Wagoneer Wannabee: 1977 Jeep FSJ Cherokee Chief – SOLD!

March 21, 2022, Update – We confirmed the seller of this “Classifind” deleted their listing, so we’re now able to call this one “SOLD!” While this one got away, please reach out either by email or call us directly if you’d like to be informed when we come across something similar.

With at least one SUV parked in just about every driveway in America these days, it’s tough to remember a time when that wasn’t the case.  In fact, you have to go back to the 1970s when Station Wagons remained the dominant form of family transportation. This 1977 Jeep Cherokee four-door originally listed in March 2022 on Craigslist in Lyman, South Carolina (Greenville) was the choice for some consumers who needed the space of a wagon but needed either offroad or snowy road capability. Reported to be a survival quality example with minor surface rust, this Cherokee features a new gas tank and freshly rebuilt 360 cubic inch V8 while the Quadratrac full-time four-wheel-drive system benefits from fresh vacuum lines to function properly.

Currently offered for $23,500, comparing that price against the Hagerty Insurance Online Valuation Tool confirms the private seller has their ___ priced between this guide’s #2 “Excellent” estimate of $21,700 and its #1 “Concours” appraisal of $29,400.  Similarly, the  Collector Car Market Review Online Tool reveals the seller’s ask exceeds this guide’s #1 “Excellent” estimate of $18,300. Given the growth in popularity and prices of vintage SUVs recently, we hesitate to give our “NEW!” (short for “No Effin Way!”) Award in this case as this Cherokee is. a low-mileage, nicely optioned example.

The Cherokee was a rebadged reintroduction of a two-door body style Jeep Wagoneer, with a redesigned greenhouse that eliminated the car’s C-pillar. Instead, the Cherokee sported a much wider D-pillar and a single, long fixed rear side window with an optional flip-out section. Previously, a two-door version had been available in the Jeep Wagoneer line (from 1963 to 1967), although this had the same pillar and window configuration as the four-door Wagoneer. The Cherokee replaced the Jeepster Commando, whose sales had not met expectations despite an extensive 1972 revamp. The Cherokee appealed to a younger market than the Wagoneer, which was regarded more as a family SUV.  This first-generation version of the Cherokee was part of Jeep’s full-size lineup, or what’s now referred to as “FSJ” to distinguish these from the later compact “XJ” variants.

The Cherokee was marketed as the “sporty” two-door variant of Jeep’s station wagon that went beyond the CJ-5 in interior space with off-road ability.  The term “sport(s) utility vehicle” appeared for the first time in the 1974 Cherokee sales brochure.  When Jeep added a four-door Cherokee to the range for 1977, it was essentially a less luxurious version of the brand’s top-of-the-line, wood-paneled Wagoneer.  Other than the base model, the trim levels of the Cherokee included the S (Sport), Chief, Golden Eagle, Golden Hawk, Limited, Classic, Sport, Pioneer, and Laredo.

The Osborn Tramain YouTube Channel features this vintage Jeep Cherokee Four-Door ad from 1977 titled, “Hockey Mom”:

You just don’t come across four-door versions of 1970s vintage Cherokees, so we would move forward shortly after the sale to address the minor rust spots before they turn into something more problematic.

Here’s the seller’s description:

“1977 Jeep Cherokee FSJ. Fresh Jasper Remanufactured 360 Engine. New Poly Gas Tank. New Window Seal Wipes All Around. New Stereo Speakers and Bluetooth Radio. The Original AmFm Radio is Still in the Dash. Quadratrac Vacuum Lines All Replaced and it Works. Has a Few Rust Spots but is Mostly Minor. Color is Sand Tan.”

Do you have an FSJ Jeep Cherokee story to share?  If so, comment below and let us know!