For Sale: 1978 Jeep Cherokee Chief in Lithia Springs, Georgia

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!