The American Motors Corporation’s Eagle was a groundbreaking vehicle that introduced true all-wheel drive to the US market before Audi’s Quattro-equipped cars. While the wagon version of the Eagle was the most popular, a four-door sedan was recently found in a Colorado salvage yard, showcasing the rarity of this model.
The Eagle was initially based on the AMC Concord in 1980, offering sedan, coupe, and wagon variants. In the following year, the lineup expanded with the addition of Eagles based on the smaller AMC Spirit. By 1984, only the wagon and sedan versions remained.
The sedan saw a decline in sales, with only 1,274 units produced in 1986 and sales dropping below 500 in 1987. After Chrysler acquired American Motors in 1987, they continued producing Eagle wagons under a new division named Eagle for the 1988 model year. As a result, the final-year Eagle wagons were technically called Eagle Eagles.
Although American Motors already owned Jeep when they began designing the Eagle, they didn’t simply borrow components from the Jeep parts bin. The drivetrain of the Eagle sedan featured a center viscous coupling between the front and rear axles, allowing for easy switching between rear-wheel-drive and four-wheel-drive using a simple electrical switch. This gave drivers the flexibility to save fuel by using rear-wheel-drive when necessary.
However, unlike other four-wheel-drive vehicles of the time, such as Subaru and Toyota models, which could cause damage if driven in four-wheel-drive mode on dry pavement for long distances, the Eagle sedan could maintain four-wheel-drive mode without any adverse effects.
While Audi and Volkswagen offered their own AWD vehicles during this period, they were significantly more expensive than the Eagle sedan. The 1986 Eagle sedan had a starting MSRP of just $10,719 (around $30,716 in today’s dollars), making it an affordable option for consumers. Additional options, such as power door locks, air conditioning, and an AM/FM/cassette audio system, increased the price further.
The powertrain options for the Eagle sedan varied over the years, with earlier models offering AMC and GM four-cylinder engines, while the 1985 through 1988 models exclusively featured the 258-cubic-inch (4.2-liter) AMC straight-six engine. This particular car in the salvage yard has the optional three-speed automatic transmission.
Interestingly, the car’s door tag reveals that it was sold at Spearfish Motors in South Dakota, a dealership that still exists today but now specializes in selling GMCs, Cadillacs, and Hummers.
Despite being in good condition with a decent interior and minimal rust, this Eagle sedan wasn’t deemed valuable enough to be rescued before ending up in the salvage yard. Its fate is a reminder of how some unique and innovative vehicles can go unnoticed and underappreciated.
While the Eagle sedan didn’t receive much advertising attention from American Motors, its significance as the pioneer of all-wheel drive in the US market cannot be overlooked. Today, all-wheel drive is a common feature found in numerous vehicles across various brands and price ranges, but the Eagle played a crucial role in popularizing this technology.