It is inevitable. Time, changing tastes, and technological advances will eventually catch up with every vehicle model, leaving yesterday’s “must-have” as today’s also-ran. Such was the case with the Jeep Grand Wagoneer, with the last one rolling off the line at Chrysler’s Toledo Assembly Plant in Ohio in 1991. This Grand Wagoneer is a rare “Final Edition” vehicle that has survived exceptionally well. It isn’t a trailer queen but a classic that has been enjoyed as its creators intended. All good things must end, meaning this Jeep needs a new home. The original owners listed it here on Craigslist in the O’hara area in Illinois. They set their price at $23,500, and I must say a big thank you to Barn Finder T.J. for spotting it.
Jeep offered potential buyers a broad selection of paint colors to grace the panels of their 1991 Grand Wagoneer, and the original owner of this classic chose the safe route by ordering it dressed in Bright White. It probably seemed a conservative choice at the time, but it is one of the more popular shades today as others show their age. The paint on this Jeep shines nicely for an unrestored survivor, with no significant marks or defects. The same is true of the faux woodgrain vinyl, which is prone to damage. The lack of rust is probably this Grand Wagoner’s most significant strength because these vehicles developed a reputation for dissolving. It indicates the owner has treated the vehicle respectfully and reinforces their claim that it has been garage-kept its entire life. The chrome and wheels shine impressively, and the glass looks flawless.
The seller’s included photos leave something to be desired, but they paint a generally positive picture. The interior features upholstery in Tan leather and cloth, and as with the exterior shade, this is one of the more desirable combinations in the current market. The company also offered darker trim in Green or Maroon, and although they looked classy and cutting edge in 1991, they haven’t aged well. This interior looks crisp and clean, with no signs of abuse or mistreatment. Even the damage-prone rear cargo area looks good, suggesting that this Jeep has been its owner’s treasured possession. By 1991 standards, the equipment levels were among the best SUV buyers could expect. This Grand Wagoneer features air conditioning, power windows, power front seats, power locks, cruise control, a remote driver’s mirror, lashings of woodgrain trim, the optional “Final Edition” dash plaque, and an AM/FM radio/cassette player. The interior remains original and unmolested, with no aftermarket additions.
The seller supplies no engine photos, but all 1991 Grand Wagoneers rolled out of the factory equipped with a 5.9-liter V8 producing 144hp and 280 ft/lbs of torque. Those figures may not sound startling, but with peak torque and more than 60% of the V8’s power available below 2,000rpm, drivers didn’t need to work these motors hard to achieve respectable performance. That power feeds to the road via a three-speed automatic transmission and the company’s Selec-Trac four-wheel drive system, with front and rear Dana 44 axles. Although the Jeep might run out of breath at 91mph, it was happy to cruise all day at freeway speeds before taking its occupants deep into uncharted territory. The seller says this classic is a turnkey vehicle ready for a new owner and that they would not hesitate to drive it from its current location to Florida. That’s what I call confidence!
No single factor caused the demise of the Jeep Grand Wagoneer, although many journalists stated it was an automotive dinosaur. Rising fuel prices impacted sales of a vehicle renowned for drinking like a fish, with volumes dropping by more than 30% between 1989 and 1990. Chrysler announced the end of the line on February 27th, 1991. Buyers after that date could elect to have the company affix a “Final Edition” plaque to their new vehicle’s dash, which this classic’s original owner did. Records are sketchy, but several sources suggest the company sold 4,253 Grand Wagoneer Final Editions before the ax fell. This solid survivor features one of the most desirable exterior paint and interior trim combinations. That significantly affects its potential value, as some of the shades look dated and don’t tick the boxes for potential buyers. The sale price is on the mark for NADA’s valuation for a #2 vehicle, but it is below recent sales results. It might be a thirsty beast unable to compete with modern models, but it offers an escape into a different era. I’m unsure whether the seller will be inundated with inquiries, but this classic probably won’t take long to find a new home.
is it possible that future airbag requirements at least in part caused the demise of the Grand Wagoneer? It seemed like a lot of older style SUVs at the time were being discontinued due to the challenges of engineering a passive restraint system on such antiquated vehicle designs.
A lot of issues. Airbags; fuel-system protection (killed or forced redesign of a number of other cars, in the 1990s). Technological obsolescence – meaning the design and construction. Things had come a long way, between 1962 and 1991.
Add to that, the Not-Invented-Here mindset…the J/SJ platform was developed by Willys, as it was morphing into Kaiser Jeep. AMC had it for 17 years…first as its own project, and then, overseen by Renault.
Chrysler wound up with it. Chrysler bought AMC for the Jeep brand, but this was not part of what it wanted. The J-10/20 trucks disappeared immediately…I expect that both Chrysler engineers and the Renault managers (among them, Francois Castaing) wanted it gone.
Only problem was, it was still selling; still compliant, and had a waiting list for buyers…and for 10x what the original Wagoneers sold for.
So Chrysler ran out the clock. Interestingly, they didn’t even adapt a Chrysler V8 into the GW engine bay, preferring to use the AMC 360 with a carburetor. That last shows, their hearts weren’t in it. And makes me wonder: How could they justify asking $30k (1991 dollars) for a rig with a carburetor, and an obsoleted, orphaned V8?
But they did, as long as they did.
One more thing I’ve read…and I don’t know whether to take it seriously or not. A claim was, the tooling on the line…29 years, without a sheetmetal redesign…the tooling was worn out. Replacing it would have been a significant cost, so I’d read…it would be a large part of the cost of introducing a new model; and the SJ would be non-compliant in a few model years, anyway.
Pull the plug.
I worked at a Chrysler Plymouth dealer during the buyout. We also acquired Jeep. We sold Grand Wagoneers as fast as we could get them in stock. Good ol’ Lee always said, “if you can find a better built car, buy it” so he did. Chrysler wanted that Jeep name, but wouldn’t sell two of the same thing. (Ram charger, Durango, Dakota) They eventually changed their philosophy. The whole AMC community felt alienated and backstabbed with closing of plants after being promised that wouldn’t happen. A lot of stuff going on then.
I don’t really see the tooling lasting 29 years. Like you said he did not know it was a fact. So I would assume you had doubts also.
I like it, seller will get the ask. The technology and underpinnings are similar to my 87 Eagle wagon being based on an early 70’s hornet wagon. Grand Wagoneer dating to the early 70’s/late 60’s.
The Wagoneer (SJ) began production in 1962 for the 1963 model year.
Actually the vehicle that ultimately became the Grand Wagoneer originated in the EARLY 1960s, debuting as the Kaiser Jeep Wagoneer for the 1963 model year. It originally was equipped with an overhead-cam six-cylinder engine and offered independent torsion-bar front suspension along with 4WD.
Thanks for the correction. My ex-wifes first new car was a 85 Chevy cavalier for about $8,500. The Chevy also sold AMC. I remember a new Grand Wagoneer on the showroom floor. It was impressive but you didn’t have to look very hard to see how bad the interior/exterior fit and finish was. To be fair it probably wasn’t much worse than contemporary Suburban…more swagger.
It will be sold and the add deleted by Monday if not sooner is my prediction.
Great price for this one if it’s as clean underneath as it looks out side and if the 360 runs well without too many leaks. Sad…these were the Grand-daddy of the luxury SUV, but AMC was caught between the rock of the ever stricter EPA standards and the hard place of bankruptcy looming larger and larger on the horizon.
With America’s increasing demand for smaller more fuel efficient vehicles, this 10mpg lug was dropping further and further out of the sights of most buyers, and by the time the SUV market started to pick up steam again, the Wagoneer/J Truck line was indeed a dinosaur with a carbureted fuel delivery when everyone else had moved to f.i., CTO valves to control where and how engine management was ported when everyone else had moved to computer controls, miles of vacuum lines, decreasing qa as build quality dropped…it was long dead by the time Chrysler put it out of its misery.
A shame because in the 70’s, AMC was an innovator and the Wagoneer, with a turning circle smaller than most station wagons, room for 6 adults AND all their gear and luggage, comfort and a 4wd system in the QuadraTrac that was years ahead of its time and was simply untouchable in inclement weather.
I miss every one of my full size Jeeps, and the love/hate relationship I had with them (lol)
*O’Hare
The following book was published in 1996 and the profile of the millionaire next door included ownership of a Jeep GW, interesting:
Dr. Stanley wrote The Millionaire Next Door in 1996. Over 4,000,000 copies of this New York Times bestseller have been sold. In 2000, he published The Millionaire Mind, which explored America’s financial elite and how they became so.
Thats a great book.
It should be used in High Schools to teach kids about managing money
I would love to see a modern Ramcharger on the Ram platform, they would sell as well as or better than the Suburbans. The Wagoneer is out of sight price wise as are all t he e newer vehicles
The Suburban has outlasted everything. Must be a reason.
I was a “Factory Rep” when Chrysler acquired Jeep/AMC. I had several of these as a Company Car. Two top selling dealers were in my district, and the two Jeep stores outsold the SIX Ford dealerships in that market, much to the consternation of the FoMoCo folks who felt their Explorer was superior. It astounded me that the narrative around the Grand Wagoneer went something like this with our REPEAT CUSTOMERS: ” Still only gets 12MPG?, YES. Doors are still so heavy they’ll bruise your leg?, YES. Rear tailgate glass falls down for no reason?, YES. A/C vents still freeze your kneecaps cuz they were STILL using the 1962 design?, YES!, Still leaks water like a spaghetti colander?, YES….Okay, I’ll take another!”
They rode GREAT and would tow just about ANYTHING.