Some older SUVs perform better than others in the classic market, and a few have enough positive attributes that they can’t help but attract attention. This 1977 Jeep Cherokee Chief S is a perfect example of that philosophy. Its exterior presentation is hard to fault, and the freshly rebuilt engine and transmission mean it should offer a new owner many years of off-road adventures. It has a few minor needs but nothing that would prevent a new owner from hitting the road immediately. The seller listed it here on Craigslist in Moreno Valley, California. They set their price at $45,000 OBO, and I must say a big thank you to Barn Finder Pat L. for spotting this Jeep.
Examining the supplied photos of this 1977 Jeep Cherokee Chief S 4×4 reveals a vehicle that makes a positive first impression. Its original Tawny Orange paint shines nicely, with no significant flaws or problems. It is a similar story with the panels, while the decals look crisp and clean. There is no evidence of rust, and the seller doesn’t mention problems in their listing. If it has spent its life in California, that is significant because it may not have been exposed to an environment that will promote those sorts of issues. The chrome and wheels sparkle impressively, while there are no issues with the glass. If this Jeep presents as well in person as it does in the photos, it is a guaranteed head-turner.
Delving into this Jeep’s interior reveals one of the few areas worthy of criticism. The Brown upholstery on the door trims, rear trims, and the back seat looks excellent. I wish I could say the same for the front buckets, but both feature splits and tears that detract from an aspect of this classic that is almost perfect. The carpet is spotless, as are the dash, gauge fascia, and wheel. A quick online search revealed replacement front seat covers in the correct material and color, but they retail for $550. Fitting those would make a difference, but facing that cost on a vehicle within this price bracket is disappointing. It isn’t loaded with luxury appointments, but the factory air conditioning and AM/FM radio/cassette player would be welcome on long trips.
Although the interior provides some disappointment, the same can’t be said for the Jeep’s mechanical components. Powering this 4×4 is a 360ci V8 which sends 170hp and 280 ft/lbs of torque to the road via a four-speed manual transmission and a dual-range transfer case. Considering its curb weight of 4,340 lbs, this Cherokee’s ability to cover the ¼-mile in 17.4 seconds and cruise effortlessly at highway speeds is impressive. When the going gets tough, the fact that V8 produces most of its power and torque below 2,000rpm means it should effortlessly tackle almost any harsh terrain Mother Nature can throw at it. The news gets better the closer we examine this classic. It is a one-owner survivor with 80,000 miles on its odometer. The seller recently treated the numbers-matching engine and transmission to a professional rebuild while the tires are new. They don’t provide specific information on how it runs or drives, but the indications are positive.
If it weren’t for the damaged front seat upholstery, this 1979 Jeep Cherokee Chief S would tick all the right boxes for someone looking for a spotless off-roader. However, the damage is beyond repair, meaning the buyer needs to replace the front upholstery or invest in a pair of slipcovers to hide the problem. That raises the question of whether the seller’s price is justified. If you believe NADA or Hagerty, the answer is a resounding “no,” and by a fairly wide margin. However, I prefer to examine recent sales results to determine the truth. The survival rate for these classics hasn’t been great, meaning they don’t hit the market that often. The few that do seem to sell for around the $40,000 mark. Those don’t feature the recent mechanical care lavished on this Jeep, which is a mark in its favor. I think the seller may be overreaching slightly with their price, but if they are genuinely willing to negotiate, someone could drive away in a great off-roader.
When I worked for the Ohio EPA in the late 70s, we used these exact Jeeps to tow johnboats all around the state for fish shocking. These trucks would go anywhere and do anything.
Except pass a gas station?
$45,000?! Some of these asking prices are really crazy.
I’d think they’d do better to just put a reserve on it.
That said,these are cool rigs,but the paint finish was
usually pretty bad.Next door neighbor bought one new.It
was Red with a White top.It was a really nice looking rig.
Don’t sweat it, this car will bounce around the internet sales websites for two years until the seller finally lowers the price to a realistic amount. Sellers can list their cars for whatever they want, it doesn’t mean that someone’s dumb enough to pay that much…
They must have dropped the price. The current ad is for $26500.
Only ever seen the automatic trans in these. Cool stik shift, where’s the transfer case lever ?
It’s hidden under the dash . If you zoom in, you can see the black knob.
The Craigslist ad shows the asking price at $26,500 OBO.
I just clicked on the ad and price listed $26,500. At that price I think it will go fast. These are hard to find without the rust, and the 4spd manual also makes it more desirable.
Might be me but I don’t think is a Chief.They had flared fenders like the P/U had.I had a 1978 Chief and it had the bigger fenders and tyres.This looks like a normal Cherokee.
For that matter I had to do a double take since the two-door non flared ones are relatively rare compared tp Chiefs and “Wide Wheel” models (flared 2-doors without the rest of the “Chief” package, and 4-doors.
Yes my 1978 2dr was not a Chief package but had the flares and bigger tyres.
Chiefs also had a large decal covering the hood. Also may have had the 401 AMC engine.
Doing a search,it looks like they came both ways.
I think the flares were optional.
Yep this is a narrow track Cherokee just like the wagoneer. The fender flares were in the wide track axles.
Correct. This is a Cherokee “S”, same vehicle without the wider axles and flares of the Chief. A college friend had a white S like this with the 258 6 and Automatic. Slower than death itself but would still climb a tree in low range. He traded it for a new Bronco XLT which was like a Town Car in comparison to the Jeep.
Look at the 1979 Golden Eagle ad a few below this ad.That’s what a Chief looks like
OK, I am missing something the ad I saw was $26 k and B/F says $45 K. I had one of these way back when, it was the stripped down version and I know I didn’t have a thousand dollars in it. Drove it one winter and sold it. I also have seen the wagoners are getting pricey. I guess I need to keep up,
Compared to the similar Jepp listed today for $99,900, this must be a bargain, right? Right?