10. AMC Eagle
It is interesting to see how some car manufacturers were ahead of their time. Their products received recognition long after they were gone. And one of those manufacturers is the American Motors Company (AMC). Constantly flirting with bankruptcy, AMC was forced to explore the limits of the conventional car classes.
One of their experiments was the Eagle, a passenger car lineup with Jeep-derived all-wheel drive. Also, it had great off-road capabilities in the form of a regular sedan, wagon or even a coupe. AMC conceived it in the late ’70s as their answer to the rising popularity of AWD vehicles and SUVs. AMC wanted to combine their compact sedan and wagon lineup with the tough and proven Jeep AWD system.
The result was a surprisingly capable vehicle with the comfort and luxury of a sedan. It had compact dimensions, a relatively low weight, and rugged off-road characteristics, too. The Eagle was one of the first crossover models in the world. It’s only today that people can see how important and influential this car was. The Eagle was a popular car, especially in areas with harsh climates.
AMC produced the Eagle with AWD as standard. Unfortunately, AMC was losing money and was forced out of business in 1987. And this meant death for the Eagle, as well. Today, the AMC Eagle is highly desirable and in some areas, you can still find them in use.
The Chrysler Corporation is the owner of the AMC name, so many drivers think it’s time to reintroduce the Eagle to the world. They could use the same recipe as the last time: a sedan body with a Jeep all-wheel-drive system. And it could even achieve even better success than the original model.