AMC Eagle
An open-top crossover
In 1980 AMC agreed with the Griffith Company to build a convertible version of the new Eagle. After a prototype, the conversion went on sale for the 1981 and 1982 model years as the Sundancer. Griffith, based in Fort Lauderdale, Florida, had started out building race cars based on the English TVR sports car, and did a similar "Sunchaser" conversion of the Toyota Celica.
The cars were approved by AMC and ordered through select AMC dealers, in the buyer's choice of options and colours. Every one was a top-of-the-line Limited, with leather upholstery. Cars were shipped from Kenosha to Florida for the conversion, then on to the dealer.
How Griffith built it
- The Eagle two-door's unibody was reinforced, and a steel targa roll bar was welded to the door pillars to protect the passengers.
- The front part of the roof became a removable, lightweight fiberglass panel.
- The rear section, made of polyvinyl, folded down with the back window and had a boot cover when lowered.
- Everything else was standard Eagle, including the full-time four-wheel drive. The folding rear top was the only custom part.
Sundancer at a glance
| Model years | 1981–1982 |
|---|---|
| Based on | Eagle two-door sedan, Limited trim |
| Converted by | Griffith Company, Fort Lauderdale, Florida |
| Conversion cost | About $3,000 |
| Dealer list price for the conversion | $3,750 |
| Production | Not known; it did not sell in large numbers |
| VIN model code | 36, the same as the two-door it was built from |
Sources treat the Sundancer as a coach convertible: a factory-approved conversion rather than an AMC-built model.
More photos
Sources: Wikipedia: AMC Eagle.