(CC 100 = 100 words about a car)
Why do young guys like jacked up vehicles?
Because old guys can’t get in them.
It can be hard to find traction in life when you’re young. Hopefully this helps.
Exposing one’s drive line is less risky than exposing one’s vulnerabilities.
It’s good to manifest the fantasies of childhood before you get too old.
A big boy erector set; the right kind of shackles.
Readily accessible stock exhaust.
Fly like an eagle.
Wouldn’t “Rambler” be more appropriate?
Creative roof carrier mounting. Air holes for improved aerodynamics?
Why do young guys like lowered vehicles?
Because old guys won’t get in them.
The latest issue of Collectible Auto magazine has an excellent article by Patrick Foster on the full history of the Eagle. He describes several special ‘packages’, including a surprising Sedan Delivery package for the Fleet Eagle.
I’m pretty sure the Gambler 500 package wasn’t among the AMC options, but you never know. They might have been desperate enough to try something like this if the concept had existed back then.
No, I think “Gambler” is right. Becaused he raised it 500. (Millimeters) 🙂
Gambler is right because he is risking it either tipping over or it coming loose from its…suspension?
Probably worth pointing out that the Eagle never had a solid front axle. I’m sure all the engineering for the conversion was worked out properly, steering geometry is fine, etc. Not to mention entirely necessary…
The Gambler 500 is a rally event for old beaters:
https://gambler500.com/whatnow/
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gambler_500
Kind of sounds like fun, if you like off-roading.
Hilarious prose here Paul. Fun to read, and entirely factual.
It wasn’t just the all wheel drive, and increased ride height, that gave the Eagle lineup it’s robust look, and outdoorsy image. Those beefy fender flares played a big role too. They went a very long way towards separating them from everyday Concords and Spirits. Accented by a thin chrome or black vinyl rub strip molding that outlined (and further highlighted) the flares. Without them, this example looks kinda dumpy IMO. Aided by the uneven ride height. Looking more like a close Gremlin relative Spirit possibly retrieved from an auto graveyard, than the original SX/4 did. The two tone paint adding greatly to the original package’s off road imaging as well. Rarely do I like rear spoilers, but they looked good on the original SX/4.
I know it’s a genuine SX/4, but it looks like a jacked up Spirit. This example reminds me what a slick marketing (and visuals) job AMC did at the time.
I know it’s a genuine SX/4, but it looks like a jacked up Spirit.
For what it’s worth, I’ve only seen Gambler 500 vehicles in Oregon … and not far from Eugene.
I spotted one in the Northern Suburbs of Detroit a few weeks ago. I was unfamiliar with the emblem and had to look it up. This example had an AZ front plate and a current MI on the back.
Huh Learn something new everyday.