Jeep Comanche Pioneer: The Forgotten Compact Pickup
Compact pickup discussions rarely include the long-forgotten Jeep Comanche. But this stunning example reminds us why that’s a mistake!
Ask anyone what their favorite compact pickup is, and you’ll likely get one of a few responses. Most likely the Ford Ranger, Chevy S-10, an old Toyota, or maybe the Dodge Dakota. So if the pickup you see before you looks a little strange, fret not. Even people that were around in the mid ’80s to early ’90s don’t seem to remember the Jeep Comanche. In fact, if you didn’t know any better, you might think that someone just chopped the rear section off of a Cherokee. But the Comanche is one cool little pickup worth remembering.
Seeing this 1989 Jeep Comanche over at Worldwide Auctioneers stirred up some memories for us, that’s for sure. And how could you not like these things? Sporting all the timeless looks of its Cherokee brethren, the Comanche had everything compact pickup shoppers could want. You could opt for two or four-wheel drive and a short or long bed. When it was introduced, it was the cheapest vehicle in Jeep’s lineup.
This particular Jeep Comanche is nicely optioned, however. It sports the long (7 foot) bed and Pioneer trim, which was a nice step up from the base model. Under the hood, you’ll find Jeep’s legendary 4.0-liter inline-six. And everything here appears to be completely original, from the paint and graphics to the interior trim. Every bit of which is in incredible condition given the truck’s age. It’s really not bad at all.
Sadly, the Comanche didn’t catch on with compact pickup buyers, forcing Chrysler to end production in 1992. Which is sad, because many people would love to have a simple, cheap little pickup these days—including us.
Photos: Worldwide Auctioneers
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