Sighting of my own eagle

[Whuntmore]

I had my eagle in a show 'n Shine last summer in Airdrie, Alberta - Against my better judgement, but it actually got alot of attention.

Now, someone posted a pic of it on Flickr, and questioned whether it should have been there. 

http://www.flickr.com/photos/daveseven/6190114959/

Some people posted in Defence (saying nothing wrong with it being there). 

One person actually suggested the Eagle (or the hornet) is based on the Rambler American (ending in '69). 

I don't see that as possible.  The hornet is based on a concept car.  It was a new idea (some say it's also based on the Hudson Hornet, but it's not either (ended in 1957)

the only thing the same on a American and a Hornet is probably the drivetrain.   

What you all think?

[Prafeston]

Ha! That's funny you found your own Eagle on someones Flickr. It seemed most of the comments were in support of you having the car at the show.

[shaggimo]

The hornets front suspension came from the american. A common upgrade for the guys with old ramblers is to grab the front brakes from a hornet/gremlin/spirit/concord it's basically a bolt on swap. Comparing an eagle to an american (a buddy of mine has a few, lol), one can tell they are a direct  relative of one another with a few changes to the chassis here and there to fit the times, and of course different sheetmetal.
Nothing wrong with your car at a  show, I've seen far worse attend shows over the years.

[EAGLER]

i see nothing wrong with your eagle, just need some body work but it takes time i suposse you are going little by little,don´t care what other people say.btw ramblers and eagles are two different platforms.

[DaemonForce]

The only thing I see wrong is you don't have extensions on that bumper. Just pick a Concord bumper and be done with it. I had to put my grill back on last night just because I was so sick of looking at a torn up front end. :/

[jim]

I had both my 83 and 88 in the annual NAPA show in Little Rock this past weekend.  You can see pictures in Classifieds.  I have had both in several shows and have never had an adverse reaction.  If someone doesn't like it they can - 

[Pat]

X 2 on what Jim said (or didn't say).

[standup650]

They just dont know!

[Whuntmore]

Thanks for the support.  That's awesome!

The hornets front suspension came from the american. A common upgrade for the guys with old ramblers is to grab the front brakes from a hornet/gremlin/spirit/concord it's basically a bolt on swap. Comparing an eagle to an american (a buddy of mine has a few, lol), one can tell they are a direct  relative of one another with a few changes to the chassis here and there to fit the times, and of course different sheetmetal.
Nothing wrong with your car at a  show, I've seen far worse attend shows over the years.

that's a good point, and I'd agree with Related, but not based on the American.

For example, My '99 grand am uses some the same suspension parts as the cavalier.  There are many parts swap I could state here just for my grand am alone (Olds Alero, malibu, Grand Prix, cutlass, Achieva, Skylark, etc), but my grand am isn't based on any of these.  it's only related.

Now, to say the Eagle is based on the Hornet (sportabout) platform I would agree with that.  

You guys think it's related or based on the American?  (I should put up a vote...)

[shaggimo]

For example, My '99 grand am uses some the same suspension parts as the cavalier.  There are many parts swap I could state here just for my grand am alone (Olds Alero, malibu, Grand Prix, cutlass, Achieva, Skylark, etc), but my grand am isn't based on any of these.  it's only related.

Well.......Your grand am, is based on the same platform as an alero, acheiva, cutlass (97-99), skylark, and malibu, just different sheetmetal. They are all "N" Bodies, the gp and impala though similar are W's. Just like my malibu is the same thing as a monte carlo, 442/cutlass, grand national/regal, century, bonneville/grand am/lemans (even shares some sheet metal), grand prix,  they are A/G body cars, they're not called Generic Motors for nothing,  .

[El Matador]

The hornets front suspension came from the american.

Didn't AMC introduce ball joint suspensions in 1970?  Therefore, a 1969 American would have trunnions and a 1970 Hornet would use ball joints.

The Hornet was the replacement for the aging American and the carryover (other than drivetrains) was pretty minimal.  To say that the Eagle is based on the American is really stretching it.

[shaggimo]

I want to say, my friends' 66 has ball joints, while his 64 and 65 have trunions, though I could be wrong, I'll have to ask him next time we meet up. I never said based, but definitely related, when we had our cars (er well the gf's car, lol) side by side, it was intriguing how much carried over from one era to the next.

[83Eagle!]

Who cares what people at shows think.  If they are negative, forget them.  There is one show on Tuesdays a mile away that Sam and I frequent.  My Eagle isn't allowed because it is too new.  I take it to the Saturday morning Cars and Coffee as much as I can (have not been this year yet), and it gets pretty mixed reviews.  The feedback I get is positive, but I can tell the hardcore guys avoid it like the plague.  Screw them, at least I drive my Eagle on a regular basis.  Yes it is a work in progress, like your Eagle, but that is half the fun of owning a project car.  More and more I am starting to not understand the point in having a car that sits and doesn't get driven.  Granted I do not drive my Eagle as much as I would like, but my wife won't let me put the car seat in it unless we have no other choice. 

[shanebo]

I have found these cars have generated a lot more interest in rescent years. I guess its a generation thing. Most folks that grew up around them are more less like "hey I haven't seen one of those in a long time." It's the the early 20 something crowd that I get the most attention from. Depending on the region many of them have never seen one before, atleast that they can remember. Many of them are genuinely blown away to discover there was an American made cross over built nearly15 years before the outback was dreamed up.....when I got my first eagle in the mid  90's the general concensus was pretty negative, these days however their rarity and historical significance is starting to get noticed.

As for the people that said that car shouldn't have been there.....they must not have gotten the memo that car shows are about displaying cars of interest for auto enthusiasts to enjoy and share their Passions for their cars with one another. It's not just about mustangs and camaros. ill he honest I'm pretty burned out on the whole vintage muscle car and street rod thing....Id rather look at unrestored survivors any day of the week.