Yup, need the VIN to win: 14 for J-100 4WD Wagoneer, 14 for four door station wagon, and a production sequence of "1" denotes a 230 CID straight six equipped vehicle, starting sequences with "2"were for 232 CID straight sixes, "3" for the 350 V8, "4" for the 258 straight six, "5" for 304 or 327 V8, and "6" for the 360 V8. Of course, these codes are dependent on the year as certain engines were not used in certain years. Starting in 1964, you could also get AC in these. Possible code 223 Nordic Blue exterior paint. The Toldeo, OH complex has been in operation since 1910 and still assembles Jeep products today as of this writing under Stellantis. It has produced Jeep products on a continuous basis since the 1940s.
@@maineiacman Nice of you to say. Pinning comments would be Mr. Magnante's choice to do so. It's his channel and I'm supplementing the information he provides, rather than taking his thunder away.
Baaaaaart! Great to hear from you. i'm pretty sure the last time I saw you in person was at a Table Top Rodders model car meeting on Canoga Park around 1993. The Table Top Rodders had a few meeting places and this one was a former bank branch office and (I think) commercial slot car race track. I remember the Late Great Tom West (of MPC and AMT fame plus a FANTASTIC "phantom view" automotive illustrator) was the "host" of that particular meeting place. Anyhoo, GREAT to know you and I appreciate your Pontiac leanings! I dig 'em too! -Steve Magnante
My father had that 230 in a 64 j200 pick up. It loved to drink oil, good on gas , plowed snow better than the new trucks of today and could light the tires up as witness of an officer of the Sutton pd. That wagoner looked like it had the three speed standard in it as my father's truck did. I learned to drive a stick in that truck. Good times
Always loved those! One of my buddies had a 1979 Wagoneer and when he locked that sucker in 4 low it was gonna get through whatever it was! Great memories!
the wide wheel was cool looking to , my Cousin bought a new 1974 SJ Cherokee S 2 door new rode lot in the middle of the back seat , same in K5 blazers like to hold on to both arm rest always wanted one, still have the Brochure ,the 2 door narrow wheel was 5" narrow then the 73 K 5 blazer the new Cherokee and wagoneer and grand Wagoneer joke to the name id never buy one
Ever since the "Trucks" show did a 1979 Cherokee project and used the earlier "Rhino" grille, the early grille and valence became coveted and shot up in value. Not too difficult to adapt it to a newer SJ model. That's probably where the front clip went.
My childhood friends dad (who just passed away 2 years ago at the age of 89) bought one of these brand new in the fall of 65.. It was a 1966 model Wagoneer Sky blue with a blue interior. It was a 4wd, automatic trans with the 230 tornado 6. (I'm guessing a few early 66's got this engine until they ran out.) When my friend I first met it was 1975... "The Meat Wagon" as it was called (My buddies dad was a butcher by trade and this was his work/daily vehicle.) was a 9 year old NY Jeep with an interior that was ALWAYS full of bloody sawdust, major rust/rot in the lower body, and sporting dents on every panel but the roof and hood. Back then she was considered to be "FUGLY".. But, today she would be considered to be a "Smokin Hot" patina ride!" LMAO! The rest of the family refused to ride in her... But we loved her! The drivetrain was rock solid, starting every time ya hit the key and the thing would go anywhere in any weather! In the summer of 1977 my buddy and I at the age of 14 spent our entire summer vacation shoveling her out, patching up the floor pans with roof flashing and generally fixing the old girl up... She was in the family until the mid 1980's when my buddies dad sold it. I saw her several times chugging down Smiths Point beach on Eastern LI while I was there camping out in my spruce tip green 67 Jeepster Commando. God! I haven't thought about The Meat Wagon" in years... Good Times Man! Thanks Steve and Lockjaw!
Thanks for pronouncing Willys correctly. I went so many years saying it wrong, it’s now become a peeve when I hear it “the old way”. Apparently Mr. Willys didn’t get upset about it though.
its not the correct way. willis and willys are two different pronunciations. even ww2 war films pronounced it as willeez. it was never willis. even if mr. willys said it was pronounced willis, its still willeez. you were right the first time, but you fell for the bait and drank the kool aid, now you mis-pronounce it to impress people
I have a Wagonneer from the first month of production. The 87th off the line in September 1962 and number 315 in the video rolled off the line in October '62 with serial number prefix 1414 (J-100, 4500 lb, 4x4, 4-door wagon). I also have the same Motor Trend magazine. My Grandfather had a '64 Wagoneer with the 230 Tornado, 3 on the tree, for his farm truck. I used it for plowing snow and running local errands until rust became a safety issue in 1989. Great video, well-informed, and Subscribed.
I had a JeepWagon 1962, a Jeep FC 150, a Jeep Commando 1972, a Jeep CJ5 , a Jeep J 10 pickup truck. All had 6 cylinder engines. They were designed and built to be back road and off road vehicles which they were very good at . Would never own one for highway cruising. To day I own all wheel drive Subaru 1 Forester and 1 Outback. City life now days.
I was 'in shock" on Friday, December 6, 2019 when it was announced that 19 of the 21 magazines under the Motor Trend Group were summarily eliminated - as you reference in your Comment. I was a freelance writer for Car Craft, Mopar Muscle and Muscle Car Review magazines at the time and got a series of emails that day from shocked on-staff writers for some of the 19 "executed" magazine titles. They all went in to work like any other Friday morning but were summoned to a company-wide "staff meeting" at Noon wherein it was explained "everyone was laid off" (except for Hot Rod, Motor Trend and 4-Wheel and Off Road magazines). They were all allowed to clear out their offices but computers were locked and no company materials were to be removed from the building (cameras, office supplies, etc). The worst element of all is the fact that several of the magazines had ready-to-ship issues ready to go to the printer!!!! There was no "farewell issue" for sooooo many legacy titles like Car Craft, Rod & Custom, Muscle Mustangs and Fast Fords, etc. A shocking day. A "day of infamy" second only to December 7th if you worked in car magazines! Anyhoo, THANK GOODNESS for RUclips where a number of those "out of work" automotive journalists found new life (me included). Thanks again for watching and writing. -Steve Magnante
The late Tom McCahill,car tester extordinaire for Mechanix Illustrated owned one of those, bought new in 1966 and when it was ten years old he did a road test on it to let his readers know how it had held up.
I worked for a guy who ran a gas station and bought one of these with the 6 banger, new in 63. It would plow snow like crazy. The drawback on that engine was slow oiling to the top end and after a dozen years of around town (short trips) and daily starting to drive 50 feet out of the bay into a parking spot, the thing smoked like a chimney. (less than 20k miles at that point) Sent the head out for a valve job and new guides... it was like brand new. The guy finally retired in the mid 90s and probably sold it, still rust free from being garaged its entire life. As I recall, it was the base model, radio delete. The plow had a belt driven pump, so all old school. The front bumper had been removed in favor of a large rough sawn piece of wood, so it could be used to push cars around the yard. I'm sure it was stored away in his garage at home and in perfect condition 30 years later.
that was a factory built in feature, it told you it was time to change the steering stabilizer shock. scared the crap out of me the first time i had it happen
Very educational and love the enthusiasm. I am approving your video for mass dissemination amongst my friends and family. I got to ride in a Jeep wagon from about 1957 out to the Salton Sea camp ground area. It had a Chevy 283 in it. Frank Mosley drove us kids out there to our parents. Frank was featured in Hot Rod magazine, and was driving out on the salt flats in Utah breaking a speed record or two several years earlier.
I spent my childhood summers on my aunt and uncle's dairy farm. All they ever drove were those full size Wagoneer's and J-10's. First vehicle I ever drove was the '79 J-10. You'd think being such a low number that some Jeep enthusiast might want to rescue it. Can only hope.
Wow that is seriously worth draging out of there and restore it regardless of current cond . 👍 someone with deep pockets needs to jump on that thing asap !! Get it back in circulation
The 315th Wagoneer? Maybe... Generally the mfgrs take orders in sequence, builds are scheduled whenever all necessary parts are "supposed" to be in house. If something is not in stock, build is delayed. One before 315 could have easily been 300, 326, or even 370. A early vehicle should have everything on hand but not necessarily. I have two instances of consecutive Ford build sheets (two sheets in same car) that VIN are 50, 60 even 150 apart.
I used to order fleet cars in the 00's and remember getting Fords in with consecutive VIN numbers with production dates a week or more apart. I think at that time they, or at least Ford was "batching", running one color at a time and switching colors every couple of days. I found that out when I tried to place a late production order and was told the color I wanted was "built out" that they didn't have any more slots available on days they were running that color. Same for the Sheriff's department, a deputy totaled one of the squads and when they tried to re-order they were told they were done making black CVs for the year but they had some federal Blue slots open. They had 20 squads for a while 19 Black and one Federal Blue.
@@fk4515 Color info interesting, I'd suspected that happened. Back in '60s Ford often had as many as 15 colors available on most models, unless special ordered, not all were shared between car lines. Even then would have made sense to paint as many as possible that were same color in batches. In later '60s Atlanta built full size Fords & intermediates, that's probably 20 different colors in addition to special orders. Additionally, two tone paint was a common option.
I put thousands of miles on a medium-blue “Tonka Edition” of one of these Wagoneer’s, pushing it around our living room and my sand box back in the late 60’s and early 70’s! As far as I know, the vehicle still exists in relatively rust free condition and is stored inside a cardboard box that’s up in my brother-in-law’s attic back home in Minnesota! I remember being at the 1991 Minneapolis Auto Show and sitting inside one of these Wagoneer’s on the show floor. The biggest impression I had of the vehicle at that time was that this was a SUV (was that even a word back in 1991?) that had been transported forward from a different place and time! So many of the design details - especially a lot of the interior knobs, switches, and other gadgetry - appeared as if they were NOS items you had purchased for the 60’s era car you were restoring out in your garage! The other memory I had of this vehicle at that show was the $30k+ MSRP! By the early 90’s, the Wagoneer had become the “vehicle of choice” for well-heeled Yuppies everywhere, and the price certainly reflected that fact! To a young kid fresh out of college, with very few nickels to rub together in my pockets, I couldn’t quite wrap my mind around the idea of EVER having that kind of money to spend on a vehicle……😮 I also remember having a similar experience later at that same car show when I wandered down to the Dodge display and climbed up into a brand spanking new 1991 Dodge Ram that was now in it’s twentieth year of production as the same basic vehicle!
same here ,still have mine,little rusty red mini tonka from playing in the sand at the beach ,all so have the tonka jeepster commando 'stump jumper" came from tonka with lift kit mighty tonka dump truck axels and wheels I played many hours at the beach in the sand with it. This new grand wagoneer is only a name maybe the tail lights kinda look like the orig to me its not that grand for a $100k
I remember in 1964 or 65 in Northern Wisconsin a neighbor getting one of these. We were impressed. I had a late 1980s model with the updated grill and front facia but it was very obvious when the hood was up that the original grill and facia were still there behind the new. It was great in the mud and snow but I did manage to get it stuck when sunk in wet mud up to the floorboards. Always bring a winch when four wheeling. That was a long hike out looking for a phone to call for a tow on Thanksgiving morning. Luckily the bars were open in Wisconsin.
It is a common mod to take off the later plastic " updated " grills and bolt on an old school " Rhino " grill , They really ran on a shoestring budget and having to change the press dies for any sheet metal changes was not practical politics .
My stepdad had the first year with some big badass engine. We were way down the beach on Barrnagate point when a huge storm popped up. The truck was struck by lightning three times with the whole family in it! We just slept in the truck until morning. There were three distinct petrified lightning strikes off the back bumper.
I owned 2 Wagoneers and 2 Cherokee badged Jeeps ranging from 1978 to 1985. I loved them. Three of them were 360 powered. A beautiful 1984 was a 258 6cyl. That one got totalled by my wife. I also had a 1968 parts Wagon, that one had a Buick engine and turbo 400 trans, transplanted from a Jeep pickup that had a PTO driven dump box. Weird stuff.
The tornado over head cam engine had abuilht in vibration. The heater hose clamps would losen and spray antifreeze on the distributer and cause a backfire and blow the muffler. I was working in a gas station in the 60's and we replaced several exploded mufflers.
It's surprising how many consider a serial number like this one to be nothing special and then the main event of those who feel this one's serial number is definitely low enough to make saving it an urgent matter.
the early 80s GW . cheokees was still inline I-6 and 4 speed opt 5 speed as the v8 was not av in calif.. have to look it up the yrs did see a lot of them in Mexico. all with 4/5 speeds as most trucks down there where still 4 speeds
That is a FANTASTIC point! I'd never had that thought but now as you mention it, YES! If anybody could do it, I'd say Moebius is that outfit! On related news, I hear rumblings that Moebius is working up a 1/25 scale model of a 1970 Ford MAVERICK! Anyhoo, lets hope a Jeep Wagoneer kit is in the works some day. Thanks for watching and writing. -Steve Magnante
@@SteveMagnante there is a resin to go with the Revell pickup version but yes a Moebius kit would be stunning. Look forward to seeing a Maverick. I’d love to see a ‘61 Cadillac, an early 1950s Buick and any fullsize GM wagon too. Hopefully affordable 3D printing will gradually fill the void.
Anything with an overhead cam, or cams, is going to have hemispherical combustion chambers. That's the whole point of putting all that stuff on top of the block
Kaiser Jeeps engine remained on the AM General for a few more years, then got dual and triple Weber 45DCOEs and a proper updated 12 port head in the Renault Torino GR in Argentina. The engine just needed some money spent on it. No one liked adding oil and doing timing chain work on that engine in the US.
@@sasquatch440 Haha! Thanks for that info Sir, I had a feeling it was up there quite a bit. Yeah I'm working on getting new sheet metal all welded in where the rust is at, I've even got an aluminum LH6 5.3L I'm going to swap in it. The stock AMC 360 with its 144hp and 11MPG really just don't cut it these days.
Morning Steve Long time subscriber You're not going to believe this but I worked at Toledo Jeep and yes I'm old enough to say that I remember building them Love you program keep going Peace
I absolutely love it. My dad had a 68 wagoneer when I was a kid and he traded it in when I was almost 10 and a guy who lives behind the dealership saw it that night and purchased it. He still has it to this day and its been over 30 years ago
The Wagoneer is my all time favorite vehicle! My parents had a '91 when I was a kid and I bought an '87 when I was 19 in 2015. Ended up selling it so I could buy my Grandpa's '95 Ram that he purchased new but would love to have another Wagoneer someday!!
Speaking of that ram, my buddy does autobody and about a year ago he was sending pics on one they restored at work. A real resto , not a bunch of Bondo. Anyways the lady said it was dad's and she wanted it mint I can appreciate that. 30k later she got her wish , a brand new mid 90s dodge 1500 pickup looking really good with awesome paint.
@@MrTheHillfolk That's a cool story and thanks for sharing!! I can definitely relate to her. My grandpa never drove his truck in the winter, but the sun baked the paint so I had it resprayed. It's been a 7 year project so far but slowly getting it how I want. This year I plan to fix the a/c, heater core, and some other stuff like dash and carpet. I have way more in it than market value but I'll never sell it.
That 230 absolutely baffled mechanics of the day . This was it's only true Achilles Heal . The typical mechanic had not a clue in hell how to service them . This what ultimately killed the Tornado 6 , despite being a damned fine piece of mechanical engineering . Another crying shame is that AMC never built a cross flow head for its own I6 motors . The AMC sixes also lasted for decades . Another engine that had incredible staying power was the Buck Fireball V6 , which Kaiser bought from GM to use in the CJs . AMC sold it back to GM in 1974 and it lived on into this century In various iterations . Lots of interesting threads and trivia relating to Jeep , AMC , and , Kaiser . The 327 V8 Kaiser used , was a first gen AMC design it bought from AMC thru 1968 . Kaiser then used the Buick 350.as the V8 option until AMC took over and put their own Gen 2 / 3 V8s into the universals and eventually the CJs . These lived on with the SJ Wagoneers until 1991 , ending a 37 year run that started in 1956 and went thru 3 major designs .
Yup, need the VIN to win:
14 for J-100 4WD Wagoneer, 14 for four door station wagon, and a production sequence of "1" denotes a 230 CID straight six equipped vehicle, starting sequences with "2"were for 232 CID straight sixes, "3" for the 350 V8, "4" for the 258 straight six, "5" for 304 or 327 V8, and "6" for the 360 V8. Of course, these codes are dependent on the year as certain engines were not used in certain years.
Starting in 1964, you could also get AC in these. Possible code 223 Nordic Blue exterior paint. The Toldeo, OH complex has been in operation since 1910 and still assembles Jeep products today as of this writing under Stellantis. It has produced Jeep products on a continuous basis since the 1940s.
I wish he would learn how to pin comments so yours would be at the top.
@@maineiacman Nice of you to say. Pinning comments would be Mr. Magnante's choice to do so. It's his channel and I'm supplementing the information he provides, rather than taking his thunder away.
These great Jeeps were also the first to combine four-wheel drive with an automatic transmission which was a huge leap forward.
Baaaaaart! Great to hear from you. i'm pretty sure the last time I saw you in person was at a Table Top Rodders model car meeting on Canoga Park around 1993. The Table Top Rodders had a few meeting places and this one was a former bank branch office and (I think) commercial slot car race track. I remember the Late Great Tom West (of MPC and AMT fame plus a FANTASTIC "phantom view" automotive illustrator) was the "host" of that particular meeting place. Anyhoo, GREAT to know you and I appreciate your Pontiac leanings! I dig 'em too! -Steve Magnante
Oh no it must be saved! it is a peice of 4x4 heritage and there would be no land rovers ,range rovers,land cruisers blah blah..... 😁😁😁😁
Not true. Some of those you mentioned outdate the wagoneer. I get what you’re saying though.
There are plenty of channels out there LS swapping Yugos to satisfy your needs of sartorial subterfuge.
You can see a lot of studebaker wagon in those...
Thanks Steve!
My father had that 230 in a 64 j200 pick up. It loved to drink oil, good on gas , plowed snow better than the new trucks of today and could light the tires up as witness of an officer of the Sutton pd. That wagoner looked like it had the three speed standard in it as my father's truck did. I learned to drive a stick in that truck. Good times
Us too had a 64 pickup at station
Actually junkyard gold was one of my favorite shows on Motor Trend
Only In a Jeep!!!!
Hello from Butler Pennsylvania the Birth place of the Jeep and the Old Bantam Car Company.
Love those
Good morning.
We're all pulling for you Steve. Hope to see you soon
Always loved those! One of my buddies had a 1979 Wagoneer and when he locked that sucker in 4 low it was gonna get through whatever it was! Great memories!
Man I always loved the Wagoneer. Wanted one in the early 80's I thought it was pure class
Good stuff Steve
Enjoyed!! 👍👍
I didn't realize that dog wasn't real until almost the end of the video. Also, love Wagoneers
What dog? Thanks for watching and writing! ARF ARF!!! -Steve Magnante
......cow trails.... Now there's a 1963 expression. 😁 (yes, I'm old enough to remember)
👍👍 on the episode.
That Holley 2300 can also be found in 60s and 70s V8 International light trucks and Scouts.
Good morning from Montreal, Canada, where it’s 6:30 am and it’s -22C, or -8F, yeah baby!
I sat in a brand new 1978 Jeep Cherokee at the LA auto show.
the wide wheel was cool looking to , my Cousin bought a new 1974 SJ Cherokee S 2 door new rode lot in the middle of the back seat , same in K5 blazers like to hold on to both arm rest always wanted one, still have the Brochure ,the 2 door narrow wheel was 5" narrow then the 73 K 5 blazer the new Cherokee and wagoneer and grand Wagoneer joke to the name id never buy one
Get well soon Steve
I hope that this historic vehicle can be saved.
Ever since the "Trucks" show did a 1979 Cherokee project and used the earlier "Rhino" grille, the early grille and valence became coveted and shot up in value. Not too difficult to adapt it to a newer SJ model. That's probably where the front clip went.
I did not know they offered anything but a straight axle up front, thanks for giving me a bit more jeep knowledge
Be well, Steve.❤
Love those Wagoneers
Sweet
My childhood friends dad (who just passed away 2 years ago at the age of 89) bought one of these brand new in the fall of 65.. It was a 1966 model Wagoneer Sky blue with a blue interior. It was a 4wd, automatic trans with the 230 tornado 6. (I'm guessing a few early 66's got this engine until they ran out.) When my friend I first met it was 1975... "The Meat Wagon" as it was called (My buddies dad was a butcher by trade and this was his work/daily vehicle.) was a 9 year old NY Jeep with an interior that was ALWAYS full of bloody sawdust, major rust/rot in the lower body, and sporting dents on every panel but the roof and hood. Back then she was considered to be "FUGLY".. But, today she would be considered to be a "Smokin Hot" patina ride!" LMAO! The rest of the family refused to ride in her... But we loved her! The drivetrain was rock solid, starting every time ya hit the key and the thing would go anywhere in any weather! In the summer of 1977 my buddy and I at the age of 14 spent our entire summer vacation shoveling her out, patching up the floor pans with roof flashing and generally fixing the old girl up... She was in the family until the mid 1980's when my buddies dad sold it. I saw her several times chugging down Smiths Point beach on Eastern LI while I was there camping out in my spruce tip green 67 Jeepster Commando. God! I haven't thought about The Meat Wagon" in years... Good Times Man! Thanks Steve and Lockjaw!
Thanks for pronouncing Willys correctly. I went so many years saying it wrong, it’s now become a peeve when I hear it “the old way”. Apparently Mr. Willys didn’t get upset about it though.
its not the correct way. willis and willys are two different pronunciations. even ww2 war films pronounced it as willeez. it was never willis. even if mr. willys said it was pronounced willis, its still willeez. you were right the first time, but you fell for the bait and drank the kool aid, now you mis-pronounce it to impress people
Please Keep Doing these Videos. Thoroughly Enjoying Them.
This would be awesome for Dennis Collins. Would love to see what he would do to this old girl
Steve I would still Rather own the scout 80, Behind that, Great Video
I took my driver's test in our '79 Wagoneer. I still drive a Jeep TJ.
The XJ is the best J
Wranglers are for Cheerleaders....
@@Mr.XJ.96 rah fuckin rah
I have bad OCD of walking up to any classic and the very first thing I go for is the sequence number
Mr. B. Here ! I met a guy who had his father’s vehicle ! he love it . MT did make a mistake agree ! LOL .
i had the tonka toy version of that as a kid,loved it.
had a lot of tonka jeeps ..mini tonka mine was rusty from playing with it at the beach
And the brand is back with a $100K version of Wagoneer!
not that grand only a name ,the new grand Cherokee has more of the org wagonoeer roof line
I wish that I never sold my 63, best huntin' wagon I ever had.
I have a Wagonneer from the first month of production. The 87th off the line in September 1962 and number 315 in the video rolled off the line in October '62 with serial number prefix 1414 (J-100, 4500 lb, 4x4, 4-door wagon). I also have the same Motor Trend magazine. My Grandfather had a '64 Wagoneer with the 230 Tornado, 3 on the tree, for his farm truck. I used it for plowing snow and running local errands until rust became a safety issue in 1989. Great video, well-informed, and Subscribed.
I had a wagoneer had quadra-trac emblems on it. I have the emblems.
It's sort of nice that someone calls these a station wagon other than me.
My in laws retired from Jeep... sadly, the original Willys Overland Jeep buildings are gone 🥲 They really should have used them as a museum.
Great Video Steve, old Jeeps and old Iron keep them coming I love them.
I had a JeepWagon 1962, a Jeep FC 150, a Jeep Commando 1972, a Jeep CJ5 , a Jeep J 10 pickup truck. All had 6 cylinder engines. They were designed and built to be back road and off road vehicles which they were very good at . Would never own one for highway cruising. To day I own all wheel drive Subaru 1 Forester and 1 Outback. City life now days.
I finally looked up the meaning of “austere”. 👍👍
Kaiser. Lol. Mkay. I can't help but think of Slingblade every time I hear that!
The Warn' lockers are aftermarket, I wish I had my '63 back
I had a 1977 J-10 Golden Eagle. Had about the same styling run. 360 3 speed. MT can suck it after dumping 19 magazines.
I was 'in shock" on Friday, December 6, 2019 when it was announced that 19 of the 21 magazines under the Motor Trend Group were summarily eliminated - as you reference in your Comment. I was a freelance writer for Car Craft, Mopar Muscle and Muscle Car Review magazines at the time and got a series of emails that day from shocked on-staff writers for some of the 19 "executed" magazine titles. They all went in to work like any other Friday morning but were summoned to a company-wide "staff meeting" at Noon wherein it was explained "everyone was laid off" (except for Hot Rod, Motor Trend and 4-Wheel and Off Road magazines). They were all allowed to clear out their offices but computers were locked and no company materials were to be removed from the building (cameras, office supplies, etc). The worst element of all is the fact that several of the magazines had ready-to-ship issues ready to go to the printer!!!! There was no "farewell issue" for sooooo many legacy titles like Car Craft, Rod & Custom, Muscle Mustangs and Fast Fords, etc. A shocking day. A "day of infamy" second only to December 7th if you worked in car magazines! Anyhoo, THANK GOODNESS for RUclips where a number of those "out of work" automotive journalists found new life (me included). Thanks again for watching and writing. -Steve Magnante
that thing looks salvagable still, great video, they were along the suburbans back then
The late Tom McCahill,car tester extordinaire for Mechanix Illustrated owned one of those, bought new in 1966 and when it was ten years old he did a road test on it to let his readers know how it had held up.
I worked for a guy who ran a gas station and bought one of these with the 6 banger, new in 63. It would plow snow like crazy. The drawback on that engine was slow oiling to the top end and after a dozen years of around town (short trips) and daily starting to drive 50 feet out of the bay into a parking spot, the thing smoked like a chimney. (less than 20k miles at that point) Sent the head out for a valve job and new guides... it was like brand new. The guy finally retired in the mid 90s and probably sold it, still rust free from being garaged its entire life. As I recall, it was the base model, radio delete. The plow had a belt driven pump, so all old school. The front bumper had been removed in favor of a large rough sawn piece of wood, so it could be used to push cars around the yard. I'm sure it was stored away in his garage at home and in perfect condition 30 years later.
Awesome episode
Me and my YJ both miss ya Steve . Waiting for ya to get back to work soon .
Great trucks
what no death wobble lol... always a fun watch....
that was a factory built in feature, it told you it was time to change the steering stabilizer shock. scared the crap out of me the first time i had it happen
Very educational and love the enthusiasm. I am approving your video for mass dissemination amongst my friends and family. I got to ride in a Jeep wagon from about 1957 out to the Salton Sea camp ground area. It had a Chevy 283 in it. Frank Mosley drove us kids out there to our parents. Frank was featured in Hot Rod magazine, and was driving out on the salt flats in Utah breaking a speed record or two several years earlier.
I spent my childhood summers on my aunt and uncle's dairy farm. All they ever drove were those full size Wagoneer's and J-10's. First vehicle I ever drove was the '79 J-10. You'd think being such a low number that some Jeep enthusiast might want to rescue it. Can only hope.
Always considered myself a pretty knowledgeable car guy but I'd never heard tell of that engine until now. Steve's classroom!
As a young man I used to see a lot of the wagoneers on the road in NYC 😮
Wow that is seriously worth draging out of there and restore it regardless of current cond . 👍 someone with deep pockets needs to jump on that thing asap !! Get it back in circulation
The 315th Wagoneer? Maybe... Generally the mfgrs take orders in sequence, builds are scheduled whenever all necessary parts are "supposed" to be in house. If something is not in stock, build is delayed. One before 315 could have easily been 300, 326, or even 370. A early vehicle should have everything on hand but not necessarily. I have two instances of consecutive Ford build sheets (two sheets in same car) that VIN are 50, 60 even 150 apart.
I used to order fleet cars in the 00's and remember getting Fords in with consecutive VIN numbers with production dates a week or more apart. I think at that time they, or at least Ford was "batching", running one color at a time and switching colors every couple of days. I found that out when I tried to place a late production order and was told the color I wanted was "built out" that they didn't have any more slots available on days they were running that color. Same for the Sheriff's department, a deputy totaled one of the squads and when they tried to re-order they were told they were done making black CVs for the year but they had some federal Blue slots open. They had 20 squads for a while 19 Black and one Federal Blue.
@@fk4515 Color info interesting, I'd suspected that happened. Back in '60s Ford often had as many as 15 colors available on most models, unless special ordered, not all were shared between car lines. Even then would have made sense to paint as many as possible that were same color in batches. In later '60s Atlanta built full size Fords & intermediates, that's probably 20 different colors in addition to special orders. Additionally, two tone paint was a common option.
I had a 72 Wagoneer for a while. 360 engine with a Turbo 400 trans behind it. Dana 30 front axle and 44 rear. Green with tan interior.
These are so cool 😎.
I put thousands of miles on a medium-blue “Tonka Edition” of one of these Wagoneer’s, pushing it around our living room and my sand box back in the late 60’s and early 70’s! As far as I know, the vehicle still exists in relatively rust free condition and is stored inside a cardboard box that’s up in my brother-in-law’s attic back home in Minnesota!
I remember being at the 1991 Minneapolis Auto Show and sitting inside one of these Wagoneer’s on the show floor. The biggest impression I had of the vehicle at that time was that this was a SUV (was that even a word back in 1991?) that had been transported forward from a different place and time! So many of the design details - especially a lot of the interior knobs, switches, and other gadgetry - appeared as if they were NOS items you had purchased for the 60’s era car you were restoring out in your garage!
The other memory I had of this vehicle at that show was the $30k+ MSRP! By the early 90’s, the Wagoneer had become the “vehicle of choice” for well-heeled Yuppies everywhere, and the price certainly reflected that fact! To a young kid fresh out of college, with very few nickels to rub together in my pockets, I couldn’t quite wrap my mind around the idea of EVER having that kind of money to spend on a vehicle……😮
I also remember having a similar experience later at that same car show when I wandered down to the Dodge display and climbed up into a brand spanking new 1991 Dodge Ram that was now in it’s twentieth year of production as the same basic vehicle!
same here ,still have mine,little rusty red mini tonka from playing in the sand at the beach ,all so have the tonka jeepster commando 'stump jumper" came from tonka with lift kit mighty tonka dump truck axels and wheels I played many hours at the beach in the sand with it. This new grand wagoneer is only a name maybe the tail lights kinda look like the orig to me its not that grand for a $100k
I had a 94 Cherokee 4.0 hi out put 2wd... all black.. great vehicle. Thanks for sharing !
Love your work and G'day from Australia
great find!
My Dad had a 77/78 Qudra-trac Cherokee Jeep,
304 v-8,
Best huntin and fishing rig for VT ever
I remember in 1964 or 65 in Northern Wisconsin a neighbor getting one of these. We were impressed. I had a late 1980s model with the updated grill and front facia but it was very obvious when the hood was up that the original grill and facia were still there behind the new. It was great in the mud and snow but I did manage to get it stuck when sunk in wet mud up to the floorboards. Always bring a winch when four wheeling. That was a long hike out looking for a phone to call for a tow on Thanksgiving morning. Luckily the bars were open in Wisconsin.
It is a common mod to take off the later plastic " updated " grills and bolt on an old school " Rhino " grill , They really ran on a shoestring budget and having to change the press dies for any sheet metal changes was not practical politics .
Another great video Steve you the man get well soon brother
Craziest thing on that engine the camshaft the intake and exhaust use the same cam lobe
My stepdad had the first year with some big badass engine. We were way down the beach on Barrnagate point when a huge storm popped up. The truck was struck by lightning three times with the whole family in it! We just slept in the truck until morning. There were three distinct petrified lightning strikes off the back bumper.
LJ! Glad you're back 😁
Back in 80's, I worked on a farm that had one of these. It was a 63, 4wd 3peed manual. I BEAT the heck out of it. it took the beating well!
I owned 2 Wagoneers and 2 Cherokee badged Jeeps ranging from 1978 to 1985. I loved them. Three of them were 360 powered. A beautiful 1984 was a 258 6cyl. That one got totalled by my wife. I also had a 1968 parts Wagon, that one had a Buick engine and turbo 400 trans, transplanted from a Jeep pickup that had a PTO driven dump box. Weird stuff.
in line I-6 was only engine we could get in calif in 1984-85 add a 4 speed with a low first or opt 5 speed
There's a 401 jeep motor it fit . I put one in a Wagoneer. Only available a few years but interchangeable. What a motor.
That 401 was Santa Barbara CA.
The tornado over head cam engine had abuilht in vibration. The heater hose clamps would losen and spray antifreeze on the distributer and cause a backfire and blow the muffler. I was working in a gas station in the 60's and we replaced several exploded mufflers.
Hello Dar Vader, is that you? Did we just have a phone conversation? Anyhoo, THANKS for watchin g and writing. -Steve Magnante
That's,me alais name david wallace of poland new york
That's awesome you found #315. How great would that have been to find early enough to get it back on the road. Great job! Great content.
Nice video as always.Thanks Steve
I always loved these but loved the J series pickups even more
What an interesting engine.
It's surprising how many consider a serial number like this one to be nothing special and then the main event of those who feel this one's serial number is definitely low enough to make saving it an urgent matter.
Love the information you research on all the cars you feature Steve!
I agree AJ
I agree THROTTLE POWER. 👍
@@Daniel-fd3wp 👍
I really like your videos. Straight to the point, no bs….. just great information on rare junkyard vehicles.
Kudos
Steve let’s do one on the Jeep Commando beside the Wagoner ! Ok ?
Love this videos. Learning alot of them.
we had a '76, inline 6 and 3 speed on the floor, and two-doors. This early one is very special.
the early 80s GW . cheokees was still inline I-6 and 4 speed opt 5 speed as the v8 was not av in calif.. have to look it up the yrs did see a lot of them in Mexico. all with 4/5 speeds as most trucks down there where still 4 speeds
A two door would of been a Cherokee
@@fk4515 SJ cherokee 1977-83 was all so offed in a in a 4door
One of those cars I always wish had been offered as a model kit…
That is a FANTASTIC point! I'd never had that thought but now as you mention it, YES! If anybody could do it, I'd say Moebius is that outfit! On related news, I hear rumblings that Moebius is working up a 1/25 scale model of a 1970 Ford MAVERICK! Anyhoo, lets hope a Jeep Wagoneer kit is in the works some day. Thanks for watching and writing. -Steve Magnante
@@SteveMagnante there is a resin to go with the Revell pickup version but yes a Moebius kit would be stunning. Look forward to seeing a Maverick. I’d love to see a ‘61 Cadillac, an early 1950s Buick and any fullsize GM wagon too. Hopefully affordable 3D printing will gradually fill the void.
Anything with an overhead cam, or cams, is going to have hemispherical combustion chambers. That's the whole point of putting all that stuff on top of the block
Yes sir I sure miss Junkyard Gold😢
Kaiser Jeeps engine remained on the AM General for a few more years, then got dual and triple Weber 45DCOEs and a proper updated 12 port head in the Renault Torino GR in Argentina. The engine just needed some money spent on it. No one liked adding oil and doing timing chain work on that engine in the US.
Yep, you're right Steve.
I've got a 90' Grand Wagoneer and it had the window sticker when we got it and it had a price of over $31,000 dollars.
That's the equivalent to a little over 70k in 2023 money
@@sasquatch440 Haha! Thanks for that info Sir, I had a feeling it was up there quite a bit.
Yeah I'm working on getting new sheet metal all welded in where the rust is at, I've even got an aluminum LH6 5.3L I'm going to swap in it. The stock AMC 360 with its 144hp and 11MPG really just don't cut it these days.
@@ericwilson2585 glad to hear it's getting a second life
My dad bought a 1968 wagoneer and we used it on the farm when I was 12 years old. I learned to drive in it! Great memories!
Morning Steve Long time subscriber You're not going to believe this but I worked at Toledo Jeep and yes I'm old enough to say that I remember building them Love you program keep going Peace
I need that 230 Tornado engine for my M-715 military truck.
I absolutely love it. My dad had a 68 wagoneer when I was a kid and he traded it in when I was almost 10 and a guy who lives behind the dealership saw it that night and purchased it. He still has it to this day and its been over 30 years ago
The Wagoneer is my all time favorite vehicle! My parents had a '91 when I was a kid and I bought an '87 when I was 19 in 2015. Ended up selling it so I could buy my Grandpa's '95 Ram that he purchased new but would love to have another Wagoneer someday!!
Speaking of that ram, my buddy does autobody and about a year ago he was sending pics on one they restored at work.
A real resto , not a bunch of Bondo.
Anyways the lady said it was dad's and she wanted it mint I can appreciate that.
30k later she got her wish , a brand new mid 90s dodge 1500 pickup looking really good with awesome paint.
@@MrTheHillfolk That's a cool story and thanks for sharing!! I can definitely relate to her. My grandpa never drove his truck in the winter, but the sun baked the paint so I had it resprayed. It's been a 7 year project so far but slowly getting it how I want. This year I plan to fix the a/c, heater core, and some other stuff like dash and carpet. I have way more in it than market value but I'll never sell it.
Another interesting point is the camshaft only has 6 lobes using one lobe to open both intake and exhaust!
Steve, It was a big surprise to learn today's Hurricane engine is not the first time a Wagoneer has been equipped with an overhead cam.
I’d love to have it
That 230 absolutely baffled mechanics of the day .
This was it's only true Achilles Heal .
The typical mechanic had not a clue in hell how to service them .
This what ultimately killed the Tornado 6 , despite being a damned fine piece of mechanical engineering .
Another crying shame is that AMC never built a cross flow head for its own I6 motors .
The AMC sixes also lasted for decades .
Another engine that had incredible staying power was the Buck Fireball V6 , which Kaiser bought from GM to use in the CJs .
AMC sold it back to GM in 1974 and it lived on into this century In various iterations .
Lots of interesting threads and trivia relating to Jeep , AMC , and , Kaiser .
The 327 V8 Kaiser used , was a first gen AMC design it bought from AMC thru 1968 .
Kaiser then used the Buick 350.as the V8 option until AMC took over and put their own Gen 2 / 3 V8s into the universals and eventually the CJs . These lived on with the SJ Wagoneers until 1991 , ending a 37 year run that started in 1956 and went thru 3 major designs .
That’s why I don’t watch MT….cause they canceled such a great show! Junkyard crawl! Get em Steve!