The AMC Eagle 4×4 Wagon was a groundbreaking vehicle that deserved greater success than it achieved. Its all-wheel-drive system offered excellent traction on loose surfaces, and the Wagon could comfortably seat a family of five. This 1985 example is in excellent mechanical health, with only its interior requiring TLC to present at its best. With the seller listing it with No Reserve and the auction action quite subdued, it is possible that someone could become its new owner for a song. The Eagle is listed here on eBay in Dripping Springs, Texas. Bidding sits at $2,650 with time remaining for interested parties to make their move on this beauty.
AMC released the Eagle range for the 1980 model year, initially offering buyers a choice of three body styles. The Station Wagon was consistently the most popular choice amongst buyers until the badge was discontinued at the end of 1988. This 1985 Wagon is a tidy classic that has spent its life in fairly favorable locations. The seller confirms that it underwent a repaint in its original combination of Olympic White and Deep Night Blue before they became its custodian approximately a year ago. It is unclear when the work was performed, but the AMC still presents nicely. The paint is in good order, and there are no significant panel or trim imperfections. The company focused heavily on corrosion prevention strategies, making this Wagon’s rust-free status unsurprising. The seller treated the vehicle to a lift utilizing Javelin springs and S10 shocks to provide clearance for the 15″ Goodyear Wrangler tires fitted to 7″ Jeep CJ7 wheels. The seller includes a fifth wheel as a spare, along with the original hubcaps for those preferring to return this classic to its factory form.
This Eagle may not have any exterior needs, but the same can’t be said for its interior. Trimmed in Blue deluxe grain vinyl, the seatcovers and door trims are in good condition. The pad is crack-free, and the dash looks tidy. However, the carpet has seen better days, and some plastic trim pieces are waving the white flag in the face of age and UV exposure. I performed what was an admittedly brief search across the usual online auction sites, unearthing a treasure trove of items that would allow the new owner to return the inside of this Eagle to its factory form without spending a fortune. The only non-functioning item is the temperature gauge, with the radio and air conditioning working as they should.
We must delve below the skin to understand how special the Eagle is. Four-wheel drive had almost been exclusively the domain of Pickups and other off-roaders, but AMC integrated a system into the Eagle that gave it class-leading traction on loose surfaces. It was never designed to take occupants deep into the wilderness, but on snowy or muddy roads, there were few Wagons that could hold a candle to the Eagle. This model year also saw the company adopt “Shift-on-the-fly” for its Select Drive AWD system, increasing the vehicle’s versatility. Our feature AMC is powered by the venerable 258ci six, teamed with a three-speed automatic transmission and power assistance for the steering and brakes. The seller states that the original engine developed a nasty knock, which was determined to be a crank issue. They swapped the motor out for a similar engine from a 1980 Jeep CJ7. They added an HEI ignition system for improved reliability, ditching the original trouble-prone carburetor for a Carter BBD unit. The Eagle runs and drives perfectly, the transmission shifts smoothly, and this beauty is ready for adventures with its new owner behind the wheel.
I have long admired AMC as a company that developed so many models on a shoestring budget. It demonstrated ingenuity in its approach, leaving me wondering what could have rolled from its factories if it had access to the cash reserves available to Ford, General Motors, or Chrysler. Sadly, it is a marque that has passed into the pages of history, but vehicles like this 1985 Eagle 4×4 Wagon soldier on gracefully decades after the ax fell. It has only received two bids at the time of writing. However, the listing statistics suggest that the price may climb during the final hours. I would be surprised if it surpassed $7,500, although the growing popularity of these classics means that anything is possible. If a versatile family Wagon is on your radar, monitoring this auction might be worthwhile.
The author is correct, with that long wheelbase and limited suspension travel, the Eagle is not going to be a serious off-roader. However, on snowy roads with their 4×4 system, they were more than capable to get you there and back again. This car could be a good buy unless a couple of folks get into a bidding war.
The nasty interior is going to hurt this a lot.
Somebody may get a good deal and finish it and have a nice car. Personally, I am not a fan of the suspension alterations people do, but to each their own.
You’d want to closely look at how the lift was done, especially in the front. The Eagle’s front axles are quite short and anything more than a very modest lift puts them at an extreme angle which doesn’t do the CV joints any good.
A lot to love here and much rarer than, say, an XC70 or even a 300TD.
It has 1996-1998 jeep grand cherokee rims on it
Grandpa says these were super popular in the rich ski resort areas. He says in Vermont it seemed like every other car was one of these.
One of my first loves as a teenage boy. Never to be had. I just picked up an old man wagon so I shouldn’t even ponder this.
And those look way better than the originals that I hated back in the day. And still do.
I surprised my brother rednecks in Texas haven’t surrounded this AMC like a pack of hungry wolves ! The lift kit alone would inspires many hold my beer moments
Good looking wagon.
I’m not a fan of the suspension lift and oversized wheels, but easily rectified. Love the straight 6, the slush box not so much.
In hind sight AMC made some great vehicles for the minimal resources they had on hand compared to the big three. I don’t have a need for a 4×4 now but if I did … looks like this one might move inexpensively.