Nice look, loopy asterisks.
Truth: If 15-year-old boys might afford automobiles, there would seemingly nonetheless be an American Motors. For these of you not within the know, the American Motors Company (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 possibly can study extra concerning the historical past of AMC from Joe Ligo, producer of the documentary The Final Unbiased Automaker, on this episode of the Automotive Stuff Podcast.)
Extra Favourite Automotive Advertisements
1983 AMC Eagle SX/4
Historical past
However, on the way in which out, AMC cranked out one of many coolest American automobiles ever constructed—this offering you discover stickers, spoilers, and superior know-how cool—and the trouble got here near saving the corporate.
Full confession: This writer discovered the AMC Eagle SX/4—and the total 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 might have one.
Eagle SX/4 Advert
Eagle Lineup
The Eagle lineup, which consisted of a compact sedan and wagon (these had been simply dubbed “Eagle”) and the subcompact SX/4 and Kammback (picture beneath), was primarily based on current AMC merchandise (the Harmony and Spirit respectively), however featured novel, and wholly sensible AWD drivetrains, a factor unprecedented on the time. Dubbed “Quadra-Trac,” the AMC AWD system was cable of figuring out which wheels had 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 automobiles starting in 1983.
However in contrast to up to date Subaru merchandise—all of which, save for the BRZ sports activities coupe, are geared up with AWD), AMC made a really large deal of the characteristic, in its adverts, and in designing the automobiles.
All Eagle fashions sat increased off the bottom than the automobiles they had been primarily based on, and featured nice wanting wheels and particular accent trim. The SX/4 fashions took issues additional, with a rear spoiler, rocker-panel graphics, and funky obtainable 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 form of uninteresting. Whereas actually succesful off-road—and Eagles actually had been spectacular within the snow—these flamboyant AMCs had been disappointingly pudgy and underpowered. Whereas a up to date Toyota Corola, which supplied related cabin house, got here in at below 2000 kilos, the SX/4 tipped the scales at troubling 3100 kilos.
Sadly, nothing obtainable below the hood might assist any of the Eagles transfer alongside at something however a snails tempo. Most had been geared up with AMC’s personal 4.2-liter inline six. Although stout and dependable, the massive 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 might be geared up with a 2.5-liter 4-cyilder engine that was merely less than the duty.
Because the Eagle SX/4 was cool wanting, 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 form of foolish.
Eagle SX/4 Industrial
Whereas an Eagle SX/4 might by no means out speed up a Pontiac Firebird Trans Am, the copywriters claimed the AWD AMC…
“…out corners (a) Trans Am in free sand.”
“ …out accelerates Mustang Turbo in free grime.”
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 gas economic system than both of the three autos listed above. As up to date assessments by the editors of Client Information noticed simply 15-17 mpg in real-world driving, we type of doubt the declare.
Whereas disappointing as a sporty automobile, the Eagle SX/4 regarded cool, and would make homeowners prompt heroes within the occasion of a big snowfall. Whereas Eagle sedans and wagons are comparatively simple to seek out, having been supplied between 1980 and 1988, the SX/4 and Kammback had been produced solely between 1981 and 1983. This makes them particularly scarce.
It’s a disgrace AMC couldn’t work out a solution to market its Eagle automobiles as elegant, succesful options to its Jeep merchandise. Everyone knows how essential the Jeep model turned to Chrysler. Form 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 automobiles.
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1983 AMC Eagle SX/4 Photos
Click on beneath for enlarged photographs
