Tag: AMC

1983 Jeep Wagoneer Limited SUV

When Jeep was about to introduce a brand new Wagoneer and Grand Wagoneer in 2020, my thoughts turned back to the now–classic eighties Wagoneers.

In addition to my historical interest, there’s a personal reason for these thoughts. Back in the eighties, I walked to my local high school almost every day. On cold winter mornings, I’d be trudging alone toward school, and sometimes I’d hear the quiet rumble of a Wagoneer’s V8 behind me along with a female voice. “Get in, John,” she’d say—and I would, grateful for the Wagoneer’s warmth and the lady’s company. I remember you, Patricia, and I hope you are doing well.

“The Ultimate Wagon.”

For 1983, Jeep’s Wagoneer gained a new Selec-Trac four-wheel-drive system, which replaced the decade-old Quadra-Trac system. Jeep also changed the Wagoneer’s trims. 1982’s base Custom trim was no longer available, with what had been the Brougham package now marking the base trim. The loaded Limited trim continued as the top of the Wagoneer line.

The standard engine for the Brougham was a 115 bhp 4.2 liter/258 ci inline six with a two-barrel carburetor. Optional on the Brougham and standard on the Limited was a 175 bhp 5.9 liter/360 ci V8 with a two-barrel carburetor. Mileage was, of course, awful, especially with the V8—the Limited got 12 city/16 highway by the day’s standards. With a 20.3-gallon gas tank, a Limited owner could expect a range of 210 to 230 miles with a 10% fuel reserve. Wagoneers could go just about anywhere, but they couldn’t go that far. They also wouldn’t get there that fast: 0-60 mph took about 16 seconds.

The $13,173 1983 Wagoneer Brougham was about $43,500 in today’s dollars—almost exactly what a base 2025 Grand Cherokee Limited goes for. Standard mechanical equipment included power variable-ratio steering, power front disc/rear drum brakes, and P225/75R15 white sidewall tires (a size still readily available) on 15-inch wheels with full wheel covers. Inside, Coventry checked cloth or Deluxe grain vinyl front and rear bench seats, Custom interior trim, Light Group, and an AM/FM stereo radio were included.

1983 Jeep Wagoneer advertisement
1983 Jeep Wagoneer Limited magazine advertisement

Moving to the upscale Wagoneer Limited added tinted glass, a tilt steering wheel, cruise control, power windows, power door locks, air conditioning, and a premium audio system with electronic tuning. Limited trim and upholstery included leather bucket seats up front, power seats for the driver and front passenger, a leather-wrapped steering wheel, and extra-thick 22-ounce carpeting in the seating area. All of this equipment raised the Limited‘s price to $16,889—$57,700 in today’s dollars, which is 2025 Grand Cherokee Overland money (current Wagoneers are far more dear).

Options & Production Numbers

Options for the Limited included halogen fog lamps ($82), a power sun roof ($1,637), an electric rear window defroster ($184), and a cassette tape player ($300).

Sales of the SJ Wagoneer rose by almost 28% in the 1983 model year, with the 18,478 produced accounting for 21% of overall Jeep production.

The View From 2025

Today, Wagoneers of this era have many adherents—in fact, there’s a company that makes its entire business restoring them. According to Hagerty’s valuation tools, all the money for a 1983 Wagoneer Limited in #1/Concours condition is an astounding $59,100, with a more normal #3/Good condition car going for $27,600.

SJ Jeep Wagoneers are often available in the Hemmings Motor News classifieds, on eBay Motors, on Bring a Trailer, and at in-person auctions. As I update this post in October 2025, a Steel Gray Metallic 1983 Wagoneer Brougham with woodgrain sides and nutmeg leather bucket seats is for sale on Hemmings, asking $37,000.

Make mine Deep Maroon Metallic, please.

I have written about one other Jeep in this blog—the 1982 CJ-8 Scrambler pickup truck. Years ago, I wrote about the 1980 AMC Eagle station wagon.

Last updated October 2025.

1983 Renault Alliance sedan

A girlfriend of mine owned a light blue Renault Alliance, which she named “Pierre.”

“Driver appeal and room for five.”

Renault’s Alliance sedan debuted in 1983. Based on the Renault 9 and 11, the Alliance was re-engineered for the North American market and built in AMC’s Kenosha, WI assembly plant—the first front-wheel-drive car built there. The Alliance was available in four-door sedan and two-door coupe versions.

The Alliance’s only engine was Renault’s Cléon-Fonte 64 bhp 1.4 liter/85 ci inline four with Bendix central fuel injection, already over two decades old in its basic design. Transmissions for the sedan varied depending on equipment level; the L (there was no absolutely base sedan—only a coupe) came standard with a four-speed manual, while the better-equipped DL and Limited came with a five-speed manual. All three models could be ordered with an automatic ($420 for an L/$325 for others).

Despite a curb weight of around 2,000 pounds, the Alliance was not a fast car. 0-60 times ranged between 14 and 18 seconds, depending on transmission. On the other hand, fuel mileage ratings were impressive: the four-speed manual returned 37 city/54 highway by the day’s standards. Of course, applying modern standards lowers the numbers, but what would now be 29 city/37 highway still isn’t that bad. Interestingly, the five-speed manual didn’t do any better, despite the extra gear (it did help a little bit with acceleration and lowered noise at highway speeds). Even the automatic was reasonably efficient at 29 city/38 highway. With a 12.4-gallon gas tank, a new Alliance owner could expect a range of between 410 and 455 miles with a 10% fuel reserve.

1983 Renault Alliance advertisement

The Alliance L‘s base price was $6,270—about $20,700 in today’s dollars or almost exactly what a 2025 Nissan Versa SV sedan goes for. Standard mechanical equipment included front-wheel-drive, rack-and-pinion steering, power-assisted front disc/rear drum brakes, and 155/80GR13 tires (a size still available thanks to Kumho) on 13-inch wheels. Inside, vinyl bucket seats, a soft-feel steering wheel, a day/night mirror, and a trip odometer were included.

Moving up to the $6,905 DL added tinted glass, a dual-note horn, and 175/70SR13 tires (still readily available) with wheel trim rings. Inside, DL buyers got Deluxe six-way cloth reclining bucket seats, a color-keyed remote left mirror, a soft-hub steering wheel, a tachometer, and a digital clock.

The top-of-the-line Limited ($7,470) included halogen headlamps and Luxury wheel covers. Inside, Light Group, Visibility Group (dual remote mirrors, lighted visor mirror, and intermittent wipers), textured cloth reclining bucket seats, a rear center armrest, and luxury door panels were included.

Individual Options & Period Reviews

Individual exterior and mechanical options for the Alliance included two-tone paint ($199) and power steering ($199). Inside, power door locks ($170), speed control ($170), rear defroster ($130), air conditioning ($630), and a variety of radios were available. Leather bucket seats were available for the Limited only and set the buyer back $413.

Early on, the Alliance received many good reviews—in fact, it was Motor Trend‘s Car of the Year for 1983. Obtaining this particular plaudit led Renault to (really!) build an MT special edition for the Alliance late in the model year. MT-specific equipment included charcoal gray metallic paint, a decklid luggage rack, painted aluminum wheels, and a right-hand remote mirror. Inside, a leather-wrapped steering wheel and an electronic-tuning stereo radio with six speakers were included.

Those initial positive reviews of the Alliance have not aged well, and many disparaging articles have been written about MT‘s choice. They were not alone—Car and Driver included the Alliance on their 1983 “10 Best” list (26 years later they apologized). Perhaps reviewers of the day wanted the idea of the Alliance to work so much that it clouded their judgment of the actual product delivered.

The View From 2025

I have not seen an Alliance in well over a decade. Alliances rarely appear for sale in the Hemmings Motor News classifieds and on eBay Motors—in fact, they seem to have virtually vanished, despite the 623,573 made between the 1983 and 1987 model years. Bring a Trailer has sold a grand total of four in ten years.

Make mine Diamond Blue Metallic Clearcoat, please.

Another Renault I have written about is the 1982 Fuego hatchback coupe. I’ve also covered the 1980 AMC Eagle station wagon, the 1982 Jeep CJ-8 Scrambler pickup truck, and the 1983 Jeep Wagoneer Limited SUV.

Last updated October 2025.

1980 AMC Eagle station wagon

This post was one of the first I wrote for this blog. Substantially revised and updated, it’s now also about twice as long.

“The Eagle has landed … on all fours!”

Essentially (and brilliantly) an AMC Concord with 4-wheel drive, the 1980 Eagle was available in all of the Concord’s body styles, so buyers had a choice between the 2-door sedan, the 4-door sedan, and the 4-door station wagon. The Eagle had a 3-inch taller ride height than the Concord and came with a stone/gravel deflector under the front bumper and 3-inch wide fender flares.

The Eagle came standard with AMC’s 110 bhp 4.2 liter/258 ci inline six with a two-barrel carburetor. A three-speed automatic was the only transmission available to help move the a vehicle with a 3,740-pound curb weight. Car and Driver recorded a 0-60 time of 13.2 seconds. Fuel economy ratings were 16 city/19 highway by the day’s standards. With a 22-gallon gas tank, an Eagle owner could expect a range of 285 to 310 miles with a 10% fuel reserve.

Station wagon page from the 1980 AMC Eagle brochure
Station wagon page from the 1980 AMC Eagle brochure

The AMC Eagle station wagon’s base price was $7,549—about $32,600 in 2025 dollars or a little over what a 2025 Dodge Hornet GT AWD goes for. Standard exterior and mechanical equipment included pinstriping, power assisted recirculating ball steering, power front disk/rear drum brakes, and P195/75R15 glass belted radial white sidewall tires on 15-inch pressed steel wheels with styled wheel covers. Inside, individual reclining front seats in Sport vinyl, a folding rear seatback, cargo area carpeting and skid strips, and an electronic digital quartz clock were included.

Moving to the Limited trim level (an extra $400 or so) added individual reclining front seats in Chelsea leather or St. Lauren deep plush fabric, a Luxury woodgrain tilt steering wheel, power door locks, an AM radio, and a lockable cargo area storage compartment. The Limited also included Light Group, Visibility Group, Convenience Group, and Protection Group.

One Package, Individual Options, & Production Numbers

Only available with the 2-door sedan and the station wagon, the Sport Package ($299) included high beam halogen headlamps, Sport fog lamps, dual black remote mirrors, and P195/75R15 Goodyear Tiempo steel belted radial black sidewall tires. Inside, Durham Plaid fabric seat trim and a leather-wrapped steering wheel were added. Body pinstriping was deleted, and AMC blacked out everything they could think of—the bumpers (adding nerf strips), the grill, the windshield, the door frames, the lower body moldings (adding 4×4 graphics), the B pillar, the rear liftgate, and the rear taillamp assembly.

Individual options included tinted glass for all windows ($63), air conditioning ($513), cruise control, an electric rear window defroster ($89), and power windows combined with power door locks ($289). Wagon-specific options included woodgrain bodyside panels, a roof rack ($90), and a rear window wiper/washer. An AM/FM multiplex stereo radio was $236.

The Eagle was a significant hit for AMC in 1980, selling over 46,000 units, with the station wagon configuration selling about 56% of that total. AMC would sell them through the 1988 model year for a total of almost 200,000 built.

The View From 2025

AMC Eagles show up with some consistency in the Hemmings Motor News classifieds, on eBay Motors, and on Bring a Trailer. As I update this blog entry in October 2025, there are no 1980 Eagles, but there is a White 1984 station wagon with 141,000 miles for sale on Hemmings, asking $11,900.

Make mine Russet Metallic, please.

Other AMC/Jeep products I have written about include the 1982 Jeep CJ-8 Scrambler pickup truck, the 1983 Jeep Wagoneer Limited SUV, and the 1983 Renault Alliance sedan.

Last updated October 2025