“For that low price, you get the champ. Not a toy, the real McCoy. It’s as adept at thrashing about the outback as it is stretching out on the interstate. A wonderful companion. A four wheel friend. The kind you want around when you’re caught between a rock and a hard place. It’s Jeep Wrangler, proud champion of Jeep’s not afraid of anything tradition.” From a 1989 print ad.

For consignment, a 1989 Jeep Wrangler YJ showing 172,917 miles, but the true miles are unknown due to exemption. Owned by our consignor for 10 years who has driven it for pleasure only and kept it in the garage.

Exterior

As a first gen YJ, this 1989 features square headlights which were subject to some early consternation but eventually gained wide acceptance. On this car, they’re framed in a dressy chrome grille and outlined in red, matching the exterior’s Bright Red coat of paint. The bumpers are polished metal and a band of trim runs along the rocker panel that also features a mirror-like finish. Hinges, latches, door handles, and mirrors add yet more bling while black highlights include the fender flares, nerf bars, and canvas top. It’s all brought together with the 15-inch American Racing wheels which have black inserts and LT rated Michelin tires. Imperfections include a few scratches and scuffs.

Interior

Smooth gray vinyl covers the door panels and also the bucket seats, all in good shape. There’s the characteristic small bench in the back and it too, wears a covering of gray stitched vinyl. The instrument cluster not only runs the width of the dash, but the round gauges are housed in square bezels, continuing the boxy theme to this 4×4. An AM/FM/Cassette radio has been added and the Jeep has air conditioning. The shifter and transfer case selector rise from the floor cleanly, surrounded by gray carpet which extends all the way to the rear cargo area. We have padding and grips on the rollbar and clean surfaces on the inside of the soft cover.

Drivetrain

Clean, driver quality aesthetic condition is how we find the 4.2 liter inline six cylinder, putting out 112 horsepower and fueled via a 2-barrel carburetor. It is mated to a 5-speed manual transmission that can split power between the front Dana 30 and rear Dana 35 axles.

Undercarriage

Clean conditions prevail underneath as the single exhaust flows through a stock style muffler and exits discreetly out back. Power brakes are supplied with disc in front and drum in the rear and leaf springs are at all four corners.

Drive-Ability

There are parts of our test loop that are not perfectly smooth, but in no way simulate an offroad condition. Unless you count the potholes. But the tall sidewalls of this YJ’s tires along with the leaf springs and shocks do a great job at tempering any road imperfections, and the 4.2 provides plenty of power as we row through the gears. We note the horn and A/C are not working but all other functions operate as they should. While Classic Auto Mall represents that these functions were working at the time of our test drive, we cannot guarantee these functions will be working at the time of your purchase.

These tough little rigs always find a welcoming audience and this clean version is ready for pleasure rides even if there’s snow and mud on the ground! Whether or not you collect rubber ducks for the dash is up to you, but you won’t be able to deny the wave to other Wranglers. It’s a Jeep thing, don’t ya know!