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Garage Find: 1976 Jeep Wagoneer

This 1976 Jeep Wagoneer is a sharp survivor, with just some light weathering of the cosmetics to tarnish what otherwise looks like a great project. The seller inherited it from his grandfather, who previously left it in garaged storage for ten years. The Jeep supposedly runs and drives well with next to no rust on the body or chassis. These Wagoneers remain quite popular among the coastal crowd, and is the perfect rig for parking at a beachside hideaway. Find it here on eBay with bidding at $4,550 and the reserve unmet. Thanks to Barn Finds reader Patrick S. for the find.

Personally, I would be hard pressed to sell on a vehicle like this if left to me by a relative. Even if a Wagoneer wasn’t my dream project, there’s no doubt these old-school squarebody SUVs are all the rage right now and one of the few bright spots in the softening collector vehicle market. While the wood applique may be fading on the sides and the paint overall looks a bit tired, the Wagoneer still presents well with good chrome and straight panels.

The interior looks largely intact, too, with good door panels and untorn bench-style seating. The seller notes that everything works as it should, including the 4WD, which he describes as beastly. The Wagoneer benefits from new tires and shocks and the seller is confident the next owner could put tags on it and drive it home. $2,000 was spent on engine updates but no specifics are offered on what the work included.

We recently sold this 1990 Jeep Grand Wagoneer, which was listed here on Barn Finds as an Exclusive. I was surprised to see how quickly it sold, even with no engine, and it went all the way to New Hampshire! But that tells you a little about how hot the vintage 4×4 market it. If you’re looking for a Wagoneer project, check out this Barn Finds Exclusive posting here for additional Wagoneer projects on the Georgia property we’re helping clear out.

Comments

  1. Avatar Terry R Melvin

    Thank God..at least it’s not a “barn find”, of which there are a hundred times the number of barns. If I were to look for the Wagoneer, I’d look for one that predates AMC ownership of Jeep (pre-1970). Those were more plain, not made to look like a luxury vehicle, and usually had Chevy drive trains too, usually the six or small-block V8..

    Like 4
    • Avatar Jim

      No Chevys.. 350 was Buick ..327 AMC..6 and 360/401 as well…You could get a Turbo 400 tranny

      Like 5
      • Avatar Bob C.

        And don’t forget the Tornado OHC six early on.

        Like 1
  2. Avatar geezerglide85

    I don’t remember any Wagoneers coming from the factory with Chevy engines. If I remember correctly the sixes were Kaisers own overhead cam and V8’s were Rambler 327s back in sixties. Maybe a Buick V8 in there somewhere too and Buick V6s were an option in the C-J’s. I’m sure one of the experts can help with this info.

    Like 5
  3. Avatar DAVID KENIRY

    😲i have a 1963 gmc 6′ fleetside big
    window 4×4 project. rebuilt 4 bolt 454, t400, transfer case, frt & rear diffs power brakes & stearing, new leaf’s frt & rear new wood &
    stainless strip’s 4 bed, new frt & rear windows, newly covered bench seat 2 b assembled. i was welding in the oil field’s in wyoming 1979 i purchased this then 6 cylinder drove home 2
    ca. never been on road since i
    still have wyo 79 reg & new 79
    plate’s & ca. nonop😎

    Like 0
  4. Avatar Rich

    How sad the grandson has no feelings on keeping it. His Grandfather should have sold before his death and enjoyed the money himself. Most Younger generation, not all, have no feelings on stuff like this. My whole house is filled with Good Will type stuff that had been my Grandparents and parents. I keep it because of the memories I get from it.

    Like 8
    • Avatar Terry R Melvin

      It’s possible the grandson simply needs the money. Maybe a buyer will restore it and drive or show it? In a way it would still be paying homage to the grandfather.

      Like 0
  5. Avatar TimM

    I had a couple of these!! One I had with a six cylinder and a three speed on the column!!! It was a torque monster!!! Use to drag logs with it like a skidder to the area in the woods where we would cut fire wood!! The other one had a V-8 again with the three speed!!! They were both roomy and tough as nails!!!

    Like 1
  6. Avatar Johnmloghry

    When Jeeps were synonymous with Willys before the days of Amc ownership and they could tread mud holes as deep as the fenders and climb hills that were nearly straight up those were the Jeeps I have a fond memory of, yet I do remember a tv commercial in 62/63 of a Jeep Wagoneer driving on a curvy wet road demonstrating its superior ability to manipulate the hard coarse. Now I do like this vehicle and if I were still a country dweller I would be in line to purchase it.
    God bless America

    Like 0
  7. Avatar chrlsful

    cherokee just (2 wks ago) surpassed the ’66/77 bronk in classic car sales figures

    Like 0
  8. Avatar Mike

    We don’t know the sellers situation so let’s not assume that there’s no interest in keeping the vehicle on their part.

    I don’t know about this one in particular, but, many of these Cherokees and Wagoneers only had a single speed transfer case-no low range. That would be a deal breaker for me. They are cool though!

    Like 0
    • Avatar r s

      Sometimes the person who inherits something knows that the best steward of it is someone who really is ‘into’ it and will appreciate it. A young man who lives in the city or has an apartment with noplace to keep the vehicle properly might well rather see it go to someone who can really take care of it and fix it up.

      Like 2

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