My vehicle tastes change more than they do for most people. Some people find a theme and they stick with it, not me. I go from being interested in King Midgets, Crosleys, and Metropolitans and last year I went way overboard on vintage Japanese cars. I’m really into small pickups now, like this 1987 Jeep Comanche. This little beauty is listed on eBay with a $4,500 buy it now price. It’s located in Spartanburg, South Carolina.
I recently saw a 4-speed Comanche but in a medium blue color with a nice topper on the back, it was in a parking ramp and the owner had just gotten into it. I stood by the window and I’m sure he thought that I was a carjacker but he put down the window and I started asking him about his truck. He had just gotten it for $2,500 – ouch. It looked almost as nice as this red Comanche is but it wasn’t this clean and shiny. The seller says that this Comanche is an “absolutely rust free survivor” and it sure looks great. I’m assuming that this 1987 Comanche was made under the AMC umbrella in late-1986 but I’m not sure. In 1987 Chrysler took over Jeep production.
This truck is a short-bed 2WD, 4-speed version. Jeep also made, of course, 4WD Comanches and a 7-foot bed was also available as opposed to this 6-footer. A 5-speed and an automatic would have also been available. The interior looks as nice as I would ever want in a 31-year old truck and it has power steering, power brakes, and AC. There are a couple of trim pieces missing that show up on the headliner photo but other than that, and needing a new radio, this thing is as clean as Felix Unger’s sock drawer.
This AMC fuel-injected 2.5L inline-four engine looks as clean as a whistle (who says that anymore?!). The seller says that the “motor runs great, transmission shifts smooth in all gears and drives at 70 mph smooth and straight. New tires on the front. Brakes work great.” They also mention that it has a new gas tank. This is a really nice looking truck. Have any of you owned a Comanche? If so, what was your experience with it?
I had an 87 4×4 “sport truck” in blue. 4 seed I4 like this one. Purchased it at auction in 90 for 3k drove it a year after my dad put in a new clutch. Great little truck was perfect for my college days in Canton NY.
Ah the memories 😎
My late father in law had one in dark blue
with a grey interior. And while his was
somewhat weathered ny that famous Florida sun, it ran and drove great although his had a 258 cube six cylinder
in it. What a truck for hauling Sunday newspapers! Very compact and cargo
capable too. We had a deal until my
wife said “Hell no!” Like this one, it was a
4-speed– something the Mrs. didn’t want
to fool around with while delivering papers. Funny how her mind changed when I bought her that ’85 Cavelier 4-door
sedan with a 4-speed in it. Never, ever will I figure out women!
I had an 87 2wd, 7 foot bed, 4 cylinder 5 speed. Fuel injection system caught on fire, and the whole thing went up in flames.
Yikes!
What a great find. The only way it would be cooler is if had the Renault diesel.
It’s no longer available. Ebay link took me to a 1976 Vega.
I was always surprised that the frame on these held up as well as they did.
Yeah, somebody got a good buy, got to be fast on these. I don’t have much experience with the 4 banger. It was popular, however.
Re: Opening line. There’s a reason the authors taste changes so often, folks, this guy likes ALL cars. I don’t recall him saying anything bad about any car he describes. I mean, most folks like some things about most cars ( me included) but I’ve never met a person who has such a varied taste and affection in vehicles. BF’s is lucky to have Scotty as a writer.
Amen! I appreciate your style too, Scotty.
And nice truck!
I remember the Jeep Comanche truck. I was too young to drive at the time. But I remember being impressed with its styling. It looked like a pickup truck version of the XJ Jeep Cherokee. I remember being disappointed when the Comanche was discontinued when it was.
My dad ordered one new in 86 when they first came out. Auto, long box ect. It had the 4 cyl that is just a chopped off 6. After he passed away my cousin got it and drove it into the ground with over 200,000 miles it was still going but he junked it because the head gasket blew. Fantastic little truck.
That is definitely an American thing, to junk a car because of an easy fix.
I just bought another XJ Cherokee 2door and keep up with 3 Comanches in my neighborhood. These are pretty stout trucks with an 8 inch frame underneath. I’d love to have a Gladiator or J10/20 too if these local guys would turn them loose. Longtime Wagoneer owner here.
These were built with a kind of a hybrid unibody chassis. Heavy boxed stamped frame rails and components but a completely welded one piece body/frame structure. I had one and liked it, however I think people may have had a hard time warming up to a pickup without body on frame construction. Things are different today.
I had an ’87 Cherokee Sport with this drivetrain. The 2.5 was bullet- proof! It would also do amazing burnouts! I’ve always wanted a short bed Comanche, this one was a good find, and sold at a good price too.
I had an ‘86 Comanche that my brother in law blew the 2.8L 5spd in. Ordered a 2.8L short block and dropped it in. Black with red interior and absolutely no frills. 2wd but I put mud tires on it with red modular rims ( remember those?) and proceeded to date and marry my wife in it. I had push bars and off-road stuff on it. She hated it. I want it back.
I actually did own a pretty beat 87 model around 98 or so. Bought it for $900, sold it two years later for #700. Poor gas mileage. But shockingly reliable. ALWAYS started no matter how cold.
My parents had an ‘84 Cherokee 4 cyl 4 speed – had a one bbl carb that would vibrate itself in half! Constantly stalled and would run on so bad after you shut it off that you had to dump the clutch in 3rd gear to save some embarrassment. Years later I drove a Comanche with a 4.0 six and a 5 speed – what a hoot to drive! That sucker could light the tires up all the way through second gear!
My ex had an 84 Cherokee too, so I am familiar with the carb issues described by Kirt.
I’ve looked at a couple of Comanches, both of which were utterly free of options, 4 cyl, 4 speed, no air and no power steering. At the time, small Japanese pickups were still very basic so I suspect those were loss leader specials to try to be competitive, though the Jeep Cherokee/Comanche platform was more substantial than those Asian products.
Keep in mind the Renault ownership of AMC at the time. The early fuel injection system was a Renix (sp?) system. I’m not saying that to be critical, it may be fine, I just wonder about parts availability as compared to the later systems which were Chrysler derived.
Based on my experience with my ex wife’s, in my opinion the body of these were overbuilt. As they were the first unibody Jeep products (unless you want to count the Vietnam era Mutt’s) I think AMC just played it safe with the design. Even the rusty ones seem to be only superficially affected. I see many of those converted into “mud trucks” for use strictly off road.
I owned one exactly like it and loved it. It even pulled back home for me a huge metal floored trailer with a 74 Blazer on it back like a 100 miles. I admit on the big hills it slowed down to about 35 on the highway but it made it back just fine with that little four banger. Never had a problem with it.
Just found this post while Googling parts. This truck looked familiar…since I just bought one just like it in SC two weeks ago!
Anyways, clean little truck with a few quirks I’m working out. Anyone have any suggestions on what I should do to make this lady really shine?