1981 Jeep Cherokee

1981

Jeep Cherokee

Laredo 4x4

VIN: 1JCCM18N1BT068413 

Factory books, window sticker,

build sheet, warranty papers AND 40 years

of maintenance records included

I'm often asked where we find these clean, vintage vehicles.  A good friend keeps a sharp eye out as he cruises parking lots of retirement homes, Elks clubs, our V.F.W. Hall and the small-town back streets of rural areas here near Seattle.  He can spot a seatbelt slammed in a door a mile away…  He'll notice when a nice old car or truck is driving with a turn signal left on just a little too long and he positively twitches with glee when a vehicle with metal bumpers passes by!  Occasionally, we'll get really lucky and find one sitting right there under our noses.  This rare 4-door Cherokee Laredo has been owned and driven on the Olympic Peninsula for over three decades after the original owner moved there a few years after purchasing the Jeep at World Wide Motors West in Jacksonville.  The second owner (who'd seen several of my Ebay listings for similar Grand Wagoneers) contacted me as he and his wife were moving out of the country.  I rarely get complete maintenance records, much less the original window sticker, build sheet, warranty forms and dozens of receipts.  It's all here and comes with the title.

If you're in the market for a great 1980's 4x4, please give this Cherokee your kind attention.  Feel free to contact me with questions or to discuss a sale before the end of the Ebay auction.  My name is Mark and you can reach me directly by phone or text at 206/914-1173.

CONDITION:

The photos really tell the rig's story.  From what we've been told and seen from the records, it's spent the last 30-plus years here driving our salt-free rural western Washington roads.  We've found NO evidence of any accidents, storm damage, insurance salvage, theft recovery or any other nasty negatives to cause you concern as the next caretaker.  After the Jeep arrived at my warehouse our mechanic looked it over, did an oil change, and pronounced it sound.  Records that came with the title show the clutch has been replaced, the carb rebuilt, a muffler replacement and new starter recently installed, just to name a few things. All the posted photos you see were taken on 09/11/2021 outside my shop.

I take pride in our vehicles and feel that you should know as much about them as possible.  Accordingly, here's a list of the positive and also any small things possibly still needing attention: The overall exterior is in exceptional condition.  The rig has had one respray to the factory original "CameoTan" color.  It looks great with absolutely no scratches or frontend rock chips.  Rust? Well, this classic Jeep HATES rust and you'll be hard pressed to find anything here to worry about!  Because we rarely get snow west of the Cascades, our winter roads are never salted.  Climb over, under and throughout - I know you'll come up smiling!

One turn of the key and the strong 258 CID gas-powered inline six-cylinder fires right up every time.   The four-speed manual transmission shifts smoothly, just like it should, with NO clutch slippage.  I engaged the manual 4x4 system to test it but have not driven off road.  Of course, there's power steering.  The brakes stop the rig just fine, with no pulling or binding.  All four of the 235/75R15 tires have at least 75% remaining tread.  This Cherokee Laredo really is fun to drive, has good power, will take you anywhere you'd like to go and you're guaranteed a thumbs-up at every stoplight!

Please take another look at the interior pics.  The front bucket seat upholstery is factory original and in great condition.  One vinyl wear area as pictured along the driver's seat base. The rear bench is even better and also original.  I bet you can't find another Cherokee with factory carpets still installed and in decent condition (the cargo area has been redone). We didn't do more than vacuum the interior when the vehicle arrived.  All the glass is great with no chips or cracks.  All four windows roll open and close properly, as does the hand-cranked tailgate glass.  Check out what a stock AM-FM AMC radio goes for here on Ebay and you'll be tempted to pull this original tune player, sell it, and install a modern stereo.  Of the 20 or so Grand Wagoneers I've sold here over the last twenty years (a 4-door Cherokee has the same body & interior), this is one of only two or three that still sports a factory headliner in good condition.  Most are so severely warped, with loose material, that I spend $1,000 having them replaced.  About the only negatives to report are:  The factory A/C appears complete (and the compressor was replaced some years ago), but service is needed to make it functional. Also, several of the dash gauges are very intermittent and the fold-down armrest has a wear-through spot.

If you're thinking of bidding on a Jeep Grand Wagoneer of similar vintage, you really ought to look over and drive this rare Laredo Cherokee first!  Same body style and parts, but an ultra-rare model.  You'll be the only one at your next car show with one of these!

PLEASE BID WITH CONFIDENCE and know that you are purchasing a nice Jeep from a respected Ebay seller.  I want you to be happy with your purchase (and with me) and that's the main goal!   Please don't be upset by a missed flaw or some unforeseen problem!  No vintage car, truck or SUV is ever perfect.

Because of the amount of money involved in buying a vehicle, we require that Ebay members with a feedback history of five or fewer transactions call, text or email before placing a bid.  If I don't have this initial contact, your bid may be cancelled.   As I've outlined above, the phone number to talk directly to me is 206/914-1173.  Please feel free to call (or text) any time during the auction.  My name is MARK.  You're welcome and encouraged to come by my Auburn, WA warehouse to look over and drive the Cherokee.  If distance is an issue, I'll make time to meet with an inspector you've hired.  You might also consider making an offer as many of my vehicles sell to smart “early birds” that contact me to work out a deal prior to an auction's end.  I always reserve the right to sell during this period.

Many of my past buyers from as far away as Alaska, Arizona, the Midwest, Canada, Florida, New York and even the Mexican Baja have flown in here to Seattle and then started a road trip home the same day in their purchase.  While I have every confidence the Jeep could handle a long-distance drive, it's 40 years old and has earned the right to do short sprints instead of a full-blown marathon.  Shipping usually equals (or is cheaper) when all the ancillary costs are added in – and no flat tires to deal with in the middle of nowhere with shipping, either. 

A Few Additional things: A $500 deposit (payable to Ebay directly) is due within 24 hours of the auction's end.  The remaining balance needs to be received by me within 7 days payable by cash (in-person only), a wire transfer or other certified funds.  I can accept credit/debit cards but will need to first send an invoice from our card processor and will add the 3.25% fee charged by them.  Please remember you are bidding to buy and I fully expect the winning bidder to fulfill their Ebay contract!  You're not bidding to hold or then come inspect and test-drive the vehicle later -- You're more than welcome to do this before the auction ends.

If you do decide to have the Cherokee shipped home, there are numerous vehicle transport companies to choose from.  While delivery and the company chosen are the responsibility of the BUYER, I ship vehicles regularly and I have access to the nationwide Central Dispatch system.  I'm happy to check what typical delivery costs have been to your area recently and can then post a transport offer at a fair price.  We usually have a shipper lined up within a few days.  The buyer pays the transporter COD when they arrive with the vehicle.  No upfront deposit or other hassles. 

The Jeep can be stored free of charge at my location for up to fourteen days after the auction ends (assuming full payment has been received).  After that period storage is $20 per day.

Final Note: I list and sell my vehicles exclusively here on Ebay.  If you see them advertised "For Sale" on other sites BEWARE: you are being scammed. We've recently come across more than a dozen of our past auction vehicles (with my Ebay pics and descriptions lifted verbatim) on the scam site "Classic Cars for Sale" (also coming up as "TOPCLASSICSALE.COM").  Thankfully, a few folks have called me at the number I always list in my auctions and were kept from being taken by the crooks behind those two sites!

Also published at eBay.com

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