The Original Crossovers Were Pretty Cool

"Justin Hughes" (justinhughes54) 10/02/2015 at 16:18 • Filed to: crossover

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When Josh !!!error: Indecipherable SUB-paragraph formatting!!! , he was quite surprised at how much he actually enjoyed driving it – better than his BMW 328i loaner, in fact. Nobody, including us, really expects the modern crossover to appeal to driving enthusiasts. But going back in time, it’s pretty clear that the original car/SUV crossovers were actually pretty cool.

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Before you tell me that I’m someone on the internet who’s wrong, I realize I’m skipping a lot of excellent 4WD and AWD vehicles here – the Mazda 323GTX, the Mitsubishi Galant VR4, the Jeep Cherokee, the !!!error: Indecipherable SUB-paragraph formatting!!! … These are all cool vehicles in their own right, but not part of the evolution toward the modern crossover, as I see it. The 323GTX and Galant are genuine cars, the Cherokee a genuine SUV. The Previa is a minivan, like my Dodge Grand Caravan AWD, and one of the main reasons crossovers exist is to avoid the stigma of driving a minivan. I’ve focused specifically on cool, key vehicles that I see as part of the evolution toward a car with SUV-like qualities, which basically defines the modern crossover.

Subaru 4WD Wagon

Photo credit: !!!error: Indecipherable SUB-paragraph formatting!!!

It could be argued that the original Subaru 4WD Wagon, introduced in the US in 1975, is not a true crossover. In fact, until just a few years ago, Subaru has gone out of their way to not build SUVs just like everyone else, focusing instead on AWD cars and wagons that provide the capabilities people look for in an SUV while retaining the superior driving characteristics of a car. But Subaru was the first to add four wheel drive capability to a car, rather than a truck or truck-based SUV. They first brought it to the US in 1975. The addition of four wheel drive to a more car-like vehicle was the first step toward the creation of the modern crossover segment, which now outsells traditional sedans as of last year.

AMC Eagle

Photo credit: IFCAR/Wikipedia

As fuel prices went up and Jeep sales went down, American Motors introduced the AMC Eagle. Though the category hadn’t been invented yet, it was the first true crossover vehicle. It was a car with higher ground clearance than most, plus four wheel drive. Unlike the Subaru, which used a part time system, the Eagle was the first to use full time four wheel drive. It was similar to the system that Ferguson Research had supplied for the Jensen Interceptor FF, and !!!error: Indecipherable SUB-paragraph formatting!!! .

My friend Brian, !!!error: Indecipherable SUB-paragraph formatting!!! , owned one of these a number of years ago. We affectionately called it the Uglymobile, because in bright 1970s orange with fake wood paneling, it had a face only its mother could love. Though it had the same inline-6 motor as the Jeeps of the time, it rode smoothly like a car. It also had the factory original AM/FM/CB radio.

Photo credit: !!!error: Indecipherable SUB-paragraph formatting!!!

The smaller SX/4 version of the Eagle was quite successful in SCCA ProRally in the early 1980s. It scored frequent wins and podium finishes, and AMC took third place for Production Manufacturer from 1981-1983. This was the same time period that Audi was starting to find success with its own all wheel drive cars in the World Rally Championship.

Honda Civic Wagon/Wagovan

Photo credit: !!!error: Indecipherable SUB-paragraph formatting!!!

As the 1980s rolled on, more Japanese manufacturers jumped on the four/all wheel drive bandwagon. Honda added part time four wheel drive to their Civic “Wagovan” in 1985, and switched to their Real Time 4 Wheel Drive system in 1987, just before a redesign to the EF chassis in 1988. I’ve owned two of these myself – a 1991 FWD model, and the 1989 RT4WD model seen here at a !!!error: Indecipherable SUB-paragraph formatting!!! .

These weren’t just the standard hatchback and sedan versions with a long roof. Though identical to the other body styles from the A-pillar forward, the wagons were quite different from there on back. They were taller than the other Civics. The rear suspension was unique to the wagon, with longer springs providing more suspension travel. It combined the standard Civic driving experience with the practicality of a larger vehicle with available all wheel drive. To me, the Civic wagon is the true prototype of the crossover vehicle as we know it today. You don’t need much imagination to see how it morphed into the Honda CR-V in the 1990s. It even retained the Civic’s “Real Time 4 Wheel Drive.”

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But that’s not to say it was boring, by any means. The RT4WD wagon was the heaviest Civic in the lineup, so it got the D16A6 motor to make up for it – the same motor as the Civic/CRX Si. Manual and automatic transmissions were available. The manual was a 6-speed, unheard of in its time. It even had a super low first gear like the Porsche 959, presumably in place of a low range transfer case. With a set of studded snow tires, this was undoubtedly the best winter vehicle I’ve ever owned, and the best combination of fun and practicality.

Toyota Corolla Wagon

Photo credit: IFCAR/Wikipedia

Not to be outdone by Honda, Toyota added their rally proven All-Trac system to the Corolla wagon (and sedan, in limited numbers) starting in 1988. Unlike the Civic, the Corolla was more of a traditional wagon, without the taller roof of the Civic wagon. My friend Crys had one for about six months and absolutely loved it. It was already on its way back from the Moon when she bought it for $300, with 300,000 miles already on it. It was far from perfect, but like a true Toyota it still drove like a champ despite its issues.

The Corolla All-Trac would also disappear in the early 1990s, and, like the Civic wagon, would also return a few years later in true crossover form – the Toyota RAV4.

Subaru Forester

Photo credit: Artaxerxes [ !!!error: Indecipherable SUB-paragraph formatting!!! or !!!error: Indecipherable SUB-paragraph formatting!!! ], via !!!error: Indecipherable SUB-paragraph formatting!!!

Meanwhile, Subaru continued to resist the new crossover trend. They did make all wheel drive standard, rather than optional, on all cars sold in the US in 1996. Models such as the Outback and Outback Sport were slightly taller, tougher looking versions of the Legacy and Impreza wagons, respectively. But the writing was on the wall, and 1998 saw the introduction of the Forester to the US. The Forester was a tall wagon, like the Civic wagon before it, rather than a true crossover like the CR-V, RAV4, and other “cute utes” then on the market. It remained very strongly based on the Impreza, and was essentially a taller, boxier Impreza wagon. The similarity was so close that the drivetrain from the WRX, and even the STi, could be swapped into the Forester. Subaru themselves made it available starting with the 2004 Forester XT.

Photo credit: !!!error: Indecipherable SUB-paragraph formatting!!!

After the failure of the Tribeca, Subaru chose to finally give in to the crossover craze by turning the Forester into a small crossover, and split the Outback trim level into its own separate model, still based strongly on the Legacy. Sticking to the familiar, rather than the new name and wacky styling of the Tribeca, has proven successful for Subaru’s more mainstream strategy, which now sells more vehicles than ever.

But I still lament the loss these predecessors to the modern crossover, which have worn out and rusted away at this point. I don’t want to tower over traffic. I want reasonable ground clearance, but handling like a car. I want decent room for people and cargo, but I can get that from a wagon, and contrary to what the average consumer believes I think wagons are cool. But sadly, except for a few holdouts like Audi and BMW, the all wheel drive wagon is essentially dead.

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(Top photo credit: Allison Feldhusen)

HammerheadFistpunch > Justin Hughes 10/02/2015 at 16:23

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No love for the Rav4 (preceded the Forester by 2 years)

RamblinRover Luxury-Yacht > HammerheadFistpunch 10/02/2015 at 16:29

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He mentions it in the entry for the Corolla All-Trac. I think he was trying to keep it by original-by-manufacturer. I know one he missed, though.

Justin Hughes > HammerheadFistpunch 10/02/2015 at 16:30

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I mentioned it, but the RAV4 had morphed from the Corolla wagon into a generic crossover at that point, just like the Honda CR-V did from the Civic wagon.

HammerheadFistpunch > Justin Hughes 10/02/2015 at 16:32

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Thing is though, the 1st gen rav4 was akin to the 1st gen Forester, the only difference being that the RAV4 looked more like an SUV. I can tell you from experience they were a blast to drive.

vicali > Justin Hughes 10/02/2015 at 16:33

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1982 Tercel wagon 4wd was more common than the Corollas that came out later.. they were always green like this

Justin Hughes > HammerheadFistpunch 10/02/2015 at 16:34

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I’ve never driven one. Or any of these except my Civic wagons. So I’ll take your word for it.

Justin Hughes > vicali 10/02/2015 at 16:37

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Ah, so that’s why Honda threw 4WD into the Civic - the Tercel did it first! Somehow I missed that. It looks like the Tercel, not the Civic, started the trend toward tall 4WD/AWD wagons, which eventually led to the crossover.

TheNeonDriver - Now with More BMW! > Justin Hughes 10/02/2015 at 16:37

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I have owned 3 of the cars on this list. All were awesome. Learned stick on a Civic wagon, Ice raced a ‘Rolla Wagon, and dialed a Forester. I miss the Rolla the most. That thing was a drift machine.

vicali > HammerheadFistpunch 10/02/2015 at 16:39

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Three door soft top ftw!

Berang > Justin Hughes 10/02/2015 at 17:47

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Weird you chose the Corolla wagon over the Tercel wagon. The Tercel Wagon!

TheVancen- In Pursuit of a Greater Payday and Car Parts > Justin Hughes 10/02/2015 at 18:10

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Side note about Ferguson, their 4WD system did in fact end up in a very small number of Fords. I give you the Ferguson Formula Capri. Only 17 were ever built. It actually used the same center differential as the Jensen FF.

TheVancen- In Pursuit of a Greater Payday and Car Parts > vicali 10/02/2015 at 18:15

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There’s a mechanic in London Ontario with a brown tercel wagon that’s made the round trip to the moon. Still dailies it when ever he can’t drive his flathead powered 64 Falcon.

Justin Hughes > Berang 10/02/2015 at 20:29

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My friend had a Corolla wagon, so that’s what I thought of. I knew about the Tercel, but not that it came first or there were more of them.

Justin Hughes > TheVancen- In Pursuit of a Greater Payday and Car Parts 10/02/2015 at 20:32

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Neat! I had no idea about the Capris. I only knew about the Mustang prototypes because I saw one of them in a museum.

TheVancen- In Pursuit of a Greater Payday and Car Parts > Justin Hughes 10/02/2015 at 20:51

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Both very cool. I’ve been tossing around the idea of making my own version with a tiny T case out of a Suzuki Samurai or Bronco 2 or something like that.

Berang > Justin Hughes 10/02/2015 at 22:36

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The early Tercels are very interesting cars. You should investigate.

reverberocket is nipping the apex..and gently blowing in it's ear. > Justin Hughes 10/03/2015 at 13:35

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No love for the Stanza Wagon?
The person who made this pic might want a word with you...

WarShrike > Justin Hughes 10/03/2015 at 13:41

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tapzz > Justin Hughes 10/03/2015 at 13:44

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But Subaru was the first to add four wheel drive capability to a car, rather than a truck or truck-based SUV.

Comme ça?

AfromanGTO > Justin Hughes 10/03/2015 at 13:45

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I always liked these!

CALUSA > Justin Hughes 10/03/2015 at 13:51

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Not really crossovers right? AMC the only real one IMHO.

John Static > Justin Hughes 10/03/2015 at 13:55

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Ah, memories. I grew up in a 1987 Honda Civic RT AWD wagon.

That thing was a beast.

tapzz > Justin Hughes 10/03/2015 at 13:57

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Also, I’d say that the Civic wagon was more a minivan (hence “wagovan”); it had a unique, tall, upright greenhouse with a short, sloping bonnet. It’s quite different from the Civic hatch of the same generation.

The Tercel, like all crossovers, is effectively a jacked-up unibody wagon; from the B pillar forward, it’s identical to the Tercel hatches.

Ivan's bloody nipple > RamblinRover Luxury-Yacht 10/03/2015 at 14:06

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One more.

n54 & s38 > AfromanGTO 10/03/2015 at 14:10

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Me too. Especially in world rally blue with a stick. Perfect fun practical vehicle.

graves1ids > Justin Hughes 10/03/2015 at 14:14

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A) forget Miata, my answer is always Wagovan (or first Gen 4Runner, but that’s a different story).

B) Where’s the Mitsubishi Expo LRV / Eagle Summit Wagon for the progenitor of softroading CUVs?

Nymphicus Hollandicus > Justin Hughes 10/03/2015 at 14:16

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Ah, you share my feelings on the crossover. I hate how my Honda Pilot has to be exactly like an SUV which makes it boring and thirsty. Meanwhile, cars like the early RAV4 and Forrester were really cool, I wish I could get a 5-speed version but most aren’t in great shape or they’re automatic.

Ghettoblaster > Justin Hughes 10/03/2015 at 14:17

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I’ve owned a subaru wagon and now my rt4wd civic wagon with 330k. I absolutely love it!

472CID > Justin Hughes 10/03/2015 at 14:31

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Nice write up. I would also add that the Jeepster was probably the first vehicle to thoroughly blur the lines of truck and car.

Justin Hughes > 472CID 10/03/2015 at 14:32

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Good point. It didn’t really catch on until later, but there’s definitely a blur there.

WeissGuy > WarShrike 10/03/2015 at 14:38

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I hate Hondas but I’m currently on Craigslist looking for one of those....

my car smells like crayons > reverberocket is nipping the apex..and gently blowing in it's ear. 10/03/2015 at 14:39

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Excellent choice. That Stanza wagon was a compromise between wagon and minivan.

I was going to suggest the Sentra wagon (with 4WD!)

Maxaxle > Justin Hughes 10/03/2015 at 14:46

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Too bad most modern crossovers are too bloated to be station wagons and too small to be SUVs.

Drew8MR > HammerheadFistpunch 10/03/2015 at 14:53

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Not with the auto they weren’t. My Ex had a 98? with the bigger wheels and the auto. What a dog. And cabin noise was brutal.

Nobi > Justin Hughes 10/03/2015 at 15:06

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RT4WD FTW

Tony A. > Justin Hughes 10/03/2015 at 15:09

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Clicked for the pic, commenting for the memories. My first car and the car I learned to drive stick on was a 1984 civic wagovan. Huge steering wheel with the skinny grips that got sticky when the car was hot.The HVAC vents that it felt so futuristic to press a button and make come up. Had to hold it in second and floor it to make it up a hill with any significant incline and if you didn’t get enough momentum you were going back down and starting over whether you wanted to or not. On the highway you had to hold on to the wheel for dear life every time anything bigger than a minivan passed you lest the turbulence blow you off the road. Mine even had a trick 2nd gear that would make a horrible grinding sound if you shifted into 2nd above 3 grand. And yet the few rare times that I see one on the road I miss the hell out of my old white one (nicknamed it “the bubble”). Had so many good times in that car with friends/girlfriends.

112358132134 > Justin Hughes 10/03/2015 at 15:17

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eagle summit

Ben Lowrider > WarShrike 10/03/2015 at 15:20

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Wooow love that car , the “giant snail” is a massive improvment i think

Justin Hughes > Nobi 10/03/2015 at 15:44

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Still like your car!

Ghettoblaster > Nobi 10/03/2015 at 15:47

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Awesome! Is that your car?

Roger Garbow > vicali 10/03/2015 at 16:03

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I drove one of those 4WD Tercel Wagons once (with 4 adults and ski equipment onboard) in 1985 from Huntington Beach to Bear Mountain Ski Area in Southern California. With the automatic it was so underpowered, an 18-wheel tanker truck passed me going uphill.

KaBoomBOX > Justin Hughes 10/03/2015 at 16:09

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Yeah, Mom rocked one of these back in 83.

Chaos-cascade > WeissGuy 10/03/2015 at 16:11

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One in Portland and one in la on craigslist this week.

abgwin > Justin Hughes 10/03/2015 at 16:15

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I'd also consider the Volvo V70 Cross Country, later known as XC, to qualify. It's really a slightly lifted wagon, but then again, what CUV isn't really? They got a great AWD system, a turbo 5 and all the creature comforts of the V70, plus neato wheels.

abgwin > graves1ids 10/03/2015 at 16:17

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True enough. The Summit AWD certainly qualifies. The wacky single slidey door really should have caught on better.

BeO42 > Justin Hughes 10/03/2015 at 16:30

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I’m throwing this lovely Golf Country in there as well.

jpkingjd > vicali 10/03/2015 at 16:40

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For some reason there are a lot of these around where I live in NM. I don’t know what their top speed is, but they’re one of those vehicles — like motor homes or anything U-Haul — that causes me to move into the passing lane on sight.

scottcom36 > Justin Hughes 10/03/2015 at 16:51

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The Dodge/Plymouth Colt Vista was a tall wagon with available all wheel drive from 1984. There were quite a few on the road. They rode nicely and had a very high seating position.

alldahp00ps > Justin Hughes 10/03/2015 at 16:55

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*ahem*...

Wotsac > Justin Hughes 10/03/2015 at 16:57

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Ever since I found out about the Eagle, I've been thinking that I want to build an FI version. I suspect that it's remarkably easy, and remarkably fun to drive on bad roads.

Nobi > Ghettoblaster 10/03/2015 at 17:05

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Yessir. That's my winter bomber. 6 speed and all.

graves1ids > abgwin 10/03/2015 at 17:08

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I recall being a much younger grumpy old man and being very impressed with the idea of them. Then again I also knew better than rolling dice on any DSM less they be built in the homeland, and even then risk vs. reward was Vegas level odds.

endosymbiont > Justin Hughes 10/03/2015 at 17:16

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Don’t forget the Toyota Tercel SR5 wagon! Sure, it’s the sister car to the Civic you describe, but it is worth a mention. I think SR5 was meant to indicate “Sport Rally” with a 5-speed, and it had plaid seats!

endosymbiont > Justin Hughes 10/03/2015 at 17:19

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Arguably another pioneer in the crossover form-factor was the ‘88 Nissan Stanza wagon, long a favorite of mine for its looks.

endosymbiont > Justin Hughes 10/03/2015 at 17:22

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great article, by the way. I love it. Don’t forget the Geo Tracker.

endosymbiont > Justin Hughes 10/03/2015 at 17:25

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While arguably more SUV than car-like, the Isuzu Trooper appeared in 1981 and was more car-like than rivals Suburban, Bronco, and probably the Grand Cherokee. I think this gave some early hints of the market for the modern crossover.

endosymbiont > reverberocket is nipping the apex..and gently blowing in it's ear. 10/03/2015 at 17:28

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I’d cut off a finger for a mint, low-mileage version of that Stanza wagon.

endosymbiont > scottcom36 10/03/2015 at 17:30

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Seconded. My step-mother had one of these and it was great. AWD, third row of seats, manual. In fact, kind of a Jalopnik wet dream, now that I think about it.

tommyscooter > Justin Hughes 10/03/2015 at 17:39

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Damned this article makes me miss my 79 Subaru 4wd wagon. It was my first car and died by rust. Never had a car since that a buddy and me could pull the engine by hand, set it on a 5 gallon bucket and do a clutch change and have it back in the car and good to go just after lunch time.

HammerheadFistpunch > Drew8MR 10/03/2015 at 17:46

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Yeah, not with the auto. Mine was 5 speed with torsen rear lsd

WeissGuy > Chaos-cascade 10/03/2015 at 18:08

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I’m ATL now so that does me no good unfortunately.

I’ve been looking for something like that to build a rally inspired adventure wagon thing (really similar to the one in the video) that my brother and I can use for camping trips and stuff.

He wanted to do an outback sport but I'm more into the blocky 80s cars and that Honda would be awesome.

wafflesnfalafel > Maxaxle 10/03/2015 at 18:10

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yeah - they are really more like a midsized family sedan, but taller (because folks like to sit higher), more space for junk, and 4wd (because it makes people feel safer..) They are really a full class above all the first gen models - not bad cars, but not the nifty little utilitarian wagons they started out as.

LongbowMkII > Justin Hughes 10/03/2015 at 18:13

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nomz nomz nomz

KAG25 > Justin Hughes 10/03/2015 at 18:24

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I miss the Sedan and Wagon based AWD mini rally cars from the 80’s and 90’s. To bad we never got the crazy Nissan’s here.

Dat76 > Justin Hughes 10/03/2015 at 18:29

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Most of the cars listed here are wagons. Modern consumers don’t want a “wagon”, so the simple solution is to call our present equivalent a crossover. The market for wagons in North America is dead, unfortunately.

boxrocket > Justin Hughes 10/03/2015 at 18:33

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Suzuki SX4 should be on the list. Name evokes the AMC Eagle SX/4, and it's a surprisingly good package all-around.

gogmorgo - rowing gears in a Grand Cherokee > Justin Hughes 10/03/2015 at 18:37

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You forgot one, and it predates all of them except the Subaru wagon, which is a wagon. (While we’re at it, the Eagle is also just a lifted AWD AMC Concord, so doesn’t belong on the list either.)

boxrocket > 472CID 10/03/2015 at 18:47

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The Model T could be had as a truck.

Your argument is invalid.

gogmorgo - rowing gears in a Grand Cherokee > gogmorgo - rowing gears in a Grand Cherokee 10/03/2015 at 18:54

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Don’t mind the partially set-up lean-to. I’m a fan of sleeping under the stars, but they were calling for rain, leading to the impromptu shelter just in case.

RacinBob > Justin Hughes 10/03/2015 at 19:04

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PD Cunningham - Ice racing in LaCrosse Wi. Late 1980’s

James May is my spirit animal > Justin Hughes 10/03/2015 at 19:14

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Our Father in heaven, hallowed be AMC.Their kingdom came, and now are done, on earth, as it is in heaven.Give us this day our daily crossover, and forgive us our FWD Junkers, as we also have forgiven Nissan Cross Cabriolet owners.And lead us not into further crossovers, but deliver us more AMC Eagles.

somuchscrap > endosymbiont 10/03/2015 at 19:17

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Except ti wasn’t a 5 speed. It had a 6 speed thanks to the EL (Extra Low) gear. Now that’s badass.

Highlander-Datsuns are Forever > HammerheadFistpunch 10/03/2015 at 19:42

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The original RAV4 was really, truly a weird car.

HammerheadFistpunch > Highlander-Datsuns are Forever 10/03/2015 at 19:53

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In all the best ways

slickrick > graves1ids 10/03/2015 at 19:56

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Can’t forget the Dodge Colt Vista! 5 Speed with push button 4wd!!

slickrick > scottcom36 10/03/2015 at 19:58

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Yep. We had a Colt Vista growing up. Seated seven, 5 speed with push button 4wd. It was an awesome party wagon for VT

Cheesewhiz > graves1ids 10/03/2015 at 20:00

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Came here wondering the same. I got a snowy/icy/rainy ride home to SF from Tahoe in one back in the mid-90’s. Was surprised and impressed.

graves1ids > slickrick 10/03/2015 at 20:15

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Oh but I can forget, yet only because I don’t remember them. Even after looking them up they still draw a blank. You’ve left me dumbfounded, congrats.

graves1ids > Cheesewhiz 10/03/2015 at 20:20

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A couple of years back I saw one as a DD in NW Ga. It did not grow my heart two sizes that day, but it did crack my steely resolve with a slightly upturned corner of my lips.

Supra-Dude > Justin Hughes 10/03/2015 at 20:24

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Stop kidding yourself and get a wagon.

UNCDave > Justin Hughes 10/03/2015 at 20:33

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What, no love for the Aztek? So beautiful...

4muddyfeet - bare knuckle with an EZ30 > BeO42 10/03/2015 at 20:49

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Is this to spec? As in, did it leave the factory floor looking like this? I love it.

Breasticles > Justin Hughes 10/03/2015 at 21:02

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I’m gonna just leave this thing (that unfortunately my family owned) right here...

Frankenbike666 > Justin Hughes 10/03/2015 at 21:10

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I want reasonable ground clearance, but handling like a car. I want decent room for people and cargo

This looks like a station wagon with reasonable ground clearance to me:

Dy-no-mite Jay > BeO42 10/03/2015 at 21:24

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Wasn’t that still fwd though?

Dy-no-mite Jay > alldahp00ps 10/03/2015 at 21:24

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Pretty sure that was not available with awd or 4x4

Dy-no-mite Jay > endosymbiont 10/03/2015 at 21:29

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Yo, bitch! Why didn’t you pick a picture of a red one?

Bad72AMX > Wotsac 10/03/2015 at 21:39

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A Jeep 4.0L will swap right in where a 258 lives. The exhaust is tight on manual cars, but it’s still not too tough. You can even swap in the AW4 auto that most Cherokees had in the pre-OBD II era, and the T5 manual was a factory option, so that's an easy swap as well, assuming you find one with the far more common TF988

burpbeepburp > Justin Hughes 10/03/2015 at 21:40

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The Honda was only called the Wagovan for the first year. VW sued them over the name being too close to Vanagon. Honda had to rename their vehicle.

Bad72AMX > endosymbiont 10/03/2015 at 21:40

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It’s RWD based, body on frame, and IIRC could be had solid axles all around. Not at all car like.

prizrak > Justin Hughes 10/03/2015 at 22:12

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I personally consider the Forester first true crossover, it has increased ground clearance, SUV style seating position (Legacy and Impreza have a more legs far forward sitting while Forester has legs under), and arguably an SUV type body, and is a unibody sedan based vehicle. The other cars aside from the AMC are basically AWD wagons.

Lars Vargas was hoping 2020 would be quieter > Justin Hughes 10/03/2015 at 22:34

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10/10 would drive a restored AMC Eagle, although maybe with a few improvements and extra ponies.

I’m also quite happy with my modern crossover. It’s a bit larger than most, but it’s definitely not an SUV. It’s got 355HP, AWD, and room for 7 people and will do 24MPG on the highway.

Justin Hughes > Dat76 10/03/2015 at 22:53

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Unfortunate, but true.

Justin Hughes > Supra-Dude 10/03/2015 at 22:55

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Wagons rule.

Justin Hughes > UNCDave 10/03/2015 at 22:55

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Another face only its mother could love...

Justin Hughes > burpbeepburp 10/03/2015 at 22:57

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I did not know that. Thanks for sharing!

Justin Hughes > Lars Vargas was hoping 2020 would be quieter 10/03/2015 at 22:59

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My fiancée wants a Flex, and we will likely be looking for one to test drive very soon.

Wotsac > Bad72AMX 10/03/2015 at 22:59

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Dumb question: do you need to swap the whole engine, or could you just do the head? I have it in the back of my mind that I’ve read that the 4.0 head fits the 4.2 block neatly.

I’ve got a beat to hell but strong running Cherokee here that's tempting me, and Eagles aren't SO hard to come by.

Vincent Davidson > Justin Hughes 10/03/2015 at 23:21

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Growing up in the late 1980s, my parents had an Eagle wagon identical to the one pictured and an SX/4.

I even wrote to Chrysler when I was like 8 or 9 years old and asked them to start building them again - and a kind lady vice-president of something-or-other at Mopar even called my house and thanked me for the interest, but politely said they had no plans to build them again. I’ve always had a soft spot for these.

Someday when I have a few extra bucks and a place to park it, I’ll have one again. Or for that matter even a Concord or Hornet.

Love me an AMC.

Vincent Davidson > James May is my spirit animal 10/03/2015 at 23:23

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Amen.