Four-door Sport Utility Vehicles have replaced station wagons as America’s do-it-all family ride. From 1963 to 1993, Jeep’s Wagoneer morphed from a hunting rig and fleet-purchased off-road crew hauler into today’s featured vehicle with leather and air conditioning and five power windows, a capable harbinger of things to come. This 1991 Jeep Grand Wagoneer in Lyons, Illinois shows 164,000 miles along with some wear, but looks good overall and super-solid underneath.
Cracked leather shows some age. Otherwise, only styling betrays this Jeep as a product of the last century. A trailer brake controller suggests this handy hauler towed a travel trailer or similar tagalong large enough to require its own brakes.
Squared-off styling delivers excellent visibility and maximum interior space, practical advantages that sportier modern SUVs sometimes sacrifice for styling. Turbine wheels fly the ’80s flag high, carrying over to ’91. Front door vent or “wing” windows recall a time before nearly every car came with air conditioning. MotorTrend records that wing windows continued well into the 1990s on some trucks.
Air conditioning, cruise control, power steering, and power brakes round out the useful engine-powered accessories on this all-wheel-drive classic. USNews reports a carburetor still topped the 360 cid (5.9L) V8 in 1991. Fewer than 1600 sold that model year.
A fourth-generation Wagoneer and Grand Wagoneer returned to Jeep dealerships for model year 2022, featuring six-digit sticker pricing in some cases. For high five-digits, an outfit called Wagonmasters offers these earlier units, one ton lighter (4400 vs 6400 lb) and completely refurbished. Bank on the classic to slaughter the new ones on total cost of ownership and depreciation. This one could be yours with the winning bid here on eBay where at least eight bidders have its market value above $14,500 with about a day remaining. Thanks to Wikipedia for some details. What features of the 2024 Grand Wagoneer justify it over this 1991?
I always thought these were great trucks. Unfortunately I have never been able to, nor probably ever will be able to afford one. But that being said, thank you for the great write up Todd. And also a huge thank you for having a link for Wagonmaster. Wow wow wow wow wow. Every one these folks have looks factory fresh. Interior, exterior, every one gorgeous. And well worth it compared to a new one ( theyre very nice but the older model has a lot less to break on it). Really nice.
And this one is really worth restoring. Who knows? Maybe Wagonmaster will snap this one up and restore it?
Nice write up. I was never a fan of wood grain on cars, but those turbine wheels are classical. To an extent I consider the combination of wood grain and turbine wheels the ultimate of mixed media. Of course, that be on par for 1991. The 360 engine is the icing on the cake.
Back in 2001 I bought a white/tan ’89 in almost this condition for $700. It had some minor issues that I addressed before driving it for two years, when a job change made its gas mileage (11mpg) untenable. I sold it for $2,700. At the time that seemed like “all the money”. Never guessed the market would have gone so bananas over these.