AMC Eagle: the precursor of all modern crossovers
Posted on 11-02-2015 at 23:02 by Dizono – 36 Comments”
Between 1979 and 1987, sells AMC perhaps the world’s first cross-over. Not only as a coupe, but also as a two – and vierdeurssedan, hatchback, station wagon and even as a semi-convertible.
At the end of the ’70s is in America for the second time in an oil crisis. American Motor Company observes that the sales of Jeep, while the large vehicles are simply ridiculous with fuel. On the other hand, they have the cars of AMC, but these are actually too outdated to be a serious to be able to do with the competition. Their next move turns out masterfully.
Subaru and Audi to be finished soon
“Why is bridging the gap not between the two brands?’, they must be at AMC have thought when they started experimenting with four-wheel drive cars. Served as the basis of the AMC Hornet, where a V8 was ingelepeld and whose front wheels eenerde and the rear wheels two-thirds of the torque to the asphalt brought. Eventually opted for a cheaper solution: conventional four-wheel drive with uniform distribution of the traction forces on all four wheels and a less uneconomical six cylinder engine. In 1979 came the Eagle on the market, which AMC Subaru and Audi too fast. Today, the AMC Eagle was largely forgotten, even Volvo reports it to the introduction of the S60 Cross Country is proud that it is the first opgeruigde sedan, while AMC is really 35 years earlier.
A real offroader is the AMC Eagle. Thanks to its four-wheel drive and greater ground clearance to go a lot further than with an ordinary car, but by the lack of low gearing is the Eagle also no real estate. On the other hand reed the Eagle more as a car than as an offroader and have valued customers in the safe handling of the early crossover.
In all possible forms
If you have the AMC Eagle know, then you will probably be the station wagon version have seen. This is the most practical and most widely sold version, which you very rarely also in the Netherlands may encounter. Except the station wagon, you could also choose from a two – or four-door sedan, a hatchback (based on the AMC Gremlin), a coupe and even a semi-convertible with targa-bar. The car is a small achievement in the United States, between 1979 and 1987, there are nearly two hundred thousand copies made.
