AMC Eagles have a cult following in Japan.

[Tom]

"The Mysterious Story of Japan's AMC Eagles
The AMC Eagle was an ambitious but unloved product in America. A handful of examples have found an unlikely second home with enthusiasts in Japan."

An interesting read from Road and Track.

https://www.roadandtrack.com/car-culture/a35948016/the-mysterious-story-of-japans-amc-eagles/?utm_source=GetTheElevatordotcom

[GeorgiaGuzzi]

Cool! It’s the Quota of cars!

[Motormike]

Many years ago, I had a well-to-do friend that bought a ski condo on Lake Tahoe.  To get around in the snow he bought an AMC Eagle wagon.  I thought it was a great car, far more comfortable that a Jeep, and just as good to make grocery runs in the snow.  Way ahead of its time.   

[AJ Huff]

I have a friend who has maybe four of them. LOVES them.

-AJ

[Mayor_of_BBQ]

WAY ahead of its time...  Now 40% of the cars on the road are the same concept

[mechanicsavant]

I spent a number of years working for AMC/Jeep dealers , consequently owned a few Eagles . Good , if unexciting cars. However a bit of suspension work & either a breathed upon 4.2l or an EFI 4.0 transplant  &you can give the Turbo Saab or Audi Quattro owner fits on a slippery back road . One of my favorites was my 83  SX hatchback w/a built 4.2 6Cyl. & 16” alloy wheels .

[Mayor_of_BBQ]

It's interesting you brought this up. I don't know why, but I was thinking about the Eagle just the other day. Of course, as the Mayor pointed out, the Crosstrek is the modern day equivalent. I would be curious to know how well the Eagle would stack up to a Crosstrek on ice and other slippery surfaces. I guess I need to look on Utubz to see of anybody else ever made a comparo.

John Henry

I was always intrigued by the Eagles as a kid, but i hadnt thought of them in years until I read this article..  I wonder if they had true 4WD or was it an always-on AWD system?

[steven c]

They where cool but Subaru was there first in 1975. https://www.subaruofmuskegon.com/subaru-history.htm

[Rough Edge racing]

Nope, Subaru was 25 years late to the party...The Willys 4x4 wagon came out around 1950...0

[JJ]

WAY ahead of its time...  Now 40% of the cars on the road are the same concept

Yes, the AWD SUV is a very practical vehicle these days!

[Antietam Classic Cycle]

I was always intrigued by the Eagles as a kid, but i hadnt thought of them in years until I read this article..  I wonder if they had true 4WD or was it an always-on AWD system?

Full time AWD (like an Audi Quattro).

They where cool but Subaru was there first in 1975. https://www.subaruofmuskegon.com/subaru-history.htm

Nope, Subaru was 25 years late to the party...The Willys 4x4 wagon came out around 1950...0

IIRC, Subarus of that period weren't full time AWD and neither was the Jeep. The Jensen FF ('66-'71) was not only full time AWD, but also had anti-lock brakes. Sold in very limited numbers though and never in the US.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jensen_FF 
FF Developments built the AMC prototypes as well.

[AJ Huff]

Eagles were four wheel drive. Subarus are all wheel drive. Not the same.

-AJ

[Antietam Classic Cycle]

Eagles were four wheel drive. Subarus are all wheel drive. Not the same.

-AJ

You have that backwards.

Eagles were all-wheel-drive - four wheel wheel drive engaged all of the time.
"The AMC Eagle's central differential behind its TorqueFlite automatic transmission was single-speed (without a low-range option) and used a viscous fluid coupling for the quiet and smooth transfer of power to the axle with the greatest traction, on wet or dry pavement. The central unit consisted of closely spaced, wavy clutch plates operating in a "honey-like Silicone fluid" performing a "limited-slip function" between the front and rear drives, as well as under adverse driving conditions sending torque to the axle with the most traction."

The 1975 Subaru wagon was only part-time 4wd:
"Of course, we need to acknowledge that Subaru’s four wheel drive system of the times was strictly a part-time arrangement, since it lacked a center differential. Therefore, it was not full-time AWD, which was rightfully pioneered by the AMC Eagle."
https://www.curbsideclassic.com/curbside-classics-asian/curbside-classic-1977-subaru-leone-the-revolutionary-four-wheel-drive-wagon-that-started-the-subaru-legacy/

Also before Subaru: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lancia_Flat-4_engine

[nwguy]

My mom had one when I was a teenager in high school. It was my date car. Very fond memories of that car.

[Rough Edge racing]

 Info from the Internet on the all wheel drive system prior to AMC....like all internet info it may not be accurate
The story of Harry Ferguson, a man who was probably ahead of his times, is interesting. Starting in 1950, the wealthy tractor manufacturer undertook the task of convincing the motor industry of the advantages of all-wheel drive for road cars, in terms of both safety and efficiency. However, if any manufacturer was impressed by his arguments they did nothing to show it in terms of action.

Harry Ferguson Research built prototypes of a sedan with four-wheel drive and all-independent suspension - the engine was mounted in a sub-frame at the front, the transmission was semi-automatic, and the brakes were equipped with Dunlop's Maxaret anti-skid system.

A Mustang fitted with Ferguson "All Wheel Control" and a Capri that followed it almost convinced Ford. Chrysler took out a licence for production in the USA, and a transverse-engined Austin 1800 impressed BMC. The Ferguson system could have won at Indianapolis, but was banned by USAC before it could have a chance to make its mark.

In 1965, Jensen went into production with the Interceptor FF, a car relying heavily on Ferguson technology, using an uneven torque split of 63 percent rear and 37 percent front. However, of the 5000 or so Interceptors sold between 1966 and 1971, less than 400 were FF versions. The vehicle's downfall was its high price, lack of forceful marketing and promotion, and the failing of its Maxaret brakes.

With its name changed to FF (Ferguson Formula) Developments, in 1972 the small British firm built two prototypes for Fiat on the base of a 130 and a 128. There was no immediate reaction from the Italian giant, but ten years later they used the principal of the epicyclic differential for both the Lancia Delta Turbo 4 x 4 and the Panda 4 x 4.

In 1979, AMC adopted the Ferguson system for use in its Eagle for the American market. In the meantime, Ferguson had perfected its Viscous Control system, which used a viscous coupling to achieve a progressive self-locking effect, and which was used in the rear-wheel drive Sunbeam Lotus Rally cars as a self-locking differential.

Unfortunately, AMC decided to revert to the less-sophisticated Quadra-Trac for its Jeeps and part-time 4 x 4 road cars, but then along came Peugeot. In the 205 Turbo the differentials operated normally and had no effect on steering or road-holding. In the event of a lack of traction, the silicone-faced discs of the Ferguson coupling automatically locked almost completely, although there was a degree of slip similar to that which takes place in a hydraulic torque-convertor. In order to cover all eventualities, Peugeot also used a conventional ZF limited-slip differential in the rear and made provision for a similar fitting at the front.
       

[Bulldog9]

My mom had one of those briefly the two-door hatchback four wheel drive version.

Unfortunately it had a dog of a 4-cylinder motor and was in the shop so often she got rid of it within a year.

[Antietam Classic Cycle]

Most likely the first 4wd "wagon"? The Lohner-Porsche Mixed Hybrid. 

The Lohner–Porsche Mixed Hybrid (sometimes incorrectly referred to as Löhner–Porsche) was the first hybrid vehicle and was developed by Ferdinand Porsche at Lohner-Werke. First prototypes were two-wheel drive, battery-powered electric vehicles with two front-wheel hub-mounted motors. A later version was a series hybrid using hub-mounted electric motors in each wheel, powered by batteries and a gasoline-engine generator.

[JJ]

During my previous career, I traveled to Japan quite often, and if I am not mistaken, the Japanese are also quite passionate about all things MOTO GUZZI...

[Tom]

What little I know of Japanese culture, they do become hyper-focused on any motor vehicle.  Quite passionate.  We did have the forum member that posted from Hokkaido island, Sapporo area.  Either that or Fukuoka, Kyusu.  Ex-pat British.  He had some interesting posts with pix from some local Moto Guzzi meets.

[JJ]

What little I know of Japanese culture, they do become hyper-focused on any motor vehicle.  Quite passionate.  We did have the forum member that posted from Hokkaido island, Sapporo area.  Either that or Fukuoka, Kyusu.  Ex-pat British.  He had some interesting posts with pix from some local Moto Guzzi meets.

Yes!!  I remember seeing those photos - Quite cool,  and I believe that one rally, Fukuoka, Kyusu, I believe, had over 100+ Guzzisti attending

[Rough Edge racing]

Japanese vehicle obsessions...