Home » Rarities In Need Of Revival: 1988 Mitsubishi Van vs 1982 AMC Eagle Wagon

Rarities In Need Of Revival: 1988 Mitsubishi Van vs 1982 AMC Eagle Wagon

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Welcome back! Today we’re looking at a couple of rare vehicles, neither of which is ready for the open road. But they’re both interesting enough to be granted a second chance, I think. First, let’s see which German drop-top you picked:

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Yep. Right there with you. That Audi scares me. It looks nice, but I know looks can be deceiving. Besides, I cut my teeth on Mk1/2 watercooled VWs, and I still have a soft spot for them. Rabbit it is. It sounds like the title issue could be resolved with a death certificate and a trip to the DMV anyway.

Today, we’ve got a couple of vehicles that weren’t cool at all when they were new. They may not be cool now either, but they’ll certainly turn heads, as neither of them has been seen on the average US road for years. Both of these will take some work before they can be put back on the road, too. Let’s take a look.

1988 Mitsubishi Wagon – $2,000

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Engine/drivetrain: 2.4 liter OHC inline 4, 4 speed automatic, RWD

Location: Santa Cruz, CA

Odometer reading: 129,000 miles

Runs/drives? Kinda-sorta runs, not driveable

You may have noticed that importing cars from Japan has become kind of a thing. And certain cars have become especially popular choices to import. Once such vehicle is the Mitsubishi Delica, a cab-over-engine van that was (and is) common all over Asia. These vans have become popular as imports with the overlanding/van life crowd, because of their practicality, durability, and available four-wheel-drive. But for four years, America got its own version of the Delica, known simply as the Mitsubishi Wagon (if it had seats and windows) or Mitsubishi Van (if it didn’t).

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All the Mitsubishi vans that came to the US through official channels, as far as I can tell, were two-wheel-drive, powered by a 2.4 liter gasoline four and an overdrive automatic. Like the more popular Toyota vans, the engine is accessed by lifting up the seats and center console. This is enough room for basic maintenance, but major repairs require some serious disassembly.

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This van may or may not need major repairs. It does start and run, but dies if you take your foot off the gas. The seller thinks it might need a fuel injector replaced. But it has been sitting for a long time, so it might just need cleaning. The fact that it starts is encouraging, but it’s only half the battle.

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The rest of the van needs a little help. Outisde it’s a little beat-up here and there, but presentable, and I have to say I love the choice of wheels and tires on it. Inside things aren’t quite as nice: Apparently the sunroof leaks. The front cab area is fine, but everything behind the seats was trashed and has been stripped out. Which I guess means if you’re doing a camper conversion, it has already been started.

1982 AMC Eagle Wagon – $2,000

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Engine/drivetrain: 4.2 liter OHV inline 6, 5 speed manual, part-time 4WD

Location: Rohnert Park, CA

Odometer reading: unknown

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Runs/drives? Not since Clinton was elected

In th mid-1990s, when Subaru introduced the Outback with those silly Paul Hogan commercials calling it “the world’s first sport-utility wagon,” the first thing I thought of was the AMC Eagle. Produced from 1980 to 1988 when Chrysler took over AMC and killed off everything but Jeep, the Eagle beat Subaru to the punch by a decade and a half.

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Just as the Outback started out as a jacked-up Subaru Legacy, the Eagle was based on AMC’s Concord, which in turn was an evolution of the AMC Hornet. The Eagle was already kind of an old car even when it was brand-new. Originally all Eagles were full-time 4WD, but starting in 1982 the front axle could be disconnected for rear wheel drive only, to improve fuel economy. A five-speed manual also became available, and this car is so equipped. AMC’s good old 258 cubic inch inline six provides the power.

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This Eagle has been pulling a Rip Van Winkle for three decades now; the last time it was registered was 1992. The seller thinks the brakes went out, which led to the car being parked. Plan on taking some time to carefully revive it, and replacing a ton of rubber parts and maybe some other things. And based on David’s recent experience, it would be wise to try to turn the engine over by hand before handing over any money.

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The rest of the car looks all right; I’m guessing that it was stored inside during its long sleep. There’s no rust visible, the paint isn’t faded, and what we can see of the interior through the window looks decent (seriously, you couldn’t open the damn door for a sec?). These cars have a bit of a following, so it’s likely someone will want to pick this up as a project. The five-speed manual can’t be too common in these.

Reviving a car that has been dormant for a long time takes time, and it’s always more work than you think. You have to love the car to put in the work. Are either of these two lovable enough? If so, which one?

 

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(Image credits: Craigslist sellers)

 

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Vetatur Fumare
Vetatur Fumare
1 year ago

I voted for the Mitsubishi, but I changed my mind – not because I’d rather have the Eagle, but because JDM Delicas are easy enough to get that there is no need to go through the trouble of reviving this one.
Although… maybe this will merely be a VIN donor so that someone can register a JDM Delica in Maine or wherever else the DMV hates fun? You could convert it to LHD, too.
And I 100% disagree with “They may not be cool now either”, as these are both classics already.

Boulevard_Yachtsman
Boulevard_Yachtsman
1 year ago

The van just doesn’t do much for me – if it ran and drove it would make for a cool little utility cart, but I already have an old E-150 that already does everything I would do with the Mitsu, only better. OTOH, I genuinely like those old Eagles, and this one looks nice enough (and cheap enough) that I would happily spend a few weekends of precious tinker-time to at least attempt to get it back on the road.

Red Devil GT 5.0
Red Devil GT 5.0
1 year ago

I voted Delica just for those wheels! Well that and the fact that the van just screams “camper conversion”

SirRaoulDuke
SirRaoulDuke
1 year ago

Get that Eagle in good enough shape to do some trails. That’s what I would do.

InWayOverMyHead
InWayOverMyHead
1 year ago

Van seller could have removed the old-timey milk bottle and what I dearly hope is a blood-stained paper towel rather than a garment 8^|. The fact that van seller did not means perhaps they were afraid to touch the old-timey milk bottle and what I dearly hope is a blood-stained paper towel rather than a garment.

TL;DR Between the 2, I’ll take the Eagle.

autopian
autopian
1 year ago

According to all known laws of aviation, there is no way a bee should be able to fly.
Its wings are too small to get its fat little body off the ground.
The bee, of course, flies anyway because bees don’t care what humans think is impossible.
Yellow, black. Yellow, black. Yellow, black. Yellow, black.
Ooh, black and yellow!
Let’s shake it up a little.
Barry! Breakfast is ready!
Coming!
Hang on a second.
Hello?
Barry?
Adam?
Can you believe this is happening?
I can’t.
I’ll pick you up.
Looking sharp.
Use the stairs, Your father paid good money for those.
Sorry. I’m excited.
Here’s the graduate.
We’re very proud of you, son.
A perfect report card, all B’s.
Very proud.
Ma! I got a thing going here.
You got lint on your fuzz.
Ow! That’s me!
Wave to us! We’ll be in row 118,000.
Bye!
Barry, I told you, stop flying in the house!

Stacks
Stacks
1 year ago

The AMC Eagle was absolutely cool at the time, at least to me at 4 or 5 years old when my dad brought one home as a rental. That lift made it look like a life-size toy car, coolest thing I’d seen since Bigfoot! I don’t think I’ve seen one on the road in decades, somebody please bring that one back.

RootWyrm
RootWyrm
1 year ago

Eagle. No question.

The Mitsu is missing it’s entire interior. Good luck with that. By which I mean “no.” These weren’t well loved anywhere they were sold. They were appliances – used up and discarded.

You know how hard it’ll be to get this Eagle back on the road? Brakes, soft lines, fluids, and a shitload of carb cleaner and brake clean. The motor’s fixable, period. It’s a late 4.2. Do you know how hard a late 4.2 is to kill? It took cash for clunkers mandated ‘destruction’ ages even with a brick on the gas pedal and all the oil drained. That’s not apocrypha either – local yard took video of one. AMC did not fuck around with these engines.

JDE
JDE
1 year ago

luckily the eagle could literally have all the parts from a rusted out YJ transplanted and you would go down the road. but it is very crusty and cheap parts are long gone. I think the mitsu just needs some fuel replacement, if lucky maybe a can of Lucas injector cleaner, a new fuel filter and tune up other wise and it would be radwood van life.

Nsane In The MembraNe
Nsane In The MembraNe
1 year ago

I actually saw a Delica out in the wild while on my honeymoon in Hawaii this summer. The wife had no idea why I was freaking out about a van…it was pretty funny actually. She wants to “get” cars but I think my love of oddities just confuses her more. At least she gets why I lose my marbles when a McLaren goes by.

Anyway, for perhaps no logical reason at all, I find the US market version to be exponentially less interesting, and I believe these can be had with a stick which is absolutely the way to go in a low powered car. The AMC Eagle on the other hand is a piece of history. It was one of the first regular cars to offer all wheel drive and essentially created the entire genre of off-road wagons that still exists today and prints money for Subaru.

It’s an extremely cool car and no one is changing my mind. I love the Eagle, and this one being (Mr. Regular voice) BROWN and manual is icing on the cake. It’s an enthusiast unicorn and frankly everyone here should tripping over themselves to vote for it. It’s a BROWN MANUAL WAGON, people. You know what to do.

Captain Avatar
Captain Avatar
1 year ago
Man With A Reliable Jeep
Man With A Reliable Jeep
1 year ago
Reply to  Captain Avatar

The appropriate gif in this application.

FoundOntheRoadDead
FoundOntheRoadDead
1 year ago

I like both but I’d have to go Eagle here, just because I believe(w/o evidence) that the parts situation would be easier. I’m into small displacement English bikes so what do I know? I think I have low-grade PTSD from DT’s Aussie “adventures.”

Data
Data
1 year ago

*DT’s Aussie Misadventures

Fixed that for you.

Parsko
Parsko
1 year ago

Manual Eagle???

I’m literally aroused.

Donald Petersen
Donald Petersen
1 year ago

What I kinda love about this pair is the goofily optimistic retrofuturistic Space:1999 aesthetic from my childhood. Both of ’em look like yesteryear’s bloodshot glimpse (through a weedy, psychedelic haze) of The Future as seen by the youngest interns of the Carter Administration. In real life I wouldn’t have time or energy (or honestly any interest at all) in either of these, but faced with the prospect of chasing down all the myriad seals and gaskets and what-have-yous (plus whatever brake parts were too troublesome to fix 30 years ago) on the Eagle, I’m going to choose Martin Landau’s old ride, pick up Babs Bain at Moonbase Alpha, and maybe install an antigravity mattress in the back of the Mitsubishi van.

I know where my towel is, man.

Jack Trade
Jack Trade
1 year ago

You made my day. Such a great show. A British-Italian production staring American actors with an insane setup that combined 60s psychedelic plots with a 70s design aesthetic…and it all just worked somehow.

And like every Gerry Anderson thing ever, the best part was various heavy vehicles/machinery rising up out of things and/or moving into position.

PaysOutAllNight
PaysOutAllNight
1 year ago

The Eagle was only interesting as a somewhat more civilized Jeep substitute. Few wanted to pay that much extra for an Eagle over a Concord as an on-road car when you only really needed 4 wheel drive about ten days a year, and gas mileage took a huge hit all year.

It’s not like you get big gains in on-road performance with the Eagle. So the Concord was AMC’s huge seller, and the Eagle was the odd thing on the lot everyone looked at first. Early Eagles were full-time 4×4, but later models have a selectable transfer case to allow rear wheel drive most of the time.

I like the Eagle, and I think it’s very cool, but I still don’t see a reason to own it. Unless you’re going to do something to double the engine’s output, it’s not going to get any more interesting to me.

I’d take the van. Unenthusiastically. Maybe try to make a mobile vending shop of some sort out of it.

SirRaoulDuke
SirRaoulDuke
1 year ago

It’s funny how perceptions are changed by location. In the mountains of WV the Eagle was quite popular. I’d go as far to say I don’t recall ever seeing a Concord there. Lots of Subaru GL’s as well there back then.

TOSSABL
TOSSABL
1 year ago

The Eagle in memory of a certain girl who had a Spirit back in HS. The 4wd was handy as the local constabulary was sweeping regular Lover’s Lanes fairly regularly at the time. Plus, after hearing my grandparents had a Rambler, I’ve been eyeing AMCs. Does the Jeep 4.0 bolt up without much trouble? I love a straight 6, but prefer easy parts availability.

Unclewolverine
Unclewolverine
1 year ago
Reply to  TOSSABL

Direct bolt in I believe. Plus you already have the crank to build a stroker!

MaximillianMeen
MaximillianMeen
1 year ago

Damn you, Mark!!!

Yesterday was two projects I wouldn’t go anywhere near and today is two projects I’d tackle like Bobby Wagner! Slight edge to the Eagle for the manual and straight-6.

XLEJim700
XLEJim700
1 year ago

…enough time in the nest: that bird needs to fly.

Mr.Asa
Mr.Asa
1 year ago

If you’re voting for that van, you’re wrong. Correct yourself.

Donald Petersen
Donald Petersen
1 year ago
Reply to  Mr.Asa

…no, I don’t think so. I’m not chasing down all those fiddly soft-n-perishable parts for that AMC that didn’t survive suspended animation. There will be more than too many.

James Mitchell
James Mitchell
1 year ago

I would swap in a SBC under the hood, most mechanical parts for the 4WD are probably available on the Jeep aftermarket catalogs and as far as the interior is concerned, seat covers and floor mats cover a multitude of sins.
And Voila!!!! 4WD winter beater for under $5K.

Mr.Asa
Mr.Asa
1 year ago

Because an ’88 Van is going to be better at those bits? Right…

Donald Petersen
Donald Petersen
1 year ago
Reply to  Mr.Asa

By six years, at least. Probably more since it hasn’t been sitting to rot.

S13 Sedan
S13 Sedan
1 year ago

I came in here expecting to vote for the van but I just couldn’t pass up a not visibly rusty, manual Eagle. Even if there is some hidden rust, I’m sure it’s still miles better than any Eagle I can manage to find up here in the rust belt.

Sid Bridge
Sid Bridge
1 year ago

To be fair, Subaru started making Four Wheel Drive wagons in 1972, so they were kind of first. They just made them look more truck-like when the Outback debuted, but the GL was legit.

The Toecutter
The Toecutter
1 year ago

The AMC Eagle was a vehicle 3 decades ahead of its time. As much as I hate crossovers, I’d take this one. Yes, I’d do a restomod, giving it the Mad Max treatment. It deserves to remain ahead of its time.

It’s just begging for an inline-6 mechanical injection Cummins, roofrack delete, bulletproof windows, 2″ thick steel plate armor all over the vehicle, stronger springs/struts to handle the extra weight, run-flat tires, Lenco racing transmission/differential, stronger transfer case, ect. Basically, spruce it up like a presidential limousine, but with more post-apocalyptic aesthetics and enough power to actually haul some ass. It could end up quite competent offroad, or when riding through unofficial toll roads in Africa or South America.

Sekim
Sekim
1 year ago
Reply to  The Toecutter

I like your style, man.

Dogisbadob
Dogisbadob
1 year ago

Easily the Delica

Two Chrysler partners, one is clearly better than the other. And as luck would have it, Renault and Mitsubishi are in an alliance now too!

Man With A Reliable Jeep
Man With A Reliable Jeep
1 year ago

Normally I’d be all over that Eagle, but I’m going to hazard a guess that it’s got a fair amount of hidden rust and the interior, though appearing intact, is likely shot. I speak as someone who’s checked out more Eagles than the greater Philadelphia area. I’m not feeling too bullish about what it really needs, down to chassis components, 4WD components, and other miscellaneous stuff.

That Mitsu wagon/van, though. You have to love that velour only the Japanese could do. The part of the van that really matters is in great shape. And there’s a good chance that whatever that’s keeping it from idling is relatively simple/cheapish. I’m guessing, if not the injector, either a fuel pump/filter, or a sticky idle control valve or faulty throttle position sensor. It shows that the rear interior has been removed due to water intrusion from the moonroof. That should be relatively straightforward to fix. If the seller still has the rear interior components so I can clean and reinstall them if I like, then giddyup. If not, it’d still make a great RV for the summer and fall months when 4WD isn’t a deal breaker.

ToyotaTaxPayer
ToyotaTaxPayer
1 year ago

If the wagon is anything like our 80s Toyota van, that 4 speed slush is miserable. The 5 speed manual we got actually made it kind of fun despite a tendency to want to roll over. I always liked the eagles. Seems like would be more fun when fixed and a hell of a lot easier to work on.

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