Image courtesy amceaglenest.com
Groundhog’s Day is next week, but I’m thinking that little rodent won’t even be able to dig himself out of his hole, with all the snow we’ve already had this winter. So, naturally, for this week’s edition of the Class of 1986, our thoughts naturally go to the four-wheel-drive Eagle, AMC’s final stab at repurposing the Hornet platform and thus clinging to life.
As far as Eagles go, 1986 isn’t much of a standout year; in fact, all the interesting variants on the Eagle theme had come and gone by that time (SX/4, Kammback, Inaugural Edition), leaving just the Eagle station wagon and four-door sedan, which didn’t much change from the 1985 models – only an open (versus viscous) transfer case and non-lockup torque converter were really new this year. The sales figures continued their progressive slide: 1,274 sedans and 6,943 wagons. In comparison, AMC sold nearly nine times as many Encores and Alliances that year.
Doubtless these cars are unique, and some would even call them significant, but we want to know where they sit with you. As we posed the question last week, in your dream garage devoted to 1986 vehicles, would you make room for an Eagle? Or would you pass for something else? And if not an Eagle, then what 1986 vehicle would you go for?