Cars We Love: Jeep Grand Wagoneer

The Jeep Wagoneer inspired so much love that it continued to be built almost unchanged for 30 years. Hence we were surprised when we recently met the grande dame of all luxury SUVs and found that our photo car was only 23 years old…

Final Edition

The car shown here, an aubergine Jeep Grand Wagoneer, is one of the last examples of this exceptional series of SUVs and was built in January 1991 – the last year of production of the official Wagoneer. It’s not just today that the ‘wood’-enhanced highway cruiser looks like a visitor from a different time zone – it must have seemed that way at the beginning of the 1990s, too. Nevertheless, market demand ensured that this visually and technically outdated SUV continued to be built over a period of many decades.

The first luxury SUV

At its launch in 1963, the Jeep Wagoneer was a sensation. SUVs were seen at that time as uncomfortable, truck-like utility vehicles with all-wheel drive – the Wagoneer, however, offered buyers the first 4x4 with luxurious amenities and a comfortable ride. The Range Rover, Land Rover's response to the interest in large luxury SUVs, came seven years later. The technical highlights of the Jeep Wagoneer included a six-cylinder engine with overhead camshaft (later followed by V8 engines), power steering, automatic transmission and independent suspension.

Age with dignity

Over the decades, technology and comfort features were extended, although the basis remained almost unchanged. The concept of ‘luxury 4x4’ motoring culminated in the 1980 Grand Wagoneer version of the model, at a time when the Wagoneer had just survived Jeep’s acquisition by AMC and still not lost market interest. AMC therefore freshened up the ageing SUV just a little, giving it a new dashboard with a revised grille and updated tail-lights. When Chrysler bought Jeep in 1987, they too changed almost nothing except the styling of the imitation wood.

No wonder that even (or especially) so young a model as that pictured here is today a coveted collector's item. For it has, despite the classic looks, every possible modern feature – including electric windows, electric door mirrors and seats, air-conditioning, central locking, immobiliser... who could say no to all that?

Photos: Jan Baedeker

The Jeep Grand Wagoneer shown here is on sale from Hallier Classic Cars.

The Willys AW380 Berlineta is a neo-Alpine with bite

The Willys AW380 Berlineta by Carrozzeria Viotti is a modern interpretation of the Alpine A108 – more specifically, the Brazilian version, which enjoyed an impressive racing career in the Sixties…

Thanks to an agreement with Willys-Overland, the Alpine A108 was manufactured from 1962 to 1966 in Brazil – and renamed the Willys Interlagos. In total, over 800 Berlinetas were created (yes, written with only one ‘t’), along with coupés and convertibles. Race drivers such as the Fittipaldi brothers, Luis Pereira Bruno, Bird Clemente, Wilsinho and other champions of the Brazilian golden age achieved several podium finishes with the car.

Reborn after 50 years

And now, 50 years later, the Italian car manufacturer Maggiora has provided a modern interpretation of the iconic Willys Interlagos thanks to body designer Viotti from Turin. The Willys AW380 Berlineta, designed by Emanuele Bomboi, is currently on show at the Bologna Motor Show, until 14 December. It will go into production in January 2015, as a limited run of 110. The sports car is powered by a 3.8-litre, six-cylinder biturbo, promising 610HP and a sprint from 0 to 100km/h (62mph) in 2.5 seconds. The top speed is expected to be around 340km/h. Offered at a price of 380,000 euros, the first sports car by Maggiora and Viotto has already been bought – and marketing channels have been established in the Balkans and the UAE.

Photos: Degler Studio

Classic Alpines can be found in the Classic Driver Market.

Marmite, turbocharged – the Rinspeed ‘Porsche Testarossa’ R69

While Frank Rinderknecht, founder of the Swiss tuning house Rinspeed, admired the Porsche 911 Turbo, there was something missing, some... Italian flair. So, taking obvious inspiration from the Ferrari Testarossa, this was his solution. And you thought the standard car was 'out there'…

We like to think that this is the car Liberace might have used at the weekend, such is its alarmingly excessive (and rather white) demeanour. It’s loud 'n' proud (and oh, so luxurious) on the inside, too, though admittedly those ‘Tartan Dress’ seat inserts were standard fit – this was a car born in the 70s, after all. 

Fit for a king (of sorts)

There was only one reason to take your car to a tuning house in the 80s, and that was to make it stand out. And stand out Rinspeed's 911 Turbo did. However, in tweaking the 930’s elegant styling, we reckon it had also aged two decades before it even left Rinspeed’s factory, where it received the extrovert 'R69' bodywork in the early 80s. But who are we to talk about beauty? Kitsch as they might have been, tuned 911s (or tuned anything, for that matter) were all the rage – take this Strosek car, or, for those unable to tame the Turbo, this drop-top Rinspeed G-Series, for example. Today there is a market for these cars, albeit a small one.

Having covered just 67,500 miles from new, this R69, currently offered by Classic Driver dealerSpecialist Cars of Malton, has belonged solely to one family. Benefitting from both a turbo recondition and an engine rebuild last year, it’s an attractive proposition – remember, there’s a 930 in there somewhere. Besides, the real beauty of this car is that it isn’t to everyone’s taste. So dig out that Jan Hammer cassette, douse yourself in Turbo cologne and prepare to be the centre of attention, wherever you go. 

You can find more orthodox Porsche 911 Turbos for sale in the Classic Driver Market. 

Guzzi !!