A Budget Jeep Build Starts with This 1987 Comanche
Looking for a classic truck? This 1987 Jeep Comanche features low miles, original condition, and could your next great project.
Jeeps Storied History of Pickup Trucks
Jeep has a long history of pickup trucks, stretching back to the 1950s Willys Overland. Today, that legacy continues with the modern Jeep Gladiator that debuted in 2020 and revived a 1960s nameplate in the process. In the 70-odd years between these two trucks, there exists an easily overlooked Jeep pickup, one that leveraged the success of the popular XJ Cherokee. Internally codenamed the MJ, the Jeep Comanche pickup truck had a relatively brief 7-year lifespan that began in 1986.
At the time, you would have visited a Jeep-Eagle dealership to buy a new Comanche and perhaps consider the even lesser-known Eagle 4WD station wagon. Just one year later, Chrysler would buy AMC. In other words, it was a tumultuous time for the Jeep brand, which likely contributed to the Comanche’s clipped timeline. But that doesn’t mean this 1987 Comanche isn’t worth your time. If anything, this gold-finished compact pickup truck looks like a diamond-in-the-rough. Per the seller, it has just 44,144 original miles. Based on the photos, that seems accurate given how clean the interior condition remains.
Sometimes Simple is Better
This Comanche has a cloth bench seat, dashboard, and carpeting that coordinates with the lightly faded exterior color. Other than an aftermarket head unit, it looks to be in original condition. These Jeep pickups weren’t known for their frills, with a bit of chrome dressing up the front grille and bumpers, basic steel wheels, and hand crank windows. However, it’s no easy task to find one in this kind of clean condition. Just check out the underbody photos to see how little rust there appears to be. Not only that, many of these older Jeeps have been heavily modified into off-road bruisers with the abuse to prove it.
In 1987, you could buy a Jeep Comanche with a 2.5L inline-4 making 121 horsepower and 141 lb-ft of torque or a 4.0L inline-6 rated for 173 hp and 220 torques. That six-cylinder engine, paired with a 5-speed manual, is widely regarded as bulletproof and is considerably more potent than the four-pot. Today’s Cool Car Find comes with that inline-4 and an automatic transmission, which may not thrill the enthusiast set. But, with an asking price of about $14,000, low mileage, and notably clean condition, this little Jeep truck represents a world of opportunity.
The Charm Modern Pickups Are Missing
Modern pickup trucks are generally enormous aside from the Ford Maverick, which is relatively tiny today. And yet, the Maverick is 6” longer than a Comanche with the 7’ bed and a whopping 21” longer than models with the 6’ bed. For the person who needs basic utility on a budget, this 1987 Jeep Comanche looks like a screaming deal. If, on the other hand, you’re in seek of a platform to kickstart a spring car project, this Comanche is equally well suited. Just imagine it with a mild lift, beefier tires, a straight-6, three pedals… No matter how you would put this 1987 Comanche to use, be sure to consult our used pickup truck buying checklist before taking it home.
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