Featured Car - AMC Eagle

I photographed this car last week near our rented villa on the Spanish Canary Island of Fuerteventura. I loved the tacky details - wire spoke hubcaps and "wood" panelling - this car must be very rare in Europe (ok the Canaries are in Africa) But looking into it the car is more interesting, a "first" with a British connection.

It an AMC Eagle built between 1979-87 and can claim to be the first crossover Sport Utility Vehicle. Although looking like an ordinary saloon, it has increased ground clearance and was the first car with permanent four wheel drive. The car used the British Ferguson Formula four wheel drive system. It is, therefore, the predecessor of the Audi Quattro & Subaru Impreza.

The car was even used for racing in the US ProRally Series.

Fuerteventura has good quality roads but there are also many unpaved desert tracks so the car makes sense there. 
  

AMC (American Motors Corporation) was taken over by Chrysler in 1987.

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