Vehicle Description
Look, this 1978 Jeep Cherokee Chief isn't pretty, but if you want a
man's SUV, a truck that can go anywhere and never whimpers about
doing it, then this is an awesome choice. It's priced in such a way
that you can build something spectacular using this as a solid
foundation, and nobody's ever going to accuse this of being a "cute
ute" or some light-duty suburban assault vehicle.
If you're going off-roading, you can leave the paint alone. It's
old and it's tired, but it shrugs off branches and trail dust, and
if you really want to get into the rough stuff, worrying about
paint is a recipe for disaster. On the other hand, if you want a
shiny Cherokee that makes people's jaws drop, this would be a great
foundation because the sheetmetal is in fantastic condition, having
never been wrecked, rusty, or abused. The last of the two-door
full-sized Cherokees has an awesome do-anything look that's very
appealing, and it neatly balances civility and capability thanks to
flared fenders and classic styling. It fits together well, with
doors that show even gaps and good panel alignment that's probably
par for the course at AMC in the 1970s. There's a custom front
bumper with a winch, heavy-duty off-road lights, and a grille guard
while the rear bumper has been painted to match.
One glance inside and you'll know the story: there's work to be
done here. The front seats need new seat covers and the carpets
should probably be replaced. That's the bad news. The good news is
that the rest of the hardware is in decent shape and could be used
as-is if that's your thing. There's an aftermarket center console
and a B&M shifter for the GM TH400 3-speed automatic
transmission underneath, but those appear to be the lone
modifications, so it's ready for whatever you want to do with it.
The back seat is actually in great condition, probably thanks to
those tinted rear windows that keep the sun from baking the
upholstery, and all the gauges are operational. A later
AM/FM/cassette stereo lives in the center of the dash and the cargo
bay shows off the Cherokee Chief's luxury mission with cool
stainless strips on the carpets for protection.
Under the skin, this Cherokee is ready to rock and you can see
where quite a bit of time and money was invested. The 360 cubic
inch AMC V8 was replaced not too long ago and features an HEI
ignition, 4-barrel carburetor, and quite a bit more power than it
had originally. Corporate turquoise paint and nicely detailed
accessories make it look very nicely finished, and there are new
components everywhere you look. The chrome air cleaner isn't stock,
of course, but it does have a giant radiator up front, a heavy-duty
power steering pump, and factory cast iron manifolds leading to a
throaty single exhaust system that still uses a catalytic converter
to keep it legal. The transmission is an upgraded TH400 3-speed
automatic and it feeds a 2-speed transfer case and a pair of Dana
44 axles (the Wide Track option is rare and sought after) that are
rugged enough to handle anything you can throw at it. Brakes,
shocks, tires, fluids, steering gear, front suspension, and the
bushings are all new, so this Jeep drives way better than it looks.
Aluminum wheels look good and carry big off-road tires that fill
the fenders properly.
Not a perfect truck, not a show truck, but a great foundation for
something amazing and ready to enjoy the minute you get it onto the
dirt. Call today!
