As many AMC Eagles as have made it on these electronic pages, we’re not sure any of them have looked like this one. You are looking at a 1981 model with a 302ci roller engine from a Mustang, a T-5 manual transmission, and the front suspension from a Fox-body. Oh, it uses an 8.8 rear axle as well. Basically this thing is a Fox-body Mustang wagon with the looks of an AMC and an updated version of the factory AMC interior. Some people will like this fact and some will vehemently hate everything about it.
Overall we think the car is cool in an odd way. The front end needs some help though. The round headlights seem to be floating in space and need something to give them a finished look. The stance is pretty good. Tucking some tire both front and back, the thing is aggressive looking in a pro-touring way and the wheels are actually working for us as well. The thick five spokes are a little 1990s in flavor but they sure work with this oddball body on top of them.
The interior is a little tough because frankly how the hell do you make an AMC Eagle wagon interior look anything but “OK” even on the best day of its life? The steering wheel is the only thing that wants to make us barf and that could be swapped lickety split.
Things we would add? A beefier Tremec in place of the historically wimpy T-5 and a ProCharger. Those two things (and the steering wheel) would bring this up to cruiser status. Oh, and the front end? We’d have to figure that out as we went.
CLICK HERE TO SEE THE AD FOR THIS 1981 AMC EAGLE WAGON
Is that the one Ruttlidge from top gear US built for his car show?
Rutledge Wood did it for his tv show. Car is local to me. Guy that owns it also had a lifted wagon he bought out west and drove it back.
I’m seeing a lot of VW Golf circa 1989 in that grille / headlight treatment for some reason.
Looks perfect as is. What\’s with those little studs sticking out of the rear quarters?
I can’t get past the headlight treatment. It’s like a deer in the headlights look.
i like the headlights. they look like headlights.
I think if the headlights were recessed another 2-3 inches, it would solve the look. Otherwise, I’d take it as is, even with the steering wheel.