UPDATE – The seller has provided us with a video of this Jeep on the road! Be sure to check it and a few additional photos out below.
There’s nothing like venturing deep into the great outdoors to commune with Mother Nature. Many new alternatives will get you there and back, but potential buyers need to have a thick wallet if they choose that path. Alternatively, this 1983 AMC Jeep Grand Wagoneer Brougham could be yours for a fraction of the price. It is a solid classic needing some love, but the work could happen as time and circumstances allow. The seller recently completed some significant mechanical work, meaning it is ready and raring to go. The Grand Wagoneer is available exclusively here at Barn Finds Auctions.
The seller purchased this Jeep around five years ago and has enjoyed a pleasurable ownership experience. It wears Desert Tan paint which isn’t perfect, but it is presentable for those seeking a daily driver. It has scratches and imperfections, but those could represent part of its appeal. Squeezing down a narrow track with the occasional stick scraping down its flanks will produce scratches, but nowhere near the trauma that an owner might expect with a pristine vehicle. The next owner could perform a cosmetic refresh, and a competent person could complete most of the tasks in a home workshop. There is rust they will want to address as part of that process, with both rockers impacted. Several companies produce affordable replacement panels that would consign the problem to history, although a skilled buyer could fabricate their own. The trim and chrome look good for a survivor-grade vehicle, and the tinted glass appears spotless. The seller is willing to supply additional photos for those wishing to learn more about this Jeep’s physical condition.
Although the panels and paint might enjoy some TLC, no such questions are hanging over this Grand Wagoneer’s mechanical components. Lifting the hood reveals a 360ci V8 which sends 140hp and 228 ft/lbs of torque to the road via a three-speed automatic transmission and a Selec-Trac four-wheel-drive system. Although it isn’t a muscle car, that V8 ensures it will cruise happily at highway speeds. With the engine delivering most of its power and torque below 2,000rpm, the Selec-Trac system and locking hubs should allow it to crawl into some pretty remote locations. The seller recently replaced the battery, muffler, radiator, water pump, and brake lines. They also hold records from the previous owner verifying significant work before their purchase. It has an exhaust leak at the manifold and the speedometer works sporadically but has no other mechanical needs as this beauty runs and drives as is. The seller says it has been reliable during the past five years, which bodes well for the new owner.
One aspect of vehicles of this type that generally show their age is the interior trim. This Jeep has not been immune, with the seller indicating it needs an interior restoration. However, it is serviceable. That means the new owner could locate and purchase replacement upholstery, door trims, and dash components as time and finances allow. My approach would be to scour online auction sites patiently. I’ve done that with my own restorations, and the savings can be considerable. This Grand Wagoneer features a functioning back power window, air conditioning, cruise control, and a new Alpine CD player and speakers. It also features a bench front seat, adding to the vehicle’s versatility.
If you went out and purchased a shiny new Grand Wagoneer, you would have no change from $100,000. That is a significant investment, but there are other factors to consider. Would you risk plunging down a narrow track in your new toy with the inherent danger of paint or panel damage? Or would your investment be so great that you would avoid those situations? That is one consideration, but the more pressing would be facing the ravages of depreciation. It is widely accepted that most new vehicles will lose 20% of their value within the first twelve months. If you had just dropped 100k on a new Jeep, that’s $20,000 you can wave goodbye to by this time next year. Alternatively, you could bid on this Grand Wagoneer, and if you’re successful, you could address its shortcomings for a fraction of that figure. That makes sense and could be the best reason to make a play for this classic.
- Location: Jeffersonville, New York
- Mileage: 198,162
- Engine: 360 V8
- Transmission: Automatic
- VIN: 1JCNJ15N8DT035580
- Title Status: Clean
Bid On This Auction
- Jeepbuyer bid $3,000.00 2022-12-30 08:18:04
- Guy chi bid $2,900.00 2022-12-30 07:13:54
- Jeepbuyer bid $2,600.00 2022-12-30 06:27:34
- Guy chi bid $2,500.00 2022-12-29 15:08:57
- Jeepbuyer bid $2,150.00 2022-12-29 15:06:36
- Guy chi bid $2,000.00 2022-12-26 14:05:36
- Charlie H bid $1,266.00 2022-12-23 13:56:44
- Bartman2 bid $450.00 2022-12-23 12:49:04
- bcausey83 bid $350.00 2022-12-23 09:46:31
- Stan Smith bid $200.00 2022-12-23 09:44:22
- Meehow01 bid $100.00 2022-12-23 09:03:14
Um, something katywampus here, that’s a Kaiser Wagoneer grill, last offered in ’66, I believe. The rest is clearly 1983ish, I like all Jeeps, and electrical bugaboos aside, they were still good trucks.
People change them out, the front grille sheetmetal around the radiator remained the same behind any added 1980s façade. The upright Kaiser grille is much preferred by fans.
Howard, it’s a common swap to change out the later grilles to the older Rhino one – or it was when they were easily sourced, especially if it was the butt ugly Pignose that this one would have come with
Very nice..love the back dated front end.
Like the look. Do some body work/paint tlc, add some comfy seats and enjoy…keep it basic.
Ah, new car depreciation! Back in the I remember living large and leasing, 27 month/40,000 mile, 2006 new totally loaded Jeep Commander Hemi Limited.
Never so glad to return a vehicle…within 5 miles of the drop dead number. It had some swagger black, chrome wheels and trim, gray leather, 3 sunroofs, twin dvd player, navi…
Random things would break, very poor mileage (we knew that even with 4 gas), limited driving range…fill up every 5 days.
Sticker was $45… Chrysler’s last residual offer was $19.
Worst thing about this, is its domicile. New York, home to slush and salt. It looks to have had a bit of exposure, if one can judge by external photos.
With a true Kaiser model, that would be less of a problem. My reading told me that one of the first AMC changes made as they took over operations, was changing to thinner, recycled sheet metal. One reason Kaisers keep appearing, but this generation of J/SJs, less often.
Given that it’s a bit the worse for wear, and needs a lot of love anyway…and has 200k on the clock…that gives the option correcting the second-worst issue of this specimen, the 360 V8.
The engine wasn’t inherently bad, but AMC’s limited-budget smog engineering left much to be desired. Mileage and horsepower both fell. Since this cries out for a restomod, anyway, and has had the first step done (Rhino grille) why not put a Wrangler/Chrysler 4-liter six in? Fuel injection. Better mileage and a fresher engine, anyway. They’re plentiful with TorqueFlite transmissions…should be an easy adaption, since the Wagoneer was initially only offered with an in-line six.
Other than that, I’d pay close attention to the underside.
HI JPT, I’ve gone round and round with people on the engineering of the Cherokee over the Kaiser. This was the first SUV for the masses and AMC used cost effective measures to insure big profits. Things like plastic items instead of metal, thinner wiring, and assembly line woes. Kaiser was military grade, but AMC was all about profit. I agree on the motors, the V8 is a good motor, but thirsty, and the 6 is a bit lean for these. Mine was a 6, but short on power and didn’t get much better mileage anyway. It was a rust bucket, and when the left rear leaf spring broke off the frame and went through the floor, it was curtains.
Hmm. First, you’re correct, the philosophies of the two companies. There’s an untold story there…I wish I had all the facts, I could cobble together a book of how Henry and Edgar Kaiser, worked to slowly take over American Motors with stock purchases…and how Henry’s death, and his poor estate planning, led to the opposite. The Kaiser Industries holdings had to be liquidated to pay estate taxes, and AMC, the target of their latest interest, instead, was was solicited to buy the remnants of Kaiser-Willys.
As to the engines: The stats suggest different. The HP rating for that generation of 360 was about 140 horsepower. Pretty pathetic.
I’m going by memory here; but once Chrysler disposed of the Renix FI system in favor of their own, the power of the 4.0L jumped to 200. With more lower-end torque. I’ve never heard of a Jeep owner complain about power from that engine.
Granted, there’d be a lot of wiring changes – a Wrangler or XJ wiring harness put into the body…and, fighting all that rust!…but the power would be worth it.
Yeah, the other alternative is to go with an SBC. Cripes, everyone wants something different from everything else, yet they all want SBCs.
Too bad the Buick engine line didn’t survive as an identity – since, for a short time (1968-70) the Buick 350 was the best-ever J-series engine option. A modernized Buick engine, did it exist, would have been genetically correct and offered the same advantages.
The four-liter updated Rambler six is the second-best choice, IMHO.
As a former Jeep Cherokee driver, with the straight six 4L HO engine, I can tell you I never wanted for power in that damn thing. I told everything with it, even things I was told I shouldn’t. Probably one of the best engines ever
I had a couple of these back when they were $1000 winter beaters in the northeast. Comfortable, fun, capable (I slept in mine on mountain biking trips). Lousy gas mileage for sure, I like the mod to put the rhino grille back on. The two I had, I chased electrical issues. Seems like in the early 80s the electronics and smog controls were a lot more wonky. Same with the CJs I owned.
There’s a pretty dedicated following for these. I’ll be watching this one. I like the colors and presentation. Going to be relocating to the northeast soon and something like this would be perfect for winter. Clean up the seats and go. When the motor gives up, swap in a crate 360, or better yet, Novak makes all the adapters for a small block Chevy swap.
Technically, not a Grand Wagoneer. That name was used starting in 1984 when the small Wagoneer arrived. This is a Wagoneer Brougham.
Love these old trucks. My fave are the Cherokee XJ’s from ‘84 thru 2001. The have bullet proof 4.0 motors and automatic transmissions. Drive trains are good for 300,000 miles with proper care. I own two and have had others. My ‘99 I have owned for 20 years and with 118,000 mini haven’t had a single repair (shorts of tune ups, brake pads and oil changes). Even the exhaust is original and I live in NY.
I love the look of this truck but other comments on the motor make me wonder how much life is left in it.
The front end looks more like my old 1967. Are you sure of the year?
I think I’m the only one who likes these with original grilles. The first hundred I saw with backdated “Gladiator” grilles seemed cool. Each of all of the different grilles has their own unique style and character. Seems a shame so many have ended up kinda the same.
A cam change and a good 4 barrel carb would wake up that 360 and make it run MUCH stronger without killing the cruising lite throttle mileage too bad. The 4.0 liter has cam bearing issues that will make them drop oil pressure when warmed up if you don’t watch the oil changes closely! I thought “Quadratrac” was standard equipment in 83 and manual lockouts went away with this system, could be wrong though. The inside, outside, and all the trim on this looks more like a 73 than an 83, but I guess we’ll see how much it brings to give me an idea what they will actually sell for and if they’ve gotten out of reach of normal blue collar cash money buyers.
I had a ’83 years ago. Nice tight turning radius & very comfortable. However, it only got 12 MPG and that was with GOOD high-test gas. :(
Sure looks like a 6 cyl in the photo!
I agree with the 6 being a bit thirsty, but my 2001 was reliable, and I enjoyed having it, did I mention reliable ?
A buddy of mine talked me out of it at about 190,000 some odd miles, and he drove it until – – believe it or not, it was stolen from the parking lot where he worked !!
I agree with the 6 being a bit thirsty, but my 2001 was reliable, and I enjoyed having it, did I mention reliable ?
A buddy of mine talked me out of it at about 190,000 some odd miles, and he drove it until – – believe it or not, it was stolen from the parking lot where he worked !!
I have owned many XJ’s for over 20 years and know many who have and still own an XJ.
We never heard of bearing issues on the 4.0. If it does exist it must be a rare issue. The 4.0 is the most reliable and bulletproof motor, none barred. I heard the mileage is not the best but it makes up for it for whisling past the repair shop.
BTW buy a good one now while they are somewhat cheap. The stock and low mileage ones are going up in value big time.
Agreed, I had one that I was working on because of fuel injection issues and covid prompted a bunch of new people moving into my area and never leaving, many calls to the building inspectors and I got all these violations and had to send it to the junkyard after going to court a month later. Turns out just throwing registration plates on it wasn’t enough, you had to prove it was roadworthy. Anyway, if anybody is interested about this curious fact, currently the straight six, that very reliable Bulletproof engine, is being used in many, many different Chinese military vehicles. Chrysler sold all the tooling to manufacture that engine a long time ago to the chinese. Very smart.
It’s my old truck! Not a Grand Wagoneer, just a Brougham. I got it on ebay sometime around 2004. The Rhino grille was on it when I got it, held on mainly by zip ties. I remember that truck fondly. People would look up and smile as you drove down the road. I sold it after about 5 years only cuz I wanted a change (got an 83 BMW R100 to take its place), but I miss it. Very cool truck. It’s got some new stuff on it since I had it. Those fog lights, the headliner and door panels. Can’t say I’m too into that brown stripe on the side. Used to have some faux wood trim, though not big like the Grand Wagoneers. The rust is kind of breaking my heart, but winters out here are rough on old cars. Frankly I looked better back then too! Hope whoever buys it has fun with it like I did!
So wait, you were the previous owner to the one who’s selling it now?
Not sure but it seems like there was at least one other owner between us.
I had an 82 Wagoneer Limited with a 258 S6 with a 35 gallon gs tank that pic is an 83 Vin depicts it. With a 73 grill swap. Great truck in the snow. I had a 6 inch lift with 31 x 10 AT tires
The Buick 350 was a very thin casting and weighed 50 pounds less than a SBC. This resulted in a high rate of engine failure because of cracks. I have personally observed this on two occasions. Probably best to stick with a 360, adapt an overdrive trans & use a throttle body injection system.
Exactly. These modern aftermarket fuel injection systems can make such a difference on Old Vehicles like this. And while you’re at it you might as well put a set of headers on it since there’s already an exhaust leak which is probably a crack in the cast iron manifold. Make sure it’s a good set of headers, cuz here in New York the cheap ones rust pretty quickly on a vehicle like this. I look for something with nice heavy gauge steel maybe ceramic coated ones too and then wrap those babies. Especially for a daily driver.
I have seen hundreds of AMC Jeep Grand Wagoneer Broughams, and this ain’t one.
Is there a Buy It Now price on this vehicle I know sometimes there is one put in the description but there isn’t one on this one would there happen to be one
I had a 69 wagoneer,. 350 Buick automatic. Had a two-way Meyers plow setup. It was a great plow vehicle. Did a lot of camping, road trips and journeys into the woods. Unfortunately it rusted into the dirt.
Too bad, I really miss that truck !!!
I wonder. Would it be possible to come take a look at this, maybe test drive? I live in Orange County New York.
I never drove big vehicles before. Always had compact, my late 80s Jeep Cherokee was the biggest thing ever drove regularly.