Introduced in 1979, the AMC Eagle is retroactively considered to be the first dedicated crossover automobile that made its debut prior to the terms "SUV" or "crossover" being coined.

When did crossovers start?

It seems as if crossovers have just recently burst onto the scene, but by the definition above, the first crossover vehicle in the United States was the 1996 Toyota RAV4. The name stands for Recreational Active Vehicle with 4-Wheel Drive. (Later models would be available in two-wheel drive, too.)

What was the first ever crossover?

The first film crossover in a series of Universal Studios monster films was Frankenstein Meets the Wolf Man, in 1943.