There’s just no love for AMC. Witness this Barn Finds assignment, left unclaimed for a day until close to the time of auction ending. Why would no one write this up? I’m not an AMC expert, but I know an interesting curiosity when I see one. And this 1983 Eagle SX4 fits that definition. If it’s your thing, too, you can grab it for under $2500 in an auction that ends Saturday evening. Nice Easter present, I’m thinking, for someone inclined to an oddball resto project. Of course, you’ll have to get it home, and that will involve transport from Adkins, Texas to wherever you are.
This thing is history and weirdness rolled into one small two-door package. It’s listed as an AMC, but sold as an Eagle. You might remember that history. AMC was bought by Chrysler in 1987 and its products were marketed as the Eagle through 1998. Mostly, these were 4WD vehicles, and this one is no exception. Before you jump in here, check out the photos and ask yourself what you see. What my eyes perceive is a tiny two-door fastback raised up on a four-wheel-drive platform from an era when nobody drove AWD vehicles. (That’s why Subaru had a hard time, back then, of peddling their cars to anyone other than rural mail carriers in Vermont.)
This particular car is advertised by one of the more frank and honest sellers you’ll find. He advises that it’s best left to a mechanic-type buyer. He says that it needs “tons of work to get back on the road safely” and offers a lengthy youtube video detailing the areas of concern. He also says that it will cost a couple of thousand dollars to bring up to daily driver condition. It does have going for it that it’s a five-speed model. But the title info according to Auto Check shows seven prior owners and odometer readings past 200,000 miles. Yikes! And no claims are made in the ad as to the condition of the engine.
So why would you buy this one? If you want something you’re never, ever going to see another of at a car show or cruise, this could be for you. There are also clubs out there that specialize in orphan brands (AMC Eagle) and 4wd vehicles, so you might have different communities to choose from. Just beware the top-side rust, the possibly suspect engines and mechanicals, and the possible need for emissions certification, depending on where you have to title this little bit of Eagle history.
Last year for the SX/4, and it’s a 5-speed! The car is listed as an AMC because it is an AMC. Eagle wasn’t a brand name until 1988, and although the final AMC Eagles weren’t marketed as AMCs, they carried AMC badges. The Eagle brand only offered two AWD vehicles – the Talon (which was an absolute hoot to drive) and the Summit wagon. The Premier, Medallion, Summit coupe/sedan, and Vision were FWD only, which may have been part of Eagle’s identity problem. Subaru may not have sold AWD vehicles in high numbers, but it was enough for AMC to notice and respond, in an effort to provide an American-made alternative.
“Eagle” brand consisted of three different manufacturers: AMC Eagle sedans & wagon; Renault 18 sedan made by AMC; Mitsubishi products such as the aforementioned Eagle Talon. These were not made while before AMC was acquired by MoPar, but as some know, the Talon was fast & fun. Just try to find one these days.
And, it has the large rev counter on the column! What’s not to like?
No love for AMC, because the cost of entry is a bit high.
That takes some explaining. While the Jeep marque was on fire from the 1980s to almost, today…AMC was suffering from years of stagnated product. It was an old man’s car, basically from the time Rambler replaced the Hudson and Nash lines. Slowly, their operating capital slipped away – and their attempts at reaching for new markets, the Matador Coupe and the Pacer (which is “recaP” spelled backwards) burned up what development funds remained.
The one hit they had was the one Gerald Myers almost nuked. The Eagle.
Okay…so, their market was the smallest of a car line since Studebaker went to Canada. Into that, comes Chrysler, suddenly flush with cash…and Lido, who had merger fever. He got hepped on mergers since his first weeks at Chrysler, where he shopped a merger around, every other automaker from Ford to Volkswagen. There were no takers, but he had the bug.
With Renault suddenly soured on AMC – after the death of Georges Besse – Lido saw a chance to leave his lasting mark. He entered into negotiations to buy Jeep. Renault wanted to sell everything, including the not-yet-launched Premier, to whoever bought it. Only the Renault name would be left out.
Lido bought. Now Chrysler had Jeep – and with it, a talented, battle-tested group of engineers, surprisingly competent. With cost-cutting ideas, such as Platform Teams.
What they also had, that they wanted not at all, was the rest of AMC.
The Bramlea plant was an asset; and the Premier looked like it might sell. But, the Hornet/Concord/Eagle line? No WAY. Just as soon as the dealer network could be mollified and reconfigured, and new divisions lined up to give Jeep dealers a car line…the plug was pulled.
And billions of dollars of NOS factory parts, scrapped. Chrysler REFUSED to hear any bids from companies that would have paid more than scrap value.
Because they were in the business of selling Chrysler products. NOT selling parts to fix AMC products. They had NO desire to support AMC cars or their buyers…not even the Eagles sold in the last year, 1988.
It was not the smoothest marketing move they made. Surely plenty of former AMC owners went over to Nissan, at the time, another colorless brand.
Today, there are no NOS or factory parts for any AMC product that doesn’t share application with Jeep products. I doubt there’s any official cross reference, i.e. what steering columns, gear linkages, light housing…a lot of stuff was used on all AMC assemblies, but only Jeep enjoys any support.
So…with a car with four-figure sales, such as the former-Gremlin Eagle SX4…there’s gonna be a lot of work, finding replacement for worn or damaged chassis and electrical parts.
I also owned an Eagle Kamback which resembled the Gremlin Style and that car was very good and went through all kinds of weather with no problems. Never had to do any major repairs to any of the AMC’s i owned
always liked these, and the 5speed is icing on the cake, if it was closer to me, at least somewhere on the east coast, I might be a bidder ….sigh
Sold at $2,134.87. I hope the buyer has good things in mind for it.
My Cousin has one a lot better than this one. It is 100% better He had bought it for his daughter then she got a new car and gave it back to her dad because his car quit so he drove it for a while till he fixed his car then put it in his outside shed and it has been sitting there since.
Had the 2WD wagon back in the 80’s and beat it to death. Loved the 258 durability and lower dash shelf that they had
I have a 1985 Eagle I purchased new from the dealer. Still runs great! While I don’t drive it every day, It’s fantastic in bad weather especially the snow. I used to tow a boat with it. The auto-adjust rear air shocks are wonderful. The exact air shocks used on the ’76 Cadillac Eldorado. ( I also have one of those). AMC made due with what they could get a hold of. My seats have the same herringbone fabric used by Porsche, the headlight adjusters are GM, same as my Cadillac, the Ignition is Ford, and of course the 258 (4.2L) was used on the Jeep for a while and there is tons of stuff readily available. There are a few places with NOS parts. Some of us still have a lot of LOVE for these unique vehicles and their interesting history.
I would never worry about 200k on that motor. Probably still has 200k left in it. One of the best in-line sixes ever built.
This thing appears to be in like-new condition.