Thirty years ago this 4WD AMC Eagle wagon left the Brampton, ntario factory dressed in gleaming Garnet Red metallic paint. The woodgrain paneling adorning the sides was so realistic that even termites took note, nd the matching deep red interior included seats bathed in the most supple vinyl ever to caress one's posterior. It was well equipped with the durable 258 straight six, loor shifted automatic transmission, nd luxurious appointments such as power windows and locks as well as a retractable rear cargo cover! The fact that a car alarm was installed proves that it was someone's pride and joy, little spoil earned by a lifetime of honest work.
What happened later I can only speculate. Perhaps the car was handed down to a new driver by a generous and well-meaning relative. Whatever the situation, he olive drab makeover had to be the result of a beer-fueled painting party! No longer the station wagon your mom would drive to the IGA, he Eagle was now distinctive enough to be cast in a supporting role for the 2014 independent film "Mount Joy". Look it up on the IMDb, r watch the trailer on YouTube.
As an avid AMC collector and restorer I was intrigued by the car's movie appearance, o I picked it up a few years ago before Mount Joy was even finished filming. Yes, t was an impulse buy, ut then most AMC's are! When they finished the movie I had it shipped from Pennsylvania to Ohio and it's been in my collection since. I have made some repairs, uch as replacing the power steering pump and bracket, nd rebuilding the driver's door hinges. But that's about it. I have only driven it around the yard, ever on the street.
This past spring, ollowing several film festival appearances and a limited theatrical release, ount Joy was available to view on most cable providers' On Demand menus. The film is also available for purchase on DVD. In the movie the Eagle appears frequently, n fact it's the first and last thing seen in the film. In between it shows up in several scenes, ome of which were actually filmed inside the car. Yeah, t was pretty cool to watch a movie on cable, hen look outside and see the car sitting in the driveway! For that reason, nd in spite of my car restoration background, resisted the temptation to upgrade or change the appearance of the car. Because the paint (or more likely primer) which was used began to fade and turn an icky yellow color I refinished the entire car using a more stable type of paint. I chose a low gloss enamel that approximated the color and careful aerosol application of the original repaint. I did not repair the dented right side fender or any of the other minor dings. All of the Eagle nameplates are still missing, s are the body side moldings. Everything on the car is just as it appears in the movie, ncluding the sporty Primewell tires, tickers, atty headliner, ven the mismatched sun visor. And the rear hatch still opens way too far!
Even without the movie connection this is a very solid 1985 Eagle. I have owned several Eagles over the years so I know the problem areas. This one has no rust on the frame where the steering box or strut rods mount, nd no rust on the inner rocker panels that I can see. it does however have its share of typical Eagle quirks; a couple of the outside door handles are broken, he rear hatch seal leaks water if you leave it in the rain, he valve cover and transmission pan leak a little, nd the engine doesn't idle as smoothly as it should. Sitting for a few years without being driven much probably has something to do with that. With a little fine tuning and fresh gas it would probably run pretty well. If you wanted to drive the car every day (a daily driven movie car, eah!) it would need a new battery (it doesn't have one), uffler and tail pipe, nd maybe a brake line. The car has set for 6-8 months at at time without even being started, ut it always fires right up without a lot of effort or drama. This Eagle could be restored to its original splendor, r left as is to maintain its unique cinematic appearance.
I'm only letting go of this piece of American Motors and movie history because I recently bought a bucket list car, nd I'm trying to keep my collection manageable enough that I actually have time to work on and eventually drive them. Car is offered for sale AS IS with NO warranty expressed or implied. Prompt pick up or delivery of the car is at the buyer's expense, will assist with loading as needed. Please contact me with any questions and I will reply as quickly as possible. Thank you for your interest in this unique vehicle!