Memories are a powerful accessory when it comes to old cars and trucks, as they can compel us to either hold onto a vehicle forever or decide to invest in an otherwise ordinary vehicle. Sometimes, however, it also makes us decide to sell a treasured vehicle on because we know we’ll not be able to do it justice. The 1989 Jeep Grand Wagoneer shown here on craigslist belonged to the seller’s mother before she passed away in 2013, and was used as a daily driver. “The Old Gray Lady” is said to have resided in a “…high desert climate” for the last 20 years and appears to be bereft of the usual rust issues that plague these classic SUVs. The seller is asking $8,200.

The color intrigued me, so I did some digging and I’m wondering if it’s Dover Gray Metallic. That was a color offered in 1989, and it’s one I can’t recall seeing – at least not often – when scanning Grand Wagoneers for sale (of course, in doing so, I learned they offered the truck in Hunter Green Metallic, and now I must find one.) The seller notes that it is heavily faded as is the wood trim, so you’ll need to plan for a paint job if you want it to look pristine. However, the attraction of old SUVs is they don’t have to be perfect, as they wear their battle scars with pride. The Jeep had a respectable dent/scrape on the driver’s side quarter panel, which may need some actual bodywork.

Inside is the familiar maroon interior that almost all Grand Wagoneers seem to come with. While generally durable, they can still look fairly rough if not looked after, but with 136,000 miles, it seems likely the long-term owner took care not to trash it. The good news is that if you buy a Grand Wagoneer with some cosmetic needs, you can generally find replacement parts from a variety of suppliers – which will make sourcing the exterior woodgrain panels pretty straightforward. As far as repainting it goes, that’s a tougher call as to whether it’s worth it. The seller notes that the truck can be used like a daily and that it has a new carburetor and battery.

The seller notes the power back window still works, and aside from the already mentioned cosmetic issues and a drooping headliner, I don’t see much to fault for an unrestored vehicle. The Grand Wagoneer will forever be an American classic but with prices dropping a bit, one should proceed with caution when embarking on a restoration. The somewhat uncommon color and dry condition makes this one worthy of improvement, and especially since the seller’s mother seemed to want to preserve it for long-term use. Cars and trucks with great stories deserve to be saved, and the Old Gray Lady will likely continue to run in the hands of the right owner. Thanks to Barn Finds reader Barney for the find.