If you want an XJ-Jeep-Cherokee-ish pickup, you can do one of three things.
1.) Make your own. (One of you probably already has.)
2.) Scour the internet for an MJ Jeep Comanche, the bed-ended cousin to the XJ. Jeep produced it between the mid-1980s and early 1990s, blending the confidence of its go-anywhere capabilities with the convenience of its carry-anything cargo box.
3.) Be the person who snaps up this custom Jeep truck. In a way, it’s really not that far off from buying a Comanche. In their description of it, the person who’s selling it on craigslist states this Jeep has “been modified with parts from a Jeep Comanche.” Those would be the “tailgate section and rear cab.”
The end result is not a pure Comanche, though. The rest of this cubish creation is a two-door 1994 Jeep Cherokee Sport 4X4. The 4.0-liter I6 is hooked up to a five-speed manual transmission.
Judging by the available photos, the body around that mechanical setup (whose mileage is not stated in the listing) appears to be in great shape. It’s hard to imagine this rig has ever seen dirt (but let’s hope it has). Even the interior seems to be in near-new condition. The bottom section of the driver’s seat shows a little wear, but that’s about it.
The current owner has added a load of fresh parts to this MJ/XJ mashup, too. The headlights are LEDs, the front marker and tail lights are also new. The seller swapped out the grille, rear sliding window, and windshield for new hardware as well. Under the hood, there’s a new water pump, battery, and spark plugs. The tiny bed is coated with a spray-on protective liner. The entire package sits a little higher than it used to thanks to a three-inch lift.
It’s a handsome combination of parts (and Jeeps), although it must be said that its proportions look a little odd. On the plus side, they should make this little custom nimble on the trails – and the heads of a lot of Jeep drivers turn for a double take. That kind of presence costs, though. The seller is asking $10,000.
Derek Shiekhi's father raised him on cars. As a boy, Derek accompanied his dad as he bought classics such as post-WWII GM trucks and early Ford Mustang convertibles.
After loving cars for years and getting a bachelor's degree in Business Management, Derek decided to get an associate degree in journalism. His networking put him in contact with the editor of the Austin-American Statesman newspaper, who hired him to write freelance about automotive culture and events in Austin, Texas in 2013. One particular story led to him getting a certificate for learning the foundations of road racing.
While watching TV with his parents one fateful evening, he saw a commercial that changed his life. In it, Jeep touted the Wrangler as the Texas Auto Writers Association's "SUV of Texas." Derek knew he had to join the organization if he was going to advance as an automotive writer. He joined the Texas Auto Writers Association (TAWA) in 2014 and was fortunate to meet several nice people who connected him to the representatives of several automakers and the people who could give him access to press vehicles (the first one he ever got the keys to was a Lexus LX 570). He's now a regular at TAWA's two main events: the Texas Auto Roundup in the spring and the Texas Truck Rodeo in the fall.
Over the past several years, Derek has learned how to drive off-road in various four-wheel-drive SUVs (he even camped out for two nights in a Land Rover), and driven around various tracks in hot hatches, muscle cars, and exotics. Several of his pieces, including his article about the 2015 Ford F-150 being crowned TAWA's 2014 "Truck of Texas" and his review of the Alfa Romeo 4C Spider, have won awards in TAWA's annual Excellence in Craft Competition. Last year, his JK Forum profile of Wagonmaster, a business that restores Jeep Wagoneers, won prizes in TAWA’s signature writing contest and its pickup- and SUV-focused Texas Truck Invitational.
