The reality is that many off-roaders become battered and bruised following years of delving into the wilderness. However, there are exceptions to almost any rule, as demonstrated by this 1978 Jeep Wagoneer. This classic is an unrestored survivor, and its condition is mighty impressive. It hasn’t been beset with major rust issues, has the range-topping V8 under the hood, and its odometer shows a genuine 28,000 miles. I must say a big thank you to Barn Finder Curvette for spotting the Wagoneer listed here on eBay in Thompsons Station, Tennessee. The seller set their BIN at $25,000 with the option to make an offer.
Kaiser released the Jeep Wagoneer in 1963 as a replacement for the aging Station Wagon, which had served gallantly since 1946. AMC took control of Jeep in 1970, with the company seeing no reason to reinvent the wheel. This Wagoneer rolled off the line in 1978, with the seller claiming it is a genuine survivor wearing its original Firecracker Red paint. If the claim is accurate, the vehicle’s overall condition is impressive. The exterior shines nicely, and while close inspection will certainly reveal minor imperfections in the paint and panels, any thoughts of a planned restoration could be placed on the back burner. The only cosmetic criticism I can level revolves around the faux woodgrain. It exhibits deterioration on the passenger-side front fender. Achieving a perfect match to rectify the situation via a spot repair would be impossible. Still, many wrap companies would have something in their stock suitable for replacing the woodgrain across the whole vehicle. You might think I am skirting around the subject of rust, which can be a major problem with these classics. The seller states there is a small area in the lower tailgate, and that’s as bad as it gets. The vulnerable underside is rock-solid, with no previous or developing issues. The trim is in good condition, and the glass is clear.
The 1978 Wagoneer was V8-only territory, with buyers receiving a 360ci as the entry-level powerplant. This Jeep’s first owner selected the optional 401ci motor, delivering 210hp and 305 ft/lbs of torque. With the 401’s torque peaking at around 2,500rpm, the driver won’t need to thrash the V8 to extract its best. A three-speed automatic transmission handles shifting duties, while this Jeep features power steering, power brakes, and the company’s Quadra-Trac system, providing full-time four-wheel drive. Although not specifically stated, the seller’s use of words like “reliable” in their descriptions suggests the Wagoneer is a turnkey proposition. The spotless engine bay further supports that belief, with no evidence of fluid leaks or other problems.
The originality of this Jeep extends to its interior, which is unrestored and in exceptional condition for its age. The upholstered surfaces are free from visible wear, further supporting the seller’s mileage claim. The carpet is remarkably clean, and you have to look pretty hard to spot any faults. There is slight wear and warping on the vinyl in the cargo area, and minor deterioration on the edge of the gauge fascia. Otherwise, the condition is good enough to receive positive comments wherever the new owner ventures in this classic. Life aboard this survivor should be pretty pleasant, courtesy of its air conditioning, cruise control, AM/FM radio, and the aftermarket CB radio.
Although it isn’t perfect, this 1978 Jeep Wagoneer scores points in several crucial areas. The optional V8 should provide plenty of power and torque to cope with most situations, and its lack of rust is a significant factor, given that many of these classics have succumbed to such issues. Its presentation is first-rate for a genuine survivor. If the odometer reading is verifiable, it makes the seller’s BIN look very realistic when compared to recent successful sales. Admittedly, values have declined recently, but with the situation stable, now could be the perfect time to look more closely at this Jeep. Are you tempted?
I don’t know about you, but I can’t resist when seeing this. As much as I love Jeeps, this is the one I’d like to forget. Mine was a ’78 Cherokee, with SW Native American motif, that unknown to me, probably upset every Native American that saw it, and quick correction, they were not V8 only, as mine had the base engine, the 258 in line 6. Good heavens, WHAT A POS that vehicle was. I know, keyboards are a flarin’, “my pappy had 3 of these”, yeah, yeah,, they were poorly assembled vehicles. A mere shred of the Kaiser Wagoneer this vehicle sadly replaced. AMC replaced everything metal with plastic, it seemed. Extreme rust aside, that probably accounted for most of the problems, electrical mostly, but stupid things, like window regulators, seat adjustment, back window, it would be easier to name the things that DIDN’T fail. The Quadra-Trac, actuated by a switch in the glove box, made a hissing sound when turned but didn’t seem to do anything different, it still went through the snow, but I wanted to disengage the front axle with lock outs in an effort to improve mileage,,,,,don’t do that. The truck wouldn’t move in “free” position, experts probably know why, but I wouldn’t give anyone squat for one. Then there’s the gas mileage, there is none, even the 6 got maybe 15 mpg tops, much less in snow. Hollywood uses one of these in their ads portraying vintage things, and what better than a ’78 Jeep Wagoneer. This is one vehicle the Asians had no problem burying, and never looked back. That’s it.
This certainly looks pretty. But every time I see one, I remember back to the 1980s, and driving one I thought of buying. It, too, was clean — though not as upscale as this — and had low miles. The drive was a cacophony of bangs, rattles, squeaks, squawks, groans and general unpleasant noises coming from places that hadn’t been screwed together well. The ride was harsh, and the engine (a 258, IIRC) was noisy. I didn’t buy it.
To Jeep’s eternal credit, the XJ Cherokees I drove were wonderful, and of better-than-decent quality. A bit too expensive for me, then and now, but I still want one. I’m sure this Wagoneer is better than the one I drove, but I’ll leave it to someone else to find out.
The 401 V8 is the “holy grail” engine for AMC fans, very scarce these days. Nice Wagoneer but you’ll be on a first name basis with the owner of your local gas station!
My Dad bought several of these, The 1st was a ’67 with amc’s 327 v-8 and it had plenty of get up and go with lots of torque. Now, the bad, it burned a quart of oil every 500 miles until one of the dealer’s top mechanics fixed it. Yeah, it rode rough even on paved roads, even pulled a big concrete truck out that was stuck! As for the later models he had a ’70 with a buick v-8 with no issues.And a sharp looking baby blue with the faux wood which gave him a little better service; had a 360amc. The last one he had was a total lemon!! Bad shocks and springs not long after purchased. Yes, electrical issues and bad quadraltrac. Never bought any more. I can’t believe the money they are selling these for.Yes, they are attractive but unless you are a mechanic I would not buy one.