This is one of those listings I suspect will be pulled down before the weekend is over. First of all, survivors of any variety typically don’t linger on the classifieds, but when said survivor is also a desirable model with the some unique options, it practically guarantees the first or second prospective buyer will take it home. This 1993 Jeep Cherokee two-door is equipped with the desirable 5-speed manual, shows just 84,000 miles, and is a rust-free specimen from the Pacific Northwest. Find it here on craigslist for $9,900.
Thanks to Barn Finds reader Barney for the tip. That’s also a very fair price for an XJ-series Cherokee with the unkillable 4.0L inline-six under the hood. While I will always recommend that sellers of vehicles like this list the vehicle themselves and avoid the multiple-week delays that come with listing a vehicle on the major auction platforms, this is a case where I might actually recommend such a vendor because I’m sure this Cherokee would pull more than $10,000 with sufficient eyeballs. The paint is glossy, the wheels are blemish-free, and the plastic trim is lustrous with no discernable sun fading.
The XJ is a significant vehicle in automotive history, effectively paving the way for the modern-day SUV as we know it. The only difference between the XJ and what passes today for an SUV is that the Cherokee actually had the chops to go off-road without leaving its owner stranded, whereas todays behemoths are overstuffed luxury barges that are meant to never leave the pavement. The Cherokee offered occupants a comfortable, clean interior with excellent visibility and no frills, and when that inline-six was paired with a 5-speed, it was even a bit of a driver’s SUV, as Hagerty’s Jason Cammisa shows you in this video.
Looking out the front windshield offers a wonderful view, with plenty of glass, skinny A-pillars, and a gorgeous set of analog gauges. The 4.0L produces just the right amount of horsepower and torque, clocking in at a respectable 190 b.h.p. and 225 lb.-ft. of torque. The balance of the Cherokee is where it truly shines, with seemingly just the right amount of everything. Many of them have been driven hard and put away wet, broken, and poorly modified, so finding a bone-stock truck clearly loved by its owners is a major find for the Jeep enthusiast. Don’t walk – run – if you’ve had one on your shopping list.
I see the price has come down since I looked at one of these 25 years ago. They wanted 10K back then.
This would have sold immediately here in the east. 2 door, 5 speed, low miles, great price, no rust.
Sell in a day, or minutes
I couldn’t write a check fast enough.
Sometimes I think people in rust free states don’t realize how lucky they are.
Right motor, Right transmission, Right number of doors and the good seats. Sure looks good from here. About those doors. The two door is the same length as the 4-door. No sacrifice in comfort or utility.
Interesting factoid I learned after my kid recently bought a ’99: one of the few cars built under 3 different manufacturers— AMC, Chrysler, Daimler.
And with seats from Renault, if I remember correctly
Renault designed the XJ…
That seat design was the best for adapting to different size drivers and creating rear seat foot room. Alas it was not airbag compliant. A similar design was also found in Chevrolet Baretta and Corsica.
The head cracked on the one I had.
They could easily get 12K for this XJ now. Good luck with the sale.
I agree, I can’t believe it’s still for sale. Too bad for me I’m 3,129 miles away!
Me too. For rust free it’s probably worth the shipping cost.
No AC kills it for me in Alabama.
I had a 2 door BLACK, 4 speed 1985, my first new car. No AC.
Cooked my kids for a couple years! No rear windows to lower. And that was in PA.
Love these!! Favorite era!!
One in this condition is rare, rare, rare, and to the right eyeballs worth a whole lot more.
I have a ’99 in similar condition, 4WD, 5sp., super clean and everything works as it should, cold a/c, daily driver, and I would not part with for nearly twice that money.
The only downside for a 2dr is terrible back seat access.
Love these, like most everyone. Drove a couple with this powertrain, very snappy, surprised me actually how quick they were and fun to drive.
The XJ is a landmark car, but this one’s missing the feature that made it one. Four doors was a gamechanger for these, one that took GM and Ford an insanely long time to answer in retrospect, and outsold the 2 door Cherokees by probably 100 to 1.
Every year from the mid ’80s through the ’90s I’d look at Car and Driver’s “Charting the Changes” expecting to see certain things:
1) The general run-down of minor grille and taillight changes, especially early on when certain more “traditional” cars were doing enough volume they could do it every year in an increasingly faint echo of the old styling cycle.
2) The running joke about the Mercury Marquis’ long-promised, never delivered “de Sade edition”
and 3) The cull of slow-selling versions of otherwise hot models, especially ones that slowed the line down.
I was always expecting every year to be the last for the 2-door Cherokee but it made it to the end of the XJ run, presumably much to the dealers’ chagrin.
Funny how now the 2-doors are more desirable and rare than the 4-doors are.
This checks a lot of boxes.
The only thing stopping me from calling the guy and telling him I can be there tomorrow morning cash in hand is I’ve already got a two door Cherokee, how many do you need? From all appearances this is a great Cherokee. I hope it goes to a good home.
An AMC masterpiece!
Excellent find and well worth the price. I really miss my 1988 2 door 5 speed 4 liter Laredo. The 1993 featured here still has the squarish tail-light which is carried over from the original AMC/Jeep design. I like that, this is the final refinement of the original. My first reaction is that since this one is a rather base model, it would be less desirable. The more I think about it, I believe that it makes it more desirable. Hand crank windows, no bulky center console, no roof rack or sunroof. Best of all, the Pacific Northwest keeps rusty away!
The more basic, the better.
These are easy to work on and parts are plentiful and cheap.
That said, replacing the front U-Joints went from a projected afternoon job to two full weekends. Spoiler: don’t try saving the hubs of a 26 y.o. 4WD. Torches and a big-ass metric ball peen are the ticket.
I got mine where everything works as it should right down to the cruise control.
The only negative on this one is the 2-Door configuration. Takes away a great deal in not having the easy access to the rear compartment when the Seat is folded flat.
Some people including me prefer the two door version.
I view that as a big +.
My daily driver is a 2-door XJ, kind of a useful toy. The wife drives the newer sled.
Really nice Jeep. A friend had one back in the day and it was a great driver.