1997 Jeep Wrangler Sahara 4.0

Photos provided by the vendor

Highlights

  • The underside has been sealed 
  • Amazing interior condition
  • Lots of service stamps 
  • Ready to go anywhere 
  • Fitted with the large 4.0l engine

The Appeal

Ever since the Willys Jeep came into fruition during the second world war, the name Jeep has been synonymous with rugged and dependable vehicles. Luckily for you, it would appear that this car has never been taken off the road and has instead been pampered thoroughly.

This example is presented in amazing condition indeed, the interior looks amazing, and the underside/chassis has been undersealed further preventing any future issues with rust.

The History and Paperwork

  • First hitting the UK roads on the 27th of October 1997 this Jeep has been looked after well by its three previous and long term owners
  • The first owner had the car for only a short time, just over 7 months, it was then purchased by its second owner
  • This time it would spend 13 years under the same ownership before it moved on to its third owner
  • Once again, they would own the car for the past decade before selling the car earlier this year
  • Looking at the service book we can see that it has been looked after properly, with 15 stamps in the book, the most recent service was in 2021 since then the car has only covered a hundred miles or so
  • There are a few invoices present with the car, one from 2019 for new front bushes
  • It would also appear that the car has just been fitted with a new battery within the last few months
  • It is quite clear that this car has been looked after properly throughout its 25-year life
  • You can now benefit from this love and care with a well-presented Jeep Wrangler
  • It is time for you to write the next chapter of this car’s history, take it on your next adventure and create many new happy memories

The Interior

  • Amazingly presented 
  • Provides a commanding driving position 
  • Removable hard top 
If you are to go and look at a 25-year-old Jeep the interiors usually show at least some signs of use, but this example appears to be an exception to this rule, it has a wonderfully presented interior that you will enjoy sitting in. 

Let’s start by looking at the seats, probably the area of the interior that gets the most use, we can see that the green and tan seats, which signify that this is a Sahara edition, have been preserved well throughout this car’s life. The driver’s seat obviously sees the most use in any interior setup, so this is where you’d expect to see some slight signs of use, especially around the bolsters. However, from the photos, we can deduce that it is in very good condition, along with the front passenger seat and the rear bench.

The steering wheel does show some signs of wear, but it may be bought to life during a session with a detailer, or you could just buy a cover to go over it. Looking at the other tactile areas of this interior, like the gear selector, heater dials, and transfer box controls, we can see that these too are presented in very good condition for you. 

The good news doesn’t stop with the condition of the big ticket items on the interior of this Jeep, sometimes overlooked areas such as the door cards, carpets, and headliner/roof are all presented in a condition that is incredible to see for a car like this. You may wish to clean certain areas, but they shouldn’t need too much elbow grease.

Another excellent feature of this interior is the rare to find air-conditioning. The current owner has stated that this still works as it should. 

One of the best interior features of the Wrangler is the fact that you can take the roof off for sunnier days. Once you have done this it fills the cabin with light and you can enjoy the lanes or open roads with the wind in your hair, just adding another element to this wonderful interior.

Overall, the interior of this Jeep is very good which can be hard to find on a car of this age and type. If you continue to look after the interior, it will repay you with some amazing memories throughout the next few years of your ownership. 

The Exterior 

  • Underside sealed 
  • Chunky all-terrain tyres
  • Rugged design 
The exterior of the Jeep Wrangler is instantly recognisable, you can easily trace the design ques back to the infamous Willys Jeep. As you can imagine the exterior of this Jeep is presented in very good condition, much like the interior. 

It has been finished in a deep Jet Black colour with satin black steel bumpers. The paint on both the bumpers and body is in good condition, there have been a few touch ups around the body, and you may be able to identify some patina to the bonnet area. However, there is doesn’t appear to be any marks that will need immediate attention.

These types of cars are known for having rust issues on the underside, luckily for you, one of the previous owners has decided to undertake a course of rust prevention with some black under seal. We are told the chassis under this is nice and solid. 

If you should wish to do some light laning with this Jeep then you should be happy to hear that all five tyres are proper BF Goodrich All Terrains that provide ample grip both on and off-road. And with the addition of part-time/switchable 4wd, it will keep the MPGs in a more reasonable ballpark.

This is a great looking example of a ‘90s legend and it will look great sitting within your collection of other quirky cars. With the prices of an equivalent Land Rover Defender 90 reaching silly levels, this is a great affordable option for you. 

The Mechanics 

  • Fitted with the larger 4.0l 
  • Smooth automatic gearbox 
  • Switchable 4wd 
Mechanically, the Jeep is near on bulletproof, their rugged engineering means that they will troop on for a long time. This example has been looked after properly and as such, it is presented in great mechanical condition for you. 

If you search this car's numberplate it will state that it is the smaller 2.5l inline six, this is a mistake, it is actually the bigger, more powerful, and sort after 4.0l inline six. The added power and torque mean that this is an easy car to drive wherever you are. You will have a lot of fun wherever you get to drive this car. 

Importantly, for those of you thinking about fuel economy, this Jeep is fitted with a selectable 4wd system. This means that as you cruise around town you are powering half the wheels, but as soon as you get to somewhere a bit trickier you can engage 4wd and demonstrate what makes the Jeep world renowned. It also has hi-low ratios which makes it even better offroad.

We have already mentioned about this car's service history, but what we have really touched on is the average mileage this truck has covered since 2006. Since then, it has only covered around 3,000 miles a year. This is extraordinarily low for one of these and it should mean that you have a lot of time left to enjoy the thrills of driving an off-road icon.

If you are still unsure of the car's mechanical condition, it has just been through an MOT with no advisories. Truly amazing.

Summary

This Jeep is an incredible example of a car that everyone knows and loves. It is now your time to hop up into the cabin and go for some amazing adventures across the UK. With its incredible interior, great exterior, and well serviced mechanical elements, it could be one of the best examples on the market.

Don’t miss out on the opportunity to get behind the wheel of this off-roader. 

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Vehicle specification
  • Year 1997
  • Make Jeep
  • Model Wrangler Sahara
  • Colour Black
  • Odometer 75,188 Miles
  • Engine size 3960
Auction Details
  • Seller Type Trade
  • Location Hampshire
  • Country United Kingdom
Bidding history
10 bids from 6 bidders
  • Su•••• £9,700 17/08/22
  • ni•••• £9,600 17/08/22
  • Su•••• £9,500 17/08/22
  • si•••• £9,000 14/08/22
  • ja•••• £8,500 13/08/22
  • Jo•••• £8,300 11/08/22
  • be•••• £8,000 10/08/22
  • Jo•••• £7,700 10/08/22
  • be•••• £7,500 10/08/22
  • Jo•••• £7,000 10/08/22
Message C&C Auction Team

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