[h=2]AMC Eagle: World's first crossover SUV[/h] Source: Fiat Chrysler Automobiles



American Motors Corporation may be long gone, but its last great idea has grown to become one of the most successful segments in the auto market.

In 1980, the struggling automaker introduced the Eagle, a lifted sedan and station wagon with a four-wheel drive system borrowed from its Jeep brand, creating the world’s first crossover SUV. The car was a rare bright spot for AMC in the ’80s, selling in respectable numbers until it was absorbed by Chrysler in 1988.

While AMC is long gone, its engines lived on in Jeep products well into the ’90s, and after years of semi-obscurity, the Eagle is finally beginning to get its due in the pages of automotive history. As all-wheel drive crossovers continue to explode in popularity, they can all trace their roots directly back to this offering from America’s last major independent automaker.

But it's pretty darn hard to find one any more.