Most of the cars at any classic-car auction are brought on a trailer. But not this Jeep Wagoneer. Its owner drove it to the auction all the way from St. Louis.
This survivor had about 63,000 miles on it. Underhood, it packs the big 401 V8 engine with a four-barrel carburetor. Its appearance and condition say “nice old used car,” not “auction queen,” but perhaps the owner was hoping to find a buyer who’d restore it. There’s quite a market for restored Wagoneers.
Someone riding in the back seat would have had this view, except with the hood down. I remember SUV rides like this from my 1970s kidhood – commanding views in a simply trimmed, open and airy cabin.
Such a straightforward dashboard the Wagoneer had. With some updates, its basic form survived to the end of the line in 1991. The glove box’s central location is a little odd, and it leaves nothing but an uninteresting flat panel in front of the passenger. But in a vehicle this wide at least the driver can safely reach the glove box while the Wagoneer rolls down the road.
The Wagoneer had a crazy 28-year run that wasn’t halfway over yet when this one was built. If you have mad Wagoneer love, you will enjoy reading about this one from about 1983, this ’86, and this ’89.
I bought a brand new Cherokee in 1978. Total pig on fuel, wonky transmission and as much dust inside as on the outside when on gravel roads. I was never so happy as when I traded it off a couple of years later. I can’t imagine anyone wanting one today.
Just spool up eBay for a Grand Wagoneer or Limited and see what vox populi are thinking of these. Be sitting down.
I don’t know if it’s actually a 1976. We had a 1975 Wagoneer and it had full “wood” siding. I thought 1974 was the last year of the narrower wood strips.
Your Jeep was a 1975 Wagoneer Custom
http://www.autoblog.gr/wp-content/gallery/jeep-wagoneer-generations/1975-jeep-wagoneer-2.jpg
For whatever reason that was a one year only thing and the thing woodgrain stripe was still around in 1975 all the way up to 1979. The BIG woodgrain came back in 1978&1979 on the Wagoneer LTD models then the small wood went away in 1980.
Very nice. And we know that it’s genuine because it is rusting. 🙂
Much better to see the small spots of rust than to have horrors hidden under bondo
Nice pics. The wood siding seems quite light colored here. I thought it was typically darker?
So how much did it sell for?
Don’t know. I didn’t want to sign up at mecum.com, which means getting a daily email from them, just to find out.
I signed up years ago, and actually I enjoy getting their email updates. If it’s a car that I’m interested in, I click n’ look. And dream…
Count me as a fan of the old Wagoneers, and I kind of like the narrow wood siding.
Considering it’s obviously not in showroom condition, at least he could have gone to the trouble to rinse the blue protectant off the raised white letters though??
“Nice blue walls, Clark.” One of my favorite movie lines.
Cheap proof that the tires are new, or at least very unused.
What is going on with the horn button and that horizontal lever on top of the column? Is lever the four wheel drive control?
I don’t know, and it’s not original. Weird, actually; three “wheels” sticking out from the steering wheel hub.
It looks like the steering wheel is attached with old office chair hardware. Terrifying.
It is definitely an original steering wheel and original horn button you can see that the spokes, rim and horn button match the Sports Wheel from 1978. http://www.oldcarbrochures.com/static/NA/Jeep/1978_Jeep/1978_Jeep_Full_Line_Brochure/1978%20Jeep%20Pg%2020.html It is a telescoping steering wheel.
It is an interesting Saginaw tele wheel GM probably didn’t want to sell the Cadillac/Corvette version to keep its exclusivity but couldn’t pass up the higher profit margin so they came up with that weird version just for AMC. This version is a little different in that the horn button does not move which is why in the picture it seems to be sticking so far out, as it appears that the wheel is in the position farthest away from the driver.
I have seen and messed with one in the wild many years ago.
My dad just purchased a very nice ’86 Grand Wagoneer for what I consider to be a VERY good price. It’s coming back from the mechanics today, with a few new parts, and it should be good as new! I love it, such a classy and stylish old luxury SUV.
Like a Range Rover, except it works LOL
I really like these, but I’d prefer the full luxo-boat 1989-91, with the leather and corduroy interior, full wood siding and whitewalls!
The newish radio looks so wrong on that instrument panel.
I miss mine.
Sure looks nice and I hope it stays original other than some rust repair.
Well it is too late for it to stay original since it has been lifted and the dash cut to put the modern radio in it.
Oh, thought AMC lifted some of them that way. Good point about the modern radio, but at least it is mostly original.
Got a ride in one of these hitching between Mossman and Cairns a lovely twisty road that follows the Nth QLD coast my benefactor was in a hurry to pick someone up at the airport, and these things in V8 have quite a turn of speed however they seem to lurch and wallow on tight turns not the vehicle I’d choose to drive fast more a car for meandering along back roads and forrestry trails comfortable though in a mushy kinda way.
My uncle bought one 30 years ago, he used to cruise at 85mph in it. He now has one of the last versions, one of a handful in the country.
Nice looking rig! I like the 70s paint job, with the toned down woodgrain. This is still WAY broughammy for my tastes, but its liveable. Those quarters look rusty but for the Midwest, and a rust prone design this could be a lot worse. Restore it!
The AMC 401 C.I.D. V-8 was a turd from the jump ~ 90 % of them threw rods before 60,000 miles due to the poor oiling system they used, for decades you could buy cherry low mileage Jeeps , Wagoneers and Matadors that only needed a crack kit .
Nice if big & thirsty trucks otherwise .
-Nate
I have experience with an AMC 360…damn good motor, if VERY thirsty.
The solution for the AMC-averse is a swapped in Magnum 360, if a balance of power/economy is needed. If this has a TF 727, the bellhousing might need to be re-adapted back to a Mopar engine, but the results would be well worth it. Id rather have a truck like this with character than to spend $60K on some lame ass soccer mom ExpeTahoLade.