mod@tech

New car shows are hardly the place to go looking for vintage and collector cars. The carmakers are there to get you to buy something that depreciates the moment you drive it off the lot, after all, and not something that’s bound to appreciate in value over time. The New York International Car Show, however, has always devoted at least a little bit of space to collections of older vehicles to be found in the greater metro area, and the carmakers themselves occasionally trot out something from their heritage collections to try to rub off a bit of cool onto their dealership fodder.

This year’s show didn’t include much of the latter. Nissan did have an R34 GT-R in its booth to help promote the recently facelifted GT-R, and Toyota had a couple of SEMA-shown overlanding rigs. On the other hand, the basement display of tuner cars, Rides+Rigs, more than made up for the lack of vintage stuff upstairs. Close to half the floor space down there looked like a mid- to late Nineties meet full of JDM steel, drift machines, and other highly modified racers and street cars. Sprinkle in a few other hidden gems, and the show’s not a total bust for anybody who wants to look beyond the SUV parade from the carmakers.

From Australia’s Gold Coast comes this “FJ49,” a Toyota FJ45 with a 4.5-liter turbodiesel V-8 and transmission from a later FJ79 built by Christian and Ashton Montesalvo of the Patriot Games YouTube channel.

According to the FJ79’s spec sheet, it has a custom coil-sprung front suspension based on the FJ79’s components, leaf-sprung rear suspension, 20-inch wheels, and plenty of exterior work, including the exocage, the fauxtina appearance, winch, lights, and recovery boards.

Alongside the FJ79 was another Australian turbodiesel rig, an LC79 set up for bush exploration.

The LC79 uses an upgraded turbocharger, intercooler, and upgraded injectors to produce 300 kilowatts, or about 402 horsepower. It sits on a chassis extended by nearly a foot to fit the Supertourer body and fitted with a three-inch-lift front suspension and a rear coil conversion.

These aren’t scratches; they’re badges of honor.

Where did the Hemi ‘Cuda see its greatest motorsport success? Perhaps France, as the story goes regarding this 1970 ‘Cuda that was shipped overseas in 1970 to form the backbone of Ecurie Chrysler, the company’s French competition group. According to Redline Restorations, the car won more than 45 races and multiple championships over its three-year competition career and about a decade ago underwent a thorough restoration.

Henri Chemin, whose name is on the door, oversaw Ecurie Chrysler and drove the ‘Cuda for at least a few of its wins.

Redline Restorations also had on display a 1957 Maserati 300S, chassis #3070, a factory team car that has made plenty of vintage racing appearances since it was initially restored in 2001.

While not an original BMW E9 CSL, this tribute with a modern BMW straight-six and turbocharger can still pay homage while taking creative licenses left and right.

A couple vinyl wrap companies showed off their services with flashy rides, perhaps none flashier than this golden Volkswagen.

Technically in with the tuner cars, this lowrider Chevrolet was clean. We’re assuming it doesn’t drive the potholed streets of New York.

One of a trio of vintage NYPD cars on display, this Plymouth Fury had all the right markings.

It’s been a while since we’ve seen more than one or two authentic Nineties tuner cars in the same place.

As the tuner crowd has embraced more and more JDM-only cars as collectibles, we’re seeing more and more of them imported to the States. This Toyota Starlet GT Turbo was one of many right-hand-drive cars on display.

The 86 crowd showed up in force.

Supras for days.

Not much remained stock on Gerald Alvarez’s supercharged 2003 Mini Cooper S, with everything from upgraded injectors to a CO2 intercooler sprayer.

Craig Breedlove, the first land speed racer to drive jet-powered cars over 400, 500, and then 600 mph, has died. He was 86 years old, and he leaves behind an unforgettable legacy.

Bonneville land speed records have evolved since the 1960s, and while the current outright land speed record holder is Royal Air Force pilot Andy Green with a 763.035 mph run, nothing beats the freewheeling, white-knuckled racing of the ‘60s. The level of bravery and fearlessness from the drivers was matched by the buzzing excitement of racing fans and other motorsports daredevils with a need for speed.

Craig Breedlove’s “Spirit of America” from an article in the October 1963 Hot Rod Magazine with text and photos by Don Francisco.Uploaded by Tom McKinnon on Flickr

Craig Breedlove began his speed record journey as a young hot rodder in Southern California. He bought his first car, a Deuce Coupe, at age 13. He owned a ‘34 when he was of legal driving age and he throttled that hot rod coupe, alcohol coupe to 154 mph on dry lakes. He piloted an Oldsmobile-powered belly tanker at Bonneville, earning a record 236 mph by age 20. Breedlove was seemingly fearless, and it wasn’t long before he assembled a team of engineers and stepped into jet-powered cars equipped with surplus fighter jet engines.

Working as a technician in structural engineering at Douglas Aircraft in Santa Monica gave him even more knowledge and experience that drove him through his land speed racing future. He bought his first surplus J-47 jet engine in 1959 and built what was eventually called the “Spirit of America,” which earned him a new record for land speed racing at 407 mph. The Bonneville competition was getting heated by that time, and between 1962 and 1965 the land speed record glory was shuffled between Breedlove, Art Arfons, and Walt Arfons with driver Tom Green. In February 1964, Green ramped up the record to 413 mph. Art Arfons raced to 434 mph in May, then Breedlove stepped on the throttle to achieve 468, 500, and then 526 mph.

During Breedlove’s 526 mph run, he lost all brakes on the car and the parachutes failed. Surely wondering if he would live another day, he maneuvered the car through telephone poles and hit a bump that catapulted him through the air and into a salt pond, nose first. When his fearful crew caught up with him, Breedlove had already swam out of the pond and was dancing around, exclaiming, “For my next trick, I’ll set myself on fire!”

The result of Craig Breedlove’s 526 mph runFlickr / Tom McKinnon

Art Arfons wasted no time and set the next record at 536 mph, and Breedlove promptly countered with his final land speed record, a blistering 600.6 mph.

The Wildest Ride: 1964 Bonneville Salt Flats Land Speed Record with Craig Breedlove

youtu.be

Breedlove did come back after that monumental time in motorsports history with new cars, perhaps the most memorable being a Shell-sponsored race car that took him to nearly 700 mph. New Bonneville land speed record breakers will come and go, but none will ever compare to Craig Breedlove’s energy and the short duration of time between his set records. His name will forever be engrained in motorsports history as an American hero.

Craig Breedlove in the mid-’60sNSSN Archives

One more year, and this would be a 50th anniversary retrospective on the Jeep Cherokee. Instead, on February 28, Stellantis idled Belvidere Assembly in Illinois, the plant where it had built the KL Cherokee since 2017, and effectively ended Cherokee production, so instead of an anniversary, we’ll instead hold a funeral for the SUV.

Or maybe not? Jeep’s official statement only notes that 2023 Jeep Cherokee production ended with the
Belvedere idling, with no mention of the end of the Cherokee nameplate: “We have plans for that important vehicle in that important segment. We will make an announcement on that next-generation vehicle in due course.” Speculation has it that the KL Cherokee’s replacement will be an EV of some sort, which would fit in with the company’s plans to introduce four all-electric SUVs in Europe and North America by the end of 2025, but Jeep has not confirmed or denied that the Cherokee name will return at all. Given Cherokee Nation Principal Chief Chuck Hoskin Jr.’s request to drop the Cherokee name from Jeep products, this move could just be Stellantis taking the most convenient off-ramp for the nameplate.

Whatever the fate of the Cherokee, the news at least gives us the opportunity to reflect on the five generations of the SUV and to debate which is the best iteration.

1974-1983 SJ Cherokee

The long-lived SJ platform with its Brooks Stevens-designed body had already been in production for 11 years when AMC brought it in for a refresh to take the place of the outgoing Jeepster Commando and to compete against Chevrolet’s Blazer and Ford’s Bronco. Starting with the two-door version of the Wagoneer – which hadn’t been in production since 1968 – they added the Gladiator pickup’s “razor” grille and loaded up the option list with alloy wheels, plush interiors, and Jeep’s Quadra-Trac full-time four-wheel-drive system.

As Pat Foster wrote in “Jeep: The History of America’s Greatest Vehicle,” AMC was able to make “a handsome profit because the actual tooling bill had been next to nothing.” It immediately outsold its stablemate Wagoneer and, with the addition of a four-door version of the Cherokee in 1977, sales doubled. The late Seventies fuel crisis, however, showed AMC the folly of relying on its full-size SUVs, with sales cratering to sub-10,000 figures in the early Eighties.

Still, the Cherokee and the rest of the full-size Jeeps have a devoted following today among off-roaders and restorers. Several have even been given the high-end restomod treatment, including the ones that Jeep itself has transformed into Easter Jeep Safari vehicles.

Total Production / Average Production by Year: 153,321 / 15,332

Market Values: On Hemmings.com, prices range from about $20,000 up to $90,000, with an average of $48,000. Classic.com reports a price range of about $9,000 up to $74,000, with an average of about $25,000.

1984-2001 XJ Cherokee

More than just a downsized SUV, the XJ Cherokee represented a complete rethink of the segment. Gone was the body-on-frame construction, replaced by a Uniframe integrated body and frame. Gone were the V-8s, replaced by four-cylinders and V-6s. About the only aspect that carried over to the XJs were the solid front and rear axles.

But, as it turned out, those changes resulted in a far better Cherokee. It proved immediately popular, winning 4×4 of the year awards left and right and selling in massive numbers. Eventually, it became a darling of the off-road crowd due to the ruggedness of its design, the stout parts that AMC fitted to it (particularly the legendary 4.0L straight-six), and the ease with which one could modify it. While the XJ was never built as a convertible, AMC did offer it as a four-door for the suburban set, a two-door for the forest ranger fleets, in right-hand-drive versions for rural postal workers, and even as a compact pickup under the Comanche name.

Just as important to Jeep’s fortunes, the XJ also proved popular overseas, particularly in China where the Beijing Jeep Company – Jeep’s joint venture there – took the basic XJ and ran with it. And back here in the States, it proved the longest-lasting generation of the Cherokee, remaining on the market for a full 18 years with just a single facelift.

Total Production / Average Production by Year: 2,884,172 / 160,232

Market Values: On Hemmings.com, prices range from less than $5,000 up to $37,000, with an average of about $20,000. Classic.com reports a price range of about $3,000 up to about $40,000, with an average of about $12,500.

2002-2007 KJ Liberty

Perhaps it’s not fair to compare the KJ Liberty to its predecessors. After all, while Jeep clearly intended it to be the XJ’s successor, the XJ was a tough act to follow, and Jeep itself conceded as much by adopting the Liberty name for the KJ chassis.

However, Jeep did sell the KJ as the Cherokee in overseas markets, so it counts. And really, it’s not that dissimilar from the XJ. It remained a unit-body SUV with a longitudinal drivetrain, four-wheel drive, and a basic two-box shape. Early renderings even show it as a far more squared-off SUV with definite XJ character before it directly co-opted the 1997 Jeep Dakar’s greenhouse.

On the other hand, the evolution of the Cherokee is emblematic of the evolution of sport-utility vehicles in general – from big pickup-derived brute to more civilized soft-roader – and the KJ continued that evolution with an independent front suspension, a V-6 in place of the 4.0L, much softer lines, and a four-door-only bodystyle. As a result, it’s not nearly as popular with off-roaders or the aftermarket these days, despite the fact that the KJ’s average sales over its six years nearly matched those of the XJ.

Total Production / Average Production by Year: 958,540 / 159,757

Market Values: None are currently for sale on Hemmings.com. Classic.com reports a price range of about $3,500 to $14,000, with an average of about $7,500.

2008-2012 KK Liberty

Another Liberty sold overseas as the Cherokee, the KK was the post-bankruptcy compact SUV that borrowed the XK Commander’s squared-off styling and that shared a platform and body with the Dodge Nitro.

Like its direct predecessor, it rode a unit-body chassis with independent front suspension and a solid rear axle. Only the V-6 remained, in either diesel or gasoline form, though a six-speed manual did remain for customers to order, and Jeep did offer a full cloth roof called the Sky Slider, though so-equipped KKs were rare, even when new.

Unlike its direct predecessor, it sold like a dinghy in the desert. Only the SJ had lower average annual sales, though the SJ was offered well before the SUV boom.

Total Production / Average Production by Year: 302,145 / 60,429

Market Values: Two have sold recently or are currently for sale on Hemmings.com, at $11,250 and $10,998 respectively. But let’s be honest; you can find them all day locally for two grand.

2013-2023 KL Cherokee

As for the outgoing Cherokee, it brought back the indigenous nameplate to the United States, but it also switched to the Chrysler-Fiat Compact Wide platform, which could be found underneath the Dodge Dart and several other FCA vehicles. With a transverse-mounted drivetrain, it switched from the KK’s rear bias to front, with a rear axle that could be disconnected.

Like many other late-Teens Jeeps, it came in a plethora of trim levels, including the Trail Rated Trailhawk, which made many a Jeep enthusiast wonder just what it really takes for a Jeep to earn the Trail Rated badge. The most divisive aspect to the KL, however, were its slim squinty headlamps, which Jeep left in place until a 2019 restyling.

Curiously, though the highly acclaimed Pentastar engine debuted in 2009, the only Cherokee to receive one was the KL, which used a 3.2L version.

Total Production / Average Production by Year: 1,490,309 / 135,483

Market Values: On Hemmings.com, prices range from about $17,000 to $28,000, with an average of about $22,000.

So Which Cherokee Comes Out on Top?

As always, it comes down to a number of factors, doesn’t it? Generational preference, individual tastes, and various purposes all play into which Cherokee could be considered the best. The KJ and the KK do have their adherents, and perhaps over time, as the KL progresses beyond mere used car, some may rediscover it as their off-roader of choice. I mean, people are lifting Ford Festivas and unironically sending them off on trail rides these days, so literally anything is conceivable.

That said, anybody looking at Cherokees more for investment than for play would do well to source an SJ. Those looking for a reliable and capable off-roader can easily find an XJ anywhere in the country. Meanwhile, the KL is probably the best choice to save a buck at the pump.

Which do you prefer?

Car collectors understandably want a great space to store, display, and work on their precious autos. But what if you could combine that space with your home? We’re not talking about a run-of-the-mill house and attached garage. We mean a home with a unique blend of building features for people just like you.

Say hello to the barndominium, a smart alternative to a conventional stick-frame house, especially for collector-car enthusiasts who want to be as close as possible to the possessions they hold so dear. Learn more about a barndominium below, including the numerous benefits it has for car collectors.

Barndominium Basics: What Is It?

Here at Wick Buildings, we think of a barndominium as a single-family residential structure built with post-frame construction. That’s also the building technique used for what some call a “pole barn.” In fact, you can think of a barndominium as a pole barn home.

Post-frame construction uses highly engineered, prefabricated laminated wooden columns as well as prefabricated trusses and other building components, which arrive on site ready to assemble.

It’s actually this construction method that makes it more structurally feasible and cost-effective to have a living space and a large open area for your cars all within a single structure. (For more information on post-frame construction vs. stick-frame construction, check out this article.)

Let’s dive into how you can benefit from a barndominium.

5 Barndominium Benefits

With advantages like the following, a barndominium could be the answer for creating a dream home that also incorporates your serious hobby.

1. Enjoy the Convenience of Having Your Cars Close By

With a barndominium, you won’t have to store your vehicles separately from your home. That means there’s no need to walk down the lane to another building.

Instead, you can have a super-spacious living area connected to the ultimate garage, or garage-mahal. And don’t forget that consolidating buildings can lower your taxable square footage.

But that convenience is really just the beginning of the benefits.

Have Plenty of Room with No Tight Squeezes

A key advantage to a barndominium is that it has less need for interior load-bearing walls. The building’s barn-like expansiveness means ample space for multiple cars and whatever else you may want to include. With no obtrusive columns, you’ll have a much easier time pulling cars in and out. You may even want to include a driving lane.

3. Enjoy a Bigger Space that’s Also More Cost-Effective

Once you go beyond a conventionally sized garage, stick-frame construction starts to get more and more impractical, and expensive. On the other hand, your barndominium’s garage space is built with post-frame construction components, a more cost-effective method, particularly when you want a super-spacious garage with more height.

That means having a platform or lift for your cars is more feasible – and so is using the space for taller toys like a boat or RV.

Add Shop Features and Man Cave Must-Haves More Easily

A barndominium provides an open floor plan for your living space and for the special area devoted to your cars. In fact, a barndominium enables you to create a comfortable garage area where you’ll want to spend a lot of time.

For example, with all that space you can include shop features like work benches, wall racks, a vehicle lift, a wash bay, and whatever else you need to comfortably work on your cars. Also, by opting to keep this space heated, you can tend to your cars comfortably year round – no long johns or puffy coat required!

And what about when you’re not tinkering with your cars? You can still be around them when you’re just kicking back. For instance, by including space for a TV, a couple of couches, and maybe even a bar and kitchen, you’ve got a man cave everyone can enjoy.

5. The Inherent Benefits of Post-Frame Construction

●Construction can likely be done faster compared to a typical stick-frame-built house and garage.

●Barndominiums don’t require a basement, which is significant because concrete and excavating costs for a continuous foundation can often be up to 15% of overall project costs.

●Extra-large openings for windows and doors are easier – and less expensive – to construct.

●Additions like overhangs, decks, porches, and even a new wing for additional cars can also be built more easily and cost-effectively.

●Post-frame construction uses larger components in its structures, and the larger the component, the longer the lifespan.

Take the Next Step Toward Your Dream Home

If you’re thinking about building a new house for you and your family, keep your beloved autos in mind by considering a barndominium.

Just know that a barndominium project is by no means simple. The right design, high-quality materials, smart construction practices – these are essential for a functional, cost-efficient, and durable barndominium you can enjoy for years to come.

Could a barndominium be right for you? To find out, take the next step and check out our barndominium page!