$35k for an 87 grand wagoneer?

[440Magnum]

Oh come on now, let people have their interests and personal money pits! We don't all want to drive stinking econoboxes. What some people spend in 10 years on golf is a bigger waste of money than buying that Wagoneer to me. Would everyone spend what I've spent restoring my '69 R/T? No. Would everyone spend what some people spend for a new BMW? Not me. But the Wagoneer has a following, and some people will drop the cash.

FYI, "Wagonmaster" is a Wagoneer restoration shop and dealer in Kerrville, TX. Pricey indeed, but they do find a consistent inventory with under 50k miles, even 22 years after the last unit rolled off the line. I doubt I'd ever buy from them since I enjoy doing it myself, but they're offering a turn-key vehicle instead of a project. That works for some people.

http://wagonmaster.com/default.htm

I love these old Wagoneers and once you get the known AMC-isms taken care of they're tougher than a Land Rover offroad, even with all the leather and faux woodgrain. AMC 360 v8 with Torqueflite 727 (AMC called it 'TorqueCommand' 727) and a New Process X-fer case, simple solid axles and leafs at both ends, body-on-frame construction. It's going to suck down the fuel, its going to go forever, but its not going particularly fast.

 

[TallPaul]

Would have to replace the head rests as they are ruined with video screens. Also would have to convert to manual transmission. So would not want to pay more than $10,000 for it--tops.

 

[RISUPERCREWMAN]

They can keep that ancient Family Truckster! LOL

 

[SwampSurvivor]

Originally Posted By: css9450
I'm reminded of the Car and Driver article, back in the 90s, when those things were still being made. One of the editors had one that had been lent as a test vehicle. Brand-new, showroom fresh. He was filling up at a gas station and a guy pulled up at the next pump, looked the Jeep over and asked "Nice Jeep, did you restore it yourself??"


I had someone tell me how nice my Cherokee looked for its age "There aren't many Jeeps left from the 80s any more" ...

He was a bit surprised when I told him it was a 2000 haha

 

[VicVinegar]

Originally Posted By: eljefino
They actually have some funky stuff like the citroen and the troop carrier but then it's half beemers.


I like that '79 320i. I'd probably rather have a 2002 though.

 

[artificialist]

I don't always understand what people like, so I don't always feel surprised when I read of a restored car like that.

I remember reading a thread about how some people were shocked by the price of a restored 1980s Benz Diesel station wagon.

Many people didn't like the 80s cars that were inspired by Tron and Knight Rider, but I do.

 

[hattaresguy]

You guys cry about $35k for a cool old Jeep? What about all the $100k Shelby Mustang's, or Hemi Cuda's?

These are my generations collector cars.

I just saw a restored Volvo 240 at a car show, far more interesting to me than a Cuda, those are your parents cars. Your going to start to see a lot of 80's and in a few years 90's car get restored for a few bucks.

 

[jeepman3071]

Price is a bit high, but considering how much longer a Wagoneer will last compared to what is on the dealer lots now, you get a decent amount for your money.

I've ridden in one my buddy's dad restored, I believe it was a 1985 or so. It was the luxury SUV of its day. Very comfortable and solid. This is one of those SUVs that you can hit a deer with and not even scratch the bumper. I wouldn't pay $30k for something with a carb, but a few of the companies who restore them fit them with electronic fuel injection as well as the larger AMC 401 V8. Grandwagoneer.com is one company that comes to mind. Its also something that stands out. Cars all look the same these days, a woody is a real head turner.

 

[L_Sludger]

Originally Posted By: eljefino
Some sucker might buy this?

I mean jeez those jeeps are nice but I don't see one going for over 5 or 6 thousand bucks.

Yeah? No? The whole dealer looks like a trap to separate idiots from their money.
I wouldn't buy it for more than $500.

 

[Jarlaxle]

I had a J20 pickup & a friend had a big Cherokee...cool, but $35k is CRAZY!

 

[whip]

Originally Posted By: Bgallagher
Oh man, what a scam. They are great vehicles but I would refuse to buy it given the DVD and aftermarket parts. Keep it original!

I'm confused. Where's the scam? The seller isn't doing anything shady or dishonest.

 

[Smokescreen]

They say "There is a butt for every seat"

I am sure the vehicle will pwn someone someday...as for me, looking at the pictures and the price is as close as the seat on this Wagoneer will get to my hind end....next.

 

[440Magnum]

The Wagoneer *looked* pretty much the same its whole life, but it got a lot of different mechanical system over the years. The automatics started out as Borg-Warners in the 1960s (I think...), then GM TH400s in the 70s, and then Chrysler 727s to the end. Many different transfer cases, including the first generation of "QuadraTrac" full-time 4WD. Lots of different engines in the FSJs over the years, too. The "Dauntless" v6 (really the odd-fire Buick 3.8, bought from GM then sold back in the 70s), the good old AMC 258 straight six (ancestor of the indestructible 4.0), a Buick 350 for a while, even the AMC 401 brute. But the last 8-9 years of production were probably the best straight from the factory- AMC 360 and Chrysler 727 backed by Quadratrac or SelecTrac and Dana axles. As I said before they're just outstanding machines when you fix the "AMC-isms" (like low oil pressure due to wear in the AMC v8 oil pumps- nothing to do with the engine itself).

My experience behind the wheel in the past is that there's just something indefinably robust about them. Its such a totally different experience even from a compact Cherokee or a post-CJ Wrangler (YJ or TJ) Putting the key in the ignition switch mounted in a metal dash, turning it and hearing a Ford moving-pole-shoe starter "wham" into action, a little shudder as it starts, and yeah the hood rattles a little as the Autolite carb goes over-rich for a minute or two. But it just feels like it will do that for a hundred years.

Some people have dropped the Wagoneer body on a more modern Durango or Dakota chassis, and yes that buys you a lot of power, EFI, a better ride, and so on. But it takes away a lot of the charm if you ask me.

Yes, I understand why they're collectible!

I really love these machines and want to add one to my collection some day. But it probably won't be a turn-key Wagonmaster, any more than I'd have gone out and bought a pre-restored '69 Coronet R/T convertible for a few years' of my daughter's college tuition :-( As usual, I'd fix it up myself.

 

[eljefino]

Originally Posted By: 440Magnum
As usual, I'd fix it up myself.


And I think that's the dream especially among the Jeep set.

I could plausibly see paying $15k for a restored one of these. Well not me but a dentist.

What does the other $20k do? Is this some sort of tulip mania? This quasi-exotic dealer, who probably cashed out of Beanie babies at the right time to set up his corner lot, got something that was overdone by the Griswold Coach company and then added their markup.

 

[zerosoma]

Originally Posted By: Drew99GT
"This truck was the recipient of a complete Wagonmaster restoration."

It's a Wagon Queen Family Truckster! 4wd edition


This vehicle was the vehicle Chet used in the Great Outdoors, wasn't it? The bears climbed on the hood and he tossed them candy bars? lollll

 

[01rangerxl]

Originally Posted By: eljefino
Originally Posted By: 440Magnum
As usual, I'd fix it up myself.


And I think that's the dream especially among the Jeep set.

I could plausibly see paying $15k for a restored one of these. Well not me but a dentist.

What does the other $20k do? Is this some sort of tulip mania? This quasi-exotic dealer, who probably cashed out of Beanie babies at the right time to set up his corner lot, got something that was overdone by the Griswold Coach company and then added their markup.

They aren't just taking ragged out beaters and cleaning them up, these are really low mileage vehicles that have been gone over with a fine tooth comb. You probably wouldn't be able to get most of these Jeeps for $15K even without the Wagonmaster treatment; people who own them in that condition know what they have. There are also people that want a cool old Jeep, but don't necessarily want to work on a cool old Jeep. They have the money and Wagonmaster has what they want to buy, so I see nothing wrong with it. Personally I would have passed up TVs in the headrests, but people have paid far more obscene prices for vehicles that are far uglier. Remember the $80K Chevelle thread?

Full size Broncos from the 1990s sell for over $20K if they have really low miles and really desirable options. No resto, no reconditioning, just a Bronco some geezer stuck in a garage for 16 years. Of course one that is beat is about $2000.

I am almost glad these Jeeps have a high price tag because it means they will be preserved. They aren't getting shredded up and sent to China.

 

[TFB1]

Originally Posted By: mpvue

$35K? like they say, it's a jeep thing, you wouldn't understand...
You got that right...

I spent $35.15K for my last four vehicles combined, includes...

'07 Grand Marquis, May '08, 14K mi $15.8K

'03 Supercharged Marauder, Aug '10 42K mi $9850

'98 Grand Marquis, Garaged one owner 33K mi May '10, $4500

'93 F-150 Lightning July '05, 112K mi $5000

 

[daves87rs]

Originally Posted By: hattaresguy
You guys cry about $35k for a cool old Jeep? What about all the $100k Shelby Mustang's, or Hemi Cuda's?

These are my generations collector cars.

I just saw a restored Volvo 240 at a car show, far more interesting to me than a Cuda, those are your parents cars. Your going to start to see a lot of 80's and in a few years 90's car get restored for a few bucks.



Funny you say that. I just saw a 86z24 hatchback and a 1991 Z24 Vert (cavaliers) all restored at a local meet.....

 

[Jarlaxle]

Wow. That's actually...kind of pathetic. Were they next to a pristine Yugo GVX?

 

[TFB1]

Originally Posted By: Jarlaxle
Wow. That's actually...kind of pathetic. Were they next to a pristine Yugo GVX?


The first Corvairs at a car show likely got the same reaction...

Still the first time I'm at a car show and there are a bunch of '80s throwaway vehicles on display, will be my last show...


$35K? like they say, it's a jeep thing, you wouldn't understand... [/quote]You got that right...

I spent $35.15K for my last four vehicles combined, includes...

'07 Grand Marquis, May '08, 14K mi $15.8K

'03 Supercharged Marauder, Aug '10 42K mi $9850

'98 Grand Marquis, Garaged one owner 33K mi May '10, $4500

'93 F-150 Lightning July '05, 112K mi $5000

[/quote]

Well I'm back to $31,650, just sold the Lightning for $3500, would have gotten more but it's aboy 5Kmi from needing tires...