“SALE PENDING- THANK YOU”
Grand Wagoneer by Classic Gentleman, internationally recognized as a leading buyer, restorer and seller of low mile excellent condition Grand Wagoneers, presents this breathtaking Sebring Red Grand Wagoneer! She is a returning Classic Gentleman alumni.
We completed her restoration here just before Thanksgiving, 2021, as a red Santa’s sleigh Christmas gift for our client’s wife. Since their purchase, she has always been garaged and well looked after, as a dry day’s summer cruiser. Less than 300 miles were driven since our restoration completion. Unfortunately, due to a health complication, they can no longer enjoy this lovely piece and she is back with us and ready for adoption.
Whilst we have been exclusively restoring and selling Grand Wagoneers for over a decade, we only began our full frame off restorations with newly remanufactured engines, rebuilt transmissions, completely reupholstered seating and much more, in the 2022 year and thereafter. So even though this treasured piece didn’t have those works done, there was still an extensive list of sorting organized for the ’86. Highlights of her restoration are detailed in the write up below.
If you have followed our website for any length of time it becomes apparent that we attempt to not only describe each Wagoneer in our inventory, but we also enjoy sharing interesting background information on each offering, especially on unique or rare Wagoneers that we are fortunate to acquire. Many of our prospective buyers comment on our write-ups and enjoy the history of a particular Grand and some of the stories bring back memories of their own automotive past. With that being said let me take you back to 1986 and this very unique Sebring Red Grand Wagoneer.
In 1986 the Grand Wagoneer was hitting its stride and Jeep decided to really “church up” their Grands. The new “Grand” name plate had been on the market just two years and in 1986 production rose to 17,250 units. Detroit made several changes that year including a re-designed instrument panel, new climate control, new steering wheel, and the iconic stand-up Jeep hood ornament -to mention a few. The exterior color assortment included nine factory options; white, black, beige, deep night blue, charcoal, sterling, champagne, dark honey, dark brown, and garnet metallic. At this point you may be wondering where did a 1986 Sterling Red come from? Did someone just repaint one in bright red- which by the way is a color that is highly prized by collectors and fine examples are often difficult to locate- just search the internet for authentic Bright Red Wagoneers. Here is what makes this Grand so unique. Apart from the factory stock colors there were special order colors available and one of those was Sebring Red. We checked the color code on the fender tag, and this is an authentic factory painted 1986 Sebring Red Edition. Salesmen- in an industry that normally paid a sales commission when the car was delivered- were often reluctant to pull out the special-order board so you can be sure that very, very few Red Wagoneers were ever produced in 1986 and fewer still survive.
Add to that a lifetime spent in Texas and New Mexico, limited owners, low miles of just 106,600 driven-that’s only 2,800 miles per year on average – and finally that highly prize Bright Red -don’t confuse these with the burgundy versions which are out of favor with many of today’s buyers – making this a truly unique Grand Wagoneer. So, when you stop to fill up with gas or pull into the Country Club- and these always draw a crowd- what a fascinating story you have to share about your special “Red Woody”.
Carfax does confirm the low original miles ticking up nice and slow over the years, no accidents ever reported, and lifetime registration (before our purchase) in the winter road salt free states of Texas and New Mexico. She has a solid undercarriage and frame as the undercarriage images display.
One other very neat item, there is an exhausting amount of historical paperwork that her long past owners kept for this Grand. That documentation will likewise be provided to her next loving owner. – One of those documents is an invoice from 22 years and 3,xxx miles ago that lists the engine original 360ci v8 engine was replaced with the same 360ci v8 spec engine- Plenty of time and monies were spent over the years on this piece, even long before she arrived to us.
Some highlights of our completed Thanksgiving 2021 restoration work included:
COSMETICS
-New paint in the original Sebring Red
-New exterior wood siding and new wood trim
-Professionally refinished wheels
-New Windshield
-New window wipes & replacement of exterior chrome flexible pieces
-5 New white wall tires
-New floor carpeting, & custom floor mats
-New headliner
-Leather portion of seats re-coated along with the steering wheel, steering column and dashboard
-Steering wheel, steering column and dashboard recoated
MECHANICAL & ELECTRICAL
-MODERN FUEL INJECTION added including throttle body, electric fuel pump, inline fuel filter with hoses, inline fuel pump, new engine harness with OBD II data connector, oxygen sensor, electronic ignition module, electric speed sensor to replace speedo cable, high performance ignition wire set, distributor cap and rotor, spark plugs, ignition coil and vacuum hoses.
-New Bluetooth stereo
-Headlights upgraded with Hella 9003 halogen bulbs
-Air conditioning updated to R 134
-Full working inspection of the engine, transmission and 4-wheel drive system.
-New brake pads, drums and rotors
-Undercarriage cleaned and detailed
-New shocks, muffler and tailpipe.
-Battery, battery tender, alternator, starter, neutral safety switch and fuel sending unit.
Why buy from a Grand Wagoneer specialist? Our entire focus is on Grand Wagoneers and we know these unique vehicles inside and out. When you purchase a Classic Gentleman Wagoneer it has been thoroughly inspected and works completed by professional mechanics, some with over forty years of Wagoneer experience. We purchase fine example Jeeps from a variety of sources including other dealers and private parties. We are often told by the seller, “My Jeep is excellent and needs nothing” however, being in this profession, we know to expect and plan for a great deal of sorting. Remember the average age of these vehicles is over thirty years old and even with loving care many the cosmetics and mechanical parts have aged and worn accordingly. When a Classic Gentleman Grand Wagoneer arrives at your home, it is a special occasion, and the Grand will be in beautiful condition. Yes, our sales are as-is, but as you will see from our detailed document files that your Grand has been looked after carefully. Our goal is to see that the joy and enthusiasm of Grand Wagoneer ownership begins immediately with your purchase and that it will be there for years to come.
Still, and here is the most honest paragraph you have perhaps ever seen from a restoration house/dealer, in some ways these Jeeps were terrible even when they were new. Sometimes we wonder if automotive engineering was more of a hobby with Jeep executives. For example, a Grand Wagoneer was the very last vehicle produced in America still fitted with a carburetor. The factory installing an ancient artifact like a carburetor to these Grands is a perfect example of Wagoneers being more primitive than other vehicles of the same model years. Now we automatically upgrade and modernize each of our Grands with MODERN FUEL INJECTION, eliminating the troublesome carburetor and therefore also eliminating the next owner having to constantly hector his local Jeep service advisor to adjust the carburetor. But, in most every other way, we can’t change the method these were built by the factory. In many respects the manufacturer used outdated technology and manufacturing methods and as a restorer, we will always be compromised by that circumstance. Did you know you can remove the front grill from a final year 1991 Grand Wagoneer and behind it still see the round cut out holes for the 1963 Jeep Wagoneer headlights.
Those are just two examples above to illuminate the discussion. Therefore, please understand you will do more maintenance and servicing of a vintage Grand Wagoneer than a modern piece, even one we have restored. That is just a truth, fellow enthusiast. If you don’t have the un-excitability and tolerance for that, then let us say to you candidly, don’t buy one. But let us also remind you that it is indeed that old school style and looks of a Grand Wagoneer that have made them so ever popular today.
Be sure to have a look at our website’s recommendation page where you can see first-hand the positive experiences of a worldwide assortment of named buyers. We deal honestly and work hard to insure a happy buyer. You will never be pressured or chased for a sale but given all the time needed to insure if a purchase is right for you. Guided by these principals, our modestly sized niche dealership has built a loyal and devoted customer base spanning 5 continents.
Please ring us directly at 724-996-1288 if this or any of our other current or soon to be on offer inventory continues to enjoy your interest.