Jeep Wagoneer: История легендарного внедорожника

other generations of the Wagoneer
Sport utility vehicle produced by Kaiser, AMC, and Chrysler

The Jeep Wagoneer is a luxury 4×4 produced and marketed under the Jeep brand, which was owned by successive automakers from 1962 through 1991. Described when it was introduced as a station wagon body style, the innovative concept by industrial designer Brooks Stevens and Dave Nutting over time pioneered the luxury "sport utility vehicle" (SUV). Initially briefly available with the choice of rigid or independent front suspension, and optional rear wheel drive only, the 4WDWagoneer stayed in production for 29 model years (1963–1991) with an almost unchanged body structure, making it the third longest produced single generation car in U. S. automotive history. The Jeep Wagoneer evolved to create the luxury 4×4 market segment starting with the 1966 Super Wagoneer model. The Wagoneer made its debut seven years before Land Rover launched its Range Rover in Great Britain, 18 years before Land Rover introduced a four door version, and 24 years before that marque appeared in the US.

With competition from the "big three" automakers advancing on Jeep's four wheel drive market, Willys management decided that a new and more advanced vehicle was needed. Conceived in the early 1960s while Willys Overland Motors was owned by Kaiser Jeep Corporation, the Wagoneer replaced the original Willys Jeep Station Wagon, originally introduced in July 1946 and produced until the 1964 model year. It was introduced in November 1962 for the 1963 model year as a successor to the Willys Jeep Station Wagon that had been built since 1946. Although sharing a pickup truck chassis (like its predecessor), the Wagoneer had a sophisticated station wagon body design, that was more carlike than any other 4×4 on the market. Compared with offerings from GM, Ford, International Harvester, Toyota, Nissan and Land Rover—which were producing utilitarian work oriented vehicles with spartan truck like interiors—the Wagoneer's luxury set it apart. Together with the Gladiator, the revolutionary Wagoneer SJ platform included an advanced overhead cam straight six engine, and offered features unheard of at the time in any other mainstream 4WD vehicle, such as independent front suspension, a factory radio, and optional air conditioning. It took until 1981 for the four door 4×4 to be developed and Range Rover sales in the United States began in 1987. independent front suspension instead of a rigid front axle was again offered to give the Wagoneer a more car like ride and handling. or $160. and the axles are located fore and aft by control links. On the four wheel drives, the IFS replaced the standard Dana 27AF axle with a single, center pivot front axle that allowed the Dana 27 differential to swing with the curb side half. Further, all Wagoneers had 11 inch drum brakes all around; seat belts were optional, and the 4WD came with a standard compass. Shortly after the introduction of the Wagoneer, in early 1963, Willys Motors changed its name to "Kaiser Jeep Corporation." The 1964 models introduced factory optional air conditioning, as well as a lower compression Tornado engine, to remedy cooling problems and "pinging" at altitude the original had sometimes suffered. While it made less power, it returned greater economy, but this lower compression version was phased out within a year. Late year 1965 Wagoneers and Gladiators were available with the AMC V8 engine, which proved to be a popular option. Additionally, the Tornado engine was replaced by American Motors' OHV inline six. According to the automotive press, this engine was smooth, powerful, reliable, and easily maintained, but the most likely reason it was offered was that it was less expensive.

Between 1967 and 1969, all rear wheel drive only models, which the four wheel drives had outsold from the beginning, were discontinued, and from then on, all Wagoneers and Cherokees had solid axles and leaf springs, both front and rear. After 1971, the outsourced Buick 350 was replaced by the AMC V8, with the later becoming available.

The innovative Quadra Trac full time four wheel drive system, which broadened the appeal of Jeep products to people who wanted four wheel drive traction without the inconvenience of a manual shift transfer case and manual locking hubs, was introduced in 1973. In 1974, AMC redesigned the greenhouse of the defunct two door Wagoneer, with much wider D pillars and single, long rear side windows, and reintroduced it as the Cherokee. This 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 as a family SUV. Also in 1974, front disc brakes were introduced as standard equipment. While the new Cherokees still had 4 wheel drum brakes standard, front discs could be had as an option. the Limited's high level specification attracted buyers and sales were strong with a total of 28,871 Wagoneers produced in 1978, and 27,437 in 1979.

On other SJ models, there were few styling changes until 1979, when all Wagoneer, Cherokee, and J Series pickup models received a substantial styling update with one piece aluminum bumpers and a new one piece chrome plastic grille with a protruding middle section shaped somewhat like a pig's nose, horizontal slats, and square headlights.

For the 1980 model year, AMC decided to offer the four wheel drive platform using a station wagon body style but on a compact platform and introduced the AMC Eagle. With the V8s the primary choice among Wagoneer buyers, the six cylinder engine was dropped in the 1970s, only to return as an option when Jeep sales – particularly of the high volume Cherokee – were hit by the 1979 energy crisis. The Wagoneer continued to sell relatively well in comparison to luxurious station wagons offered by Ford, Chrysler, and GM, while production dropped to 10,481 in 1980, but increased to 13,741 in 1981, 18,709 in 1982, and 18,478 in 1983. When reintroduced, the engine came with a manual transmission as standard equipment, but in 1983, automatic transmissions with “Selec Trac” four wheel drive became standard. With this combination, the Wagoneer achieved EPA fuel consumption estimates of city and highway – outstanding for a full size SUV. This allowed the company to advertise good fuel mileage, although the more powerful 360 V8 remained popular with certain buyers despite its greater thirst for fuel.

In 1981, the Wagoneer line was expanded to three models. The Custom Wagoneer was the basic model, yet it included a four speed transmission, free wheeling hubs, power steering, and power front disc brakes, as well as passenger area carpeting. A new Brougham model added an upgraded interior trim that included woodgrain for the instrument cluster and horn cover, floor mats, power tailgate window, as well as the "convenience" and "light" packages. The Brougham's exterior included a thin side body scuff molding with a narrow woodgrain insert, a roof rack, as well as bright door and quarter window frames, and a lower tailgate molding. The Wagoneer Limited was the top of the line with standard Quadra Trac, automatic transmission, air conditioning, tinted glass, power windows, and door locks, cruise control, AM/FM stereo radio, extra quiet insulation, power six way driver and passenger bucket seats with center armrest, upgraded door panels, leather wrapped steering wheel, extra thick carpeting, and a retractable cargo cover.

The basic "Custom" model was dropped starting with the 1983 model year, and a new Selec Trac system became standard equipment. A dash mounted control allowed the driver to change between two wheel drive and four wheel drive. The switch activated a vacuum activated spline clutch that was built into the transfer case that engaged the front axle assembly. A shift lever mounted on the side of the transmission hump allowed the driver to shift between four high and four low with the vehicle moving, although the transmission had to be shifted to neutral and the vehicle had to be moving at less than five miles per hour to accomplish this.

For 1984, AMC replaced the SJ body Cherokee with the all new, compact, and more fuel efficient unibody Jeep Cherokee (XJ), and introduced an upscale version of the (XJ) known as the Wagoneer. The compact XJ Wagoneer was available in two trim levels: the "Wagoneer" and the "Wagoneer Limited." AMC originally intended for these vehicles to replace the SJ body Wagoneer models, but high demand prompted the company to keep the old SJ body Wagoneer in production alongside them even though the design, largely unchanged since 1962, was becoming increasingly antiquated. The SJ body Wagoneer line saw consolidation in 1984 with the end of the "Brougham" model, while the "Limited" was renamed the "Grand Wagoneer" to free up the "Wagoneer Limited" nameplate for the compact XJ Wagoneer. In mid 1984, AMC introduced a less expensive version called the Wagoneer "Custom", without the simulated woodgrain exterior. The Custom had steel wheels with hubcaps, standard equipment was pared down, and it had part time four wheel drive. Despite its lower price (US$15,995, about $3,000 less than the "Grand"), sales were low, and it was dropped after 1984. Thus, at the end of 1984, production reached 20,019 with just one fully equipped version available. The Grand Wagoneer remained "the gold standard of the SUV market" and from 1985 it would continue in one version using the old SJ body until the end of the Grand Wagoneer production under Chrysler. The 1989–1991 model years are considered the "best of the breed" because of many improvements. These include upgraded wood siding and modernized aluminum alloy wheels that lost their gold colored inlays in favor of gunmetal grey metallic. Chrysler also introduced an electrocoat primer for better rust proofing and all exterior colors were now applied in a two stage base clearcoat system. In 1988, Jeep's first full year under Chrysler, a total of 14,117 Grand Wagoneers were produced. Many improvements were made for the 1989–1991 model year series, including a quality replacement for the earlier, leak prone air conditioning compressor, the addition of the visually identifiable rear wiper/washer assembly, as well as a general improvement in fit and finish. An interior overhead console, taken from Chrysler's popular minivans, was also added. This functional console featured much brighter map lights, an outside temperature sensor and compass, a storage compartment for sunglasses as well as an infrared remote controlled keyless entry system. The last three model years also featured several new exterior paint colors and the tan interior color was replaced with a lighter color that Jeep called "sand." The "new" exterior colors included a hunter green metallic that was only available in the 1991 model year and is the paint color of the 1991 Grand Wagoneer in the Chrysler Museum, as well as the color of the very last Grand Wagoneer ever made.

The Wagoneer enjoyed one of the longest production runs of any Jeep product. Despite its combined fuel economy of only 11 miles per gallon, its powerful 5.9 liter V8 engine and high towing capacity, and the fact that unlike most competitive full size SUVs of the era it had four doors, made the Grand Wagoneer popular among its many repeat buyers through the 1960s, 70s, and 80s. By 1991, it was the longest running domestically produced vehicle (29 years) on the same platform. Sales of the gas guzzling Grand Wagoneer plummeted from over 10,000 units in 1989 to 6,449 in 1990. Slow sales continued during the Gulf War and only 4253 Grand Wagoneers were produced in the 1991 model year. In addition to its poor fuel economy, the antiquated SJ platform would have required extensive re engineering to comply with new Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standards that would apply to all light trucks and sport utility vehicles sold in the United States by the mid 1990s. As a result, on February 27, 1991, Chrysler announced that it was ending production of the Grand Wagoneer, leaving the Jeep line without a full size SUV. Buyers of 1991 Grand Wagoneers sold after that date had the option of having a gold "Final Edition Jeep Grand Wagoneer" badge on the dashboard.

Even before Chrysler assembled the final SJ Grand Wagoneer, there were specialized companies that were refurbishing and restoring them. Grand Wagoneers that are in top condition seem not to decrease in value. Later model, low mileage, rust free Grand Wagoneers have become highly collectible with some pristine examples selling for more than their original sticker price over three decades after they rolled off the assembly line. In 2013, the 1963–1991 models were in a list of eight SUVs that have become collectibles and, depending on the condition, desirable items at car auctions. By 2019, the appraisal values of Grand Wagoneers had been increasing an average of 2–6 percent with each bi monthly update for most of past ten years according to Hagerty. By 2021, the 1984 through 1991 Jeep Grand Wagoneers that "created the blueprint followed by countless others" were among the most sought after cars during the COVID 19 pandemic according to Hagerty, and in the top nine of a curated list of the best vintage cars on the market.

The Jeep Grand Wagoneer nameplate reappeared for one year as the top of the line model of the new Jeep ZJ platform debuted for the Grand Cherokee for the 1993 model year. It featured a long list of standard equipment including the Magnum 5.2 L V8 engine and unique leather interior as well as the Grand Wagoneer's traditional exterior woodgrain applique. After 6,378 were produced, the model was dropped for 1994, leaving the Grand Cherokee Limited as the top of the line Jeep.

The Wagoneer was occasionally used in rallying, mainly in the United States. Wagoneers placed first and second in the first ever running of the Sno*Drift rally in 1973. A Grand Wagoneer also competed in the grueling 9000 mile (14484 km) 1988 Trans Amazon Rally.

Chrysler Group CEO Sergio Marchionne announced at the January 2011 North American International Auto Show held in Detroit, that the Grand Wagoneer name was to be revived for an "upper scale" seven seat SUV, which he said would be introduced in 2013. In May 2014, Chrysler's "Five Year Plan" was unveiled, which included the intention to release a flagship vehicle called the Grand Wagoneer that would share a platform with the Durango and Grand Cherokee by the 2018 model year. The Grand Wagoneer would be sold alongside the Durango and the Grand Cherokee. On June 9, 2015, Fiat Chrysler announced that it would unveil a new version of the full sized Grand Wagoneer at its dealers' convention on August 25, 2015. In August 2015, however, Fiat announced that the production of the upcoming Grand Cherokee replacement would be delayed into 2018. It was scheduled to be built at Warren Truck Assembly while the next generation Ram 1500 was to be built at Sterling Heights Assembly. On September 3, 2020, Jeep revealed the concept vehicle, along with other models and their 4xe electric hybrid technology. On March 11, 2021, Jeep officially revealed the Wagoneer and Grand Wagoneer models, with both being based on the concept.