Writing for Barn Finds, I’m given the opportunity to learn more about cars and trucks that have heretofore blended into the background of my life, and one of them is pictured above. The Jeep is comparatively newer than the collectible cars I tend to ogle, and the Cherokee was around for a long stretch – 1984 through 2001. That’s a big chunk of my formative years, and therefore they became a common sight on the roadways of my youth. This one is worth a closer look because of its condition; with a rust-free 93,000 miles on the clock, it’s an artifact of the final year of Cherokee XJ production. Offered for sale on eBay in Maryland with no reserve, the high bid is currently $6,300 after some spirited bidding, and I think this one might have some legs.
The XJ is an example of a car you don’t know you miss until it’s gone. It’s wildly practical, and its styling is among the best examples of utilitarianism done correctly. It’s a box, but it’s an attractive box, sort of like Giugiaro’s original Volkswagen Golf. It’s very, very easy to get a box wrong, surprisingly. Look at all the utility vehicles on the road that are completely forgettable; the Cherokee is not. Whether it’s the seven-slot grille or the perfect proportions, the Cherokee is surreptitiously attractive.
Our featured Cherokee was built in the last model year of production, and it’s hard to believe that this nearly-25-year-old SUV, based on a 45-odd-year-old design, is nearing the age requirement for collector plates. There’s no doubt that this would be a practical daily driver in any weather conditions. The dashboard is nearly as functional looking as the exterior, and the leather seats (heated, by the way) aren’t holding up too badly either, are they? And who else is looking at that cassette tape player and wondering what box in the basement holds your collection?
Under the hood is perhaps the Jeepiest of Jeep engines, the four-liter inline six, which produced 190 horsepower for 2001. I remember riding in a classmate’s parents’ XJ with the “High Output” 4.0, and it was surprisingly brisk for an SUV, as brisk as another classmate’s mid-’80s model with the GM 2.8 was lethargic.
Perhaps the best news about this Cherokee is that it’s completely rust free, and there are a boatload of pictures on eBay. This may not be the nicest Cherokee in the world, but it’s darn nice and I can imagine that bidding will really pick up on Sunday evening when the auction ends. It’s fun to learn new things, and I’ve learned that I’ve ignored these landmark SUVs for too long, but I think others have picked up on them, and it might take a bit of coin to take this one home.
Wow
With a 5 speed it would be over $10k.
And worth it.
Going nowhere but up in value.
Last time the dealer ran it through eBay it had a high bid of $9,300 but apparently the sale fell through.
Steve R
The current auction just closed on 12/22/2024, sold with a high bid of $9,695.00.
Steve R
If this still has its original “0331” cylinder head be careful of cracking! (A problem with the redesigned heads on the 2000-2001 models where metal was too thin.) Aftermarket heads are available beefed up to prevent the problem, or you can install a factory-updated “TUPY” head from a later model 4.0.
https://wranglertjforum.com/threads/how-to-identify-0331-or-tupy-head.8112/
We had 2 of these, they were tanks. A 2000 that went 230,000 miles and a 1998 that went 195,000. The rust got to them, we live in NEPA, but mechanically they were indestructible. One of these with 4WD and no rust is rare, plus the fancy interior. Good luck to the new owner, who will most likely be someone that had one previous, this one looks like a keeper.
the absence of rust is impressive
Lots of life left in that Cherokee. One of the cool things about finding a super nice early 2000’s Jeep, Toyota, GM or Ford 4X4 vehicle is the lack of electronic interfaces to the drivetrain. Just pull that lever to get the transfer case geared where you want it, and proceed to dig your way out of the snow bank, ditch or mud. Plus you got cigarette lighters and ashtrays front and rear, and radios with both CD player and a cassette player.
If you were really lucky, you got to get out in the rain and sleet to manually lock the front hubs on your Ford 4X4. Best of times for four wheelin’.
wow !
i.m.o. one of the best vehicles ever made; and the color, with the interior .. wow.
Im now a bidder :)
thank you Barn Finds
The best looking and practical box I ever owned. I bought a used 88 and had it for 7 years, no problems, never stuck, loved driving in. I stupidly sold it and bought a Grand Cherokee with the V8. I instantly regretted that decision the next day when 8 inches of snow was dumped and the Grand Cherokee was a pig compared to the XJ. Plenty of convenience items but it sucked. I have almost bought another one 10 or 12 times since. Inspect it, buy it, you will never regret the decision.
Got one in my driveway now, 1999 with 230k and still going strong. We have had to do extensive rust repair twice here in central PA but mechanically it’s been a tank. Starts in even the coldest temperatures. We bought it in 2011 for $1200. What a great investment.
These are way less problematic than the new jeeps We had one and it was the best ever
If you keep up the PM, these jeeps will never fail you. Nice looking unit.
i love the jeep just wish i could own it
I have a 1990 that’s will be 35 years old in June. I’m the original owner and currently have 334,375 miles on him. It truly is indestructible.