Rare Jeeps is somewhat of an oxymoron. There were some limited production models like the Golden Eagle which certainly qualify as rare, but by and large, these vehicles were produced in extremely generous numbers. Based on the number of Jeeps I see on a daily basis now, I seriously doubt we’re going to see anything resembling a “rare” Jeep model anytime soon unless they drop the Hellcat drivetrain into one. However, this 1984 Jeep Scrambler may indeed qualify as a rare Jeep given it is one of just 230 made for Alaskan postal carriers who undoubtedly had some of the harshest rural routes to contend with. This Jeep has been re-listed here on eBay after a bidder failed to follow through with their purchase, and bids have reached $6,501 with no reserve.

This is a seriously cool piece of kit, but also one that needs some work. The postal carrier that used this Jeep across the roughest parts of the Alaskan wilderness didn’t spare it from the perils of daily use, with the seller noting the presence of rust in the rear wheel wells and under the driver’s feet. All told, that’s not all that bad for a vehicle used throughout the brutal Alaskan winters. The driver’s seat has also seen better days, but that’s an easy fix. Overall, restoring a Jeep can be blessedly simple in some ways given the interiors are bare-bones and the drivetrains generally robust, and even rust repair can be addressed with an abundance of replacement panels still available from salvage yards or the Jeep aftermarket. Importantly, the mail tray and mail bulkhead are both included, as those items are likely impossible to find.

The seller indicates he purchased the Jeep as a project to embark on with his kids; however, as it often happens, life got in the way and he’s decided to focus on other projects before diving into this one. The Alaskan postal Jeeps were unique in a few ways, with the most obvious one being the full-length metal roof. Other details include a rear door and “…uniquely shaped” driver and passenger doors. Now, the seller refers to the side and rear doors as being present on “International Overlander units,” which I’m not exactly sure how to translate – do any of our Jeep fanatics out there understand the message? The seller indicates that the Jeep ran well enough when he got it to move under its own power, but he didn’t attempt to drive it much further than up to the trailer as the brakes are non-existent. As such, it was winched on the rest of the way and hasn’t been messed with since.

The Jeep does look slightly rougher from the rear, but it’s also fun to imagine this one wearing the original Postal Service livery – a detail I hope the next owner attempts to recreate. There is at least one photo out there that shows the familiar red and blue stripes wrapping around the beltline with a medium-sized logo with the iconic bald eagle on the doors. This Jeep absolutely deserves to be restored and it would be a hit at any Jeep gathering if it were to return to its original cosmetic configuration. The seller notes the front driveshaft is missing and it will at least need a new brake proportioning valve to start, but there’s certainly far more work ahead of the next owner than just those two fixes.