WHAT IS IT?
This Jeep Wrangler Laredo is one of 25,514 examples built in 1987 — the milestone year that AMC became a part of the Chrysler Corporation.
The Wrangler was the next evolutionary step up from the CJ-7 — a modernized Jeep design, now with square headlights, an updated interior, better comfort and updated safety and handling characteristics. All this had been added by AMC to make the Jeep more palatable to daily driver types who wanted off-road chops as well. The YJ, as it was known internally and later within the hardcore Jeep enthusiast world, delivered on that promise without sacrificing any of the CJ’s trademark off-road performance.
The uprated Laredo trim added a chrome grille, bumpers and trim pieces to the standard Wrangler, as well as nicer interior, removable rear seat and high-back buckets up front. Body-color fender flares and alloy wheels completed the package.
WHY THIS ONE HAS BEST ONE ON THE PLANET CHOPS
This Wrangler, finished in Auburn Brown and fitted with a removable hard top, shows a reported 7,000 miles from new and looks delivery fresh aside from an aftermarket stereo and added WeatherTech floor mats. The 4.2L AMC six under the hood is exceptionally clean, as is the Jeep’s original interior. The paint shows some light chipping and scratching, but nothing that suggests the miles indicated aren’t correct. It’s even clean and seriously rust-free underneath despite being located in salty Michigan.
This Jeep was said to have been ordered without A/C and with the rear seat delete. It’s reportedly spent years in its original owner’s airplane hangar, right across from the Jeep dealer who serviced it. Recent work, performed by the second owner, includes new belts, a new throttle cable, an oil pan gasket, battery and a rebuilt carburetor. It also has new tires.
It’s rare to find an off-road rig that wasn’t used for its intended purpose — especially so with a Jeep that was designed to conquer the parts of America that are known to leave scars.
It’s reportedly spent years in its original owner’s airplane hangar, right across from the Jeep dealer who serviced it.
The paint has a few scratches here and there, but the interior? Oh my. That plastic faded and crumbled under even the weakest sunlight. I would remove the aftermarket stereo and put in a factory delete plate as one would not be able to hear the music anyway. Just wear noise cancelling bluetooth headphones while driving, you’ll need them. I cant imagine a better one anywhere, so it gets my vote.
This Jeep is a far cry from my old 1958 CJ-5, but I love a car or truck where you can pick any point in the lineage and find something to love! This ’87 is no exception, the interior looks comfortable, these have great gauges to see what’s happening, and the stripes are amazing. Is the shiny chrome grille my favorite thing in the world? Not really, but it does go with the overall theme, so it’s alright with me at the end of the day. And as time goes on, are the rectangular headlights really the historical travesty they were made out to be back then? Nah. Great Jeep!
Laredo trim, 7k and all original except for the windshield it seems- a rare treat and is TBOOP in my books. I can’t believe it sold for under 24k. Definitely belongs in a museum but maybe high-ski it around a few corners on the way there.