page_title: AMC Eagle
section_title: Sundancer convertibles
hierarchical_section_title: AMC Eagle / Sundancer convertibles
caption_attribution_description: English: 1981 AMC Eagle Sundancer 4WD convertible. An innovative luxury SUV manufactured by American Motors Corporation (AMC) in conjunction with the Griffith Company. Photographed at the 2014 American Motors Owners (AMO) convention that was held in North Charleston, North Carolina, USA.
context_page_description: The AMC Eagle is a compact four-wheel drive passenger vehicle manufactured and marketed by American Motors Corporation over a single generation, 1979–1987.
  Introduced in August 1979 for the 1980 model year, the coupe, sedan, and station wagon body styles were based on the AMC Concord.
  The AMC Eagles were the only four-wheel-drive passenger cars produced in the U.S. at the time. They were affordable cars offering a comfortable ride and handling on pavement together with superior traction in light off-road use through AMC's innovative engineering and packaging. Although the definition is not precise, the AMC Eagle is today known as one of the first crossover vehicles. All models featured "passenger-car comfort, plus 4wd security for all-weather security." Fuel-thirsty vehicles built for rugged off-road were on the market. Comparable sedan and compact station wagon models were not available from other manufacturers, especially at the Eagle's price point, and AMC "predicted that consumers would embrace a vehicle with the comfort of an automobile, but the ride height and foul-weather capabilities of a four-wheel-drive utility vehicle."
context_section_description: In 1980, AMC entered into an agreement with the Griffith Company for a convertible body style Eagle, and a prototype version was developed. The cars were marketed during the 1981 and 1982 model years as the Sundancer conversion. The Eagle's monocoque (unibody) body was reinforced and a steel targa roll bar was welded to the door pillars for passenger compartment protection. The front portion of the roof was a removable lightweight fiberglass hatch, while the rear section of polyvinyl material and the back window folded down and had a boot cover when in the down position.
  The conversions were approved by AMC with the cars ordered through select AMC dealers in the customer's selection of options and exterior colors. The conversion cost approximately $3,000 and the dealer's list price was $3,750. The conversion was performed by Griffith, which was originally established to build race cars based on the English TVR sports car. Headquartered in Fort Lauderdale, Florida, the cars were shipped from Kenosha for the conversion. The company was also responsible for the similar "Sunchaser" Toyota Celica convertible. These Griffith conversions are considered coach convertibles.
caption: 1981 AMC Eagle convertible
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