Today’s Rough Start sent me to the state of Wyoming…which, due to population density, is another state that has only one Craigslist area. And because Wyoming has almost nobody in the state, they tend to pirate off of other states. Which is fine, because if you’re living in the grasslands, chances are you don’t want to spend a lot of time with a lot of people. So, really, you’re going to Fort Collins, Colorado.
This particular find is a 1978 Jeep Cherokee two door. Based upon the SJ archeciture that Willys had penned to replace the Jeep Station Wagon, this truck survived for twenty-nine years and through three different manufacturers. While the strongest demand is for 1987-1991 Chrysler-built Grand Wagoneers due to their luxury appointments (and arguably, better fit and finish), there really isn’t a bad year for an SJ. Big, bad-ass and imposing, this was a Jeep just as true as a CJ.
This Cherokee has the AMC 360 V8 and a four-speed manual. I’m already sold, personally, but it gets better: I see air conditioning, a CB radio, a moderately decent interior, and a fairly straight body. Yes, there’s rust, but with the entry price, there’s a couple of grand left over for bodywork, which is exactly what I would do with this Cherokee: de-rust and clean up. Nothing more.
The Cherokee’s Craigslist ad can be seen here.
Is this the truck to go trail-running with, or will you end up the creek without a paddle? Tell us!
Afraid your Cherokee with two doors is actually a Wagoneer with four doors. Can’t say what’s up with the emblems. Manual trans rare and a big plus, also D44s both ends and front disc brakes. We’d fix the rust and drive it…
yup looks like a more door..
Isn’t this a drum brake front / closed knuckle front D44?
I’d fix the rust, put a Howell TBI kit on it, make sure it’s got at least front discs & run the piss out of it. Of course, being in CA means I’d have to smog it – which could get weird – but the SJ is my dream-car family wagon. That, or a 2500 series Suburban. The wife, though, isn’t about to hop behind the wheel of the later of the two.
The Cherokee was available as a 4-door from ’77 until ’83, so this is not a Wagoneer. Grille and Taillights are different (vertical on Cherokee, wrap-around on Wagoneer). I built up a ’78 4-door for off-roading; great basis, and very capable with only mild modifications.