Great look, loopy asterisks.
Fact: If 15-year-old boys may afford vehicles, there would probably nonetheless be an American Motors. For these of you not within the know, the American Motors Corporation (AMC) wrapped up enterprise operations in 1988, this after a failed dalliance with French automaker Renault, and the sale of the Jeep model to Chrysler. (You can study extra concerning the historical past of AMC from Joe Ligo, producer of the documentary The Last Independent Automaker, on this episode of the Car Stuff Podcast.)
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1983 AMC Eagle SX/4
History
But, on the best way out, AMC cranked out one of many coolest American vehicles ever constructed—this offering you discover stickers, spoilers, and superior expertise cool—and the hassle got here near saving the corporate.
Full confession: This creator discovered the AMC Eagle SX/4—and your complete AMC Eagle lineup—extraordinarily cool. Like bikini automobile wash cool (once more, I used to be 15 when the Eagles began rolling out.) And would have gladly donated a wholesome limb to science if it meant I may have one.
Eagle SX/4 Ad
Eagle Lineup
The Eagle lineup, which consisted of a compact sedan and wagon (these have been simply dubbed “Eagle”) and the subcompact SX/4 and Kammback (picture under), was based mostly on present AMC merchandise (the Concord and Spirit respectively), however featured novel, and wholly sensible AWD drivetrains, a factor unparalleled on the time. Dubbed “Quadra-Trac,” the AMC AWD system was cable of figuring out which wheels have been having fun with essentially the most traction, and directing torque to that nook of the automobile. Cool stuff, and predictive of high-tech programs similar to Audi’s quattro (the Q is meant to be decrease case), which was launched within the U.S. on choose variations of the German maker’s vehicles starting in 1983.
But not like up to date Subaru merchandise—all of which, save for the BRZ sports activities coupe, are outfitted with AWD), AMC made a really huge deal of the function, in its adverts, and in designing the vehicles.
All Eagle fashions sat greater off the bottom than the vehicles they have been based mostly on, and featured nice trying wheels and particular accent trim. The SX/4 fashions took issues additional, with a rear spoiler, rocker-panel graphics, and funky out there grille-mounted rally headlamps. The look was sporty, flashy, and precisely what a man recovering from puberty would need from a set of wheels.
Sadly, as soon as you bought previous the appears to be like, the Eagle lineup was type of uninteresting. While really succesful off-road—and Eagles actually have been spectacular within the snow—these flamboyant AMCs have been disappointingly pudgy and underpowered. While a up to date Toyota Corola, which supplied comparable cabin area, got here in at beneath 2000 kilos, the SX/4 tipped the scales at troubling 3100 kilos.
Unfortunately, nothing out there beneath the hood may assist any of the Eagles transfer alongside at something however a snails tempo. Most have been outfitted with AMC’s personal 4.2-liter inline six. Though stout and dependable, the large six was behind the occasions when it comes to fuel-delivery—it was nonetheless carbureted—cranking out simply 100 horsepower. Even sadder, manual-transmission fashions may very well be outfitted with a 2.5-liter 4-cyilder engine that was merely lower than the duty.
As the Eagle SX/4 was cool trying, and succesful off-road, however lackluster on-pavement, AMC made some fairly daring claims for the automobile in its adverts—and people claims got here off as type of foolish.
Eagle SX/4 Commercial
While an Eagle SX/4 may by no means out speed up a Pontiac Firebird Trans Am, the copywriters claimed the AWD AMC…
“…out corners (a) Trans Am in loose sand.”
“ …out accelerates Mustang Turbo in loose dirt.”
And…
“…outbraked MGB on dry pavement.”
If that final declare is true, that’s on MGB.
Eagle SX/4 and Kammback
The advert additionally claims that the SX/4 returned higher gasoline financial system than both of the three automobiles listed above. As up to date exams by the editors of Consumer Guide noticed simply 15-17 mpg in real-world driving, we kind of doubt the declare.
While disappointing as a sporty automobile, the Eagle SX/4 appeared cool, and would make house owners on the spot heroes within the occasion of a major snowfall. While Eagle sedans and wagons are comparatively simple to seek out, having been supplied between 1980 and 1988, the SX/4 and Kammback have been produced solely between 1981 and 1983. This makes them particularly scarce.
It’s a disgrace AMC couldn’t determine a option to market its Eagle vehicles as elegant, succesful alternate options to its Jeep merchandise. We all understand how essential the Jeep model grew to become to Chrysler. Sort of disgrace there was no synergy there to take advantage of. It’s additionally a disgrace that extra 15-year-old boys didn’t purchase vehicles.
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1983 AMC Eagle SX/4 Pictures
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Review Flashback! 1980 AMC Eagle
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Source: weblog.consumerguide.com