1985 AMC Eagle

[BMWDave]

I though 93JC might want to read this... B)

Link

1985 AMC Eagle
Soaring Ahead of Its Time
BOB TOMAINE
Published Date: 8/8/05
Good luck, like money, was often scarce at American Motors, making the Eagle an especially sad ending for the company.

AMC launched the Eagle in 1980 by converting its midsize Concord into a 4wd line philosophically closer to an Audi quattro than to, say, a Dodge Ramcharger. The full-time 4wd Eagle?station wagon, sedan or coupe?was the first American car of its kind, meant to provide an edge to drivers dealing with difficult real-world conditions.

The Eagle?s 4wd system descended from the Ferguson design of Jensen Interceptor FF fame. Its transfer case?s viscous coupling allowed enough slippage to prevent torque buildup on hard-surface roads, but by limiting the amount of slippage the system directed power to the axle where it would do most good. Fitting it stretched the Concord?s wheelbase by about an inch and added about three inches of ride height, the latter helping with clearance and ensuring the Eagle?s quick recognition.

Early reaction to the Eagle was favorable with mostly moderate shots at its appearance. Car and Driver in February 1980 attributed the Eagle?s success to ?all-around automotive goodness, plus four-wheel drive,? while noting ?it doesn?t feature the kind of beauty that would launch a bass boat, let alone a thousand ships.? Motor Trend found flaws with ?cosmetics? in January 1980, but observed the Eagle comes off as ?an absolutely fascinating piece of engineering.?

?The Eagle looks promising,? wrote Popular Science in September 1979. ?Once again, AMC has found a specific need the competition has overlooked.? PS seemed vindicated when 46,000 Eagles sold in 1980. The smaller Spirit-based SX/4 and Kamm-back arrived in 1981, but sales dropped by about 9000. Eventually, the falloff became a runaway. In mid-1981 2wd capability appear?ed and Shift on the Fly 4wd in 1985. Four- and five-speed transmissions were introduced, but after offering various engines, the Eagle ended in 1988 right where it began, with a 258-cid six. Just 2300 units?all wagons?were sold.

Bob Yadouga of Glenburn, Pennsylvania, found his 1985 Limited in 1995. It shows about 130,000 miles. Yadouga bought the car to enjoy, but it occasionally serves as a daily driver and even with its 1970 ancestry, could be regular transportation today. Its size is right for city driving, and 110 hp in a 3500-pound car isn?t thrilling, but it is adequate.

Despite light steering, the Eagle is an easy car to drive and one that literally goes where it?s pointed. Stopping is another story, or at least seems that way. The pedal is soft with considerable travel?a disconcerting combination?but the braking itself is fine. The car stops like it should, and controlling speed on a steep hill isn?t a problem, it just feels like one.

If there is a handling secret, it?s remem?bering this is no quattro, not even an old quattro. AMC shared Audi?s belief in 4wd, but it didn?t aim for Audi-level performance.

Yadouga has had to rewire switches, but the only significant mechanical work was replacing an intake manifold and vacuum control on the 4wd system. That?s tolerable for a car of the Eagle?s age and mileage.

Last-ditch efforts come and go quickly, with companies? final cars interesting, controversial, and sometimes both. Peerless died in 1932 with its Murphy-bodied V16, a single car built after production ceased. Hupmo-bile and Graham disappeared with the 1941 Skylark and Hollywood, respectively, nearly identical cars based on Cord bodies. Packard faded out after its Studebaker-like 1958 models. The Eagle may not completely belong in this group, as it ran for nine years and looked as if it might succeed.

Every car that doesn?t make it has defenders who ascribe the failure to a design ahead of its time, but that?s probably quite true of the Eagle?s fate. Not enough people appreciated it in the 1980s and American Motors had the bad luck to run out of money before civilized 4wd became the next big thing.

[ifcar]

Subaru certainly didn't make the first Outback, it just made the first successful one.

Where is this article from, Dave?

[BMWDave]

Subaru certainly didn't make the first Outback, it just made the first successful one.

Where is this article from, Dave?

Autoweek, sorry I will provide a link.

[Raza]

Nice, kid.  Nice.

[93JC]

[Raza]

I had one of those back in the early 90s.  I sold after I got married the first time.

[93JC]

Subaru certainly didn't make the first Outback, it just made the first successful one.

Where is this article from, Dave?

Jane, you ignorant slut. The Eagle was successful. It wasn't popular enough to save AMC, that's all.    

[ifcar]

"'The Eagle looks promising,' wrote Popular Science in September 1979. 'Once again, AMC has found a specific need the competition has overlooked.' PS seemed vindicated when 46,000 Eagles sold in 1980. The smaller Spirit-based SX/4 and Kamm-back arrived in 1981, but sales dropped by about 9000. Eventually, the falloff became a runaway. In mid-1981 2wd capability appear?ed and Shift on the Fly 4wd in 1985. Four- and five-speed transmissions were introduced, but after offering various engines, the Eagle ended in 1988 right where it began, with a 258-cid six. Just 2300 units?all wagons?were sold."

What a success. <_<

[Raza]

"'The Eagle looks promising,' wrote Popular Science in September 1979. 'Once again, AMC has found a specific need the competition has overlooked.' PS seemed vindicated when 46,000 Eagles sold in 1980. The smaller Spirit-based SX/4 and Kamm-back arrived in 1981, but sales dropped by about 9000. Eventually, the falloff became a runaway. In mid-1981 2wd capability appear?ed and Shift on the Fly 4wd in 1985. Four- and five-speed transmissions were introduced, but after offering various engines, the Eagle ended in 1988 right where it began, with a 258-cid six. Just 2300 units?all wagons?were sold."

What a success. <_<

Well, my wife loved it.  She got it in the divorce, along with my dignity.

[93JC]

"'The Eagle looks promising,' wrote Popular Science in September 1979. 'Once again, AMC has found a specific need the competition has overlooked.' PS seemed vindicated when 46,000 Eagles sold in 1980. The smaller Spirit-based SX/4 and Kamm-back arrived in 1981, but sales dropped by about 9000. Eventually, the falloff became a runaway. In mid-1981 2wd capability appear?ed and Shift on the Fly 4wd in 1985. Four- and five-speed transmissions were introduced, but after offering various engines, the Eagle ended in 1988 right where it began, with a 258-cid six. Just 2300 units?all wagons?were sold."

What a success. <_<

Jane, you ignorant slut.

[Raghavan]

"'The Eagle looks promising,' wrote Popular Science in September 1979. 'Once again, AMC has found a specific need the competition has overlooked.' PS seemed vindicated when 46,000 Eagles sold in 1980. The smaller Spirit-based SX/4 and Kamm-back arrived in 1981, but sales dropped by about 9000. Eventually, the falloff became a runaway. In mid-1981 2wd capability appear?ed and Shift on the Fly 4wd in 1985. Four- and five-speed transmissions were introduced, but after offering various engines, the Eagle ended in 1988 right where it began, with a 258-cid six. Just 2300 units?all wagons?were sold."

What a success. <_<

Jane, you ignorant slut.