1987 Jeep Wrangler

- 100 Percent Original Example
- Only 2,734 Original Miles!
- 4.2L Inline 6
- 5 Speed Manual
- All Original Purchase Paperwork

(Please note: If you happen to be viewing this 1987 Jeep Wrangler on a website other than our Garage Kept Motors site, it's possible that you've only seen some of our many photographs of the Jeep due to third-party website limitations. To be sure you access all of the more than 155 photographs, as well as a short start-up and walk-around video, and a link to the Wrangler's accident-and-damage-free, low-mileage Carfax history report, please go to our main website: Garage Kept Motors.)

“Replacing the open-body veteran CJ, the new Wrangler was the most rugged Jeep with enhanced convenience inside.” Autoevolution website, January 2021

“The Wrangler shared the steering, the brakes, the axles, the manual transmission, the clutch and the transfer case with the Cherokee and the Wagoner. Also called the YJ, the Wrangler was pretty similar in design with the CJ, however, it featured square headlights and had a lower center of gravity, and featured a heavy roller protection on the side, as well as behind the front seats, offering great stability and less body roll in turns. Inside, the rudimentary controls and the painted steel dash were dropped, the Wrangler featuring a modern dashboard with 4 gauges as standard.”

Offered here is a 1987 Jeep Wrangler in red (with a black fabric soft top) over black was sold new at ODaniel Chrysler-Dodge-Jeep in Fort Wayne, Indiana on July 11, 1987 (a Jeep Cherokee was the trade-in). This square-headlight YJ 4x4 has been properly maintained and benefits from obviously meticulous owner care. The astonishingly low 2,734 miles shown on its odometer, together with its near-perfect condition, tell a story of a well-loved and respectfully treated vehicle. And a rare opportunity to acquire a virtually brand-new, 34-year-old Jeep. (Extensive documentation of the original dealer sale is included in the sale. Please see the photos of the printed material—including the full standard and optional equipment list for the Jeep—in the accompanying gallery.)

The red exterior paint—a classic color for a classic vehicle—is in excellent condition across all body panels. The shine is properly glossy and free of paint imperfections or obvious wear; there is no sign of sun-fading. In the same way, there is no evidence of body damage anywhere (including on the optional aluminum wheels, chrome 7-opening grille, and chrome front bumper) such as might exist from extensive or too-aggressive off-roading. (To best assess the quality of the paint and trim finishes, be sure to view the close-up photographs of the car in the accompanying gallery.) Twin white-and-silver stripes beginning on the front fenders and continuing to outline the flanks are in excellent condition. Fiberglass fender flares and incorporated side-entry-assist step are in as-new condition. The black soft top also shows no imperfections and no damage. Cabin glass and all lighting lenses are clear and free of cracks. Factory identification in the way of the embossed-and-black-painted “Jeep” on the body sides is in place and pristine. Jeep-branded 15-inch, 5-spoke, brushed aluminum sport wheels are mounted with GoodYear® Wrangler Radial all-terrain tires. A red bug-deflector shield is mounted on the hood and an antenna mount is installed on the rear. The Jeep's overall presentation is showroom condition.

Inside, the same high level of care and condition is evident throughout. Painted door sills and step-over area show no undue wear. Charcoal fabric seat upholstery on the front high-back buckets and the foldable rear bench seat is clean and free of rips, tears, or even signs of much use. The fabric is a pleasing geometric mix. Black cabin-floor covering is protected by rubber mats in front, and the cargo area is also carpeted. The shift lever for the 5-speed manual transmission is floor-mounted alongside the 4WD transfer-case selector lever. The driver's view through the Jeep-branded steering wheel (with added turn-assist handle), takes in the complete instrumentation (including the larger separate speedometer and tachometer, and five smaller engine-monitoring gauges) arrayed horizontally across the black, padded dash. Slide-lever heat and ventilation levers and the factory AM-FM-Cassette audio unit are mounted below the dash. The Jeep is equipped with factory power steering. On literally all surfaces in the cabin, there is little evidence of even normal wear. All graphic markings are crisp and unfaded.

Under the hood, the highly regarded 4.2-liter straight-six Jeep is in place in a spotlessly clean and orderly engine bay. All original components (including the fender-top-mounted jack) are properly in place with no sign of aftermarket modifications. Viewed from below, the chassis is straight, complete, and free of damage. The center-differential protective plate remains properly mounted and free of damage.

Original factory-applied vehicle identification and build-data tags remain properly in place. The sale includes owner literature in the original pouch as well as the previously mentioned original-dealer-sale documents.

While the more than 155 high-definition photographs and the short walk-around-and-startup video available on the GarageKeptMotors website showcase this '87 Wrangler in detail from every angle, including from below, we expect and encourage in-person inspections at our Grand Rapids, Michigan showroom. Please call to arrange an appointment in advance as our showroom is not open to the public. And feel free to get in touch anytime by phone or email if you have questions.

“It's the first-ever Wrangler and the last of the leaf-spring front-axle Jeeps, so it holds a unique place in Jeep history,” so said the folks at Hagerty about the YJ model. In this case, it's clear this nearly showroom-new Jeep Wrangler has plenty of its own history yet to make, in the hands of its next owner.