The Pick of the Day is a 1987 Jeep Wagoneer Limited listed by a Missouri dealership on ClassicCars.com.
When I was a kid, my automotive preferences were what you’d expect from a young boy. I had the Hot Wheels version of the Lamborghini Countach (white, of course) and 1:18 models of the Diablo and the Ferrari 550 Maranello. If it didn’t come from a European company with flashy bodywork and street-scorching speed, I wasn’t interested. Looking back, that’s because I knew nothing about cars. In fact, I didn’t know what I truly wanted because I was too young to drive and had no basis for comparison (or concept of financial reality). I also had no appreciation for subtler, more practical vehicles like this 1987 Jeep Wagoneer Limited.
Cherokee might not be in its name, but it’s in its DNA. Think of the Wagoneer Limited as not just the little brother to the full-size Grand Wagoneer of the the time, but also as the top version of the XJ Cherokee. To set it apart from other Cherokees, Jeep gave it a special grille and stacked headlights. To make it instantly recognizable as a Wagoneer model, they added woodgrain-style vinyl to the sides.
This well-preserved 1987 specimen from a long-term owner comes finished in the attractive combination of Deep Night Blue over a Dark Sand leather and cloth interior. The cabin is furnished with power windows and locks, power steering and brakes, power front seats, air conditioning, and – surprise – more faux wood. The original radio has been replaced with a Kenwood head unit, but it does come with the vehicle.
Young me would’ve hated this because it’s boxy utility vehicle from an American company. That simple design and the stuff this can do that exotic sports cars can’t are exactly the things that attract the current, married, more practical version of myself to it. With its solid axles and four-wheel drive, it can go places low-slung Euro supercars can’t. Its 71.8 cubic feet of cargo space enable it to haul home a live Christmas tree or potentially double as a space for car camping. And its 1987 model year means it was one of the first XJs in line to receive the legendary 4.0-liter straight-six.
As much as I love the looks and old-school charm of this rig, there’s no getting around the fact that its $24,995 asking price is a lot more than what XJs used to go for. That’s enough to buy a far-newer used car or put a big dent in the price of a brand-new one. Then again, it’s a lot less than I would’ve spent on the swoopy, winning-lottery-ticket rocket cars I daydreamed about as a child.
Click here to view the listing for this Pick of the Day on ClassicCars.com.
Source: www.classiccars.com