Tokyo – it never ceases to amaze me. Who would think I’d run across this chopped American icon here. Other than three-fourths of a mid-to-late 80’s Grand Wagoneer, I’m not sure what this is…
I was across the street, saw this, and snapped a few quick pics before the owner came out and drove away. It’s a conversion of a Grand Wagoneer, shaving off the rear cargo area and fashioning a small pickup bed.
I thought maybe this was a known conversion, so did some Internet sleuthing but came up empty with only one picture, with no text or caption. I did see where the Grand Wagoneer was assembled in Mexico, Argentina, and Australia, so perhaps this is from one of those locations. Additionally, some South American companies did these pick-up-type conversions on Cherokees.
CC Contributor Yohai71 found something similar a few years ago but it clearly looks like a home built project.
So I’m not sure if this is a one-off or a specific conversion model…maybe CC readers know more.
Grand Wagonanche!
Jeeps were assembled in Oz in tiny numbers, and converted to RHD as well until the mid-’80’s. But the only local oddity I know of is a monster dual-cab ute based on a J-20 and Cherokee hybrid.
But someone (a mob called OTF in Perth) does sell these here, and yes, that’s three-quarters of a Landcruiser with a ute out back…
Seeing how the white one and that bronze one have the same wheels, it’s quite possible that the white one IS that bronze one, just repainted.
They aren’t the same wheels, I thought that at first glance too. However looking closer the white one has rectangular slots while the other one has triangular openings.
We had a Jeep Grand Wagoneer. It was a pleasure to drive, but everything broke on it. It had a dash fire. The tag on the wiring stated,”Made in Haiti”. It ran good when we gave it to the cleaning lady. Now they are going for the big bucks.
I saw a Gladiator single cab pickup recently in traffic but suspect it was the real deal not a conversion, I remenber Wagoneers in OZ I got a ride in one hitching between Daintree and Mossman at speed the driver was meeting a plane in Cairns and drove that big tank at its limit which seemed to produce lots of noise and understeer comfy tho.
I rather like “Grand Waginator” as a name.
It makes for a strange-looking beast, and rather impractical too. I can’t imagine anyone doing this without a definite purpose in mind for the end result – and good luck trying to sell it when you’re done! Might fit two bales of hay or one sheep.