UPDATE – We just saw this 1986 Jeep Comanche X 4×4 with a unusual Renault diesel engine a month ago, and Mike F. noticed that the seller lowered their asking price and sent in the tip again. Thanks, Mike! The seller has it listed for sale again here on craigslist, just southwest of Denver, Colorado, and they dropped the asking price from $13,000 to $11,000 or offer. Will it sell this time?
FROM 12/5/2025 – I have a thing for 1986 Jeep Comanches. We’ve seen three of them on Barn Finds, and I wrote up each one. This 1986 Jeep Comanche X 4×4 diesel is my favorite of the bunch by far, and this one takes it to #11 as it’s a 4×4, 5-speed, and is powered by a turbo-diesel engine made by Renault, AMC’s partner in this era. The seller has it posted here on craigslist, southwest of Denver, and they’re asking $13,000 or offer. Here is the original listing, and thanks to Mike F. for the tip!
Come to papa! I would love to have this Jeep Comanche; it checks just about every box for me. It’s small, has 4WD, a 5-speed manual, not to mention it’s a rare diesel model, which came with standard power steering. It appears to be rust-free, and it’s Olympic White. I like colors, but for staying under the radar (figuratively and literally, as this diesel Jeep is slllllloooooowwwww), white is a good color. Also, for touch-ups, it’s usually easier than a metallic color. Now, about that price…
A “full-sized” hauling bed? Yes, at least for a small truck. I’ve been kicking around the idea of getting a new Ford Maverick, but I don’t need a four-door pickup and would want a bigger bed size. But I love the fact that they’re available in an AWD hybrid model. If it came in a SuperCab-size with a longer bed, I’d already have one. The bed on this Comanche, with an OEM Jeep rubber bedliner, according to the seller, would be more than long enough to haul my Rokon around, unlike the Maverick. I’m just assuming this truck has been repainted, but I don’t know for sure. I would want some period-correct Jeep wheels. I’m not sure if these would be from 1986 or not, I don’t see them in brochures.
The interior needs a bit of help, but it looks nice overall. I believe this is a mid-trim X model – although it would have had rubber flooring, not color-matched carpet. The top XLS had carpet, but it also had other pieces that don’t show up here, so I’m assuming this truck has had carpet added at some point. The seat looks good overall, but it’s ripped a bit on the driver’s side, and the radio is missing. Maybe an upgraded touchscreen unit with a backup camera was on the to-do list? This truck has five new tires, by the way. Hagerty is at $9,000 for a #3 good-condition truck, just for the record.
The Comanche was made from 1985 for the 1986 model year, until the end of 1992. By that point, AMC was long gone, but this Renault-sourced 2.1-liter SOHC inline-four turbo-diesel engine, offered for 1986 and 1987, is from the AMC/Renault era. It has 85 horsepower and 132 lb-ft of torque, and the seller says this one is rebuilt, as is the injector pump and turbo. Backed by a 5-speed manual sending power to all four wheels as needed, this would be an interesting and very useful truck to own, in my opinion. Have any of you had a Jeep with a Renault diesel?
When Jeep was in its prime they were the primary sponsors for the Rubicon, with the top sales people from around the world being flown in and staying in Reno for the weekend event as a reward for their sales. Jeep brought in their own Jeeps for them and one year a few diesel CJ’s came up the Little Sluice! As a Rock Warden we saw some crazy things but no one was expecting a CJ going so slowly that on the flats the driver could get out and casually walk next to it as it idled along with a light correction on the steering wheel as needed.
This Comanche would be another good addition, Scotty-not a Gran Turismo type but then again an MGBGT can’t haul as many Christmas trees home from a day out using a Christmas tree tag either.
Nevadahalfrack, if I had had a better year, I would offer $10,000 and see if I got any reply at all by the seller. If so, I’d sell my ’80 Dodge (Mitsubishi) D-50 Sport to make up some of the difference. This would be so much more truck than that thing is.
My first thought was that someone other than David Tracy needs to buy this. It wasn’t until my coffee kicked in that I put it together that this is local to Barn Finds HQ.
Something I always thought Jeep should’ve done with these is a sort of semi-extended cab using the production cab B pillar with the longer doors from the 2 door Cherokee.
nlpnt, yes on the extended cab! This truck would be 99.9% perfect with that feature.
Scotty, that extended cab version is dead on. That would have made a difference having that extra space in the cab. It really looks like Jeep did that. I like it.
He’d be crazy not to take your offer if you had, Scotty G. That’s the drawback for a lot of us though when we’re born good looking and not rich and in my case it was neither! 😂
These trucks are finally getting respect from people,and
the values have gone up.
I used to tell people that the smartest one in our family
was adopted.Explains a lot.
Wow, a Diesel Jeep Comanche!!! I don’t remember these at all. I agree with you about the carpet Scotty, they just have a slit for where the stick shift is sticking up through the floor. But hey, it wouldn’t take a lot to take this one up a notch. Love the fact its a diesel.
Neat and ultra rare Jeep.
You all can fight over that diesel. I’ll take one with a run of the mill 4.0. I served my year long sentence in a diesel Rabbit and operated plenty of heavy equipment. Looks nice, but I can’t see this being much more inspiring.
Wow, back in the day I worked at a factory-owned (Dealer Investment) AMC/Jeep/Renault store and don’t believe we ever had a Renault diesel-powered Commanche/Cherokee on the lot or the service drive. Did hear of them but the ordering department didn’t want to take a chance – as I recall the pricing scheme had them 15-20% more expensive than their gas contemporaries.
wrkin ona Blk one right now. Has an i6 fav: the 258 (may B 242?). The mitsu diesel would B nice! Got prts/labor in the mid 4 digits into it now. Almost finished. Her partner brings in her own 4 wheeler: a Sami. These gals no what ta have for 2nd cars !
I work at a jeep dealership today and I have worked at different jeep dealerships since 1993 and have heard of diesel Cherokees and my family has 3 Cherokees from the 1990’s. I heard backin the day that there were diesel Cherokees in Europe.
Geez…did I really send this in in December? Uh oh, short term memory is failing…don’t remember it. Probably wouldn’t have sent it in again if I had known. Mea culpa!
Ha! No worries, Mike, I love this thing, I could look at it every month – preferably in our garage.
I also took a gander at the Ford Maverick and like Scotty walked away because the only body style available is a four door which makes the bed virtually useless. It won’t haul my kayak so that kills it right there. Note to Ford: not everyone wants a four door pickup.
Amen to that, Carbob!
Beautiful looking Jeep Comanche. I’ve always liked the idea of a Turbo Diesel engine being offered. If I were to buy one, I’d upgrade the engine and gearbox to a Duramax LWN 2.8 Turbo Diesel.
I don’t recall ever seeing one with the diesel engine. Now I’m more curious and I kinda want it
Same here. I’ve heard of Jeeps being available with the diesel engine option, but I’ve never seen one up close.
Odd Jeep here the rims are from a early Cherokee model