Jeep offered two bed lengths for their line of Comanche pickups and this 1988 Jeep Comanche Pioneer has the shorter of the two, at six feet. There was also a seven-foot bed available. They also offered either 4×4 or rear-wheel drive, and this one is the latter, so there will be limited off-roading here. They also offered several trim levels, including the Laredo, Chief, Eliminator, or the Pioneer as with this example.
First things first, or second since I’ve already written a paragraph about this Olympic White Jeep pickup: there appears to be a major issue with the title. According to the Vehicle history report, this Jeep has a listing on the report showing “water damage” in 1993 (hurricane?), then a salvage listing. It goes on to show a clear history until 2008 when it shows salvage again, and in 2009 shows front-end damage due to an animal collision and it’s murky since then. I just thought I’d mention that. It sure looks like a nice example, though, doesn’t it?
Jeep made the Comanche pickup from 1985 for the 1986 model year until the end of 1992. AMC could see that pickups, and especially small pickups, were starting to become daily drivers and they had a perfect platform for one in the smaller XJ Cherokee. There is no word if the tailgate is including, but since it’s not shown and isn’t mentioned, I wouldn’t bet on it.
Given this Jeep’s history, I don’t really see a flaw anywhere inside or out, and it has at least 211,000 miles, which is the last entry on the vehicle history report. About the only thing I see is some wear on the chrome door handle trim on the driver’s side. I wish they would have taken the steering wheel cover off, but that, along with the salvage history, isn’t scaring bidders off.
The engine is an AMC 242-cu.in. OHV inline-six with fuel injection and around 180 horsepower and 224 lb-ft of torque when new. It sends power through a four-speed automatic with a column selector to the rear wheels only. The seller says this is a “very clean original” and it runs great, but the AC isn’t working. It’s listed here on eBay in Rainbow City, Alabama, there is no reserve, and the current bid price is $4,950. Any thoughts on this Comanche?
Dodge took over jeep and started making the Dakota and within a few years quit production of the Comanche Probably because they put all their focus on the Dakota and kinda let the jeep go stale. This one is priced about right considering the mileage
This would be a retro/huge seller for Jeep if brought back to market. Keep it simple/fairly basic (let the aftermarket people, including MOPAR, sell the do dads)….$35,000 MSRP.
I went to a local car show, at a un-named Jeep dealer recently, and was flooded….cheapest Gladiator was $54,000….most were $75,000 and up. I didn’t even look at a RAM. No wonder slot of these dealers are sitting on 650 days of inventory for certain models.
The Italians and Germans have passed Chrysler around like a cheap “party girl” (trying to keep it
clean). No cash, no product development…
Sorry for rant….very nice find.
….floored and a lot…hate autocorrect
….forgot, no flipp’n EV crap. Develop or license Toyota’s gas/electric if you need to offer something “green” that’s reliable.
Bah, humbug…
I’m sure Stellantis will sell off Jeep when times get tough, as it’s really the only asset of value in their US portfolio. Let’s just hope it doesn’t end up in the hands of the enemy.
No “countdown to Howard” on a Jeep post? 3,2,1, blast off. Not my typical anti-Asian rant, just a little, this truck really offered almost everything a ferrin’ truck did, and in some cases, for less money. I read, this truck cost $12,900 new, when a similar Toyota was almost $14grand. The Jeep had a proven in line 6, and was made in good old Toledo Ohio, not Kakamigahara Japan. Just sayin’,,,neighbor has one, HE WILL NOT SELL, I asked, they are great trucks.
Oh, it should be noted, in 1990(?), Toyota began building trucks in California, but to a Yankee doodle dandy like me, it just wasn’t the same as a Jeep.
Howard, I ran across one these in Wisconsin (Lake Geneva area) years ago that had a Renault diesel as a factory option…owner said it was basically a tractor engine…he didn’t want to sell
Twice the truck the Dakota ever was.
The Comanche was a great little truck for all the right reasons. Roomy, tough, good power and affordable. In base trim it made a Dakota S look pale. Alas, the Dodge already had established itself and something had to give. If only all the fan bois had stormed the dealer to buy one they may have continued. Just sayin’.
Auction update: this one sold for a rock-bottom price of $4,950!