| Jeep Wagoneer |
Article Index for Jeep |
Website Links For Jeep |
Information AboutJeep Wagoneer |
| CATEGORIES ABOUT JEEP WAGONEER | |
| jeep vehicles | |
| fullsize | |
| wagoneer | |
| suvs | |
| all wheel drive vehicles | |
| rear wheel drive vehicles | |
| 1960s automobiles | |
| 1970s automobiles | |
| 1980s automobiles | |
| 1990s automobiles | |
This is the article about the full-size Wagoneer. For the Compact 1984-1990 Wagoneer, see Jeep Cherokee XJ . The ''' platform. It debuted seven years (24 years in the United States) before the Land Rover Range Rover . The Wagoneer was also a more luxurious version of the Jeep Cherokee , introduced in 1984, based on the Jeep XJ Platform , after which the original Wagoneer remained in production as the Grand Wagoneer. BEGINNINGS Conceived in the early 1960s while Jeep was owned by Kaiser Industries (better known as , which was a retractable-roof Station Wagon also designed by Stevens and introduced in the 1963 model year. The original Wagoneer was a full-size, body-on-frame vehicle which shared its architecture with the Jeep Gladiator Pickup Truck . It was originally available in two and four-door body styles, with the two-door also available as a Panel Truck with windowless sides behind the doors and double "barn doors" in the rear instead of the usual tailgate and roll-down rear window. The two-door models were discontinued in 1968. Early Wagoneers were powered by Willys' new "Tornado" SOHC 230 in³ six-cylinder engine. This engine was replaced in 1966 by American Motors' 232 in³ OHV six-cylinder engine. In years 1964-1966 a 352 cu in Packard V-8 from Studebaker-Packard was also available. A special Super Wagoneer appeared from 1966 to 1969 with the AMC 327 in³ or Buick 350 in³ V8 engines. The Super Wagoneer is considered the grandfather of today's luxury SUVs, equipped as it was with many power and convenience features not found on other vehicles of its type at the time. THE AMC YEARS When AMC purchased Kaiser-Jeep in 1970, the decision was made to refine and upgrade the Jeep lineup, and from 1971 on, only AMC engines would be offered in the Wagoneer. The 2-door version was reintroduced in 1974 as the Cherokee . These models employed AMC engines with General Motors and later, Chrysler transmissions. In 1978, the fully-loaded Wagoneer Limited debuted to critical acclaim and high demand. Not even the 1966 to 1969 Super Wagoneer had been so well equipped. The Limited, which debuted with a then eye-popping price of US$10,500 (then considered Cadillac territory), offered buyers air conditioning, power-adjustable seats, power door locks and windows, tilt steering wheel, cruise control, leather upholstery, plush carpeting and, most distinctively, exterior woodgrain trim. The Limited was instantly popular with those who desired "a little more", and sales were strong from the beginning. The early 1980s saw Jeep demand (except for the Wagoneer Limited) dimmed by rising fuel prices, so AMC engineers made the company's 258 in³ six-cylinder engine as standard, although the well-heeled continued to buy the bigger, more powerful AMC 360 in³ V8 almost exclusively, despite its greater thirst for fuel. THE GRAND WAGONEER ]] The Wagoneer and Cherokee names were reapplied to the new, much-smaller Unibody XJ platform in 1984. However, the SJ Wagoneer Limited was renamed Jeep Grand Wagoneer and marketed as a more luxurious SUV, though mechanically unchanged. Despite the vehicle's advancing age, the Grand Wagoneer remained popular. AMC executives, sensing the need to update the old ark, if only slightly, ordered up a redesign of the instrument panel, grille and taillamps in 1986, with the woodgrained sides coming in for a minor redo in 1987, the year that ownership of the company passed to Chrysler Corporation . Chrysler, for its part, left the Grand Wagoneer mostly alone, and even continued to build the Grand Wagoneer with the AMC V8 instead of its own modern fuel-injected V8s. Chrysler only added a few new features (namely, an overhead console and rear-window wiper) in the last years of production. The final 1,560 SJ Grand Wagoneers were produced in the 1991 model year, though it appears that four individual vehicles were produced as 1992 models to fulfill existing orders. Each of these "Final Editions" were finished off with a "Final Edition" badge, proudly displayed on the dashboard. After 30 years of production, the reign of the Grand Wagoneer came to an end. 1993 GRAND WAGONEER With the passing of the Grand Wagoneer, Chrysler executives pinned their hopes on the new 1993 Jeep Grand Cherokee , which was originally meant to replace both the smaller Cherokee and the larger Grand Wagoneer. While preparing the Grand Cherokee, Chrysler executives learned that both the Cherokee and Grand Wagoneer were still quite popular; but the cost of updating the Grand Wagoneer was too great, while the Cherokee seemed to be viable with minor updates. The Cherokee would continue through 2001, but after killing the Grand Wagoneer, the company decided to add a surprising new model after the start of the 1993 model year. In their effort to retain the true Grand Wagoneer faithful, Chrysler made what could be called, at best, a halfhearted attempt to introduce a Grand Wagoneer based on the new Grand Cherokee. With Chrysler's 5.2 L V8, special faux woodgrain trim, special plush leather seating, and extra sound deadening as standard, the "new" Grand Wagoneer unfortunately looked like what it was: an overdecorated Grand Cherokee. This Grand Wagoneer was smaller, had less interior space, and lacked the imposing road presence of the original. In addition, the woodgrain trim of these Grand Cherokee-based vehicles was notorious for flaking off, and unlike the older Wagoneers, it is rare to find '93 "Wagoneers" with the faux-wood intact. The faithful were not fooled and the 1993 Grand Wagoneer did not sell as Chrysler executives had hoped. Thus, the end came once more for the Grand Wagoneer. TRIVIA
REFERENCES EXTERNAL LINKS
|
|
|