It’s hard to believe that Jeep made the XJ Cherokee globally for three decades in basically the same shape/configuration/design. This incredible, like-new 1994 Jeep Cherokee Sport can be found here on eBay in Aberdeen, Maryland. The current bid price is – are you sitting down? – $20,700 and there are almost two full days left on the auction! Godfrey Daniel! (in my best W.C. Fields voice) Let’s check out this 4×4 time machine.
First of all, this seller deserves a solid gold star on the Barn Finds Walk of Fame for taking the time to upload maybe the nicest photos that I have ever seen in an eBay listing. And there are dozens of them! They’re in focus, they’re well-composed and well exposed, and they show every square inch of this gorgeous Cherokee inside and out, even underneath. I almost openly wept when I saw the extent and quality of these photos after so many years of seeing iffy, quickie listings with hardly any information given and even worse: bad photos. People, you’re selling your vehicles via the internet which is a visual medium, come on! Ok, enough of that, back to this like-new Jeep.
The Cherokee was made starting in 1983 for the 1984 model year and they produced them until 2001 for the U.S. and globally until 2014. They were called one of the best 20 vehicles of all time as well as the greatest SUV shape of all time. They seem primitive today but I love the look compared to the angry melted bars of soap SUVs that are currently on the market.
As a child of four can plainly see, this Cherokee Sport looks like it has been hermetically sealed and kept in a mayonnaise jar on Funk & Wagnalls front porch since noon today. NO ONE.. could possibly have a nicer Cherokee. You are correct, Toledo breath… Ok, I’ll put away my Ed McMahon and Carnac the Magnificent voices now and get back to this mind-blowing Jeep. The interior, as you already expected, looks like new. The seats both front and rear are in excellent condition as is the rear cargo area. Truthfully, this Jeep is only 25 years old now so it’s not like it’s from the early-80s, but still, it’s nice to see one so well-preserved.
The engine looks used but still as clean as almost any 25-year-old engine that I have seen. This is AMC’s 242 cubic-inch or 4.0L inline-six with a healthy 190 hp and 225 ft-lb of torque. This is the nicest XJ Cherokee that I have ever seen outside of a Jeep showroom a couple of decades ago. Are any of you fans of the Cherokee? How about a big enough fan to pay more than $20,000 for a 25-year old one?
Uhh, must be that new math. According to the old math it’s actually 25 years old, not 15. Looks even better now, doesn’t it?
Scotty got so excited finding this one it made him lose some math lessons. :-) In the last sentence he calls it a 15 year old Jeep 3 times instead of 25 year old. Kind shaves some years off me too, though. Wow Wee what a find!
Um, it’s 25 years old, not 15.
Ha, you’re right, folks! Sorry about that, I was too excited and combined with barely making it through math class… ouch.. Fixed, thanks for catching that.
Nice write-up Scotty and nice Jeep but isn’t it 25 years old?
15 years old is mentioned in the write up. 1994 was 25 years ago. How time flies.
I’m not an expert on the value of these, but I’d pay it as it is essentially a brand new vehicle. I have several Jeeps in the fleet, and I’d show this the love it deserves along with the others. Very nice example! Best of luck with the sale, and congrats to the new owner!
Awesome! The new Cherokee looks like a Hyundai…..pathetic. I still have my red 1999 Cherokee Sport that I bought new. 19k miles, never off road & never driven in the winter.
Don’t drive in snow. Never take it off road. What is the point of having it?
Who knows what his reasons were after buying it new (doesn’t live where it snows?), but the fact that he didn’t is now paying off for him.
Would you ever consider selling this?
2019-1994=15. Must be that “new math” I’ve heard so much about.
Even so, nice ride. My favorites were the full-size Cherokee and Wagoneer though.
I’ve mentioned this before… I purchased a 94 Cherokee Laredo (same forest green color) four years ago for my son. It had 19,000 actual miles. Original tires with no cracking. It was in near perfect condition because it was a California vehicle and had always been stored inside a garage. By the time I changed fluids, hoses, belts and battery, I was into it for about $9K. I would post a photo, but Barnfinds doesn’t allow that anymore if you aren’t a member.
He ran it for about a year then changed the tires because the sidewalls were starting to exhibit micro-cracks. It now has about 40K miles but it’s still near perfect condition. If this Sport is commanding $20K+, I’m going to tell my son he needs to put his Jeep on the market right now!
As an owner of an all original 93 Sport, which is essentially identical to this, I can tell anyone interested that it’s missing it’s lower rubber side molding across the sides, that has a red stripe within it. The “sport” decal on the fenders is incorrect and might from a later model and the “4 x 4” decal on the rear quarters is clearly incorrect. It’s huge. Just google a 94 Sport. The side moldings would be difficult to remove without damaging the black paint underneath them, so the lower black portion was most likely repainted. But, when considering all of these “little” details, a complete repaint isn’t out of the question. You wouldn’t randomly remove these decals to put incorrect ones on. The only reason you would remove them is for a repaint. The fact that I can’t make this comment on the ebay listing is why I’ll never buy there and only list on here or BaT. As far as the price goes, if everything were legit about it, it’s not out of the ordinary at all. They’re becoming modern day classics and the classic SUV market is hot. Just think, back in the day, did anybody think old Broncos would be worth anything?
I would also say repaint. That shot of the rear shows all of the license plate screw holes painted, that rear wiper is fixing to do some damage to the paint and the 4×4 decal on the right rear is crooked.
I had the same suspicions. With the market going crazy for unmodded low mile XJs I think we’re gonna start seeing many of them pulled from dusty (or worse..) garages and receiving light restorations or refurbishments before hitting the block. Props to the seller on their photography, its impressive. This truck may have not have been driven in 20 yrs. Hopefully not. But if so, I would be sure to find out if the seller has gone through all of the mechanicals and replaced anything dry-rotted/perished from inactivity. Otherwise GLWS, this one hits the check boxes for me except the auto. I think those tires make a big difference in the appearance and i’m sure the utility too for the stock look.
Jay
I’ve watched the prices of very clean, low milage,[and some not so low] stock Cherokees climb at an amazing rate over the last 2 years, with a noticeable jump in the last year. At one point, I was driving one, my 3 kids had them, my best garage buddy and his kid had one, and 2-3 of my kids friends had them. On one July 4th party our house looked like a Jeep dealership. I wish I had taken a photo. I still have mine on a rotisserie after welding new floors in. At these prices it will soon be worth finishing! [stalled project syndrome] 20K plus is a little staggering but it is like buying a new Jeep. And the fact that it’s less than 20 miles from my house makes it particularly painful. In 10years when these are at 40K I’ll be kicking myself…
When Renault came in and purchased AMC in 1979 they decided to design a new tamer Jeep for the masses. The XJ was the result. Very good job Renault. They made Jeep a great and viable product again. Then again for Chrysler. Then again for Daimler-Chrysler. Then again for FIAT. Strange how they parade it around as an American product isn’t it?
Bravo!
If you don’t have to do anything to this Jeep buy it now and hold on to it. Not only will you enjoy having it, it will reward you with
lots of versatility and strong mechanicals.
It’s worth 20K because of the engine alone. Offroaders will tell you that the 4L straight 6 was the best motor Chrysler /Jeep ever had. Mine had 300,000+ miles when I sold it and I never did anything but change the oil.I still see it running around town occasionally. Dumbest thing Chrysler ever did was to switch to that wimpy V-6 minivan motor which doesn’t belong in a Jeep. You can get the same motor in an AMC Eagle 4WD. I’m looking for a convertible but nobody will sell them.
I don’t get the prices on these. A flashy red one just sold on Bring A Trailer for $20k and change, while a mint 5.9 Limited, a legitimately rare and special Jeep, went for $6,500 (and the winner backed out of the deal. What a dope).
Those were awesome trucks, my buddy had a Grey 5.9 back in the day, it was a unique special truck like my Saleen Explorer XP8. That 5.9 360 motor used to really tear, Mopar should have dumped it in the Stealth in 92′. The Camaro and Mustang were evolving at the time, coulda been an earlier start to the Horsepower Wars. I think people are more attracted to the simple 84-01′ generic Jeep style, very easy to repair, extremely reliable probably nostalgic for a lot of people too. The utility/reliability/simplicity of them is hard to match, gotta be why the value is sky high now. My 98′ explorer 4.0SOHC lasted ~330k off road and hard miles with very little maintenance for 17yrs though ;)
GLWS
Jay
I can’t believe that it’s been 32 years since Chrysler acquired Jeep! Time does fly…
I believe you meant 22 years, NotSure.. (ha, just kidding)
You’re right, it’s hard to believe that it’s been that long. And 32 years since AMC went away at the same time.
Very sharp, but the age itself regardless of mileage gives me reason to pause at this price…25 years of barely exercising mechanical components isn’t a good thing.
I’m amazed! Most XJs are beat to crap and you are able to buy them for 500-1500 dollars! Props to the owner! It was probably hard to not beat on it but it sure would pay off now!
would love this except for it being an auto.
Scotty,
Brother from another mother! We have a lot in common but I bet my Ed McMahon laugh is better than yours;^) Seriously though, it just amazes me how badly photographed so many sales and auctions are. Folks think certain sellers on BaT, like DENWERKS or Cascadia Classics, are geniuses for just taking care of basics. Basics like having people skills and TAKING GOOD PICTURES!
Ended: Jun 02, 2019 , 8:51PM
Winning bid:US $20,900.00
[ 61 bids ]