I don’t pretend to understand the truck or 4WD world, but there are several that catch my eye, especially those coming from Toledo. I’ve seen some old Wagoneers go for insane prices, but I think the rugged Cherokee comes off as more interesting. Two doors or four, it makes no difference to me. Bonus points for the Native American motif, a romantic design to these eyes that probably wouldn’t cut it today.
This week’s AutoHunter Picks include two Jeep products from separate eras—one from the Willys days and the other from the AMC née Kaiser-Jeep days. The other two picks are current AutoHunter standouts: low-mileage T-bird and a muscle car that could be considered an American-style gran turismo.
1978 Jeep Cherokee 4WD
I used to carpool with this kid named Joe D’Agostino, whose dad drove a Cherokee as a winter beater (except he drove it all four seasons). The rust crept up from the lower fenders to around the wheels. Joe’s dad was always ranting about Communism when all I wanted to do was listen to the Morning Zoo on WMMR, so I just sat and smiled as boisterous engine sounds and carbon monoxide seeped into the cabin.
Seeing one in fine condition like this is a rarity for me, plus the torquey 258ci six, three-speed (on the floor!), and bucket seats have me intrigued.
1960 Willys Jeep 4WD Pickup
These Jeepster-esque Willys pickups come off as an earlier version of the Gladiator, the pickup version of the above Cherokee, before Kaiser-Jeep hired Brooks Stevens to create a modern incarnation. They came standard with a Super Hurricane 226ci flathead six with 105 horsepower and 190 ft-lbs of torque.
Like the Cherokee above, there’s a floor-shifted three-speed, but that’s where the similarities end as this pickup is utilitarian with a capital U.
1972 Chevrolet Camaro Z/28
Nineteen seventy-two was the only year that an LT1-powered Camaro could be identified by the VIN (note the engine code). Yes, it lacks the compression of the ’70, but it still had the solid-lifter cam. Plus, the original engine’s been punched to 383ci, perhaps making up for what the lowered compression killed.
Dig the Custom cloth and vinyl interior too! If you want a desirable second-gen Camaro that you can drive, this looks to be the one.
1961 Ford Thunderbird
In the early days as a fledgling enthusiast, Thunderbirds were high on my totem pole. Not only were they cool, but they also tended to be owned by mature folks. That meant I was able to occasionally witness a sighting on the road—that goes a long way in developing appreciation.
Their continued familiarity today may breed some contempt, but I always linger when I see one, especially one as nice as this two-tone example with leather interior. Did you notice it has only 5,302 miles on the odometer?
