Here’s how the AMC Eagle became the first American crossover vehicle

Get a 15% discount on your next car cover at carcover.com! Use this link to get your discount: www.carcover.com/?via=MyOldCar
In this episode I provide the history of the Eagle from American Motors Corporation (AMC), a car that is widely considered the first crossover vehicle, being a car that had been raised to accommodate part-time 4-wheel -drive, the first ever for a mass-production vehicle. Although it debuted with decent sales in 1980, the public never totally caught on as the concept was well before its time. In a few short years its sales would dwindle and eventually be the last car sold by AMC before Chrysler bought out AMC in 1988.
If you used to own a car from the 80s to mid-2000's that you rarely see today, and would like it featured in a future episode, leave a comment and I may decide to try it. Or you can email me at [e-mail].

[@DementedDistraction]

My dad had an Eagle SX/4, Gremlin X, Hornet, and an AMX. He never used the Eagle in the warmer months, but it was the car he used exclusively during the winter. I can remember a blizzard that dropped 3-4 feet of snow and totally shut Denver down, but the Eagle just ate that snow up and barreled right through it.

[@altima119487]

Nice!!! My aunt had a '79 Concord D/L 2 door in blue with the same color interior, it ended up dying on her way home from work and replaced by a '90 Hyundai Excel in 1993 with no a/c.

[@emptysoul4455]

I wish AMC would’ve continued to have success as a company. Id love to have seen what they would’ve had in the 90s and today

[@jasoncarpp7742]

I agree. Even if American Motors hadn't survived, it would've been something to see an Eagle Wagon or a 4 door sedan still churning along.

[@LaurentiusTriarius]

AMC engineering tainted future projects at Chrysler it would have been a very different landscape in the 90's without that new breath into Chrysler.

[@davoid96]

@Jason Carpp Sadly they’ve probably all been recycled by now

[@gunterkeegan670]

Blame Mitt Romney's dad George...he killed AMC.

[@michaelcox9855]

I agree. They were probably the most innovative car company in America. Really ahead of its time.

[@darrylmac6150]

As a teenager of the 2010's I have to say I get a ridiculous need for one of these, I love the concept of a regular ol car on a utility chassis

[@trossk]

Have you seen Jeremy Clarkson's The Excellent?

[@HAL-dm1eh]

That is the exact description of what we thought in the 80s, too. We thought these things were the coolest things on 4 wheels. It definitely helped spark the fire of the SUV craze early on.

[@honorb4glory606]

I saw an Eagle wagon for the first time when I was 16. It was love at first sight. I thought it was the most amazing car I had ever seen, and I couldn't stop talking about it. My dad bought me one a year later. I wish I still had it. I still think they're the greatest cars ever made, and personally, I think they're beautiful.

[@rudolphguarnacci197]

They were indeed a work of art, way ahead of its time.

[@GregGolightly]

opposite for me - in my teens I thought they were the best looking cars ever. I still watch this in awe.

[@robertfranklin8522]

I grew up in Alaska and began driving in the mid-90s. Used to see plenty of Eagle Wagons back in the day and I always wanted one. Mad respect for the AMC Eagle.

[@aislingmairead4939]

80s baby, here. I remember these things, and I rode around in one regularly.. as well as the gargantuan wagons with rear-facing seats where we'd wave to cars behind us lol!

[@vmsysprog]

My parents owned 2 of these. They were happy with both. Drove both for a long time. The first one got wrecked, not my parents fault, some one hit them. The second one finally got traded for a Jeep Grande Cherokee. I had driven both at one time or another. They were ok, no complaints.

[@CJColvin]

This old school Crossover looks a million times better than any modern Crossover you see on the road today.

[@Kacpa2]

Yeah i dislile how ugly and stretched verticly they all are. Only Subaru still makes them lile lifted cars woth Crosstrek being lifted up Impreza and same for Outback. Ofcourse styling on its own is more questionable early 2010 models and early-mid 2000s models were better looking from over all for me but Outback is quite good looking from current lineup. Tho i would still stick to older cars they are just more fun to drive all the efficiency and emission regulations made automakers engineer out the fun from cars with even stick shift being mediocre feeling in operation in cars and on verge of extinction.....I take 90s cars that are still mechanical where it matters over this and some from early 2000s that stuck to mechanical throttles and the rest.....but its quite a short list with sports cars excluded.

[@CJColvin]

@@Kacpa2 Just like the EPA butchered the American Muscle cars in the 1970s.

[@benl4707]

Just slap a turbo charged diesel/5spd manual in it, a touchscreen deck,and, so sold wheel/tire pachage n you good!

[@christopherjones512]

The American eagle was the shit period

[@kennethoats2322]

💪💯

[@davidpistek6241]

I really like this channel, short stories on regular cars we seen in the 80s and 90s

[@dannycass7931]

I agree, all the other channels focus on 70’s and earlier, particularly muscle cars.

[@prasanthkumar8084]

.

[@prasanthkumar8084]

@@dannycass7931 .......u....................m........................................................

[@corvetcoyote443]

I always loved how they were styled,and the car was reliable and very pleasent to drive.

[@lordwalker71]

In the early 90’s I worked with a girl whose father was loved these because they lived on an acreage 30 minutes outside the city here in Canada, I think at one point they had 3 of these.

[@michaelhorn4540]

These were wonderful cars way ahead of their time!

[@RidinDirtyRollinBurnouts]

So friggin badass! Can you imagine driving one of these things on the beach and pulling other trucks out?

[@DozensOfViewers]

My first three cars were AMCs: a last-gen AMX, Concorde, and Spirit. They were abundant and reasonably priced in the used car classifieds back then :)

[@brucetanner3500]

I bought an SX4, little over 16,000 & I loved it, it took me where I wanted, that 83 Eagle was worth every penny 😍

[@ScrawnyRonnie89]

A kid in high school had one of these 4x4 on a giant lift kit. Strange car but looked better than the wagons/crossovers today

[@honestaquarian1]

My first two cars were both 1982 AMC Concords. That 4.2 liter straight six was indestructible. That second car moved my from Hartford, Connecticut to Washington, D.C. towing a 5x8 U-Haul trailer running on only five of it’s six cylinders!

[@josephsollender8487]

I was amazed recently when i witnessed an eagle in pristine condition driving down the road.

[@gems7893]

My parents had 3 AMC eagles they kept one to 1999 before trading it in. Also first car I drove

[@safetinspector2]

Always wanted an SX/4 when I was a teen. Almost bought a rusty one, but couldn't get my parents to split the cost and I was too poor

[@artboy789]

My dad bought me a used 83 sx4 in 85 so I could drive to university. It cost 5k used. I enjoyed that car for a year until he deemed to sell it when I transferred to a university closer to home that I could take the bus to. I probably begged him not to do it, but, I had no choice. Then I started buying cheap cars for myself and started with a $400 1978 Mercury Capri that my friend sold me. Getting safeties back then was much easier. I only had to pay $100 for a phoney one from a mechanic he knew. Lol

[@The_R-n-I_Guy]

The original Eagle sedan was a really good car. My aunt had one for delivering mail on back roads

[@buttsexandbananapeels]

Thinking this was the coolest car when I was 6 is why I drive an Outback today. This thing was way ahead of its time.

[@zacariaspiedrasdelrio8984]

AMC bring me good memories of my childhood, i really liked the Eagle!

[@davidkettell5726]

i had an Eagle two door in the 80,s very reliable except for a starter failure. great for Ohio snow. I still believe that AMC,s straight six was one of the best engines produced at that time.

[@projectw.a.a.p.f.t.a.d7762]

My great grandfather owned and drove this station wagon. Thanks for this!!! The wagon.

[@GrotrianSeiler]

You should be commended for giving a great history lesson.

[@nicolasbsmith78]

God, this car was so ahead of it's time! The gas mileage was amazing plus AWD!

[@rebelscum9783]

Everyone I ever knew that had one of these , loved them!

[@MyLegacyGarage]

What a cool video! My parents had one in the mid 80s and I always liked it. Welcome to the community not competition crew!

[@NickTarterOKC]

I think the AMC Eagle was super cool. Definitely a classic that has aged well in my opinion. I see them occasionally for sale and have thought that it would be cool to get one and swap a 4.0 head and efi system into one.

[@ressljs]

I liked them at the time and I think as far as style, they have aged much more gracefully than most cars of their time. Simply the fact that the wagon had a sloped back rather than squared off like the Ford and Chevy counterparts goes a long way in avoiding the stereotypical "80's look."

[@theboyisnotright6312]

I grew up in Wisconsin, live in Minnesota now. The eagle owned wintertime. If you brought them back people here would love you

[@justinborysenko3885]

I feel honored to be in the first 1k subscribers. You will be bigger than Hoovie or Sam Crack.

[@pwrfl2357]

Great car love to have one today

[@reallyrandomrides1296]

I always liked the AMC Eagle wagon. I wish I had bought one in the 1990s when they were fully depreciated, but not too old and worn out and had not yet reached cult car status and prices.

[@Smitty258]

This was my first car as a 17 yo in 1998. Mine was a 1987 model. I still miss driving that beast!

[@triplesix2734]

I recent Bought A 1981 AMC Eagle SX4, i got it as my first classic car. i have a few things to do to get it back to road worthy. And thanks to talking to my dad we can get a bunch of parts to get it even more power, and due to the fact of AMC using parts of of other company's so you can make it, also the rarest out there is a diesel wagon with only 7 ever sold. I can't wait to get it running and drive it.

[@rudolphguarnacci197]

Sounds like a dream come true. Wish you all the best bringing that beauty back to the highways.

[@tonychavez2083]

Love the Eagle wagons, always have always will.

[@mrrpepsi24]

I used to have a Eagle SX 4, I loved that car, It was totally awesome in the snow, and out in the woods.

[@abbysapples1225]

When I was a child back in 1980s and early 90s the postal service worker which was a woman drove the station wagon version of this car. I remember that it had two steering wheels and chain connecting them so she could drive right hand drive. Pennsylvania USA

[@johnkern7075]

I knew a guy that had one of these. He absolutely loved it.

[@subielife4life]

Such a bad ass looking wagon, that’s why I love my 2018 Subaru Outback, which could be considered like a modern eagle

[@keithpickelhaupt1959]

I just bought an 85 Eagle wagon as a rolling project/daily driver. I'm getting tired of all the crap on new cars, and at 52, I'm leaning hard over to the side of simplicity.

[@lindaroskos6549]

My dad had an Light Steel blue AMC Concord w vinyl roof. Every time you would use the A/C the condensation would overflow into the passenger foot well. Though he took it back many times to have it fixed the dealer finally put up their hands & said it was a flaw in the design, they had made the drip pan too shallow so for the 15+ yrs they had it, my mother traveled w a towel over her shoes in summer. Our neighbors across the street only bought AMC, she had a cute little Light green wagon (Rambler, not sure...) it was smaller than an Olds or Ford station wagon. I remember a Matador (I think that was the name) for the Mr & she eventually downgraded to a Pacer (caramel/Dk Beige) but she luv’d it because of all the glass, car was very wide I remember. Nice memories.

[@ScrawnyRonnie89]

AMC was such a cool company. They are responsible for making suv/4x4 s being as dependable as they are today. That 4.0 Inline 6 was Jeeps best 6cy

[@stephenmartini5890]

I still own a 1988 Eagle Wagon, 92,000 mi, stock/air, 4X4, runs great.

[@tuanh_duong]

Honestly I want an Eagle, either the SX4 or the Wagon

[@TooLooze]

I bought a 6 year old 1980 Wagon. It was very luxurious and even had a factory CB radio. It wasn't that reliable, but was not difficult or complicated to repair.

[@distilledyougamecast3569]

My first car was a used AMC Spirit that I bought for $350 back in 1986. I treated it like a rally car in the Mount Washington Valley of New Hampshire.

[@skaldlouiscyphre2453]

My friend's dad had one of these while I was growing up. It was just old when I was little but it was a classic by graduation.

[@paulmcgarr6557]

We had 1 of every model. Kamback, SX/4, 2 door sedan and a wagon. Various years. I miss them so much.

[@GodofWarChuka]

My parents had a Concord and Eagle back in the 80’s. Good looking cars, but they broke down sometimes.

[@jasoncarpp7742]

I don't know if that's typical of all cars by American Motors, but my parents had a Matador when I was little back in the 70s. I was way too young to drive a car at the time, but I remember my mother hated that car. It wouldn't make it up a hill if you floored it. According to her, trim pieces would fall off the car. So many things.

[@johnnymason3265]

All of you have some great stories! I personally would love to own an AMC Eagle wagon (1984-1988)! Would have been a good car to have when we had the snow and ice storm this past February!!!

[@jasoncarpp7742]

@@johnnymason3265 Same here. I would've preferred this any day over a Subaru 4wd of the same vintage.

[@johnnymason3265]

@@jasoncarpp7742 You are right! Subarus at that time were useless! If AMC was alive today, I believe the AMC Eagle would be around right now taking advantage of people's obsession with crossovers and SUVs!!!

[@jasoncarpp7742]

@@johnnymason3265 Were they? I was too young to drive at the time. What made Subaru 4wds "useless"?

[@scottcampbell4678]

I worked for Northwood AMC in Barre, Vermont when the Eagle first came out. I do not care what people say, it was a great car. I got to test drive all the new cars that came into the dealership, The Eagle was a great-looking car and was fun to drive. It had excellent traction and handled very well. If I could find one in good condition, I certainly would consider buying it, especially if it was a standard.

[@DMX-PAT]

This video is awesome, very important info in it. I knew some of it but you filled in all the blanks for me and that really meant something. thanks for this, keep it up!!

[@sooptiem]

The AMC eagle is probably my favorite crossover ever.

[@warmstrong5612]

I imagine that if the Eagle brand had survived past the 80's with a focus on 4WD crossovers, they could've become the American Subaru.

[@timothywelsh4690]

Some of the Mitsubishi Eagles were great. I had a 1994 Eagle AWD Vista Wagon, which was an innovative design and a pretty crazy on-road machine. It was a super sporty powerful micro-van when mini-vans were still a new idea. The Nissan Multi and Axxess were similar design, but nowhere near the sports car ability. With the back seat taken out, my wife and I could sleep comfortably in the back - we did some amazing guerilla camping trips.

[@enjoythesho1992]

I've always wanted a AMC eagle my grandparents had one when I was a kid they are hard to find nowadays for a decent price

[@egSmith-sp9gl]

Wow so much info in a short period of time..... Am I the only only one playing it @ .75 ?

[@CarlosGuzman-bq8fr]

I 😍 loved 😍 ❤️ ❤️ the Eagle cars. Never owned one but thought they were ahead of there time. Loved the AMC Hornet. So many great cars. 👍 love the javelin too.

[@ML-dl1cp]

My first car was a '78 Concord wagon (the RWD precursor to the Eagle). It was ex-phone company fleet model with a plastic interior, and didn't even have a radio or rear windows that could be lowered! Still, it was a great car and I got out of it way more than the $600 it cost to purchase. When it eventually died I found a used Eagle wagon at a Chevy lot and was stoked to buy it, but it broke down during my test drive and the dealer decided to sell it to a wholesaler as-is rather than take my $500 offer. It's 2021 and I still want an Eagle wagon.

[@jalopyjustin]

Fantastic video, your research and time you put into your videos are well above par.

[@TheCOZ]

Above par is still bad, right?

[@jalopyjustin]

@@TheCOZ below par is bad, above is good. Par = average. The only time below par is good is when you are playing golf.

[@marcusjosefsson4998]

The Eagle is the perfect example to show it's almost never good to be first to create a new segment. Jump forward in time to 1998 and voila: We got the Volvo V70XC and Subaru Legacy Outback, both huge successfully cars. Flash forward another 20 years, and there's AWD crossover sedans, coupes and hatchbacks from virtually every premium car brand.

[@darrellasmith77]

Another great video some neat things that I didn't know about AMC. As well as anybody mentioned a Honda CRX episode

[@TheCLPVideos]

You do such a nice job with your reviews. They are like little versions of Motor Week. Nicely done!!

[@dominicfong6341]

Very thorough research for including the tidbits about Back To The Future.

[@snakehandler87]

My thoughts exactly, these vehicles were so ahead of their time and so cool!

[@joshgreen2164]

The sx4 is a dream car of mine. Love your content.

[@raywest3834]

The Eagle made a lot of sense here in Alaska, when the only other 4x4 car was the tiny first gen Subaru. I had an Eagle SX/4 and found it sure-footed and reliable.

[@JonDahl]

I just came across this channel and subscribed! Nice work! 👍😃

[@jay666er]

My parents had the wagon when I was a kid and loved it. It was pretty rad.

[@brianbolan7330]

The AMC Spirit was a bullet proof car, with the Iron Duke 4 - easy to get parts and service. The Eagle Premier wasn't just a badge engineered, it was an Eagle, with Unique styling and interior, it was the last AMC 'worked' model.

[@Brentastrophe]

I love this channel for seeing cars that existed probably when I was just starting to form memories out the side window of my mom's villager van, yet I can't remember many of the cars on the road at that time. The one that I always remembered was the Mitsubishi Eclipse though, and I have NO IDEA why I remember that specific car.

[@jasons7044]

I remember seeing them as in kid in the 80's..(complete w/ wood trim). I knew they were something special

[@randallgreen6746]

My best friend had one of these in the middle 80s, it was a good little wagon and was really good on snow.

[@jamieshields9521]

Definitely this car I wanted to own from USA especially western trim wagon. Awesome vid👍

[@michaelkoukos5396]

I bought a 1983 Eagle wagon in 1989. Drove it and towed my boat for 10 years! Awesome vehicle!

[@davidjames2910]

Great spots from the Back to the Future films!

[@RandyWillcox]

I always really liked the Eagle. A cousin of mine had one new when I was a kid. As I got older and more into cars, it became apparent that it was styling that killed that car. It was like going to your aunt's house in 1988 and her living room was decorated in 1974...and didn't change a bit. It was literally wood paneling and plaid furniture. Other auto makers were evolving and AMC wasn't. Granted, they didn't have resources to do so. It was a vicious circle. But they definitely made an impact. I'd love to get ahold of an SX4, personally. Great channel, by the way. Takes me back to a lot of cool childhood memories.

[@7viewerlogic670]

Great video!

[@vinzclortho7766]

The Eagle has landed!!!

[@locus2k]

I had an amc eagle wagon for my first car. Loved it

[@sterlingrozier6380]

In 1979 I saved up money to have driving lessons at the local driveing school. My 1st lesson was in a 1978 AMC PACER. I remember TVs ads, they was making a 3ft hero sandwich. The car drove good, but the shape was different.

[@Nine-Signs]

I am not American, and not a fan of many American cars, but I love every car AMC produced, good or bad they each have a uniqueness

[@rottyguy888]

Nice job.

[@cclayton1917]

some of these eagles are just awesome looking

[@PhantomLover007]

The AMC Eagle reminded me so much of the ‘Stompers’ car toys that had the lifted wheels.

[@1joshjosh1]

I'm now binge watching this channel

[@albertomelendez3168]

Great history and great video about AMC Eagle, really that was the first American crossover, like Wagoneer the first SUV. Memories about this AMC..

[@redneck4528]

Chevrolet was making the suburban in 1935...

[@korbendallas4232]

Love these cars!

[@tyronmegawatts6580]

We had a 1982 concord. Comfortable car.

[@scottl2622]

I owned 5 wagons; they were excellent snow cars in Colorado, The Aspen police and Pitkin County sheriff even use them way back in the day.

[@jamiebray8532]

I believe these cars would be so popular now. I mean ahead of it's time is an understatement.

[@johnfoltz8183]

This type of car makes an appearance in Back To The Future 1.

[@saturn1975]

A friend of mine had a amc eagle in early 90s.

[@rmalmeida1976]

Growing up in Anchorage, Alaska the main cars on the road were Eagles or Subarus. Everything else was a truck. 4-wheel drive was a winter necessity back then along with an engine block heater you plugged in every night if you didn't own a garage.

[@Snotattack]

I would like to see the Eagle Talon. I had a turbocharged 1993 Talon AWD, very fun little car.

[@rustyjeep2469]

I grew up in Colorado in the 1990's and these Eagles were as common then as Subarus are now... they were literally everywhere. Random fact but the Jeep Wagoneer pictured at 0:42 is a 1970 and technically still a Kaiser-Willys Jeep, not an AMC... Jeeps made under AMC started production in 1971. That particular Wagoneer was actually for sale about 20 minutes from my place in Oregon a couple years back and I believe now lives on the East coast. I'm restoring a 1969 Wagoneer myself. 👍

[@PatiAnn]

I had one in 2005/2006 ... Funnest car I had ❤️❤️👏👏👏 My first car was Chevy S-10 Blazer Tahoe pack ( not a big blaze that Tahoe was small .... But 4x4 n fun as the AMC Eagle)

[@shawnmiller7809]

I had a 1980 Subaru gl wagon, loved that car.... Perhaps an episode dedicated to that and/or the brat? 🤘