Behold, the 1986 American Motors Eagle wagon. The run-down is pretty typical for a late-build Eagle: 4.2L inline-six, automatic transmission, just about every possible option that AMC could hurl at the car in a last-ditch effort to keep the company semi-afloat. And thirty years after it was manufactured, this particular car looks showroom-fresh, surprisingly so, and that is even after noting the odometer that has only turned 32,xxx miles. On one hand, you have a pinnacle example of the best that AMC could offer in it’s sunset year, before Chrysler took over, dropped AMC out of the picture, folded some knock-off Renaults, Mitsubishis and the occasional spare Chrysler into the brand Eagle. The crossover before anybody knew what that term was, the Eagle wagon was a pioneer for what a car could be capable of. On the other hand, you have a pretty piece of late Malaise in coppery brown, a fitting color. It’s a thirty-year-old wagon, sitting on a platform that debuted in 1970, that AMC recycled over, and over, and over again.
Using the nicest Eagle in existence might be a little far for today’s Question of the Day, but it makes for an excellent foothold: we’ve heard discussions that basically say that anything produced between 1974-1996 (with some fluctuations based upon particular models) just aren’t going to be worth bothering with. We know that some cars from this timeframe are indeed collectable, and some are rare, but that unless you know how to hustle a particular brand or model to like-minded individuals, that the result just isn’t worth the effort or monetary involvement. BangShift’s own Project Raven Imperial is a fine example: one of only 12,385 made in a three-year run, kitted out with the best that barely-alive Chrysler could provide, you’d think that Lee Iacocca’s techno-baby would have enough of a reason to find a home or two, but if you’re thinking of restoring one to quality standards, kiss your wallet and sanity goodbye. And you can pick a whole host of other cars: Buick Turbo Coupe, “Box Bird” Thunderbird, front-drive Daytonas, and so forth. If you don’t have access to great parts cars, well, pal, it sucks to be you.
What do you think, readers? Once upon a time, that was just a ragged-out and rusty Chevelle, long before there were super-auctions. Willys were just cheap cars until someone jammed a blown Hemi into them and went racing. Do you think the Lost Generation of cars will ever have a day in the sun?
my Mom had an Eagle just like that except it was a silvery gold , Absolutely Beautiful car ,it was stolen never to be seen again . . .
YES..
why because there is no love for the auto anymore.. And to many lines in the sand that can move making owning and chancing your blood sweat and cash into.. The Epa, can at any time remove the emission testing cut off that many states use of 25 years old or a set date.. The can also use the highway fed funds as a way to force states to enforce the laws of removing emission controls.. this cloud hurts the later vehicles.. nevermind you can walk into a showroom and buy a faster, better driving loaded new vehicle and afford the payments, over hoping you have the time, space and cash to build your old junk.. I truly think if the power never came back in the late 80’s till now.. the late 70’s to 90’s vehicles would get more love.. but that is not the case.. The new vehicles have way to much electronics and wiring to ever be a collectable restored vehicle as no one will make the parts and it cost to much to just make it functional.. just look what has happened to the stereo market, it’s all but dead because the unit from the oem controls everything, and to engineer an aftermarket unit to work in many makes /models just cost to much.. the same will happen to the resto aftermarket.. nevermind they held on to long to the 30’s to 1970 vehicles and left the later stuff without support.. Sure it be nice to build your own parts, and hunt for the parts.. sadly.. yards haven’t just held onto the 74-89 vehicles hoping someone needs a part.. if you see your car/truck in a yard you need to get what you need ,soon as it’ll be crushed sooner than later..
Also,, everyone that claims young are not into cars/trucks need to look into the insane cost of a 16-17 y/o to get the privilege to drive.. (permit/lic/drivers ed) and the nuts insurance rates.. 2000.oo +for 6 months is the norm.. They can’t afford to drive,, and if they can, they sure can’t afford to upgrade it..
Yet no one will address this,, and this will harm the hobby more than anything else in the long run..
Yes, rare for a reason as they say. Slow, ugly, poorly made, some of the so call collectibles that are selling today fit this mold as well. Just because it’s old and there aren’t many left doesn’t make it collectible
There will always be the fringe enthusiasts who got sucked into particular styles or models or builds– due initially to the captivating weirdness/uniqueness–and who then found the other idiosyncracies of the car were interesting as well.
See: turbo Geos, rotary trucks, gear-drive chainsaws, minibikes, Studebakers, and no end of similar loving cults of things mechanical.
Out in the yard sits an ’86 Celebrity Eurosport wagon, 2.8 mpi had good power/economy/reliability, all available options incl. aluminum wheels as originally ordered by the dealer’s family, original 30-year-old interior in great shape and in general it proved to be very-well put together…it could be seen as representative of when cars were starting to get cool again. Too bad the trans was only good for 175K. I’ve been avoiding scrapping it for years for sentimental reasons and hoping someone somewhere might want it. It’s actually worth same this year as last, zip. In 20 years, at 50 y.o.? Still nothing I’m sure.
ANY shit brown and fake wood-grain station wagon….
Watch it buddy, I own one of those “shit brown and fake wood-grain station wagons”! ’81 AMC Eagle! Best car that I have ever owned and I’m a die-hard ’60s-’70s fan. Are the cars from this decade great? Eh, the majority are not. But, they are still interesting/fun/and starting to die out QUICKLY! Once these cars/trucks are the only vehicles left that have even the slightest resemblance to the cars of the good old days, there value will go up and so will their “collect-ability”. Just like everything else in our lives, you won’t appreciate them until they are gone…..
My father has hermetically sealed a 1989 Cavalier Z24 Convertible. I believe it has about 30k miles and in 1990 he paid almost $10k. I don’t think there are enough years left in him to see a return on investment.