Classic: Jeep Cherokee Chief
Posted on 14-05-2016 to 18:00 by larssb – 27 Comments”
A huge dislike of bumps, mud or a big natuurfobie shall not prevent the beaten track to leave in your luxury SUV. Afdalingssystemen, a terreinkeuzeknop and intensely sympathetic air suspension to keep your off-road fears in check. And in life. But all that pampertronica had the gold(h)fair Jeep Cherokee Chief.
Even no fourth gear, standard came the scrawny dog with a manual driebak. And not too much HORSEPOWER. The base engine was a six cylinder with 110 HP, roughly what is now the a / c compressor of a Hummer delivers. The Jeep, of course, had four-wheel drive but no low range as standard. That was optional and, if desired, in combination with a controlled gearbox, and possibly Jeep’s patented Quadra Trac system, in which your hands are clean kept and you at the wheel could keep. This system is arranged in combination with the supplied machine anything for you if you have the tarmac left. The luxury SUV was born, also urban bleekneuzen could suddenly reckless adventure to the boerenkant of the ring.
That could actually with the introduction of the Wagoneer in 1962, Jeep’s, the founder of the SUV from the SJ-series was the basis for this Cherokee Chief. The Wagoneer was available as a four door and as tweedeursvariant with different motoropties. The aforementioned 4.2-litre six-cylinder was the weakest, above it came achtcilinders that with a content of 5.9 or 6.5 litres capacities afleverden from 175 to 215 HP. Not much, but more was not necessary, and in addition they remained this potential for decades of trouble to deliver. This they did to good American use on their profiles.
That were also quite wide, and with a nice onstads profile. Outside this Goodyear Tracker blubberrubbers was especially are considerably larger track width, one of the clearest characteristics that the Chief of a normal Cherokee distinguished. The more than 16 cm wider axles in combination with the white Mojok rims gave the Chief a much rougher appearance than its luxurious Cherokee or even more luxurious Wagoneer brothers. This was underscored by the striking, black striping on the sides, which very clearly was what you already suspected: this was a boss. The Cherokee Chief.
Also the black trim around the rear windows was characteristic of the sportiest member in the former range of General Purpose. Jeep, like the mankind, now corrupted. In 1976, it was the Chief the first of Jeep’s SUV models that are available with this larger tread, later, this configuration also possible on other models. Except striking Chief badges were a number of typical Boss gadgets, extra interior lighting, yes, a double horn and sliding glass panel in the back on the car performance. Most of the Chief’s were delivered and were indeed the best in this trim, but in ‘81 and ‘82 he was also briefly available as a four door and with the normal track width. More practical perhaps, but it seemed to make sense. The rugged chief had suddenly become a polootje and a bandplooibroek. Soon forget.
Just as the six-cylinder engine, he is at his best with a achtpitter in the front. Of the four available engines were there from 1979 until the demise of the Chief in 1983, two: the 4.2-litre six-cylinder engine and the 5.9 liter V8. The last is the most supplied and you’ll logically still the most against. Often in combination with a vending machine, from 1980, was that a copy of the Chrysler shelves. Because except in heavy terrain was Jeep in heavy weather in that period, there was considerable savings on many fronts. That was also one of the reasons that the thick 6.5 liters of the list was deleted. The other six – and achtcilinders were not modest innemers, but this V8 seemed to be tuned by Bonnie St. Claire. He zoop really as a tempelier and on the road it seemed every gas station heavy magnetic.
Because in contrast to modern SUVS there was not a lot of plastic on the fat Chief. At most, the grill after the facelift of 1979, the rest was all delicious, steel toughness. That makes this honest and stylish house is totally different than a modern, schizophrenic, oh-gosh-there-is-mud-terreintas too much at the same time, trying to exude. Or a by the throat pushed niche must fill it with androgynous traits and hysterical marketing. An expensive way to a modderfiguur to save.
That is not something you do in the mud. Or at least, not in this Jeep. With your Chief to his axles in it and disconnect the achtcilinder the install smooth draw, no sweat. With manual gearbox and manual locks without Quadra Trac. And without drama. Because this is the Boss.