Woodgrain paneling used as an automotive accessory has been a “thing” for a long time, and the use of wood in car construction dates to the dawn of motor vehicle travel. One of the most iconic of all wood-grained vehicles was the SJ-chassis Jeep which had a production lifespan of nearly three decades.
The Pick of the Day is a low-mileage 1987 Jeep Grand Wagoneer listed for sale on ClassicCars.com by a private seller in Austin, Texas. (Click the link to view the listing)
“This iconic 1987 Jeep Grand Wagoneer represents a very classy look,” the listing begins. “The classic face, boxy silhouette, white with wood veneer trim, chrome roof rack, steel-belted radial tires, and 12-spoke alloys give this a vintage look.”
This SJ Grand Wagoneer was sold for a lengthy run of time between model years 1963 and 1991. In all, there were three different automakers overseeing this platform: The first was Kaiser Jeep between 1963 and 1970, then American Motors until 1987, and finally Chrysler until 1991. The Grand Wagoneer was positioned as a full-size luxury sport-utility vehicle, and in recent years, it has taken flight as one of the most unexpectedly hot vehicles in the collector-car marketplace.
Even though this example has accrued relatively few miles over its lifetime (showing just 80,606 on the odometer), the engine is a replacement 360cid V8 that was just recently installed in 2022. This Grand Wagoneer is mechanically fresh and ready to ride, and additional incentives include newly upholstered seats, an Alpine AM/FM/CD sound system, air conditioning, and power windows. Based on the photo gallery in the listing, we also see a custom woodgrain floor-mounted cup holder that jives nicely with the rest of the vehicle’s wood-heavy theme.
Incidentally, the Grand Wagoneer is back! As of model year 2022, the nameplate was reintroduced on the RAM pickup DT platform. Technology has come a long way since the original Grand Wagoneer: The new version can even be outfitted with a beefy 6.4-liter HEMI V8.
One thing the new Grand Wagoneer doesn’t get, at least from the factory, is woodgrain paneling. But the aftermarket industry already took care of that.
“This Jeep is sure to attract some attention,” the listing concludes. The asking price is $52,500 for this wood-laden Grand Wagoneer.
To view this listing on ClassicCars.com, see Pick of the Day.
There is a company called Wagonmaster in Kerrville, TX, that refurbishes old Jeep Grand Wagoneer Limiteds from the early 70’s through their final production in the early 90’s.