After a couple years of teasing, last week finally brought the reveal of the reborn Scout Motors, with the Volkswagen-owned startup showing off its electric Terra pickup and Traveler SUV concepts. Both new Scouts have a ton of retro flair without being too kitschy, and it got me thinking. What other classic off-roaders deserve a modern revival?
My immediate first thought is the AMC Eagle. One of the first real crossovers, the Eagle paired car styling with the lifted ride height and four-wheel-drive capability of a true SUV. AMC sold the Eagle in a whopping six body styles: two-door notchback coupe, two-door hatchback, two-door fastback coupe, two-door convertible, four-door sedan and four-door wagon. I think the Eagle should be brought back as a new EV. A modern electric platform could allow for those niche body styles to easily be produced, and given the success of similar crossovers like the Subaru Crosstrek I think it could be a hit. I’d love to see how the Eagle’s styling would be reinterpreted for the modern era, too.
So, readers, what off-roader would you like to see revived? It wouldn’t necessarily have to be as an EV, and it doesn’t have to be that old either. For instance, I think the Honda Element and Subaru Baja both deserve to be brought back, but older models like the Willys Jeepster would be cool too. Let us know your ideas in the comments below, and we’ll round them up later this week.
