Ten Months Gone: 1988 Jeep MJ Comanche 2WD Sport Truck – Sold?

May 3, 2021 Update – The private seller of this Jeep “Classifind” deleted their Craigslist ad.  However, given the seller’s past history we suspect may not actually be sold yet.  For now, we’re labeling this ride “Sold?” However, we will keep an eye out for an updated listing. In the interim, please reach out either by email or call Rudy directly if you’d like to be informed when we come across something similar.

April 19, 2021 Update – When you can’t sell your Jeep Comanche for a “NEW!” award-winning asking price of $12,000, what do you do?  Well, waiting another ten months, making a few improvements, and then asking $14,900 for it is not likely going to be an effective strategy.  Yet, that’s exactly what we have going on with this Jeep Comanche we first featured in June of 2020 and just noticed a brand new Craigslist ad.

August 16, 2020 update – The Craigslist ad used for this post expired, so with no replacement found, we’re assuming this Jeep Comanche sold unless we come across a new listing.

Whenever I see a modern “compact” pickup, I long for the days when you could really get a small pickup such as this 1988 Jeep Comanche two-wheel-drive Sport Truck originally listed in June 2020 and relisted in April 2021 on Craigslist in West Roxbury, Massachusetts with just under 58K original miles and a five-speed manual with an even higher asking price of $14,900.   Unfortunately, we have no idea how this private seller came to that valuation as the #1 “Concours” value for a similarly equipped Cherokee in the Hagerty Insurance Online Valuation Tool is only $9,300.  We confirmed the “Low”, “Average”, and “High” retail value range on the NADA Guides Classic Car Online Valuation Tool is only $3,100, $6,525, and $9,800, respectively.  Finally, a check of auction results on the Bring A Trailer results summary confirms an average price of only $6,708 for the five Comanches sold on that site in the past two years.  Combine that with the fact this example is only two-wheel-drive, it came equipped with the less desirable inline four-cylinder, has a rusted out rear chrome bumper, and a poorly matched reupholstered bottom seat cushion and you have our latest NEW! (short for “No Effin Way”) Award Winner.

Launched one model year after the debut of the very popular XJ Cherokee, Jeep launched the MJ truck that was heavily based on that SUV.  Unlike the Cherokee, the Comanche used a conventional body-on-frame design behind the cab and a removable cargo box (Jeep labeled this C-channel-based design “Uniframe”).  However, the cab and front clip retained the unibody construction of the Cherokee.

The Comanche used the XJ Cherokee’s “Quadralink” front suspension, with coil springs and upper/lower control arms on a solid axle, while a Panhard Rod keeps the axle centered under the truck. Modified versions of this same basic suspension system were later used on the 1993-2004 Grand Cherokee, 1997 and newer TJ Wranglers, and 1994 and newer Dodge Ram trucks.  For the rear suspension, the truck used leaf springs that are considerably longer than the Cherokee’s, which give Comanches good load-carrying capacity without creating a hard ride. The standard rear axle was the same Dana 35 unit used in the Cherokee, except that the Comanche mounted the leaf springs underneath the axle, as do most other trucks, and the Cherokee mounted them on top of the axle.

We came across this MotorWeek Review of the Comanche lineup for 1986 on YouTube:

Here’s the seller’s description:

“1988 Jeep Comanche

Under 58,000 original miles
Runs and drives very well
New tires and recent interior refresh
4 cylinder RWD
Duraliner bed liner

In unbelievable shape for a 32 year old truck, no frame rot or rust. Minimal body rust along the bottom.

Entertaining trades“

Do you have a Jeep MJ story you’d like to share?  Comment below and let us know!