Armchair automotive historians are endlessly fascinated by “what-if” scenarios regarding independents, especially Packard, Studebaker, and American Motors. The brand from Kenosha clearly had the best shot; after all, it kept the lights on decades after the others. AMC tended to be at its best when it stuck to niches others missed, such as compacts in the late 1950s and this four-wheel-drive passenger car, the Eagle. Fundamentally a gussied-up Concord, the Eagle dared to tread where few else would. It found a niche. There are still plenty of Nash boosters out there to celebrate the best (and sometimes worst) from Wisconsin’s home team, and this uncommon Eagle sedan might be a fun buy for them. Located in Monument, Colorado, it was brought to us by Barn Finds reader Mike F., who found it while perusing craigslist.

By 1984, the Eagle line was down to two models, the wagon and this much rarer sedan: Almost 22,000 wagons were sold, but only 4,241 sedans found buyers that year. Rarity does not always equate to desirability, but owning the sedan is an interesting way to meet new friends at the club meets; it’s a conversation starter. This well-traveled Eagle is advertised as being all-original, and the paint shows the signs of age and mileage (173,000).

That’s a lot of miles, but the AMC 258-cubic-inch six is well-known for its truck-like durability; it didn’t power Jeep CJs and trucks for nothing. The 1984 model’s engine was unchanged from 1983, channeling its 110 horsepower and 210 lb.-ft. of torque through a three-speed automatic in the case of this sedan. Don’t expect spectacular acceleration; the standard axle ratio was 2.50:1 (2.73:1 for high-altitude areas, which may apply to this car). Regardless, it’s clearly capable of keeping up with modern traffic; the seller says that the Eagle is a daily driver, and the four-wheel-drive system works as it should. It’s the perfect car for a Colorado winter.

Interior pictures are sadly limited in the craigslist ad, but the back seat looks nice. I think we have to assume that the front seat has seen better days, but when it was new, it was surprisingly luxurious.

Yes, the brown paint has taken on the appearance of a well-worn wallet, but the seller says that the car is rust-free and the vinyl top is “in good condition.” I imagine that few are buying Eagles to restore, but anything’s possible, and it’s certainly presentable as it sits. You can’t buy too many practical daily drivers with a quirky edge for $5,250; a Subaru is about the only real competition, and sometimes, only something from the last independent will do.