1991 Jeep Grand Wagoneer
The whole
project was launched by this “beast” a 1979 Jeep Cherokee. Due to heavy duties
on large cars like a Grand Wagoneer, it will cost a fortune to take one into Norway in a
normal way. The 79 was all rusted and to repair it, it is allowed to change the
body on the car. Since these full size Jeeps have been relativly identical
since the 60`s, switching the body from 79 to 91 was no problem.
After many
years of searching for the right final edition Grand Wagoneer, we found it not
to far from New Haven Conneticut. The car had every availible option including
the rear factory moonroof. The Grand Wagoneer was in excellent condition, and
it was shipped to Gothenbourgh Sweden, where we picked it up and drove it back to
Norway.
Safe home
in Norway the car was divided from its frame and the restauration could begin.
Even if the car was a 91 model rust had appeared, the metal cover that covers
the gas tank had already gotten a large amount of rust. The engine was removed
from the frame and was rebuilt with a new camshaft and the cylinder heads were
serviced. The frame was sandblasted and repainted.
Every moveable
part in the suspension was either restored or changed. When the frame was done,
the engine was cleaned up and repainted before putting it back on the frame
again. The car reccived new shocks, water pump, hoses all around and a new
heater.
The body
was cleaned up under, before applying thick black paint, the woodie was
stripped off and the body reccived new black paint all around. The interior was
in really good shape and needed no restauration.
When the
body was finished it was put back on the frame and we went to the local motor vehicle
department to get it licenced. This was (they said) one of the nicest cars,
they ever had given a licence to.
About a
year after the car was licenced we ended up on the roof, after crushing an 11
inch pine. The road surface was extremly slippery, we met this big trailer, and
the right side tires got outside the asphalt. The car skidded over in the
opposite drivelane, Before it then hit an 11 inch pine with the roof, crushing it
into three pieces. The wag then came to a final rest on the upside down.
The car was
as you probably can tell from the picture totalled. Luckely we had the Grand
Wagoneer, if we had driven any “regular”
family car we would probably all be dead now.
We have now
purchased a 88 Grand Wagoneer as a parts car, so we can get the Grand Wagoneer
on the road
again……….
Please E-Mail
me for any questions or comments
about the car.
