Let’s face it. SUVs can be prone to some of the worst rust problems you will find in the classic world. Many see snow and salt while mud and other nasties hide inside fender wells and other isolated areas, assisting tin worm to do their worst. That isn’t the case with this 1978 Jeep Wagoneer. It has spent its life in the drier regions of California and Nevada before finding its way to its current location, and it remains rust-free and unmolested. Its presentation is excellent for its age, and the only thing it needs is a new home. The Jeep is listed here on eBay in Melbourne, Florida. The owner has set their BIN at $37,500 but will entertain offers. I must thank eagle-eyed Barn Finder T.J. for spotting this fantastic survivor.
This Sand Tan Wagoneer presents well and has a known history that helps its cause. It has spent its life in drier areas, and the seller indicates it has never experienced any rust issues. They sanded and polished the paint to achieve an impressive shine, which is perfectly contrasted by the faux woodgrain inserts. The panels are straight, and the gaps are consistent. The trim looks excellent for its age, including the factory hubcaps. That last point is worth mentioning because off-road adventures often leave them battered and dented. The Wagoneer features tinted glass, and I can’t spot any flaws or defects. I would hesitate to describe this classic as being in showroom condition, but it is one of the tidiest original and unmolested Wagoneers from this period I have seen for a while.
The original owner ordered this Jeep powered by a 360ci V8. It is the 4V version, producing 174hp and 280 ft/lbs of torque. The power feeds to the road via a three-speed automatic transmission and the company’s Quadra-Trac four-wheel-drive system. The vehicle’s power output and a curb weight of 4,230lbs mean the Wagoneer isn’t a muscle car, although its ability to cover the ¼ mile in 18.5 seconds and cruise all day at freeway speeds is impressive. With the interior space it offers, it could be a great candidate for those contemplating a cross-country adventure. It is worth noting that the V8 delivers its maximum power and torque at around 3,000rpm, meaning the driver doesn’t need to wring its neck to extract the best from this beast. The seller indicates it runs and drives with no apparent needs. Potential buyers can feel added confidence because they include comprehensive service records for the last thirty years.
Plaid cloth upholstery can be an acquired taste, and it does tend to polarize our readers. That is what the buyer receives when they climb aboard this Jeep, and its overall condition is better than I expected for a vehicle from a hot and dry climate. There is no evidence of significant wear or sun rot, although the front buckets exhibit minor discoloring. There is a visible water stain on the rear seat, but the rest of the interior is exceptional. There are no signs of significant wear or marks on the carpet, the dash is spotless, and there’s no crumbling plastic. I think someone has fitted a retro-look stereo, but there are no further additions. The seller recently upgraded the air conditioning, and it blows ice-cold. The original owner ticked the box for cruise control, helping the driver avoid aching legs after an extended period behind the wheel.
This 1978 Jeep Wagoneer is a survivor in exceptional condition. Twenty-five people are watching the listing, and you must wonder whether one of them might hit the BIN button to drive it home. It is unclear what offer the seller might entertain, but I have some idea of their expectations. I located a previous auction listing for this Jeep where it failed to sell with the highest bid of $28,000. NADA suggests a top-end value of $28,800, while Hagerty lists a #2 vehicle at $31,100. Recent sales results indicate that a figure north of $32,000 is a realistic expectation. Whether they accept an offer in that region is debatable because it does represent a substantial drop from their current price. Still, making such an offer with complete respect might be worth a shot. You have nothing to lose with that approach, and you never know, but today could be your lucky day.
Wow that’s a lot of money.
I’m pro-plaid generally. Subaru did it better, though, and would take up much less garage space. (Sadly, both snow fighters in those years rusted like it’s an Olympic sport).
I realize these have become somewhat rare and desirable but the $$ has gotten a bit much.
The excitement of owning this will be a distant memory in about 6 months…
The seller is hoping that some of the Ford Bronco pricing rubs off onto the Jeeps.
Eeeep,,,again, supply and demand, ka-ching! Hollywood uses a black and white one( get it, black and white, like the dog) as a ubiquitous vintage SUV in their cheesy ads, so that might explain the price. My views on these are somewhat well known, I bitxx about it everytime one comes up, for the record, they are great vehicles, IF, you can find one, that is. My personal experiences aside, which weren’t good, mostly rust related, some had great luck, and they spawned a whole movement of classy SUVs, I think. Caught the Asians with THEIR pants down, for once. The Landcruiser got noticeably cushier after the Grand Cherokee came out. I think the Quadra-trac was kind of new, the switch in the glove box on mine, seemingly did nothing, and whatever you do, DON’T put lockouts on the front, in an effort to increase the dismal fuel mileage, it won’t move. 10ish,,less in the snow, and MINE WAS A 6 CYLINDER!! It was one of the few 4x4s, the full size Bronco, also a 6 cylinder, was another, I could actually watch the gas gauge drop. I think most, even the ones that like these, will admit, this is a bit steep for this.
It’s funny reading the comments about how this unbelievably pristine looking survivor Waggy is overpriced but people falling all over themselves for a similar condition and priced Firebird.
And spare the ‘rarity’ thing…find another survivor AMC era Wagoneer in this condition.
Nice looking Wagoneer. But for that scratch it ought not have the grille rattle canned, the funky rear ride height or the wrong wheel covers. Something looks weird about the front turn signals too.
yeah, wouldn’t that be more priced for total oem? I don’t think sellers (or most buyers) know what they get for older cars (its late ’70s tech for god’s sake), And this one’s not from the 1st or 2nd rate manufacturer. I have a 1st gen bronk and its a death trap, literally (w/o a frame tied bar). And that’s on the street, not Moab.
Overpriced a little, but it is clean as a whistle
Agree with most here, it’s real nice and also real expensive, although maybe the seller would take less?