The Bon Jovi special edition VW Golf, the Ford F150 Harley Davidson, the Frank Sinatra Edition Chrysler Imperial, and the Lamborghini Diablo Victoria’s Secret Edition. Yes, the list of “Special Editions” in the automotive world seems to go on and on and on. Back in the day, these were limited-production models commemorating a milestone anniversary with a special paint job and interior and badging, or replicas of that year’s Indianapolis 500 Pace Car. But in the 70’s, manufacturers expanded the category. Some were subtle, like the Lincoln Mark IV Designer Series, and some were a bit more obvious with bold exterior graphics and decals like the 1979 Jeep Cherokee Golden Eagle 4×4 featured here. It’s described as an “Original Survivor” and is for sale here at Jim Babish Auto Sales in Johnstown, PA for an asking price of (gulp) $99,900. A special thanks to Shan for sending this tip our way.
Based on some online research, the Golden Eagle trim package was available for two years on the 1978 and 1979 2-door Cherokees and from reading Jeep Forums, not many were made, so the term “rare” is used frequently. This Golden Eagle was originally purchased in Nebraska, then was bought by an attorney in New York state where it lived its life as a summer cruiser at a summer lake house. It was stored and stabled every winter and comes with all maintenance records and the original bill of sale.
Golden Eagles were offered in various colors and this one is finished in an attractive Bordeaux Metallic. The paint is very presentable and shiny and the seller shows photos of imperfections on the rear gate. The exterior decals and striping is in good shape (there are some chips on the rear gate stripes) and the the large eagle hood decal looks good as well. This one doesn’t have the front brush guard but the chrome bumpers, luggage rack, glass, fender flares, and bronze colored six-lug wheels look very good. The seller claims there is no rust outside, inside, or underneath, and no rust was spotted on the provided photographs.
Not surprisingly, the interior of this well-preserved Golden Eagle is as impressive as the exterior. It’s sporting the tan Levi’s vinyl seats (which includes real Levi’s buttons) and the front and rear seats look very good and clean.
The Cherokee also has a three-spoke sport steering wheel, an engine-turned instrument cluster, center arm rest/buddy seat, and a chief-motif medallion on the glovebox. There’s no mention if the AC works, but the carpeting, dash, door panels (which continue the Levi fabric and button theme), and headliner are all in very good condition. The only wear spotted in the photos can be found on the carpeting on the floor and rear gate of this Golden Eagle.
Under that hood adorned with a large, angry-looking eagle decal is a 360-cubic-inch AMC V8 with 79,488 original miles. It’s paired with a 3-speed automatic transmission and also has the Jeep Quadra-Trac 4×4 System. The dealer describes a rare Golden Eagle in this kind of time capsule, original condition as a “unicorn.” With a little online research, I found restored ’79 Golden Eagles selling in the mid-30’s, so I’m not sure if the dealer’s current price tag of $99,900 is realistic or not. One thing’s for sure though, there aren’t many Golden Eagles out there as clean and original as this one.
Cool, Jeep day. It’s called “Madison Avenue”, Ron. Properly presented, a slick sales person can sell air conditioners to the Eskimoes. The original SUV and the 1st vehicle to use that term. These 2 doors are extremely rare, as mentioned. The 4 doors probably out sold these like 10 to 1. This was Jeeps answer to the K5, big Bronco, Ramcharger, a market that didn’t really need another one. To most around this time, the CJ was still what people wanted. This is an outstanding example and to PROVE I’ve turned a leaf, I couldn’t care less what they are asking,,Ta-da!!! I will say, to the new owner, might want to plan your trips around gas station locations. Estimates claim 18 city/21 highway. I strongly beg to differ on that, and a host of problems gingerly awaits the new owner too. A Kaiser it ain’t.
I dnt know where you saw the18/21 estimates but i GUARANTEE its not for this vehicle. Will be more like 10/14. Maybe their 242 powered six in the base vehicle. So your skepticism is well earned.
It’s actually 10/10…maybe 11mpg at 60mph going downhill with a 40mph tailwind. These are as aerodynamic as a brick on a skateboard. They’re air plows…amhik
If it had the manual transmission, 2wd, and the 6 cylinder, then it might get 18/21. Although it is a different animal, I had the compact 1988 Cherokee Laredo, 2 door, 4wd Select Trac, 5-speed manual, 4-liter 6 cylinder, Renix fuel injection. Typical fuel economy was almost always 19/22 mpg. I also had a few other 4 liter Cherokees with automatics which averaged 15/17 mpg.
If somebody can afford to drop $100,000 on this, I have a feeling gas mileage is not going to be a big concern.
$100,000! This thing is a mess the engine compartment is a mess the back left corner is a mess. This guy would be lucky if he got 50,000 for it. And I can guarantee you it wouldn’t bring that. Just because something’s rare doesn’t mean it’s worth a ton of money
At that price,he’ll probably need armed guards
around the clock to protect it.
I really doubt that it’ll sell at that price,but if it does,
I’d like to know who the buyer is,& why they’d spend
that kind of money on this.
Somebody very rich and because they can. I have a feeling this would do very well on Bring a Trailer. They need to get at least couple of well-heeled egos to start bidding on it.
I’ll have a little of what that dealer was smoking when they set the price on that thing!
Pennsylvania has not legalized weed,,yet, but I heard FedEx is the biggest dope dealer in the country. I can say with all honesty, in a state that has legal weed, it has no effect on peoples ability to spend money freely. Fact is, I doubt stoners engage in this foolishness anyway.
Why are dealers looking for a big pay day? It’s not the first time we seen a nice vehicle with big price tag that was old. I know the two doors are rare I drove a pioneer with a stick and straight six like this style. But really $99,000 !!! I guess the cold and snow got to them! 😂
With early 70s Blazers and Broncos bringing 50-75K, rarity-wise, this Jeep SHOULD be worth more. Check out Grand Wagoneer prices currently. A nicely used 80s GW is bringing $30-60K, depending on mileage. That being said, these still dont seem to bring anywhere near the money the Fords and Chevys do. I dont get it. It prefer their vibe
No under side pics???
100 grand is a big ask but this is as nice a survivor Cherk as you’ll ever see, wearing some pretty uber-rare livery. Even as a Golden Eagle, this is a rare color combo and an original Levis interior, also in a rarer color, that isn’t trashed. Underside is perfect…not even rust scaling on the frame rails or axles or anything. Personally I’d like to know if it has low range with the QTrack but honestly I doubt any buyer is going to go wheeling in this one.
It’s not perfect but I wouldn’t be surprised to see it get 40k on BaT
Little early in the year to be smoking crack.
Dealers. Pffttttt…………….I’ll be HoA today :)
Oh.Happy New Years to all the BF cranks :)
Hey, Mw, New Years Acknowledgements, “Happy’ is a relative term these here days. The only reason I think dealers exist at all, is they are “banking” on the hope the buyer never had an old man saying, “DON’T BUY FROM A DEALER”, DOOFUS( slapping back of head), and are so impressed by the vehicle, they are willing to throw caution to the wind and some have enough money, it’s not an issue anyway.
Perfect for a wealthy Rhode Islander, or a Napa California vinyard 🍷
Don’t laugh, I got 45k for my 82 Cherokee Laredo back in August and it was a lot nicer than this one having all the power options. It was a true Kenosha Cadillac. Now I guess I should of asked more
I have personally looked at several vehicles at that dealer. They claim they are perfect (and probably worth $100,000 to that right “special” individual), but every one I drove out to see looks good at 40 foot and not so much up close and are worth far less than asking price. I can only assume that this one has MANY imperfections. If you want a perfect old (expensive) Wagoneer/ FSJ, the folks at wagonmaster seem to have amazing old iron.
inflation !!!!!!!
More like GREED!!!!
Inflation caused by greed …
What ever!
Following that dealerships ads for years. Way overpriced, so I don’t look at it much anymore,but that do have interesting vehicles for sale.
Max motive in Cheswick Pa. Has the same identical Jeep Cherokee ,probably in better shape for 10 gran cheaper,I’m just saying
No four door cherokees til the xj.
How useful is it? It was, in the beginning, good in snow, OK on the open road but back seat not very comfortable, but better than the first Ford Explorers, tough on the dirt roads. Reliable and powerful.
Now, great as a summer lake-house car, trips to the beach, the grocery store and the hardware store, never on the Interstates, put up in the winter, battery on a tender, maybe on blocks to save the tires from thumping in the spring, same shed as the big Chris Craft, those were the days when Dad stayed in Boston and came up on weekends and Mom and the kids spent the summer at the lake. Now, that they work on line from home, Dad, Mom, and the kids all stay all summer at the lake and drive the Tesla back and forth to Boston when they have to go into the office, the Jeep stays at the lake, and the 16 year old shows his buddies how it will peel out by holding it back with the brakes while revving up the engine and eventually wrecks the transmission. Fixable but not numbers matching any more.
I bought a ’79 Cherokee Chief new from a dealer in So Cal. The 360 gave it just enough get up and go power, and the quadra-trac set up was unbeatable in snow (3 foot going from SLC to Park City for example) and off-road too. This was after I had looked at Dodge, Ford and GM. The front buckets and center counsel were great. The mileage – what with gas war #2 just over the horizon after “roll off from dealer lot” – was marginal but typical for the time/type of vehicle. It made plenty of trips to Mammoth, Utah and Baja. Good truck. If you really want one of these, go with Wagonmaster and spend a lot less than on this one.
overpriced. period.
Wagonmaster has Grand Wagoneers for $140,000 and they seem to be doing business. Amazing, that’s all!!
The seller wants $99,900? Good luck with that.
Cool truck, I remember lusting over an orange 2 door Chief in ‘78 at the tiny Jeep dealer next to the Honda bike shop in Hollywood FL. Gas was wicked high then and no one was looking for a 2 Dr V8 with full-time 4wd in south Florida then. I was wheeling a VW Rabbit and the Jeep was way out of reach at that time. A friend did buy one however, it was a fun truck and unstoppable off road but pretty crude and basic compared to the Bronco and Blazer competition which were introducing Fuel Injection, overdrive transmissions and much nicer and better integrated interiors. Unfortunately, now as it was then, it’s out of my price range.
Probably worth $30k TOPS!!
Where are the other two that go with it ?????? for $100,000 k