Handsome Grand Wagoneer that runs great. Repainted with woodgrain delete for a clean look. Good original interior with the usual wear. Strong-running 360 cubic inch V8 and rugged driveline. An affordable Grand Wagoneer that you can upgrade or enjoy as-is.
The Grand Wagoneer was something of a legend—it’s arguably the vehicle that created today’s SUV craze. Sure, there were luxurious 4x4s prior to the Jeep, but somehow the Grand Wagoneer combined all the right ingredients: V8 power, a luxurious leather interior, and traditional American wagon looks. It resonated with a large swath of the population and today they’ve become hot collectables as survivors are increasingly scarce. That’s why we like this dark blue Grand Wagoneer—it’s not trying too hard to be something it’s not. Instead, it lets the traditional Jeep ruggedness shine through without the pretensions that were part of the 1980s. The repaint was done several years ago and the dark blue looks especially handsome on the squared-off shape of the Grand Wagoneer. They elected to remove the woodgrained side inserts, and we can’t argue with the decision now that we’ve seen it, simply because it looks so clean. The bodywork is in great shape with no signs of rot or accident repair and all four doors fit quite nicely. The also toned down the shiny trim with a blacked-out grille, so it looks a little less suburban and a little more Rubicon trail. It has a look much more like its ancestors of the ‘60s, and it really works.
The leather-lined interior remains a comfortable place to spend some time and all the Grand Wagoneer luxury remains in place. The tan is a nice complement to the dark blue bodywork and you’ll note that the repaint continues into the door jambs so it was a thorough job. The only notable issue is the typical wear on the driver’s outer bolster, but the rest of the interior is holding up nicely for being nearly 40 years old. Everything AMC could think of was standard, including power windows and locks, twin power bucket seats, a tilt steering column, and a fairly comprehensive set of gauges to keep an eye on things. The A/C needs a recharge, but the hardware is familiar and should be easy to service in the future. There’s also an upgraded JVC AM/FM/CD stereo head unit in the center of the dash and it sounds pretty good thanks to the extra sound-deadening used in the Grand Wagoneer. There’s plenty of room in the rear seat area and the cavernous cargo bay will haul just about anything you need for an adventure.
Power comes from AMC’s familiar 360 cubic inch V8, which served duty in the Grand Wagoneer from beginning to end. It’s quite torquey so the big 4x4 feels agile around town and with a low range, there’s almost no place it can’t go. This one is upgraded with a Holley 4-barrel carburetor in place of the original 2-barrel so it makes a bit more power than the factory intended. The rest is stock and works pretty well—it starts easily, idles nicely, and makes great sounds through the single exhaust with a Flowmaster muffler. The 3-speed automatic shifts properly and the innovative transfer case includes both high and low ranges combined with auto-locking hubs for true off-roading capabilities. Enhancing that is a modestly lifted suspension and aftermarket shocks, giving the truck a tough look. You’ll also note that the undercarriage is very clean and solid with no critical rust or rot. The factory alloy wheels are handsome and in good condition and are protected by a set of 31x10.50-15 Toyo off-road radials with not a lot of miles on them.
This is not a perfect, low-mileage Wagoneer. It is, however, a cool-looking alternative with a reasonable price. It drives very well and presents an opportunity for someone to take it to the next level or do something unique without taking a great survivor off the map. If you like these trucks and have been waiting for the right combination of affordable and clean, take a closer look here, then give us a call.
Harwood Motors always recommends and welcomes personal or professional inspections of any vehicle in our inventory prior to purchase.
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