This RARE Offroad Sports Car Confused Everyone - The AMC Eagle SX4

[@SodiumWage]

Honestly, the AMC Eagle wagon is pretty much the perfect car. It had tons of interior room, was capable in bad weather, but easy to drive around town in nice weather. You could load up the family, or fill up the rear with whatever you bought, and it had decent enough gas mileage (at the time). Also it just looked cool - it's a design that's aged really well.

[@Jett-Crash]

Consider that the design for both the sedan and wagon went back to 1970, and lasted until 1988, and the SX/4 was based on the Gremlin. Seems like half the cars on the market today are influenced by one or the other.

[@mr.2cents.846]

Marty McFly's girlfriend's father drove one when he picked her up in the town square in Back To The Future.

[@XJapanGonnaGiveItToYa-cd4xj]

it's funny that the Subaru Outback is so insanely popular now. It's pretty much just an AMC Eagle Wagon. Although I guess its worth noting that the sedan version of the Outback was a huge flop

[@LRK-GT]

@@XJapanGonnaGiveItToYa-cd4xj Kinda sucks that outside of the PNW, the US market isn't really big enough / is already addressed-saturated by SUVs and Crossovers. Otherwise, seeing Hyundai, GM, and Ford try their hand @ challenging Subaru's place for Light Duty On/Off-Road *Wagons* and Sedans / *Coupes* sounds tantalizing. Funny enough, Hyundai had an AWD *rally* LC platform Accent that (IMHO) should've been used as a marketing springboard. The LC2, FD, RD2, GK, etc. platforms could have looked attractive in AWD/4WD options. IIRC, Hyundai's Egypt, India, Indonesia, etc. -market 'econocars' are fairly well-regarded for their durability on underdeveloped roads. [Ex. The LC/LC2 Accent was marketed in India until 2013, Indonesia 2012, and Egypt 2019->?] In other words, such might be attractive to a wider-market than merely gas-guzzling Americans.

[@KC9UDX]

@Jett-Crash have you seen the Kammback?

[@ShopKatIndustries]

I had one of these! 258/auto, 1982. Lots of fun in the winter! Then I sold it to a fella from Saskatchewan. Later I saw it had been restored, and for sale in Saskatoon. I messaged the guy that it used to be mine. He's like, "Nope, couldn't be, blah blah blah." I'm like "See those little blue fog lights? They're from WalMart, I put them on. And the driver's seat you gripe about that's from a Ford Ranger? Wrong again. 80's Charger." Lol!!

[@dannydaw59]

I remember seeing the commercials for this car as a 6 year old. I think this car had a dial on the dash to switch to 4wd instead of having to engage it on the wheel hubs. Am I right?

[@ShopKatIndustries]

@@dannydaw59 it varied a bit from year-to-year. Mine had a sliding switch on the bottom of the dash, which used vacuum to operate a sliding fork that would engage or disengage on a split right front axle shaft, and also engage the transfer case. No locking hubs.

[@roddydykes7053]

I’m from Saskatoon and I’ve seen a brown one cruising around the North-industrial part of town many times years ago. Maybe that was it

[@ShopKatIndustries]

@@roddydykes7053 it sure could be, mine was indeed brown! I sold it in the early 2000s, I think. The guy who restored it painted it emerald green. It looked good, but all the interior sheetmetal was still metallic brown.

[@anthonyrowland9072]

@@dannydaw59 I had a '79 J10 with the quadratrac. It had a vacuum knob that locked the transfer case to go from full time awd to 4wd.

[@Bobbyboom413]

My grandparents had an AMC Eagle that had the coldest AC ever installed in a vehicle. It was literally like being in a refrigerated food delivery truck. Absolutely unreal. That Eagle refused to die.

[@bikingD]

Probably because American Motors owned Kelvenator appliances. So they actually made freezers too!

[@anibalbabilonia1867]

Yup! That air conditioner was bone chilling cold 🥶👍

[@derrickwoods2803]

R12 baby

[@Dartingleopard]

​@derrickwoods2803 Yeah, R1234YF is awful at cooling in comparison to R12 or R134a. The only problem with R12 is that it is horrible for the ozone layer, otherwise it is way better.

[@Bobbyboom413]

I was wrong. It wasn't an Eagle. The car they had with the killer AC unit was a AMC Condord. It looks almost the exact same as the Eagle. I believe it was an 83.

[@chrislj2890]

I remember back in the '80s we had about a foot of snow, and I was behind several cars waiting for the one in front to make a left turn. This was on a country road with deep ditches on either side. All of a sudden a car flew around my right side into the ditch and I thought he lost control. Nope, it was one of those wagons and that maniac just barreled through it and passed all of us. I was flabbergasted but very impressed.

[@Sadler2010]

Like I used to do with my '82 full time 4wd Wagoneer, hehehe, get away from those slow mo folks before they wreck into me... An awesome advantage of that system if you start to lose it, back off the gas, AWD settles it right back down and ease back into it....

[@warkal868]

Most underrated and under appreciated vehcle ever. Great looking with two worlds in one package. It's what new cars are based on. People are slow to catch on, unless it's some flashy, stupid new trend. I'd drive this anyday, over any modern crap that copied this. I really love these. Even bought myself a Matchbox model. If I can get one here in the Caribbean, it'll be the most cool and badass machine, more capable than any 4WD out there.

[@MeatHarmonica]

The 1990-1994 Subaru turbo legacy would like to have a word with you and the claimed “under appreciated” status lol.

[@warkal868]

@@MeatHarmonica well a few made its way into the Caribbean. Trinidad and Tobago. Treated like trash.

[@me.with.my.self.]

++++

[@everettstormy]

Its not more capable than most 4x4s, but better than really anyother shaped like it

[@XJapanGonnaGiveItToYa-cd4xj]

Kind of like how every CSUV looks like a rounded off Pontiac Aztek now

[@badbiker666]

My mother was in the market for a new car around the early 80s, so I encouraged her to buy one of these. Instead, she bought an AMC Spirit. That turned out to be a great car for her. She took good care of it and it lasted a long time and got great fuel mileage. Say what you will about AMC, but I knew lots of people who owned their cars and they all loved them.

[@cuddlepoo11]

Cool car way ahead of its time. AMC was a hard working company with some great ideas.

[@funfun5656]

They basically made the subaru outback before there was a subaru outback

[@colinw7205]

@@funfun5656 With the SX4 it's basically an Subaru Impreza. The the OP wrote "way ahead of its time".

[@scrambler69-xk3kv]

There are period commercials on You Tube just Google them AMC Eagle commercials.

[@Kierdziol]

@@colinw7205 More of a Leone, which is Impreza's predecessor. There were other cars ahead of time like Golf Country (based on mk2) or modified by Dangle cars from Peugeot and from Citroen. However, none of those were produced in numbers like Eagle. VW made only 7735 GC and Dangle modified about 22000 vehicles (not only station wagons) from 1980 to late 2011.

[@JohnDingey]

def tru they also put made jeeps at one point with a amc UNKILLABLE 4.2l YES THATS RIGHT NOT A 4.L LMFAO that were made in canada!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! the ones made in canada had different colors for models for example my 89 yj sahara from canada had a olivey miltary green with miltary pocket stuff and the yj for america had a hunter green color! but the weird part about my AMC motor and canadain jeep you hardly see THEM AT AMC CAR SHOWS LMFAO WHICH IS WEIRD BECAUSE THEIR NUMBERS THESE DAYS IN AMERICA ARE NEXT TO NONE! for example when i was dailying it i only saw one with my colors! so it says they are a gem and a missing peice of IMPORTING ANYTHING FROM CANADA because at that time canada was importing 99% of their cars from america and ONLY ABOUT 1% OF these things were exported!

[@EricJohnson-x1u]

I had an '83 SX4 Sport, 258 six, 4-speed manual, limited slip rear, rear louvers, fog lamps, sport caps, bucket seats, console and gauge cluster. It was a fun car!

[@bokesnmokes]

I loved AMC so much! My mom had an SX-4, she's 91 now but that was still her favorite car ever! I had 2 AMCs myself, a 79 Jeep J-10 pickup truck and a 74 AMC Hornet Sportabout

[@elfcounsul]

I had a Dj 5 postal jeep. It was tough as nails. With chains, it was unstoppable in the snow. I went off road in 20” of snow, delivered the mail, and recentered the road with little effort.I flipped it, and had some guys to right me. I carried on. I sold it for what I paid for it.

[@freddiefan1973]

We had a Hornet wagon when I was a kid. Spent more time parked or in the shop than actually driven lol Then we got a Malibu in '79, which was probably the 2nd largest (at the time) wagon GM had. Yes, it also spent more time in the shop than it should (issues with the fuel/carburetion system that took 3 years just to diagnose, and never did fully get resolved), but that was the car that refused to die lol 20+ years and 3 owners (and one rear axle replacement)

[@paul5683]

My brother bought an sx4 , new with the red paint job and the rear window louver. Four wheel drive was awesome when everything else we had was rear wheel drive. Still it didn't have abs and I learned a lesson in my young life that four wheel drive cars don't stop any better than anything else. One time we went out for a drive after a snow storm, the roads were still crap but we were hauling ass around town. We come over the top of a hill in town and maybe the change in the inertia sent the car a little loose. My brother Glenn hits the brakes and we spun a 360 right down the middle of the road. I don't think mom and dad ever heard about it. Glenn drove the wheels off of his sx4 , in wisconsin everything dies from rust.

[@Sadler2010]

True that... Sadly, more states should just sand. Shit everyone worries about the environment, yet most states are putting out salt that destroys our cars, the roads and sure the hell cannot be good for random bodies of water and anything living there...

[@mossmiller]

I drive an Impreza, always fitted with winter tires when I lived in NY State. When the roads get icy, these 4x4s can spin like tops as the all-season tires on most of them do not grip like winter tires. Even then, you have to drive slowly until the roads are salted.

[@keithc.5764]

When i first got my license...my Dad had an Eagle. 1981 ish. In Massachusetts, being able to get thru snow this car ruled. Really good. I ventured into a local graveyard with literally 2 feet of snow, with a girlfriend....got laid and knew nobody was gonna show up and ruin it. Heat worked too.

[@exposingthetruth3821]

I did a married chick in a graveyard once after a good bar night. She got divorced the next week because her husband asked her why it said she died in 1908, written backward on her backside.

[@fredmonroe6042]

Cool!

[@Trenton-om9qs]

My friend has an SX4 and a Wagon that belonged to my grandpa. AMC Eagles were so far ahead of their time and honestly damn good cars. AMC in general is underrated

[@AlexWall-z5n]

ever drove aztek

[@jasonglisson1690]

I really liked the station wagon version

[@ericortega1745]

Hell yeah

[@spoonsmith9506]

I use to eat shit in the back seat. Loved that car.

[@tnc7399]

It's hard to choose for me, I love the different styles of each body

[@nathanhale7444]

I've got one. An 84.

[@jasonglisson1690]

@@nathanhale7444 nice

[@adamzeppelin]

I hated these cars growing up in Maine in the late 80s early 90s. But now, the comment " I'd rather be seen in one of these than a current crossover" is so true. Fun video! Thanks

[@phantom0456]

The choir lady at my church had a wagon version of one of these back in the early/mid 90’s… when I was a kid I thought it looked goofy, but as an adult I love it. I really wish AMC had managed to stick around.

[@JTA1961]

Amen to that...

[@weirdshibainu]

There's a few videos on YT as to their demise. They had a lot working against them. It's a wonder the made it as long as they did.

[@DUNEATV]

I was about 10 years old when these came out in the 1980’s! Absolutely loved them then and now!

[@whiskeythree1622]

A timeless bad-ass design 🤙🏽

[@tig3rjax494]

My friend had one in high school. It was one of the most popular cars in school.

[@peteness9550]

That’s sad.

[@tig3rjax494]

@@peteness9550 I think it was because no one had really seen one before. Like my Great-grandma had one. But we also had like a 350z in school when they were new in the early 2000s.

[@xploration1437]

@@peteness9550why?

[@clintpross]

Thank you so much! Love my SX/4, and can’t go any in a hurry because everyone wants to ask about it. It now has a modern 4.0 power plant, which truly does make it a sport machine. I have 5 Eagles total, actually. Again THANK YOU for recognizing my pioneering car!

[@seththomas9105]

Gimmie the Eagle wagon with the I-6 and a manual transmission. I want it.

[@lessharratt8719]

I had the hatch back. Basically a CJ with a car body. Wish I still had it.

[@SquirminHermanthe1eyedGerman]

me too but I would prefer the 304

[@scrambler69-xk3kv]

@@lessharratt8719 No wrong. The Eagle was a unibody car that started life as an AMC Hornet just a small compact. Jeep CJ was a body on frame vehicle and had NOTHING other than the engine and transmission shared.

[@marvinmartin4692]

AMC really hit a home run with this car!!!!

[@r.h.5052]

We've owned several. Replaced my wife's grand wagoneer with a high mileage 82 limited wagon. Liked it so much, I found a clean 80 sport wagon with a dead engine. Rebuilt it and drove everywhere through everything. Later my order son got an sx/4 and later one also for me. Few more sx/4's. They all eventually met their demise by runaway rust issues

[@KS-on9qp]

The rust gave it "character" !

[@herschelmayo2727]

Everyone that I know who had one, loved it. They got to work in bad snow, when nobody else did.

[@mikelyon5595]

I still want an Eagle 4X4 wagon! Sadly, I haven't seen one in decades!

[@Au_Ag_ratio5021]

I rode in one through mud, swamp, palmettos, and some small pine trees until an oak tree stopped us. Still got back, smoking and boiling. They're tuff as nails.

[@Butchcub75]

Had a 1981 SX/4 a few years ago 2.5/4 speed. Sold it to a guy in CHcago. Now own a 1984 AMC Eagle Wagon, love it.

[@garykee1]

when i was a kid, my parents had an AMC matador and had to back to the dealership for a repaint due to a quality control issue. they gave them the wagon version of this vehicle and being a kid, i could barely get inside of it due to it's high ground clearance. ah yes..those were the days!

[@saw1898]

I remember going on a high school field trip to the AMC plant in Kenosha, Wisc. and watched these being assembled. Most had the 2.5 Pontiac “Iron Duke” 4cyl going into them. It was very interesting.

[@pcthayer]

I always liked these cars. One of the guys at work bought a new one and we all went out to lunch together in it. While it was parked on the side of the road in front of the resturant, a lady in an RV sideswiped it with its rear while she was turning, due to the RVs overhang. He was not happy but eventually it got fixed.

[@richardcriscione9427]

In 1983 i had a AMC Eagle SX/4 i loved it had it for 8 years and passed on to a friend and he had 9 years it worked perfect.!!!

[@HardWhereHero]

I used to see these growing up. My buddy pat had a gremlin along time ago. Everyone thought it was so ugly but I loved it. the AMC at 1:03 is absolutely gorgeous. I loved this era of cars.

[@chadf38]

I got my sister's 1982?? as a hand me down around 1989. It was maroon, no spoiler, chrome trim, Pioneer super tuner, tiny amp, sweet 6x9's, and a tired 6 cylinder. The footage in your video of the person aggressively changing lanes reminded of how much my friends did not like it when I took it around a corner too fast. I liked the lifted look. It lasted about 1.5 years before the transmission went out. Dad sold it to some AMC enthusiast.

[@realshady16]

I remember when these came out. I seriously considered buying one. I was a Ford fan back then and just couldn't get past the AMC brand. Haha!! A lot older now and still I would consider buying one,,to me,,,they still are just cool.

[@sugrue8526]

SX4 is awesome. Note that at the time quad cab trucks were rare/not that available and really long. It’s funny that back then winter roads were worse and 4WD’s were rare but people drove better. AMC nailed it but the market didn’t catch on. People were cautious recovering from lousy 1970’s. Incredibly the Eagle line was built so well that it was not prone to rust. Dad bought a new 1976 Subaru 4WD Wagon and did a great job of off-roading, traveling, volunteering during hurricanes, tornadoes, and blizzards. Poor little car got sand blasted underneath from the dunes of Cape Cod. There wasn’t much left to it by the time we got done with it. Served us well. Eagle wagon came a little late and a little too expensive for us at our time of conquering the world.

[@rarecars3336]

100% I feel like people back then were also more competent drivers in general - you should see the drivers here in NJ when there is even a sprinkle of snow lol

[@pugs1377]

I wanted an eagle when I first started driving. They were out of my price range at the time and now you just don't find em for sale often in decent shape

[@robsolf]

They were quick to become rustbuckets, especially the front fenders.

[@vorpalblades]

There are still an amazing amount available. I see at least a half a dozen a week for sale on the forums. Many are still in great shape. Even some decent Kammebacks still available.

[@pugs1377]

@@vorpalblades that one thing I never thought of, looking on a forum. Thanks for the tip

[@greendaygirl357]

Way ahead of there time, super underrated, probably the toughest crossover that'll ever be made.

[@warrenpabbott]

I LOVED the Eagle. Thank you, Chrysler, for buying them, ruining, and then closing them. Really awesome of you.

[@rarecars3336]

LOL they did do them dirty you are right

[@OoheavysackoO]

Yep, and that's exactly what happened. Did the same dirty to Jeep.

[@ronsloan7662]

Thanks for covering that one. I grew up with these and to be honest i really didn't like them. That said, now that I'm older and hopefully wiser, I really like them.

[@pedrowhack-a-mole6786]

I had a red 1984 SX/4, 4-speed. It was a junkyard rescue that looked too good to end its life in a crusher. The tires all held air, it started with a charged battery and some fresh gas, and it drove itself out of there... barely! It sat neglected in my driveway for some years until I gave it to my friend, Mark, a fan of the AMC Eagle. He dropped in a 4.0L fuel-injected straight 6 Jeep engine and a 5-speed transmission, and got everything working. Mark got some satisfaction and a lot of frustration working on it, but he was taken too soon to do much driving in it... He was mostly a collector of projects though, so I think he got most of what he wanted by getting it going and making it all work.

[@RareGenXer]

Ladies and gentlemen, I introduce to you the AMC Outback, Legacy and Crosstrek. Still looks awesome over 40 years later. AMC was generations ahead of their time with these.

[@RJasonKlein]

My parents gave me an 1983 Eagle SX/4 as a hand me down first car. It was black on black with a rear spoiler with red trim and had Marchal fog lights, the 258CI six cylinder, and an automatic transmission. It wasn’t ‘cool’ like the Camaro, Mustang, Supra, or 280ZX I dreamed of, but it was quirky and unique enough to still be a damn cool first car. It was a snow monster and in Chicago winters it was an absolute blast to drive. I went on my first date in that car, and was very grateful to have that car as a teenager - it might as well have been a set of wings. It was pretty agricultural in its execution, but there’s no doubt that AMC was decades ahead of the industry in adopting all wheel drive for passenger cars.

[@DugEphresh]

The AMC SX/4 was a beast! I so wish they still made them.

[@chrismba777]

The SX/4 was hands down one of the coolest cars ever made.

[@Doc_-_Savage_1]

Growing up in rural America, where snow removal was sketchy, this AMC offering was the solution. We weren't confused by it, we loved it.

[@garielgrenadius7564]

I loved these cars. It was what the Outback was modeled after.

[@dnktng4722]

... except Subaru was making cars for the US market then

[@lucascady4992]

I'm a kid of the 90's, I Remember when it was Dodge, Plymouth, Chrysler, Jeep, and Eagle! 😮 I still see the Eagle Badge on some USPS Vehicle's in my small Northern Lower Michigan! 😮

[@Bada_Boom78]

Dad had a silver wagon in manual transmission. That car was awesome. I was young, but as I got older I appreciated the versatility and capability of that Eagle.

[@krisholden5365]

I wish I could find one of these to restore. Sadly, I’m in Michigan and that means they’ve all returned to the earth from whence they came.

[@JTA1961]

Rust in Peace

[@stevencramsie9172]

I live in San Diego the rust isn’t an issue, and we don’t see them anywhere here either. My guess is, they just weren’t very high sellers in general?

[@natasdaisy]

Just bought one this year in michigan.

[@DaisyLynn-xm1pl]

Loved this vehicle as a small child and as an adult, it is a must-own future purchase for me.

[@rarecars3336]

Thankfully these still aren't super pricey either!

[@ZiddersRooFurry]

When I was in my teens and living with my mom and sis in a tiny little apartment our upstairs neighbor drove an AMC Eagle 4x4. This car was a real brute. It could take any kind of terrain (she often took it off-road when camping) and despite my being 6'5" tall I could fit in the back seat and still have plenty of leg room. I loved that car. The main issue she had with it was rust. I think a lot of people forget that the 80's was when US iron started to slip in quality. Most manufacturers weren't using the best metal for their automobiles and a lot of it was due to steel plants fudging inspections.

[@arch3088]

My brother had one of these back in the day. Way ahead of its time.

[@McClane4Ever.]

The AMC Eagle SX4 is my absolute dream car!

[@warkal868]

Thanks for the super content.

[@floridamike2930]

I had a 2 door sedan and a wagon. Nothing like them on snowy roads. I sold the wagon to a friend. I watched him as he drove through a field with snow up to the headlights to pick up his downed deer. My grandparents had a 4 door and got t boned in an intersection by a sherrifs car that was flying right along. It pushed them into a field. The responders said," good thing you were in this TANK". They were injured but okay. If I wanted to deal with old school car issues I would get one. ie starters, water pumps, alternators, stalling , exhaust system, etc.

[@jeffreymorris1752]

We got an SX/4 in the fall of 1981, right after wife and I were married. We were in Casper Wyoming that winter and almost every morning there was a light pad of fresh snow on all of Caspers roads. Weight distribution felt nearly perfect. These things with a manual transmission on the floor (I forget how many gears) were great heaps of fun. I figure I had this huge grin like 80% of the time I was driving.

[@rarecars3336]

Thanks for sharing that - I love hearing period stories about these cars. How long did it last with all the snow?

[@spudthegreaterusa8386]

I graduated in 86, and the eagle was the vehicle I wanted back then.

[@bigkk758]

AMC needs a comeback

[@marcbritton7307]

had one of these ( Station wagon variant ) as a family car when i was a kid growing up. it was flat out AMAZING!! drove it from Illinois to Maine during the winters & summers from 84-88. We drove it through upstate NY in January! had enough off road capability that we used it to heard cattle on our family farm in Illinois. super tough & reliable. great vehicle for camping! ours had a roof rack & an old towne canoe!

[@wtk6069]

I was a big AMC fan. I drove them right up through their acquisition and eventual closing as Chrysler's Eagle division. It's a shame they aren't still around.

[@Onry1]

Yes, they have reached collectors status! I had an '82 Kammback manual trans and an '85 Wagon. Also 2 1974 Hornet X, Great lil under appreciated cars for the time...

[@jlaakso1706]

My dad had a SX4 he bought new, and I recall it did well in Wisconsin winters. And apparently he liked it enough that some years later his place became "The Eagle Preserve", him having bought several variations of the car.

[@rile_up]

Damn it. Everytime I see these I want one. Thanks, Rare Cars.

[@carpo719]

Cars like this are coming back into style, people realize they were built well. I'm a carpenter and I can't even find a decent truck unless I look for something older. I was looking for an accord station wagon but an eagle station wagon would be awesome

[@Wookiemonsterfreak]

Would totally drive one. Back in the day, always admired their wagon going down the road. They were super rare then, and I still get excited seeing one today, also super rare. I never have seen an SX4 in the steel-flesh, only wagons.

[@andyfoshee2727]

I was just old enough to have a license when these came out and I wanted one SO badly. Unfortunately, I wasn't able to afford a new car until they were part of history. I always felt they were ahead of their time though, and when cars like Subaru's (every model, all-wheel-drive, all the time) became popular I kept thinking back to the Eagles. Thanks for this video, it was a nice stroll down memory lane.

[@wadesuhr]

My grandparents lived on a farm in a valley near Readstown, WI. Almost all gravel roads back then. 4 wheel drive was basically necessary in the winter in that area, still is. My grandfather bought a 1981 Eagle wagon for my grandmother to drive. They would drive this car to church as well because driving a dirty pickup truck to church wasn't proper. My Grandpa's farm truck was a 1973 Dodge Power Wagon.

[@StarvingOutdoorsmen]

My first car was an 84 Eagle wagon in brown, my second car was an 81 Eagle Kammback in silver, both had the straight six and both were amazing cars for a high school kid obsessed with snowboarding and BMX. I could keep up off road with my buddies, get to all the remote party spots and bring the stereo, pack my bikes and snowboards in the back and never worry about the weather. In both, the back seat would fold down completely flat, and even in the short little Kammback I had enough room to lay down and camp for the night. With the seats down in the rear of the wagon there was enough room for two to sleep comfortably, although I didn't often need room for two, I mean, I was driving an AMC Eagle after all. In the early 2000's when coffee can exhausts on Honda Civics with Altezza tailights and Fast and The Furious graphics were all the rage, The Eagles were slow enough to keep me out of major trouble. Although once I got the Kammback running on all 6 it would scoot along pretty well and would do nice smoky burnouts and donuts aided by having almost no weight over the rear end. I have very few regrets in life, but a major one is selling those two cars, they were reliable, practical, surprisingly fun to drive, would start a conversation everywhere they went, and in my opinion were very cool looking. To this day my High School friends send me listings and articles every once in while and on the rare occasions I catch up with people the Eagles inevitably come up in conversation. If anyone has a nice Kammback or SX-4 for sale, I have and Audi S5 I might be willing to sell or trade.

[@rarecars3336]

Thanks for sharing that story! Love hearing about people who owned these in period!

[@MyProjectsFL]

I'm 50 and I remember the Eagle very well from when I was a kid, in '80, I would have been 7 and just starting to really get interested in cars at a basic level and I remember them being very different from the other cars back then. Funny, we now have a 4Runner, Forester and Flex, two of which are easily crossovers of sportish wagons. The Flex is a FWD, but of course they came in AWD too. The Subie is the closest to the old Eagle and the 4Runner is body on frame and traditional 4WD, but all kind of close.

[@EruditeEnigmaStL]

I drove an Eagle wagon for a while. It was an interesting and innovative vehicle for its time. I only wished that they would have taken the extra step of developing a small block Chrysler V8 version. I think that might have been something truly special.

[@jamesburgess6211]

I had a 81 SX4 with the in-line 6. bought it new. It was basically a Jeep. It was badass. I used to go out into the Mojave dessert with it. All the 4x4 trucks I came across out there were pretty blown away by the little hatch back

[@scimbrelo]

A vehicle so tremendously ahead of its time. It is also before my time but there’s something quite alluring about it to me.

[@rarecars3336]

Agreed I saw one of these parked outside a nice restaurant near me (in green) and it got more attention than anything else did!

[@thecoreelementsmoto]

A friend of mine in highschool had an eagle back in the day(late 90s). He thought it was so embarrassing back then but we were happy to have cars.

[@unclebadger597]

Had an AMC Concord when i was a kid. That thing was built like a tank! I really miss it ❤️

[@FlowStateNewOrleans]

Part of why I currently drive a VW Golf Alltrack is that the Eagle Wagon made such an impression on me as a child. I rarely saw the SX4 even then, though. I do think it's cool.

[@raymondmalinowski5376]

My parents had a Wagon, I loved it, went 4wheelen with it a few times and that's what introduced me to offroading and influenced me to buy my first 4x4 truck that low range. But if I could find a nice one I'd buy it and be happy driving it around.

[@trentk7732]

I have a friend that had one of these he loved that thing. he spent thousands rebuilding it and it still died on him.

[@erdill355]

As a kid I loved these cars. I loved the looks and and the lines. I guess it would have been comparable to a Subaru Outback when those first came out. As a 52 year old adult, I still think these are some of the coolest looking cars around. I would buy one in a heartbeat. Thanks for posting this video.

[@jeffmiller3150]

A co-worker referred to them as "gum band 4 wheel drive"!😂

[@42lookc]

I had a Concorde 4x4 in the mid 1990's. I have a Silverado 2500HD 4x4 now. I have _zero_ doubt that Eagle Concorde could go absolutely anywhere my 2500HD 4x4 can. And places it can't. I loved that car. It had a blast furnace heater which just laughed at our Canadian winters. If AMC popped back up and started building Eagles again, I would be one of the first in line to buy one. I actually had a very nice little SX4 hatchback in dark blue as well, but I bought it with its tranny out and I never found another one to get it going. I always lamented that.

[@yinyangphoenix]

This vehicle made more sense than some might think. In the 1980s, it was all the rage for the man of the house to drive a sports car. Only moms drove a practical car then. Couple that with the harsh-climate regions of the USA where it would not otherwise be possible to drive a sports car (at least not all-year round) and you get this vehicle. You could argue whether this vehicle was executed well or whether it was the right vehicle but the idea did make sense.

[@HickSquatch]

The Eagle cars were wicked good. Mail carriers used them in Montana, and they were the Driver’s Education cars for my high school. My friend and I wheeled these things all over northwest Montana and they held up great and went about anywhere. Subaru Outback before Subaru did it.

[@rarecars3336]

Thank you for that I had no clue these were mail carriers that is such a cool story, restoring a mail carrier one would be such a rad story

[@buve91]

Never clicked a vid so fast lol. Out of all my AMCs my SX/4 will always have a special place in my heart.

[@koDaffi]

My grandfather used to love those whacky looking off-road Eagles with the station wagon hatch. That's basically All he drove. Had a bunch of them and they'd break down and get another

[@sombojoe]

I was a teenager back then, and I LOVED them!

[@Dan.Solo.Chicago]

When I was a kid in the 80’s, a family down the street had one, and I always thought it looked so Mad Max, and have wanted one ever since.

[@carlosmartinez420]

I absolutely love My sx4. I ve had it for over 15 years, and it is so fun to drive specially off roading. I live in Bogotá, Colombia south América and a lot of People that sees the car going off road want One. It is fun and it is unique

[@boriscat1999]

Back in the day, my buddy collected Eagles. SX/4 and Wagon. It was a great car for winter driving. But the road salt was really rough on my friend's cars.

[@medted]

I owned an 84 SX/4, it was my compromise with my mom after I got into some trouble with my motorcycle and 74' firebird. It was a great car but did have issues with the front CV joints, I got really good at replacing them. But it was still a fun and cool rig for a teenage boy.

[@rarecars3336]

What kinda trouble LOL?

[@medted]

@@rarecars3336 They ate needle bearing like wheaties, my Girlfriend at the time's brother also had an SX/4 with the same issues.

[@utley]

I always wondered why I never saw this car past the 80s, its one of the few cars as a kid that I really wanted because it just looked awesome. put this thing next to a camaro and I was happier with the Eagle. I still want this car.

[@SirFency]

My AMC Eagle was my favorite car I ever owned. I had so much fun in that thing.

[@papabear8363]

The only brand new car I ever bought in my life was a 1982 SX4 with the 6cyl/4spd setup. It would go places in the snow where 4WD trucks were getting stuck. Loved that car!!

[@mikewaters6339]

I would definitely love to have one. I had a buddy who had one and was used as a hunting vehicle, here in Florida. It was impressive and got the job done. Underestimated, and unappreciated. Damn! Nice

[@PropertytaxRobinHood]

I grew up in Milwaukee where many AMCs were made. They were incredibly cheap, so you could buy one for under 1K. They had a lot of weird problem, my favorite being that they rusted so badly that if you hit a bump, you might find that the springs pushed their way into your trunk. On the plus side they were built like tanks, was in an accident with one, no airbags of course, the other car was squashed, mine AMC Spirit (or maybe it was one of the Concords I owned over the years) had light cosmetic damage that was easily rectified.

[@mudfun3703]

I had several 2 door hatchbacks. I had a 2 door hatchback 1982 with a 4 cylinder. One of my favorite lines was this thing is slow as a turtle, but it goes the exact same speed all year round.

[@Kyoti]

I had 5 until a few years back: 1987 Wagon Limited, 1982 Wagon, 1982 Sx/4 DL, 1983 Sx/4 Sport and a 1981 Sx/4. Sold the wagons and the 82 Sx/4. Still have the 1983 Sx/4 Sport (though it is just a parts car) & the 1981 Sx/4. All i6's. Miss my 87 Wagon though, it had the shift-on-the-fly which was very nice. Leather interior, power windows and seats.

[@ovonic1mcfarlan640]

my first new car was a 1984 amc eagle sx4. had it for 15 years and sold it. loved it and climbed any hill a jeep could

[@GeneChevalier-wr6cf]

I've had a few, one I lifted 3in and put the Chrysler efi on, low profile with lots of ground clearance thing was awsome

[@tonyvermeer7409]

My dad had the SX/4 that looked just like the white one at 9:00min mark. He loved the 4WD that always got him to work in the worst of winters. He drove it for 20 years before it fell apart. Replaced it with a Subaru Baja.

[@snakerstran9101]

Older brother got a blue one, 6 cyl, man transmission. Fun car. Biggest complaint from the start was that the manual had no hi/low and 1st gear was too high. Great for slippery roads but too high geared for puttin in tight spots. If that trans had a granny gear added, it would have been perfect.

[@rarecars3336]

Hmm yeah that would have been useful for people who really wanted to use the car to its fullest potential off the pavement

[@christophercoburn6376]

I still have my Dark Red '83 Sx/4 with the rear spoiler. I've had it since I was 16 and it's currently going through a lot of improvements.

[@lancerevell5979]

I remember the SX4 being advertised as the "Eaglet", as apart from the bigger Eagle. Being an old AMC enthusiast (I owned several) I liked the AMC Spirit, especially it's AMX variant. SX4 was basically the 4X4 Spirit AMX.

[@DadBodDrumming]

The Eagle is the car I miss the most from my youth. It was a fantastic all terrain vehicle.