CC Outtake: 1983 Jeep Wagoneer Limited – And Some Mystery Cars

Just recently I stumbled upon a 1986 LeBaron convertible, which was for sale and, to serve this purpose, parked quite visibly. Well, here’s another such example of a CC duly parked in one of Tel-Aviv’s more quiet neighborhoods- albeit on its busiest street and sporting the obligatory “for sale” sign. However, this post contains yet more classics in its vicinity, hiding in plain sight, as you will see.

 

I arrived in this out-of-center neighborhood as I had to visit one of the managers from work to pay condolences (his father passed away). It seems that you are no longer able to view CCs outside such neighborhoods, as people seem to hide most of the better classics away from central locations. Hence, much like the LeBaron mentioned above, I think most CCs will be encountered if they’re for sale and in need to be displayed. Which is a shame, really, because less and less CCs can be seen publicly (even if I understand the owners).

So, I recognized the untimely shape of the Wagoneer as I drove by, and marked down the coordinates- must return through there once I’m done with my duty. there’s even a drive-by video, because why not?

But now it’s time to park and head over on foot for better pictures. Here’s my first look at the Wagoneer:

It never ceases to amaze me as to the differences between classic and modern cars, especially the size. I know this photo is taken at an angle which enlarges the Kia more than usual, but even so you have to be reminded that it’s a relatively small hatchback compared with (what we regard as the first) SUV. Just think of the 18″ wheels on the Xceed; the Wagoneer is riding on what- 14, 15″?  That’s a massive difference (as a side note I really like those Xceeds, I think Kia has done well with its styling to create a psevdo-crossover-hatchback).

We come to the rear in all its glory, and as you can see this is a well-used example, possibly never restored. The “wood” has all but dropped off the rear door, and revels multiple cracks underneath. Note the aforementioned “for sale” sign plus evidence of rust in the left corner, just above the bumper. Let’s peek inside:

Shag-pile carpet ahoy; that looks rather well kept, as if the luggage area wasn’t used much over the years. There’s a box with spares, of course, although I’m not prepared to swear that all these belong to a Wagoneer, necessarily. USPS has delivered more, as you can see. Also, take note of the car cover- it’ll be of significance later down this post.

Up front it’s tattered than the back, which is understandable. The shag-pile carpet isn’t as fresh as in the rear, and I can spot wood trim breakage at the top of the driver’s door card. And on that side (of things), the driver’s seat has been refurbished with all-vinyl cover (itself has started to come undone); I much prefer the original part cloth, part vinyl (leather?) arraignment. I have to say, now that I’m into my fifties, that looks like a very comfy place to be (a thought I’d never dare to ascertain when I was younger…).

According to the Israeli DMV’s database, this Wagoneer is a recently imported classic and from 1983. Somehow, owners importing classics manage to get their cars registered as a one-year younger model (which makes it newer?), so this could really be a 1982, if it makes a difference. Either way, I love how they’ve kept the Seventies looks well into the 1980s, with brown-over-brown-under-wood.

The emblems are all there, even if the “wood” is disintegrating around them. Is “Limited” meant to be the equivalent of “Brougham” in SUVs?

Up at the front, the Wagoneer has not yet benefited from the familiar JEEP grill that has become the brand’s fascia in later years (and still does). The horizontal lines running between the headlights probably give it a wider look, but the entire bumper area (along with the over-riders) also makes it look heavy and cumbersome.

Side view is the best way you can see the body shape of the original 1963 Wagoneer, even with all the add-on trim clutter. I have to say, I was never a fan of those wooded trims, but could warm up to it on 1960s/1970s giant US wagons (and certainly the original real wood wagons, such as Morris Minor Traveler or any US Woodie examples). Not here- if this was my car, I’d prefer it much cleaner, as the early 1960s Wagoneers were. Maybe now’s a good time to bring up a family-related original Wagoneer:

Sometime in winter 1969, my dad joined one of his cousins for a tour down south, in the Sinai desert, where said cousin was doing road-paving work. Dad had no siblings, so was very close with his many cousins, especially Cousin Uzi (you can also find him here, on Dad’s Dart adventure). He had a roadworks and construction company and did very well in his day, paving and constructing roads in 1960s/1970s Israel (after the entire Sinai Peninsula was captured in the 1967 Six Day war), and would even expand to do work in some African countries. As a result, he would ride in all sorts of light trucks to move between sites (aside from owning construction equipment), and I distinctly remember his International Scout Terra pickup, as well as its replacement 1979 El-Camino on loan to us, when we needed to clear out tree cutting and the like from our yard to the local tip (near which, my brother would gladly demonstrate oversteer with the El-Camino). On that 1969 tour, I guess Uzi meant to drive down for maintenance and managing duties and offered to take Dad with him on this few days’ trip.

As is clear from the photos, Cousin Uzi knew what’s good for him and would ride in a Wagoneer of the earlier versions. I have no information as to model year and such, but feel free to guess from the photos. In the photo above, he is posing next to the car on a dirt road his equipment probably paved. The Wagoneer’s Powder blue is gorgeous, by the way.

And here’s part of the equipment they used to pave the dirt roads with. The fuel canisters (or Jerrycans, as they used to call them), would be carried either by Uzi and the Wagoneer or with other company personnel between heavy vehicles such as this bulldozer, and the maintenance station.

And here it is, a temporary maintenance station, where they house the crew and equipment in between work shifts. The low light suggests this is the end of the day, and they’re gonna spend the night- or vice versa, this is the early morning light and they’re about to set off. Uzi is sitting behind the wheel, with the driver’s door open.

Of course, Uzi would also own passenger cars, mainly for his wife to use but also to be able to carry the entire family when needed- here’s his other car, a 1964 Buick Special, in a photo taken probably in 1968/1969, so concurrent with the Wagoneer (this was on a shared families’ trip, so my Dad’s Fairlane is probably just off to the side):

More on the JEEP Wagoneer and its significance can be read here, with further multiple links to educate yourselves with this seminal vehicle. As for this featured car, I was just about finished with it, but as I turned round, I found out there’s more; In an opening between houses nearby, there were three more covered classics. Well at least, those shapes seem classic to me, even if hard to decipher. Two of which were parked further inside the “alleyway”:

I’m 99% sure the car closest to the camera is a Carmel Duke (or 13/60, depends how strict you are). This an evolution of the infamous Susita, and looks like this:

 

The second car is harder to figure out. At first, I thought it’s a 1970s VW 412 LE Variant, of this type:

The general shape and the popularity of the 412 in Israel had me fooled, besides I can remember more than a few of these driving with white-walled tires, such as on the mystery car. But now I think the rear overhang is longer than the VW’s, and the rear bumper is less protruding than it should under the cover. So, no identification of this one.

But this car, parked closest to the street, is the most mysterious of all. At first you think about 1980s G-body (Monte-Carlo, Regal, etc.), but this car is smaller; smaller than a J-body (Cavalier) in fact. Plus, it has strange rectangular bulges down the sides, but round edges at the front, as if it has rounded headlights. That is, if it’s not the other way around and the frontal photo is really the rear of a… pickup? After publication of this post, and having looked at its photos several dozen times, I’m leaning towards a Mercedes-Benz W115, this:

But cannot be sure. I’m not in the habit of lifting car covers that are not mine, so could not verify which car is which. But I’m still curious. What do you say?