In an age where manufacturers have to put effort into style, comfort and road manners ahead of off-road capability, the original purpose of the off-road has been somewhat diluted over the years. To Jeep's credit, they have clung to the very roots of the brand's iconic past, with the 1996 TJ's update offering an excellent compromise.
Combining the separate chassis philosophy of the original while maintaining the same styling cues, Chrysler-Jeep went some way into creating an acceptable level of comfort, road stability and off-road satisfaction. As a fun recreational tool with tons of cred, it provides a welcome relief to the rather more agricultural and overpriced Land Rover Defender.
Marketed in the UK as the Wrangler, the revitalised 1996 update also offered a little more quality to the provision to comfort. Fitted with multi-link coil suspension, genuinely comfortable premium cloth seats, a restyled dashboard and twin airbags, the Sahara models also offered alloys wheels finished in a unique Sand/Forest Green colour scheme.
With 5 previous owners under its belt, it has seen a recent light running gear overhaul and appears to have been spared any serious attempt of off-road antics.
The owner has owned various classics over the years and as a result, has an enviable history of an interesting portfolio of cars, including three previous Jeep models. The owner has cheerfully admitted that the Jeep was a spontaneous buy and bought unseen from a trusted classic car dealer seven months ago.
Swayed by the fun aspect and practicality of the Jeep, they were initially seeking the 2.5-litre version but after comparing the two and upon discovering that the 184bhp 4.0-litre straight-six was not only considerably swifter than the smaller engine, there wasn’t that much between their respective fuel consumptions.
After purchasing the vehicle from its previous owner, the dealer recommissioned it after it had been sitting idle for two years. Sold with a full service and the underside coated with waxoyl, the Jeep has since been used regularly and has covered around 3,000 miles during their ownership. However, due to a recent change of heart prompted by a shortage of garage space and other cars in need of upkeep, the Jeep has to regrettably go.
Believed to have been sold new via American car specialist Clive Sutton, the car eventually found its way to North Wales, where it was believed to have served mainly as a road car.
The garage that maintained it took it off his hands and renovated it, which included brake, suspension and exhaust work, all of which were fixed to resolve MOT issues. The car comes with its current V5 and an MOT to January 2022. It also comes with its original owner's manual wallet.
The interior including the seats are damp-free, with no suggestions of leaks and overall is in pleasingly good shape with no significant issues in terms of wear. Overall, the car has appeared to have been spared heavy-duty use.
The seats are well-padded and retain their shape, with no significant evidence of wear or rips. The carpets are good not needing much more than a clean. The door cards are also well preserved, with no marks or scuffs. The dashboard and centre console has survived well, with minor suggestions of age but in remarkably good shape.
The dials, controls and switches are good and all are functional. The gear selectors are all in decent order, with a little wear and odd mark noted on the steering wheel. The roof lining is good, with no damage and the car comes with a useful and effective OEM sound bar mounted behind the roll bar. The boot area follows the same script as the cabin, with no issues of note. The rear glass lid struts have been recently replaced.
The chassis is in a good state, with frame rails and control arms appear solid with a recent waxoyl treatment also protecting the underside and inner wings. There is evidence of surface rust noted in the engine bay but nothing that has penetrated too deeply. The galvanised body is straight, with the full doors opening and closing with ease.
The body is largely free of dents, with a minor blemish observed on the front edge of the bonnet. Some corrosion was noted on the offside wing under the checker plate but hasn’t penetrated to the underside of the wing yet.
The paintwork displays a scattering of minor blemishes, with the main distractions focused on lacquer damage at the front. There are also a handful of paint scuffs and small scratches evident across the body but nothing that has penetrated into the metal and certainly looking more like urban rather than off-road damage. The paint finish is of a good standard, with slight evidence of orange peeling observed on the off-side flanks of the car.
The car has plastic wings extensions and wheel covers, all show minor scrapes and damage but are uncracked. The hardtop has not been removed by the current owner but appears to be in good condition with minor scuffs on the edges but no signs of damage. The sunroof has seen a repair but appears to be leak-free.
The car has been spared of over accessorising, and as a result, looks far better for it. The car was sold to the current owner with ropes which have been removed and a rear tow bar mount has been installed. It has only been used once to accommodate the owner's bikes. The owner hasn’t tested the front spotlights, but it is assumed that they are functional. The bumper is dent free and is in keeping with the cars lack of off-road shenanigans. One of the rear over-riders has minor damage. The front spotlight bar shows corrosion and evidence of a repair but a quick-fix solution to resolve. All light and lenses are good.
The heavy-duty tyres have plenty of tread on them, although the near-side front tyre shows signs of age. They are all likely to be over 10 years old. It also comes with a spare mounted on the boot lid with a spare wheel cover recently added by the owner as a precaution to avoid theft. The alloys are in good condition with no chance of kerb or off-road damage.
The car starts up immediately with no issues, with the car reaching temperature without any issues. No excess smoke or condensation was observed from the exhaust.
The 4.0-litre straight-six engine runs very smoothly and almost betrays the somewhat utilitarian nature of the vehicle, however, combined with its automatic gearbox, the driving experience is also relaxed at low speeds despite its trademark bouncy ride. It feels surprisingly composed around town, with the owner suggesting that it’s also happy pulling at the national speed limit without complaint but it's clear to assess that this car is not a motorway cruiser.
There were no signs of tapping or knocking coming from the engine as it idled, with no issues noted with the manifold. The radiator is free from leaks, with the owner confirming that there has not been any evidence of oil collecting on the driveway. The PAS steering and standard height suspension were also remarkably well behaved with no straining or vibration, strongly backing up the owners claim that the car has not seen much in serious off-roading.
The brakes operated well, without juddering, fade or grinding. The rear discs show a coating of surface rust but obviously just an aesthetic issue. The differential wasn’t excessively noisy and the drive selection didn't slip and was said not to be lumpy.
The legendary Jeep name has water-tight credentials and as an official UK import has had the benefit of protective treatment and retains its originality. In Sahara spec, it offers a surprising gift of comfort and refinement without sacrificing the car's rugged appeal.
You won't go far wrong if you think of it as an alternative open-top fun car that can keep up with modern traffic while also having plenty of off-road capability.
Notice to bidders
Although every care is taken to ensure this listing is as factual and transparent as possible, all details within the listing are subject to the information provided to us by the seller. Car & Classic does not take responsibility for any information missing from the listing. Please ensure you are satisfied with the vehicle description and all information provided before placing a bid.
As is normal for most auctions, this vehicle is sold as seen, and therefore the Sale of Goods Act 1979 does not apply. All bids are legally binding once placed. Any winning bidder who withdraws from a sale, is subject to our bidders fee charge. Please see our FAQs and T&C's for further information. Viewings of vehicles are encouraged, but entirely at the seller's discretion.
Please see our FAQ's here and our Terms & Conditions here
