws sure was. This looks like a great find.
My phone takes pics like that when I turn on night vision feature.
Let me repeat what i previously wrote , the amc eagle is the one that began my love affair with the AWD
I owned 3 , a black 2 door , a brown station wagon like this one with someking of plaid interior and a black loaded limited station wagon with the couch interior like this one , i have owned all kinds of 4×4 and awd vehicles and still do . Living in the montreal, canada winter region , it can go sideways pretty quick , we had a foot of it in 24 hours , nowadays , we have 2 hyundai santa fe ´s , but i wouldn’t want to go back to this as the suv’s are way better now than then …
If you are going to use this as a winter driver beware one thing. A flexible rubber boot covers the front stub axles. Slush can get on this and freeze, tearing the boot and rusting the stub axle almost while you watch. I can’t figure out how this got past pre production testing.
1980 first year. Not 1970
Well… if you count the “Hornet” on which it was based…
I’d take the ’83 featured previously over this one, not for the price, but for the tan interior. I believe AMC called the interior on this ’81 Eagle “nutmeg.” I call it nauseating. So much orange.
A great looking car; I like ALL of it, color, wood grain, the interior. Everything except the price.
I had several of these and loved them. Both were automatics but one was a later car with shift on the fly ability. Unlike the early other car nearly an identical mate to this, which had the same 4 wd control as the featured car. Believe me, when the worst of roads were encountered, that shift on the fly option was very, VERY welcome. Never had either of mine stuck where they did not get out on their own
Lovely car. The asking price of $21k is a tad steep. For a car like this, I’d pay between $10k and $15k, assuming everything works on the car and it drives like it should.
The air conditioning should be blowing cold for that kind of money.
I agree. AC is almost required during the summer months wherever you live.
Had one and came here to say exactly this, good call!
For that price you are expected to fix the air-conditioning and tune up the carburetor? Pass on that.
I remember in the 80’s and 90’s you could NOT drive around Lake Tahoe without seeing a dozen of these things! Everybody and their uncle had one up there!
I remember going to the lake george region and seeing many of the roaming around
I remember going to the lake george region and seeing many of the roaming around
I miss AMC!
I really like this car especially the color, that said it’s way overpriced and the a/c and carb need to be fixed, along with the broken headlight adjusters . For the right price it would make a really nice daily driver.
Right? I don’t get why they’re asking so much. Unless it’s an AMX or an Ambassador, $21k seems rather steep for a car, AC or not.
Nice. Always liked these, but for some reason I always steered toward Jeep. This is a great example with what appears to be every option picked, even has the AM/FM/CB radio.
My former mechanics dad had one. I never gave it more than a passing glance.
Used to see another one running around downtown Mpls.
Both of these had identical exteriors to this one.
I never knew you could gussy one up like this one is. I like the loose pillow seats up front and the leather seats as a whole.
AMC had some good ideas in their day. Too bad they didn’t survive.
Even with this loaded example, it’s too pricey & where do you find parts?
Parts in Kenosha, WI.
The Virginia City, Nevada Police/Sheriffs Department used these due to the steep streets in town.
Beautiful condition, a little pricey, but for that price , air conditioning should be blowing cold, too bad they did not have a 304 v-8 option. I would look for one right now and buy it, auto or stick.
I’d buy an American Motors (AMC) Eagle if I had someone to share the experience with. The only mechanical upgrade I’d give it would be a Duramax Diesel engine, and the only cosmetic change I’d give it would be to replace the original grille with a 1981 or later Spirit grille.