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Untouched Survivor: 1975 Jeep Cherokee Sport

Jeep was merrily producing Wagoneers since about 1963, moving the vehicle ever upscale, but the market was ripe for a cheaper version of the popular SUV that could appeal to a younger crowd. The first Cherokees were simply two-door Wagoneers with less trim, brought out in 1974 and named after the famous American Indian tribe. The “S” or “Sport” version was western-themed, with its Indian-blanket patterned side stripe, faux tooled-leather look trim on vinyl seats, and Indian-head trim inside. In the early years of Jeep production, all Cherokees were “narrow track”, with regular axles. Later, the Chief arrived on the scene, with wide axles. These two models seem to confuse even Jeep fans, but we’re here to help. And the first person we’re going to help is the seller of this vehicle here on eBay, a 1975 Jeep Cherokee S, bid to $9,800, reserve not met, located in Trevor, Wisconsin. The seller calls this a Chief, but it’s not; it’s an “S” and thanks to Jeep, it’s easy to mistake one for the other. The giveaway is the VIN. In 1975, the “17” in the middle of the VIN identified the truck as a narrow track “S”. But get this: if the Jeep were a 1977 model, that same “17” meant it was a wide-track Chief. Worse yet, the Chief could be ordered with “S” trim. Confused yet? Barn Finder T.J. deserves thanks for this tip!

While the base model received a 232 cu. in. six-cylinder, customers who didn’t care about the gas embargo could upgrade to AMC’s 360 cu. in. V8. That’s what we have here. This motor was available paired with either a two-barrel or a four-barrel carburetor, making either 175 or 195 bhp, and both configurations were abundantly torquey. This Jeep has a three-speed automatic which came with the QuadraTrac four-wheel-drive system. Indicated mileage is 118,974, and the seller reports that the truck runs great.

The carpets and seats are excellent, given mileage and age. The rear seats show off that desirable faux tooling. The dash vinyl is warped in a few places. This truck is being sold by a dealer so it will need to pass a safety check assuring that lights and brakes work, at the least, but I’d want to know about the gauges too. The glass appears good, even the rubber seals aren’t bad.

This rear view highlights the blanket-pattern trim strip. The panels and bumper appear straight; the top shows a few nicks here and there. The undercarriage needs some love and affection for sure. But all in all, the condition of this rare survivor is commendable, and I’m hoping it will find a sympathetic home that will maintain it just as is.

Comments

  1. Avatar Stevieg

    Here in Wisconsin, all car dealers are legally required to fill out a vehicle inspection form that requires the dealer to notify buyers of any fault with the vehicle. If ya wanna know if the gouges work, it is on that form.
    I used to have 2 used car lots here in Milwaukee County, I filled out thousands of those disclosure forms.
    If this dealer doesn’t have one filled out, it is really easy to report him/her.
    If this is the dealer I think it is, I bought a couple cars from him for family members, and he is a straight guy with nice cars and very honest.
    Trevor is in Kenosha County, right up the road from where this beauty was bolted together. These used to be everywhere around here, now I haven’t seen one in decades!
    My aunt had a 1980 similar to this. That thing went through all sorts of obscene weather!

    Like 16
    • Avatar Michelle Rand Staff

      Great information, thanks!

      Like 7
      • Avatar Stevieg

        Notta problem!

        Like 3
    • Avatar Jon P Leary

      “Any fault”?? Like a tear in the vinyl top? A missing owners manual? Dents? dings? Low oil in the A/c condenser? MIsaligned headlight?

      Like 0
  2. Avatar angliagt Member

    Our next door neighbor bought one like this,only it was red.
    I think the two doors look great.

    Like 4
  3. Avatar Jason

    While everybody goes nuts about old Wagoneers these days, it always seemed like these were far more common on the roads. My grandfather owned a Cherokee Sport very similar to this one, but in black. I don’t remember exactly what the issue was as I was very young at the time, but I do know that he didn’t have it for long, due to some recurring problem that the dealer could never quite fix. He replaced it with a full-size Bronco and ended up owning three or four of those.

    Like 2
  4. Avatar Neil

    Why is there an orphan ignition coil sitting on top of the engine? I see the big distributor cap on the right– but why is unplugged coil on the left?

    Like 2
    • Avatar That AMC Guy

      It’s been upgraded to a GM HEI distributor which has the coil in the cap, so the original is unused.

      For 1975 the factory ignition for AMC was a Prestolite electronic system with a plastic vacuum advance. It was not very reliable.

      Like 6
  5. Avatar Mitch

    Rare to see one in this condition. This one also has a pleasing
    colour combination – these things really go through any terrain.
    Only the Russians still build something similar. The rusty
    underside is feasible. Where carriers are already rusted through,
    replace the whole carrier with equivalent grade steel.
    (I would unbolt the body and ‘dive’ the whole frame in the
    cathode bath. It will never rust again!)

    I remember this things drinks too much and the free-wheel hubs
    can also jam.

    Cool 4×4 and I hope it finds a new good owner.

    Like 3
  6. Avatar Shuttle Guy Member

    So I’m a 1975 high school graduate and when these came out all I could think of was how ugly they were compared to the Blazer and then the restyled Bronco’s in ’77. But looking at that today I realize “what a dumb kid.” :)

    BEAUTIFUL! Even in yellow. With “Woke” America today the Cherokee name would never fly!

    Like 7
    • Avatar Jeepman82

      Chrysler still makes the Jeep Cherokee

      Like 1
  7. Avatar Rufus

    I had one in the mid 80’s and it was a bear! I went about 500 miles to pick up a 57 Roadmaster “Barn Find” and towed it back. Jeep never missed a beat, and towed the Buick on a flatbed at 70 miles an hour like it was not even there. Of course it only got 5 miles to a gallon.
    Mine was a 4 speed. Great Truck!

    Like 3
  8. Avatar FordFixer Member

    I bought one in 77 in Durango, Colo. it was basic, but had the 360 and a floor mounted 3 speed. Manual 4WD, not QuadraTrac. It was a good runner in all weather, not toooo bad on gas. no Ac, it used up the electronic boxes pretty regular, just like the couple wagoners I one’d previously. But a great truck. Baby seats and two doors didn’t mix, so after a few years, went to a four door vehicle.

    Like 0
  9. Avatar Glenn Schwass Member

    That’s sweet. The AMC color inside reminds me of my Mom’s 74 Hornet I learned to drive in. The steering wheel was in the Chef’s 2 door Matador that I practiced my 3 on the tree driving in, in 1980? It was messed up and shook like jellow due to being wrecked, but I can drive a stick with my eyes closed thanks to him. I never finished my 57 that had 3 on the tree. But the next 3 vehicles were sticks after that.

    Like 0
  10. Avatar Michael_a

    This is a flip. Saw it on eBay a few months ago. It is out of Arizona. The tailgate was rotted all to hell, and had a huge dent on the right side (passenger). You can tell the patch job, and different paint. Front seat bottoms were redone as well. Missing the intricate inserts found on the back seat.

    The write up on this isn’t exactly accurate. There were Wide Track Cherokees that were not Chiefs. Chief was a decal package. The Chief decal package was available on the narrow tracks, we just never see it. Although, we do see a lot of Wide Track Cherokees that are not Chiefs. I have a lot of original literature from AMC/Jeep in the 70s. I have a few years of the options list and the “Chief” package was offered on the NTs.

    Another interesting point about options is that the 401 engine as not available when the potential buyer requested a manual transmission.

    Jeep did confuse the masses with the Chief emblem on the Cherokee ‘S’.

    Like 1
  11. Avatar Guggie 13

    nice Jeep , miss the one I had !

    Like 0

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