Description
• Benefitted from long-term dry storage
• £5000 invested in recommissioning
• Original and unspoilt
• Full history from new
• Only 4 prior owners
• 35 mpg TurboDiesel
Over £5000 invested in the last year in substantial recommissioning, including a major service and lots of detail attention (see below). Annual service 100 miles ago.
The iconic Cherokee ‘XJ’ makes a very stylish and tremendously versatile classic. Timeless looks combined with rarity guarantee a warm and enthusiastic welcome at any venue. And 4WD ensures you can exit too..... regardless of the weather.
The vast majority of Cherokees led hard working lives and before being recognised for classic potential often received sporadic maintenance at best. Many were heavily modified for off-roading. Whilst essentially strong and robust, cosmetically they quickly show signs of wear and hard use and many succumbed to neglect. Rust can be a big problem, too.
Thus it is extremely rare to find one in unspoilt condition.... moreso with very low ownership, and full history from new.
And this 60th Anniversary commemorative model is the rarest of all, only made during the final year of manufacture: 2001. "How Many Left?" shows 81 licensed in the UK
I keep it in a Carcoon or dehumidified garage.
These latest models are said to have superior metalwork to address the corrosion issues the earlier ones suffered - and as can be seen the bodywork is in good condition, with great shut lines, and no major knocks, etc. The underside is also exceptional condition for this type of vehicle/ age…again consistent with light and careful use. There are of course a few age-related minor marks as you would expect with any 24-year-old.
The full leather interior, carpets and trims are in very good condition for their age, with just a few minor marks.
The vehicle was serviced just prior to my purchasing it in spring 2024, nonetheless there was a lot to do to bring it up to scratch, especially since it had been in storage much of the last decade.
This recommissioning work came to £4200 and included further servicing such as: a thorough flush of the cooling system & new coolant, replacing the rocker gasket, air filter, tailgate struts, anti-roll bar bushes and drop links, strip/ clean all brakes, new brake fluid, grease points, gearbox and diff levels. Laser 4-wheel alignment. The underside was prepared and protected with Bilt Hamber Dynax UB. Faulty air distribution was required the whole dash removed to replace the heater control arms – plastic which breaks, with the correct items sourced, and the seats were removed to repair faulty electronic adjusters and modify for extra legroom. The driver's door 4-window control was stripped and repaired…. etc.
The 60th has a full leather interior (most diesels have cloth), leather steering wheel and heated seats. 4 electric windows which now work correctly, as do the heated mirrors and rear screen, with wash/ wipe. Front seats are electrically adjustable (fore/ aft/ recline/ height). Selectable 2WD/ 4WD. Both keys present, as are both functioning remotes (extremely rare) giving keyless entry, alarm, and central locking.
Upgrades included: modification of the seat mountings to give extra legroom to driver and passenger. The sound system was replaced with a Kenwood DAB featuring CD, Bluetooth for both phone and music, and USB plus uprated door speakers. The seized headlight adjusters were stripped and cleaned and much brighter Osram Nightbreaker headlamp bulbs fitted.
Subsequently, to bring the cosmetics up to par I had the bumpers removed and painted to sort minor scuffs. Lastly, the “Jeep” bonnet badge was untidy and to my surprise, they have been discontinued and after much searching I managed to locate one of the last correct ones in the US which cost over £100 to get here.
Given its renowned off road abilities, many are surprised with how well a Cherokee drives on the road. Whilst offering spacious accommodation they are surprisingly compact, about the same size as a 3-series and some 500kg lighter than a comparable Range Rover, making them easy to place even on minor roads and easy to park in confined spaces (unlike most 4x4s). The turbodiesel engine is characterful and has masses of toque and is well-suited to the manual gearbox. I've owned several 4. 0L petrol Cherokees and, perhaps most appealing, the TDi effectively doubles their mpg.
A little over one hundred miles since a fresh MoT which runs to April 2026.
And the annual service was completed at the end of May at 118, 842 miles, including new tyres.
The registration will be transferred before sale, the DVLA likely allocating a 2001 "X" reg. Excellent History:
12 main dealer services, independents since, and up to date with the most recent service in May 2025.
The V5 shows just four former owners - in fact the third was the prior owner's mother, registering it for a few months on his behalf to aid the purchase, so in the practical sense it is just three.
Prior owner of 13 years advised he had the engine rebuilt professionally rebuilt after purchase, and the vehicle was mostly kept in dry storage, and whilst use was infrequent he did an oil change each time he brought it out of storage.
Full and continuous history from new:
First Registered Feb 2001 at Whitehouse Jeep Tunbridge Wells to Mrs N T, Sevenoaks
o 26 July 2001 5751 miles Whitehouse Jeep
o 18 Mar 2002 12, 076 miles Whitehouse Jeep
o 18 Oct 2002 17, 520 miles Whitehouse Jeep
o 16 May 2003 23, 273 miles Whitehouse Jeep
o 3 Nov 2003 29, 827 miles Whitehouse Jeep
o 20 May 2004 35, 364 miles Swain & Jones Jeep
o 20 Dec 2004 43, 959 miles Swain & Jones Jeep
o 1 Jun 2005 48, 067 miles Swain & Jones Jeep
o 19 May 2006 57, 545 miles Whitehouse Jeep
o 19 Feb 2007 64, 759 miles Whitehouse Jeep
o 23 July 2007 69, 017 miles Whitehouse Jeep
o 18 July 2008 77, 855 miles Whitehouse Jeep
Mr R, Aston Clinton
o 27 July 2009 88, 040 miles Euromotors
o 23 July 2010 96, 932 miles Euromotors
o 29 July 2011 104, 396 miles MoT
Mrs J C 3/ 10/ 11, then 31/ 12/ 11 Mr R C, North London
o Engine rebuilt by St Loy’s Garage, London N17 6UA
o 1 Apr 2012: SORN
o 20 Jan 2013: 111, 778 miles MoT
o 19 Nov 2016: 113, 272 miles Pagid Brake Calipers & MoT
o 5 Feb 2019: 114, 794 miles MoT
o 4 May 2019: SORN
o 20 Mar 2024: New Lion Battery
o 3 Apr 2024: 115, 420 miles MoT & Service
Current ownership
o 22 May 2024: 115, 785 miles Recommissioning / service
o 30 Aug 2024: Paintwork – bumpers repainted to remove scratches. Correct Jeep bonnet badge sourced from USA
o 6 Mar 2025: 118, 800 miles MoT
o 29 May 2025: 118, 842 miles annual service, new tyres
MoT runs to April 2026 & mileage now is 118, 917 miles
There are a few items which the new owner might like to attend to:
Over the last decade, I have not come across a Cherokee with working aircon and currently this one is the same - however, the prior owner told me it was fine when recharged ... so maybe just lack of use but, having got all four windows working correctly from the driver’s door the ventilation is really good and I haven't investigated further. I believe the only model where Jeep fitted heated seats is the 60th, and I've been told they are notoriously unreliable - the driver’s side works just fine, but the passenger side has a mind of its own. A heated seat kit is inexpensive and with the wiring and switch in situ an easy fit if desired.
When idling without the clutch pedal depressed there is a rattle - it goes as soon as the clutch is operated. I had it looked at during the service and the suggestion is likely the clutch release bearing. It drives fine through the gears.
Other common problems on the Cherokee include sagging headlining – this one was excellent until just recently when, recommended by a friend, I used a ‘fountain’ air freshener - only to find maddeningly has caused areas to sag. I have purchased the correct headlining material from a specialist ready for replacement. It is not a difficult DIY job, it just takes patience. Or c. £200 by a professional.
I would over time have addressed these myself but a couple of months ago I heard of a very low mileage, extremely rare late model Wrangler TJ which was unrepeatable and which I subsequently managed to secure, hence the decision to sell the Cherokee.
The Cherokee is currently insured for an Agreed Value of £10k. My prior 60th sold for £12k. I've spent much (much) more on the Cherokee than the asking price, which I believe is set very reasonably therefore, but I appreciate that these things need attention and, for a serious buyer, will make a fair adjustment in recognition.
Cherokees have been appreciating steadily over the last few years and good ones with full history are extremely rare.
