56K Miles 1987 Jeep Wagoneer Limited

Today’s Picks It’s a 1987 Jeep Wagoneer Limited listed on ClassicCars.com by a Missouri dealer.

When I was a kid, my taste in cars was about what you’d expect a little boy to have. I had a Hot Wheels Lamborghini Countach (in white, of course), as well as 1:18 models of the Diablo and Ferrari 550 Maranello. If it wasn’t from a European company, had a gorgeous body, and was incredibly fast, I wasn’t interested. Looking back, that was because I knew nothing about cars. In fact, I had no idea what I really wanted because I was too young to drive and had no basis for comparison (or concept of financial reality). I also didn’t like more refined, utilitarian vehicles, like this 1987 Jeep Wagoneer Limited.

Cherokee may not be in its name, but it is in its DNA. Not only was the Wagoneer Limited the little brother of the full-size Grand Wagoneer of the time, it was also the top-of-the-line version of the XJ Cherokee. To differentiate it from other Cherokees, Jeep gave it a special grille and stacked headlights. To make it instantly recognizable as a Wagoneer model, they added wood-grain style vinyl to the sides.

This 1987 car has been well preserved and owned by a long-time owner, and features an attractive combination of Midnight Blue with a Dark Sand leather and cloth interior. The cabin features power windows and locks, power steering and brakes, power front seats, air conditioning, and—surprisingly—more faux wood. The original radio has been replaced with a Kenwood head unit, but it came with the car.

Young me would have hated it because it was a boxy utility vehicle made by an American company. The simple design and the fact that it could do things that exotic sports cars couldn’t was what appealed to the now married, more pragmatic me. With its solid axles and four-wheel drive, it could go places that low-slung European supercars couldn’t. Its 71.8 cubic feet of cargo space made it capable of hauling a live Christmas tree home, or perhaps doubled as car camping space. It was a 1987 model, which meant it was one of the first XJs to come with the legendary 4.0-liter inline-six engine.

While I love the look and retro charm of this car, there’s no getting around the fact that its $24,995 sticker price is significantly higher than what the XJ has ever sold for. That’s enough to buy a newer used car, or significantly undercut the price of a brand new one. Still, it’s a lot less than the speedy, lottery-winning rocket car I dreamed of as a kid would have cost.

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