Immaculate 1999 Jeep Cherokee XJ Manual

SUV Blueprint

Jeep introduced the Cherokee (known among enthusiasts by its XJ platform name) and its upscale Wagoneer sibling in 1984. Four decades later, it’s easy to forget how ground-breaking the Cherokee was.

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It almost single-handedly launched the sport utility vehicle segment by blending car-like ride qualities with station wagon practicality and off-roading capability.

American Motors Corporation owned the Jeep brand at the time. It designed the XJ as a compact and fuel-efficient replacement for the decades-old full-size Wagoneer. Product planners based the XJ on a unibody, rather than a body-on-frame, platform. That made it lighter, and the use of a 2.5-liter four-cylinder base engine further increased efficiency.

Chassis engineers tuned the suspension for on-pavement ride and off-road traction. The two-door Ford Bronco II and Chevrolet S-10 Blazer hit the market at the same time. But the XJ came in both two- and four-door configurations.

Jeep assumed the two-door XJ would outsell the four-door by a two-to-one margin. Instead, consumers wanted four doors, ushering in a new take on the venerable station wagon for the 1980s. The term “SUV” hadn’t been used yet, but soon the segment would dominate US vehicle sales.

Rare XJ

This Cherokee has several traits that make it a rare XJ. It’s a two-door. The optional 4.0-liter, inline-six cylinder H.O. (high-output) engine produces 190 horsepower. It has a five-speed manual transmission, which is usually found only behind the base four-cylinder. And it wears a rare factory burnt orange color called Amber Fire.

The Cherokee is located in Warwick, N.Y., but it originally came from a southern state with a dry climate. That kept it rust-free, making it easier to restore, the seller says. He media-blasted the sheet metal and spent $8,000 to refinish the XJ using contemporary basecoat/clearcoat paint. The immaculate cloth and vinyl interior is original, save for the headliner. It sagged, so he replaced it with a suede material.

The Cherokee XJ shows 122,548 miles, low for a 26-year-old SUV. Still, the seller thoroughly reconditioned the mechanicals with new, OEM XJ parts:

• Engine belts, gaskets, ignition parts, oxygen sensor, radiator, and fluids
• Shock absorbers, bushings, sway bar links, and rear spring shackles on the chassis
• Brake rotors, calipers, and brake pads

The four-wheel-drive system was fully serviced, including driveshafts, U-joints, and differentials. The Cherokee rolls on powder-coated factory alloy wheels and aggressive 235/75-15 mud-terrain tires.

Well Priced

The Cherokee XJ’s $18,500 Buy-It-Now price seems more than reasonable considering the effort and expense put into its restoration. Plus, the Cherokee is capable off-road with a compact footprint, short overhangs, generous ground clearance, compliant suspension, and torquey power plant. Yet, this Jeep’s clean undercarriage shows no signs of traveling off-pavement. Maybe it’s time.