Wedgewood Blue is the least likely color I expected to see on a tough, two-door Jeep Cherokee Chief, maybe that’s why I like it so much. It isn’t black with black wheels and black tint on the windows and blacked-out trim…zzzzzzzz… The seller has this 1979 Jeep Cherokee Chief listed here on eBay in one of my favorite cities in America: San Antonio, Texas, and the current bid price is $810.
I contend that the world would be a much friendlier place if more vehicles were painted friendly colors, such as this light blue and white combo. Or just colors, in general, rather than tones, black specifically. You aren’t a better driver if you have a black vehicle; you just aren’t, I’m sorry to burst your bubble. And what other modern vehicles have cursive writing on the side, not to mention 15″ wheels? Was the world a friendlier place in 1979 because of small wheels and friendly vehicle colors? Probably not, now that I think about it.
Jeep offered the SJ Cherokee line for a decade, from 1974 through 1983, and Jeep offered 14 colors, including black, on the ’79 lineup; although not all of them were available on all models. The Cherokee Chief package was available on the two-door Cherokee, and there was also a lower-trim S package and a top-trim Golden Eagle trim. This example looks great overall, but there is some rust to deal with, mainly on one of the wheel flares. The underside looks solid, however, and they say there is some rust visible in a couple of floor seams underneath.
The interior is fantastic with more friendly blues in Cara Vinyl with this Native American pattern trim. They say the padded dash top is original and perfect, so that’s great news. The factory air-conditioning will need work as it isn’t blowing cold, but once it is, “it’ll freeze you out”, and I believe it. The driver’s seat has some cracking that we don’t see, but the back seat looks like new. This Jeep has just 76,387 miles on it.
The engine is an AMC 360-cu.in. OHV V8, which by 1979 would have had 127 horsepower and 245 lb-ft of torque. It’s backed by a GM-sourced Turbo-Hydromatic 400 column-shifted three-speed automatic sending power to all four wheels as needed. They say it runs great, doesn’t overheat, all of the gauges work, and they’re including new Cherokee Chief graphics. This looks like a winner to me, what do you think of this one?
Incredible bargain for a great Jeep! I would expect some upward movement on the price, though.
I bought Mrs Fahr the 2017 Wrangler Chief in a similar blue and white, in homage to this original. May have to make another road trip…
awesome find !
In 1979, if I wanted to go off-road and had my choice of a new Ford Bronco, Chevy Blazer or this, I’d take the Cherokee. It can do what it looks like it can do, and it has Jeep “blood”..I’d bring jerry cans full of gas though, that 360 will guzzle.
I bought a Chief new in ’79 for that exact reason. It’s capabilities off road and in deep snow was stronger than the other brands. We had a steep “challenge hill” above San Pedro, and no one with the other 4 by 4’s would want to race me up it. In the Salt Lake City to Park City run, it drove through 2 feet of snow without issue. MPG was low as it’s full time 4-wheel drive. The HP rating didn’t seem to bother it much, even with 4 guys plus gear on board.
Only 127 hp?!
you don’t want to know its mpg figures either.
I had a Jeep Cherokee Chief back when the speed limit was 55 mph and I got 17 mpg with a standard transmission. I really loved that beast and Hope I can win this one.
The first car I ever bought off ebay was a 1983 Cherokee in 2000. Original everything with 33k on the clock. Black. Rust free from Arkansas. Gorgeous truck. That’s one I wish I had back
I had one back in the 90’s which I’d bought off a guy who ran a wreaking yard in Brooklyn. He had mounted an 80 body exactly like this 2dr, fender flares and all onto a 78 chassis. He also swapped out the original vacuum operated 4wd system for a transfer case from a j-10 wagon. Awesome machine. He used it in his yard.
Rear body mounts were rusted out and a friend rebuilt them and the only other thing I did to it was swap in warn lockout hubs for the front axles as I put a lot of weekend highway miles on it.
Again, awesome machine. Wish I still had it.
Somebody is going to be a happy camper with this one. Good luck with the sale.
Oh, I also swapped an early style center metal grille and round headlights onto it. The original sheet metal was/is still there behind that big hunk of plastic across the front.
If this is the same vehicle I saw the other day Wowzers.
Was on e290 in the Dripping Springs Texas area saw a Jeep Cherokee in the same color combination.
There is a company out here that restores jeeps of this caliber.
That Cherokee was nice
nice nice, strong vehicle that is extremely thirsty. On lesson to be learned on this one and any Wagoneers. Keep the back window track clean and lubed. The plastic actuator stap is not very strong and will cause grief when you can’t open the tailgate with the window in any of the up positions. Seems like there are 42 adapter plates to remove when changing the water pump. Best to number them and place on the ground behind you in approximate engine layout. If you think I’m kidding. Go ahead and toss them in a bucket and add 4 more hours to you time. (Don’t as me how I know!)
I would really love this vehicle with a standard shift. Like many of the good Jeeps, they are tough as nails but gas mileage isn’t so great! So what?
I don’t remember gas being an issue with mine. Same 360/turbo 400 combo. And I ran it hard, like I ran everything back then.
I bought a new silver 79 Cherokee Chief before I went to art school. Those Massachusetts winters were no issue. It was a work horse. I pulled many of stuck motorist from ditches. One of my big regrets has been letting it go. This is a great example and an easy fixer upper. If I had the extra room I’d be bidding.
Up to 10.5k now.
My jeep has a drinking problem,
I’m pretty sure these were delivered new with rusty rockers and rear quarters. My brother bought one as a project pre pandemic for $1500. He threw in the towel at about 10k and sold the project for $4500. Parts were a nightmare as AMC used whatever was available or cheap at the time. Ford, GM, Chrysler all donated various parts to the cause. Buy one already restored and save a lot of aggravation.
Auction update: this Jeep sold for $16,900!