AMC Eagle
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| AMC Eagle | |
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| Manufacturer: | AMC Chrysler Corporation (briefly) |
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| Production: | 1980–1988 |
| Predecessor: | AMC Concord |
| Class: | Crossover SUV |
| Body style: | 2-door coupe 3-door liftback 3-door hatchback 4-door sedan 4-door station wagon |
| Engine: | 2.5 L AMC I4 2.5 L GM Iron Duke I4 4.2 L I6 |
| Transmission: | 4-speed manual 5-speed manual 3-speed automatic |
| Wheelbase: | 97.2 in (fastback/hatchback) 109.3 in (coupe/sedan/wagon) |
| Length: | 166.6 in (fastback/hatchback) 186.2 in (coupe/sedan/wagon) |
| Width: | 72.3 in (coupe/sedan/wagon) 73.0 in (fastback/hatchback) |
| Height: | 54.4 in (coupe/sedan) 54.6 in (wagon) 55.2 in (fastback/hatchback) |
| Fuel capacity: | 21 US gal (fastback/hatchback) 22 US gal (coupe/sedan/wagon) |
| Related: | AMC Concord AMC Spirit |
The AMC Eagle was an all-wheel drive passenger car produced by the American Motors Corporation (AMC), introduced for the 1980 model year and based on the AMC Concord. A two-door coupe, four-door sedan and a four-door station wagon were initially available.
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[edit] The concept
The origin of the 4WD car concept was when Jeep's chief engineer Roy Lunn joined an AMC Concord body with a reconstituted Jeep driveline. Such a vehicle was a logical step for AMC according to Gerald C. Meyers, the CEO of AMC at the time. Richard A. Teague, developed the simple styling of the new models by adding plastic skirts around the wheel wells.
The vehicle utilized a full-time all-wheel drive system (similar to the one used in the Jeep Cherokee, also produced by AMC) and had a noticeably increased ground clearance compared to the Concord. At the time, the Eagle was a logical extension to the Concord range: since AMC made Jeeps, it made sense to combine off-road technology with a passenger car range. It is now considered ahead of its time.
The early Eagles came with a true full-time system that operated only in all-wheel drive. This was a first in passenger cars, as the vehicles made by Subaru only had a part-time four-wheel drive unit. The central differential was single-speed (no low range option) and used a thick viscous fluid for quiet and smooth transfer of power to the axle with the greatest traction. This became the forerunner of the designs that followed from other automakers. Four Wheeler magazine concluded in 1980, that the AMC Eagle was "The beginning of a new generation of cars." The Eagles are now considered to be the first crossover SUVs.
Many automobile press journalists wrote about the Eagles and described their road holding manners as equal to that of regular passenger cars while their traction in harsh and slippery conditions as being far superior to those of the Subaru 4WD models. The reports often concluded that the Eagles could almost beat many of the so-called off-road models.
[edit] 1980
American Motors ushered a new era in the automobile industry. The Eagle was available in a four-door sedan and station wagon, as well as in coupe bodies and came in regular or upscale Limited trims. The drivetrain consisted of one engine, the AMC 258 4.2 L straight 6, in conjunction with a three-speed automatic transmission (a version of Chrysler's TF 998), a New Process model 119 transfer case, and Dana model 30 and 35 differentials.
[edit] 1981
There were only a few changes a few changes to the existing line of Eagles. However, the big news was the addition of a two smaller sub-compact body types. These were the 'Kammback', a three-door hatchback with a nearly vertical tailgate (essentially the old AMC Gremlin body) as well as a three-door liftback with a sporty SX/4 variant. The Kammback and fastback had rear wheel drive equivalents in the AMC Spirit, which was itself a restyled Gremlin. Also added were a base option of GMs 2.5 L 4 cylinder engine, and a 4-speed manual transmission. All had permanent automatic all-wheel drive without causing any extra wear on suspension or driveline components. A mid-year option of "Select Drive" was offered. A new "Sport" trim option included blacked out ground effects, blacked out grill.
[edit] 1982
The Eagles were available with 5-speed manual transmission, and towing package. All received select drive, which could be changed between AWD and 2WD for a potential increase in fuel economy.
[edit] 1983
The two-door Sedan (Kammback) is no longer available in the Eagle lineup.
[edit] 1984
The smaller Spirit-based models and the two-door coupe are dropped. Only the station wagon remained for public sale, while the four-door sedan is available to fleet buyers. All Eagle models were now built in AMC's plant in Brampton, Ontario because the Kenosha plant is used for the Alliance and Encore models. The SX/4 was dropped from the lineup. Shift-on-the-Fly is introduced as an option. The 2.5 L GM four-cylinder engine is replaced by AMC's own 2.5 L I4.
[edit] 1985
All Eagles receive "Shift-on-the-Fly" capacity for the driver to select AWD or 2WD. Standard transmission is now a 5-speed overdrive manual.
[edit] 1986
AMC introduces the open differential (Model 128) transfer case. The automatic transmission no longer has a lockup torque converter.
[edit] 1987
The focus of AMC's sales centers on the highly successful Jeep line with the company's new 4.0 L engine. However, the buyout by Chrysler brings about the end of AMC as an independent automaker.
[edit] 1988
The Eagle wagon remained in production under Chrysler, and then was discontinued after a short run of 1988 models. Some advertising materials used the name "American Eagle", part of a minor rebranding effort by AMC.
[edit] Convertibles
During 1981 and 1982 a Sundowner conversion convertible was available. The Eagle's monocoque body was reinforced and a steel targa roll bar was welded to the door pillars for passenger compartment protection. The front portion of the roof was a removable lightweight fiberglass hatch, while the rear section of polyvinyl material and the back window folded down and had a boot cover when in the down position. The cars were ordered through any AMC dealer. The conversion was by the Griffith Company that was headquartered in Fort Lauderdale, Florida.
[edit] Legacy
The Eagle was the last of the original domestic AMC passenger vehicles produced. Moreover, American Motors had success in building many differentiated vehicles from the same platform. The Eagle's was first produced as the 1970 Hornet model. At the end, it was 18 years on the market; making it one of the longest production lifetimes of any automobile platform of the 1970s era. This was exceeded only by the SUV Jeep CJ5 and the full-sized Grand Wagoneer.
[edit] Resources
[edit] External links
- Article by Don Sherman in Automotive Industries, February 2001
- AMC Eagle Nest (Includes an active forum for Eagle enthusiasts.)
- EagleWeb
- AMC Eagle specifications table
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American Motors Corporation
Historic: |
| Rambler: | Ambassador by Rambler | American | Classic | Marlin | Rambler | Rebel |
| AMC: | Ambassador | AMX | Concord | Eagle | Gremlin | Hornet | Javelin | Marlin | Matador | Metropolitan | Pacer | Rebel | Spirit |
| Renault: | LeCar | Alliance | Encore | Fuego | Medallion | Premier |
| AMC & Rambler Concept Cars: | Rambler Tarpon | AMC Cavalier | AMC AMX-GT |
| Affiliated with: | American Motors Corporation | Chrysler | Hudson | Jeep | Kelvinator | Nash Motors | Nash-Kelvinator | Rambler | Renault | Australian Motor Industries | Vehiculos Automotores Mexicanos |
| People | Roy Abernethy | A.E. Barit | Roy D. Chapin Jr. | George W. Romney | Richard A. Teague | George W. Mason | Gerald C. Meyers | Edmund E. Anderson | François Castaing |
| [ edit ] Category |
| American Motors road car timeline, United States market, 1954—1988 - | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Type | 1950s | 1960s | 1970s | 1980s | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 | 9 | 0 | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 | 9 | 0 | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 | 9 | 0 | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 | ||
| Subcompact | Metropolitan | Gremlin | Spirit | Encore | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Compact | Rambler American | Hornet | Concord | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| J | Pacer | Alliance | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Mid-size | Rambler | Classic | Rebel | Matador | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Rebel | Marlin | Matador Coupe | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Full-size | Nash | Ambassador | P | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Hudson | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Sports | AMX | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Javelin | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Crossover | Eagle | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| SUV | see timeline of Jeep models | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
