Because of their size, American Motors often had trouble competing with Detroit’s “Big 3”. So, they were willing to think outside the box and offer products that others didn’t. Like the 1980s Eagle, which used Jeep-like technology applied to their Concord compact as a 4X4 station wagon. The Eagle’s last year was 1988, just months after AMC had been acquired by Chrysler. The seller’s nice survivor is one of the 2,306 produced (per the seller), and a lift kit, big wheels, and tires have been added for optimum off-roading. Located in Grass Valley, California, this vehicle has a bunch of new parts and may only need a new home. $15,000 takes it away here on eBay.
While station wagons comprised the majority of sales, coupe and sedan versions of the Eagle were also offered. Also, AMC cooked up a 4X4 variant of the subcompact Spirit and called it the SX/4. These were the only 4WD passenger cars built in the U.S. in their day. Buyers enjoyed automobile comfort with off-road, all-weather capabilities, too. In today’s vocabulary, the Eagle would be considered a “crossover” vehicle. AMC had acquired Jeep in 1970, so the experience and technology were already in-house when the Eagle idea came along.
This edition of the Eagle is a survivor, thanks in part to it being a California-dweller its whole life (even though it wears Oregon plates). It’s served as a daily driver in recent times, so it shouldn’t need any mechanical meddling. Its overall condition earned it an invitation to reside in a showcase in El Segundo, California, for a time (Automobile Driving Museum). To improve its off-road capability, the seller (we think) added a 2-inch lift kit with bigger wheels and tires, which have plenty of meat left on them.
The list of parts that have been replaced so you don’t have to also includes the front and rear shocks, the CV axle (driver’s side), and the heater core. A tune-up has been performed, and the windows have been professionally tinted. A 258 cubic inch inline-6 was standard, and this one seems to be shipshape. Other than a wear spot on the driver’s seat, the interior presents well, and the body and paint are also quite good. Considering the condition of the vehicle, I’m thinking the seller’s asking price is quite fair.
Definitely ahead of its time. A friend had one and loved it.
“Wear spot on the driver’s seat”? No. That’s a huge split. Would better he had spent that lift kit money on restoring the interior!
Like the car isn’t slow enough as it is, they had to add those big heavy tires!
I’ve had the “woodie” version of this and it’s a great vehicle especially in the snow! I’m surprised the driver hasn’t listed this on the FB Eagle Group as there is a huge following on that page of people looking for these vehicles. All that aside $15K seems a bit high given what BAT has been bringing for some pristine ones over the last few months. Still quite a few of them on the road today and available for purchase which is surprising given the production numbers.
AMC had a long lists of firsts in the industry. There is an excellent YouTube series on their history; The Last American Independent. It is a great documentary, and an eye-opener for those non-AMC types ( the majority of Car people). Russ nails it by pointing out, AMCs short-comings drove them to think outside the box, and the auto industry was better for it!
I owned two of these over a 20-year period. I could do without the lift and oversize tires on this one though.
These are great cars for inclement weather though saddled by a very complex emissions system that uses a feedback carb and seemingly miles of vacuum hoses and gadgets. Best if you do your own maintenance and repairs since most of today’s mechanics would not want to touch this thing. Also, it could be a challenge to get this though an emissions check in states that still test cars this old.
Very nice. The museum it was in, The Automobile Driving Museum in El Segundo had a lot of neat cars you could drive, but closed a few years ago.
Big tires but not too big. I like it. I would like to see one outfitted with the grill, hood, and front fenders from an earlier round headlight Hornet. The original SUV.
You nailed it – would probably look great!
Condition is nice? What? Everyone missing the damage to the driver side rear fender lip? Price is way too high. Much nicer Eagle wagons out there.
I like sure like the lift on this. I’ve seen an AMX conversion performed on one of these wagons, that also looked fantastic, but I think I prefer the lift kit to the suspension slam.
The sheer quantity of hoses and lines under the hood is intimidating, I think I would be inclined to simplify & modernize the powertrain, if that is a doable thing.
$15k is quite a bit more than I could spend on these, but how many old AWD wagons are available out there?
15? Not in that condition and it needs to be a “Limited”. Shouldn’t have done the lift.
The Eagles 4wd system had nothing in common with the jeep.
I’ve had two of these. Liked them. Take out the lift and oversized tires and I’d be interested. Not like this though
I’ve always liked these wagons, this one is cool and nice rust free! I think it would be fun with the lift kit and wheels. $15k way too high but still looks like a fun 4×4 wagon!
The amc eagle started my life long love affair with AWD , would i want to step back into one , heck no but still love to look at them