1988 Jeep Grand Wagoneer

1988 Jeep Grand Wagoneer From mountains and seashores and deserts and plains to all the highways and byways in between, as we have discovered the many splendors of the island, the Jeep legend has been with us. For nearly five decades, Jeep has been synonymous with our pursuit of adventure. Like all legends, Jeep has more than stood the test of time - it has defied time. For although the Jeep name now takes many forms, each remains true to the spirit of its forebears. Lofty prose from the 1988 Jeep Wagoneer sales brochure.  For consignment, a 1988 Jeep Grand Wagoneer showing 166,263 miles, but the true miles are unknown. As Hagerty noted in 2022, Jeep's woodgrain wonder from the '80s is more desirable than ever, with median condition #2, (Excellent), values for 1984-1991 Grand Wagoneers up 98 percent over the past five years. Exceptional examples approach and apparently now surpass six figures at auction.  Exterior The boxy shape, wide track stance, the iconic woodgrain panels. What's not to love on this example in Silver? Single headlights front a handsome fascia with a raised detail on the hood and this one sporting fog lights on the bumper in front of a purely horizontal grille. It also has a roof rack and rear spoiler along with tinted glass all the way around. The standard 15-inch cast aluminum wheels carry 235/75R15's with an early 2019 date code and letters out in lieu of the white line tires shown in the sales catalog. The wood grain applique is frames in plastic rails depicting a lighter wood for a classic contrast that is ultimately desirable right now. Paint and trim are generally nice with imperfections noted as some cracking and uneven filler on the rocker panel, bubbling on other areas, chin scuffs, bubbling clear over woodgrain, and clearcoat oxidation on the wheels.    Interior Burgundy serves as the base color on the inside and its augmented by an astounding amount of woodgrain trim, beginning on the door panels where the wood lines the top, the door pull, the switchgear, and delineates the line between vinyl and the carpeted section which is loose on the passenger door while all other doors are in nice shape. Only slight patina is noted on the bucket seats, vinyl with cloth inserts, and the rear bench. Our steering wheel has an aftermarket cover and fronts, a woodgrain framed dash housing square gauges and a slew of toggle switches, along with an AM/FM/CD upgrade over the wood fronted glove box more centrally located than normal. A center console has been added to the transmission hump to accommodate cupholders while plush red carpet is used generously throughout the rig, including the entire cargo area and is in nice condition. We note the headliner is sagging in places but does not appear to be torn.  Drivetrain We lift the hood to find a rather tattered insulator over a driver quality 360ci V8 with a 2-barrel carburetor and a horsepower rating of 144. It's backed by an A727 Torqueflite 3-speed automatic transmission, manipulated via a column shifter, and sending power to Dana 44 axles at both ends with 2.73 gears.   Undercarriage Fresh looking black paint mixes with typical patina of the componentry under the truck for an overall clean appearance. A single exhaust system flows through a stock style muffler, exiting via steel pipe behind a rear wheel. Power brakes are present and accounted for with disc in front and drum in the back and leaf springs are employed front and rear.   Drive-Ability A spacious cabin and comfortable seats along with the wood accents add to the appeal of this Jeep, creating more of a luxury SUV than trail dog. We bring the 360 to life and the truck eagerly finds our test loop where it tracks straight, runs well, and brakes on demand. We find that all operational items in the truck work as intended and we head back to the mall to find a spot in one of our two truck rooms. While Classic Auto Mall represents that these functions were working at the ti