This 1979 Jeep Cherokee Golden Eagle is a nicely preserved survivor with the original decals still intact and some mild modifications. The Golden Eagle was effectively a cosmetic upgrade package, and while it may not seem like a significant offering now, it has emerged as a genuine collectible in recent years. The seller of this truck notes that it runs and drives well and that there’s only one sport of rust of any concern hiding behind a fender flare. The cosmetics could definitely be tightened up, but overall, this is a solid example of a desirable full-size Jeep. Find it here on eBay with bids to $12,600 and the reserve unmet.
It’s funny: nowadays, if we saw a vehicle spun off as a “limited edition” model owing to some decals and stripes, we’d laugh it out of the room. But now, with nostalgia casting a heavy glaze over anything of a certain age, trucks like this Golden Eagle are indeed sought after for the very details that otherwise make them an upgraded model by appearances only. The seller has thankfully made some upgrades of his own to give the Golden Eagle some of the additional hardware it should have left the factory with in the form of a BDS lift kit paired with 35″ Mickey Thompson tires, giving it a tastefully aggressive stance.
The interior is in good shape for an unrestored truck, and of course, the air conditioning doesn’t work. The seller notes the headliner needs replacement, but the good news is the carpets look to be in great shape as does the dash pad. The two-doors are still quite spacious inside, and the rear bench looks like it was never used. Mileage is listed at 35,632, and while the seller doesn’t verify if that’s accurate or a rolled-over odometer, the condition certainly looks good enough to be just under 40,000. Still, we all know it’s far more likely that it’s 135,632, but either way, these durable Jeeps can rack up big numbers mileage-wise with regular maintenance.
The engine bay appears to be nicely presented, but we can’t tell much from this angle. The 360 is notoriously hard to kill, so with regular maintenance in its logbook, it should be good to go for the long haul. One would assume with the seller spending some money on upgraded tires and suspension that basic fluid and belt changes were also part of the mix, but stranger things have happened. Jeep owners seem to want all the money for these Golden Eagles, as I’ve seen some stall out at $20K with the reserve unmet. Do you think this one deserves a final bid above and beyond the current price?
Great shape. Rare to see one so nice.
It’s a nice vehicle, but I think I would rather have one without the tacky decals on it.
Very rare to see one of these Golden Eagles with the decals intact AND the Levis seats not completely trashed
It would need a good ppi before believing the odo hasn’t rolled over but based on the seats, under the hood and the decal package condition I believe it has not rolled. FSJ’s with 135k on the clock simply do not look like this
Nice truck. Had one back in the mid 90’s. Bought mine from a junkyard man who had built it from a ‘79 chassis with 360 v-8 and an ‘80 body. What I most liked about it was the shiftable transfer case he installed as opposed to the vacuum operated ‘quadratrak’. The thing was a monster on the road, highway or city. I added lockout warn hubs and 31×10.5’s which fit nicely under the fender flares without any lifting. As a visual touch, vintage vibe, I swapped out the big front plastic nose for an original center grille with round headlights. The original factory cutouts are still there in the sheet metal, under the plastic.
Wouldn’t mind having that one back , parked out front.
We bought one of these new in ’78. Dad got it stuck every chance he got, and it was the first vehicle he let me drive. Did our cross country trip in it summer of ’80. I drove it in high school. Loved that truck. Last I saw it was in the late 80’s – a rusty gas station plow truck in Connecticut.
Really cool to see this!
very easy (for some) to make this jeep “new”. I believe lill of it, as prices climb the ingenuity comes out.
Ended: Dec 07, 2021 , 10:19AM
Current bid:US $18,863.00
[ 24 bids ]
Reserve not met
Located in:Opelika, Alabama
Relisted
http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=194680435307&vxp=mtr
BIN $26,000