Re: Motorweek shortchanges AMC

[Roger Blake <rogblake@xxxxxxxxx>]

Rhett Butler wrote:
> And technically, I suppose, the Eagle was never available with AWD. The
> Eagle came with 4WD.

As I understand it, the difference between "4WD" and "AWD" is that
the former cannot be used on dry pavement due to the lack of a center
differential, and therefore are part-time systems. (This is the case
with the early Subarus as well as the old Jeep 4WD wagons of the late
1940s.)

Since all AMC Eagles have a center differential and can be left in
"4-wheel-drive" under all conditions, including on dry pavement, they
actually should be classified as "all-wheel-drive" vehicles. (The early
Eagles could not even be switched into two-wheel-drive, they were true
full-time all-wheel-drive.)

Of course things get even more confused since AMC themselves used the
terms "Automatic 4-wheel drive," "4-wheel-drive," and "Select Drive" to
describe the Eagle's capabilitites. (My friend's Eagle has "4-wheel-drive"
factory logos on its sides.)

--
  Roger Blake
  rogblake@xxxxxxxxx