Description
Lovely late, low-mileage Jeep Wrangler – very rare AIRCON + upgrades. Just serviced.
A cherished Wrangler 'TJ' whose classic looks and proportions (and enjoyable on-road driving experience) are unspoilt by extreme modifications.
Stunning in black, with contrasting light grey higher spec interior including leather steering wheel. This December 2002 late model comes with an automatic gearbox which, importantly, has the rare ‘Overdrive’ top gear for much more relaxed cruising and greater economy.
Useful upgrades include: Pioneer bluetooth stereo with phone and USB compatibility, taller 16” Jeep wheels from a 60th Anniversary Wrangler (to many, the original 15” wheels look undersized in the Wrangler’s wheel arches), upgraded suspension, superior quality ‘Rampage’ hood with tinted ‘windows’ – more substantial and much tougher than original.
Over £2. 5k recently invested: Just serviced with new MoT and including fresh engine oil and filter, rocker cover gasket replaced, front brakes overhauled and brake fluid replaced, cooling system flushed and fresh longlife coolant added, rear suspension drop links replaced. S/ hand Wrangler 16” wheels and tyres. Bonnet repainted (bird dropping stains), and wheel arch fenders repainted to remove minor scuffs.
MoT expires 19 May 2026.
The iconic Wrangler ‘TJ’ makes a very stylish and tremendously versatile classic. Timeless looks combined with relative rarity guarantees a warm and enthusiastic welcome at any venue.
However, many Wranglers led hard working lives and before being recognised for classic potential often received sporadic maintenance at best. Many were bought by off-roading enthusiasts and heavily modified for their hobby. Whilst essentially strong and robust, cosmetically they quickly show signs of wear and hard use and many succumbed to neglect and rust - particularly in the front wings and sill areas.
This one’s sparing use is confirmed by an average mileage of only c. 3k pa (and now at just 72k miles) and having been in a salt-free environment most of its life, is in very good condition indeed with no obvious signs of corrosion, and only a few minor age-related marks, and the interior is almost unmarked showing it’s been well cared for over 23 years. Similarly, the chassis is very clean with and virtually corrosion free.
These 4. 0L engines are tough and extremely durable. This one shows very healthy oil pressure, and pulls like the proverbial train. With an output of around 170bhp, there’s plenty of performance available when needed and combined with the power steering the engine's low range torque suits the automatic really well and makes for a very relaxed and effortless drive. Despite the appeal of an automatic the earlier ones are well known for their impact on fuel consumption whereas this late model's auto has the rare ‘overdrive’ top gear which, for example, at 60mph drops the engine speed by one third – from 3000rpm to 2000 rpm making cruising much more quiet and of course much more economical. Whilst on the topic of economy the annual road tax is £360 (£55 less than my 2003 manual Wrangler).
Fitted with Goodyear Wrangler tyres all round, the tread is 6+mm on the road wheels and 8mm on the spare.
For me the only serious shortcoming of the standard Wrangler is, with the roof in place, they can become absolutely stifling on warm days since there are of course no rear windows to aid airflow through the vehicle.
Fitted with the very rare factory air conditioning, this Wrangler overcomes that problem.
Otherwise for every day use, whilst you can remove the side and rear panels from the roof – that is somewhat of an ‘on or off’ approach with a lot of wind blast you can’t control, plus a degree of inconvenience in the removal process and where to put them if needed at the other end of your journey. Don’t get me wrong - it’s great when you’re in the mood for an al fresco blast but, for most of us, that’s not every day.
The air conditioning completely transforms driving on warm/ hot days making it so much more usable and versatile – it seems odd to think of a time when most cars didn’t have aircon .. but we now take it for granted and (I know from my manual model) it is really missed when needed! It also has the added benefit of much more effective demisting …especially if the occupants are wet or you have wet gear inside from hiking or similar.
Lastly, now these vehicles are recognised as bona fide classics, you can enjoy cheaper insurance (subject to status of course) and, perhaps most importantly, they have steadily appreciated over recent years.
The major cost of running a car is usually depreciation – and to be able to enjoy a great all-rounder with no depreciation, and if the trend continues, some growth to fund your use is rare indeed!
I am a lifelong Jeep enthusiast and had my first in 1980. I have a small collection, now, and love the Wranglers, having owned 8 or 9 over the years. Great fun with the roof up or down, the late models combine enough but not too much ‘modern’ technology to be untemperamental and reliable …yet overall are simple enough to be maintained economically by any competent mechanic rather than a costly main dealer.
They are extremely versatile either as an everyday car or as they are now rightly recognised as a classic.
Despite the purposeful appearance, a Wrangler is surprisingly compact. It is easy to place on the road and even fits comfortably in modern-sized parking places (especially since the follow-on Jeep models followed the ‘Oversize my SUV’ trend and are both much larger and ugly, to my eyes at least).
In a Wrangler you are confronted with smiles - not envy!
And, of course, if you enjoy attending events they make a great talking point …and if parking in fields you can be sure you will always be able to drive out …whatever the weather brings. The rear seat arrangement provides several options – it folds and can tilt forward or easily lifts right out to give greater space when needed.
A Wrangler’s suspension will allow you to easily tackle all but extreme surfaces – though the standard setup is prone to roll (and wallow if pressing on) through corners or undulations – especially over time. This one has had upgraded springs and shock absorbers which give a nice tight ride.
By the way, the Rampage hood is much more substantial than the original – making it quieter in use and, particularly, the plastic zips for the windows are a great improvement – much easier to use without snagging nor fear of breaking/ tearing.
History File
(converted from Kilometres)
0 miles Registered 31 Dec 2002
503 miles Service 23 Mar 2003
2, 110 miles Service -
11, 103 miles Service 17 Dec 2003
20, 471miles Service -
30, 714 miles Service -
59, 560 miles MoT 3 Jan 2019
59, 960 miles Service 9 July 2019
61, 540 miles MoT 17 Apr 2020
64, 937 miles MoT 13 Apr 2021
65, 880 miles Service 19 Dec 2021
65, 883 miles MoT 21 Dec 2021
69, 370 miles MoT 30 Jan 2023
72, 177 miles Service 11 Mar 2025
72, 328 miles MoT 20 May 2025
Current mileage 72, 350 miles
