1978 Jeep Wagoneer – 401cid V8 auto

Model History

In the fall of 1962, the Willys Motors division of Kaiser Industries (soon thereafter known simply as the ‘Kaiser Jeep Corporation’) introduced the new Wagoneer as a 1963 model.  It was bigger, better and more family-oriented than the outgoing Willys wagon. It came in both both two- and four-door versions, with large windows and a spacious interior.  Most notable was the intentional interior treatment…the fit and finish was considerably more upscale than any other 4×4 on the market.

In 1970, the American Motors Corporation (AMC) acquired Kaiser Jeep and set its targets on further refining the Wagoneer, with the intention of making it America’s best most luxurious sport utility vehicle on the road. Opinions are plentiful on whether this acquisition was the start of a beautiful 20 year romance, or simply a mistake you would soon rather forget.

What’s not in question are the advancements made during the so-called AMC years.  In 1973, AMC introduces “Quadra-Trac’, a full-time four-wheel drive system that allowed you to switch between 2WD and 4WD in the cabin as opposed to manually turning the front hubs.  It was advanced beyond many years at the time, so much so that it is the foundation of most 4WD systems on today’s vehicles.  AMC stayed true to their promise and eventually would lay all the ground work to turn the Wagoneer into the luxury Hamptons cruiser we know it as today. See our featured story on the Wagoneer for an up close and personal look.

Car History

Today we present to you this low mileage 1978 Jeep Wagoneer with a rare factory optioned 3-speed automatic and Quadra-Trac four-wheel drive. This is being offered for sale by a Wagoneer specialist, with experience in the Jeep business for nearly 30 years. This Wagoneer underwent a complete restoration 3 years ago, receiving new paint, reworked interior, refinished original slot wheels and a rebuilt engine. The ’78 grill front was replaced with an updated ’79 version. It has remained in storage since the restoration.

Exterior

Finished in Captain Blue with the signature wood trim, this Wagoneer presents impeccably as near-new. The chrome shows no fading or cracking all-around, as do the window glass and markers. There are no visible signs of rust or damage nor any reported from the seller. The panel gaps appear as per factory specs further corroborating that. The original fitted roof-rack is still intact.

Interior

Inside, the fabric and vinyl upholstery looks very good overall, commensurate with what you might expect in a low-mileage 40-year old SUV that was most likely used to take the family to the ranch on the weekends. There are signs of minimal wear on the driver side carpeted mats. The 3-spoke steering wheel shows no excessive wear, the dash shows no visible cracks or fading. All of the knobs and trim appear to be present inside. The original radio has been replaced with an aftermarket Alpine. The carpet and vinyl door cards show very well. A few light scuff marks show on the speaker covers, and a small blemish on the front passenger door metal can be seen in the pictures. This Wagoneer is equipped with a fully working air conditioner.

Estimated Value

As with many of the cars we feature, proper valuing is difficult given the rarity of examples going to market, compounded by the wide-range of examples and conditions you may find. This ’78 Wagoneer presents with very low mileage given what these vehicles were originally used for…road trips and daily commutes. It also has a rare powertrain option with the 401 V8 mated to an automatic. Finding these in original or original restored condition with this mileage is very hard to do, and thus comparisons are not always proper. We do have one comparable, sold by the same seller just recently…a 1,150 mile example of a 1979 Wagoneer that sold for $80,000. We have seen others go through auction for well over $50,000. We are offering this one here at a low reserve compared to that.

Final Thoughts

As these vintage SUVs grow in popularity, Hagerty is tracking values and a surge started a few years ago and the values continue to climb. The days of finding these listed in your local Craigslist ad for $10,000 are long gone. The best part of this is the backing you get from the seller. The lucky buyer here will be supported with recommendations, referrals, and hard-to-access parts if ever needed. They are a well established company, and stand behind their work. Their promise is, if you find anything you think they have missed or has an issue, let them know. They will recommend you take it to your local Jeep or classic vehicle shop (recommendations available), have the issue corrected, and they will pay for it, no questions asked.

Please remember that partial proceeds from the sale of this Jeep will benefit the Austin Hatcher Foundation for Pediatric Cancer.

Bid Now and Drive Fun Daily.

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Disclaimer: We do our best to represent the vehicle from the information provided but this should not be implied as an inspection. Second Daily is not the owner of the vehicle and therefore we recommend as with any online vehicle purchase, as a potential buyer you should either arrange to visit it in person for a personal inspection, or hire a professional service to conduct a pre-purchase inspection. The full VIN number is given here, as potential buyers, you can perform your due diligence to determine if this vehicle meets your standards. Second Daily is not liable for the condition or contents of the vehicle. Please see our Terms and Conditions for more information.