Wide white walls usually bring out a few comments, especially when the vehicle is later than the mid-1960s. How about when they’re on a 4×4 1976 Jeep Cherokee S? This fancy, sporty (S = sport) Cherokee is listed on eBay with no reserve and a current bid price of just over $3,600. It’s located in Las Vegas, Nevada.
I personally like the look of the white walls here. This isn’t some jacked-up off-road vehicle, even though it is a 4×4 and a Jeep. This is a vehicle for going between Casinos and/or TV reality show sets in Las Vegas, of which there is no shortage of either. This Cherokee looks too nice to take off road anyway. The seller has also included a few underside photos.
It sure looks nice from the photos taken from a few feet away but once you get in close, sort of like most vehicles, you can start to see the flaws. Is this past bodywork? It sure looks like a decent layer of bondo to me but it can’t be, the seller says that this “is the original paint”. This Jeep was last registered in 1980 and reportedly it “runs and drives like a top.”
The interior is also all original and for a vehicle from the mid-70s it looks great. The back seat looks nicer than our new vehicle back seats do for cryin’ out loud. It can’t be easy to crawl into those back seats, maybe that’s why they’re so nicely-preserved.
This AMC 360 V8 is also original according to the seller. It sure looks clean in there, thankfully Las Vegas is a dry area so there doesn’t look like there is a lot of surface rust, unlike a certain 357,000-mile winter beater that I’m still driving, it looks worse every fall when I open the hood. I could only dream of having a vehicle this nice to drive in the winters. Is this a case of two doors being right on the money or would you prefer a four-door Wagoneer?
If someone told me about a Cherokee with wide whitewalls, I’d scoff derisively. However, seeing it in the photos, the tires seem to work here, particularly with the white trim and roof. First impressions can be wrong, indeed.
A Jeep Cherokee with wide whitewalls in Las Vegas shouldn’t surprise anyone!
I love these trucks, we drove these when I worked with the Ohio EPA around 1980. How rare is a 2-door? I’m just asking, for some reason it just seems unusual to see this truck in a 2-door.
Or maybe it’s Friday night, and I still haven’t gotten used to daylight savings time, and I’ve had a few beers.
The white walls would have to go but, I could live with the rest of it’s flaws for the being. This could be a “repair as you go” type of vehicle.
These were a lot pushed than pre pious years, the two door 1/2 ton would need rearched springs and heavy shocks to two, but360 and autos are tough.
Realy slogged out plumbing. Needs good duals to breath. Comfortable to ride and drive. Rear seats sit high and roofline is low for entry exit.
1/2 tons body and suspension lower than in past.
Gas mileage sucks.
Watch for rust rear quarters shock mounts and rear window and door hinge areasq
Needing a DD and a tow vehicle for my track bike, I actually headed to eBay ready to bid. My initial response was “wow, this a screaming deal” and after taking a much closer look at the pictures I understood the subdued current bid. I’m not so concerned with the dented panels, although repairing these would end the claim to “original paint”. It’s the torn right quarter panel and what might be lurking inside. Anyhow, I’ll still be keeping an eye on this one…
That looks like metal fatigue from the spare tire carrier that used to be mounted. You can see the mounting holes in the tailgate as well. Shouldn’t be too hard to repair with a couple of patches.
Red, i agree that its torn as opposed to rusted, however Id be concerned about water entering. I once bought a ’74 Alfa from Arizona. Car looked solid outside and underneath, with exception of fair sized rust hole on one floor panel. Turned out that the convertible top had poor seal with the glass on that side and the water entered every time car got washed. This truck deserves a PPI.
Hmmm original paint except under the tire rack mount where the rusted quarter panel with putty on it has pulled through. But by the bottom pics look ok. And somebody got one them future timey rads in it. Shame some one stole the whip antenna.
Nice truck, and strangely those white walls work well with the paint colour and graphics. On the upside, there are hints to what the buyer is getting into with the body…on the downside, they may only be the tip of the iceberg.
I’ll admit, the WW’s are a bit odd on a truck like this, old man alert.I’m a little indifferent about these. Many had great luck with these. My personal experience, of all my vehicles I had, this was the worst. In all fairness, mostly because itwas soseverely rusted. Everything E Hide said, and more. Electrical bugaboo’s, 6 cylinder burned a valve( which is rare for those), window cranks, gauges quit, wipers worked on and off, ( and not intermittent, either) rear window quit(halfway down), just a poorly made vehicle. The pluses were, it was great in the snow, good heater(when the fan worked) and lot of room. I knew people with the Kaiser Wagoneer, and it was a much better made truck. Great find, gonna be thirsty,,,and flip the tires around, looks silly.
I meant to say before my computer froze again,,,most of the electrical problems could have been a ground issue, but when the left rear leaf spring mount let go, sending the spring through the floor, it was junkyard time, oh, and don’t try to put front lockouts on a Quadratrac,( in an effort to gain mpg’s) it won’t move,,,found THAT out too.
Looks like a nice honest truck that will be a great deal for someone. The whitewalls work. Maybe have a second set of knobbys with plain steel rims.
Most people hate undercoating but I would spend time underneath to clean, seal, prime and undercoat.
SAM61- you could also use a product like Fluid Film. It stops rust from spreading and prevents new rust. Doesn’t wash off.
Sounds like Krown that I get done to my cars.
Emotional response to this one. When I was 6, my Dad bought a brand new 1974 Cherokee 2-door as our new family car. Base trim, but with an appearance pkg that gave it the « S » look: white roof, stripes, full wheel covers and chrome bumpers. Had the 360 2-barrel and QuadraTrac. Unstoppable in snow but 8 mpg in town. Rusted at light speed and was sold off right before I got me driver’s license. Ours was metallic blue with black vinyl interior.
Had one, hated it. I had the 2 door flared fender, white wagon wheel version. 401 + quadratrac = 8mpg. Interior insulation…not so much. It was like driving in an empty oil barrel. The sound of it rusting kept me awake at night.
Can’t believe people didn’t like these. I had a ’76 wide wheel cherokee 360 with a stir stick. Loved it. I got 16 mpg highway and it would pull a house down. Only thing I have against it was the crazy “U-Joint”. It was a bell and ball arrangement and expensive to replace. Lost the first one under warranty but had to pay for the second one out of pocket. Unfortunately I had to sell it but fortunately, it didn’t start to rust before I sold it in ’79. It was a beast.
White walls and Jeep
Socks with sandals
In LV? You bet!
Hand me one of those non-alcoholic beers while we’re at it
I’ve never driven a top. Anyone ?
I worked at jeep plant in toledo, Ohio. Home of jeep. Built alot of these 2 and 4 door models. Not the best mileage, but what a workhorse. Grand wagoner was very special. A Cadillac with leather interior and 4 wheel drive.
I had one of these , green with black interior , minus white walls , Great vehicle ,xwife got it . sure do miss the jeep !!