There are times when the lure of the great outdoors can be difficult to resist, and delving into inaccessible locations to escape the hustle-and-bustle of daily life is an attractive prospect. That raises the question of how to reach those destinations, and I can’t think of any reason you couldn’t achieve this in complete comfort. That leads me seamlessly to this 1988 Jeep Grand Wagoneer. It offers that experience in a package that is in exceptional condition for its age. It has led a life where it has been treated with care and respect, and its overall condition graphically demonstrates this. The owner has decided to part with this stunning off-roader, so he has listed it for sale here on eBay. It is located in Issaquah, Washington, and some pretty spirited bidding has pushed the price beyond the reserve to $7,500.

The Grand Wagoneer is a stunning classic that wears its original Coffee Metallic paint. It shines beautifully, with no significant flaws or defects. The faux-woodgrain is in excellent order, which is a blessing. Finding replacement vinyl is easy and wouldn’t cost a fortune. However, gaining a color match on a vehicle of this age is close to impossible. I have seen owners forced to replace all of the vinyl to maintain consistency across their beloved classics. Overall, the panels look pretty respectable. The only damage worth noting is a dent in the lower rear door on the driver’s side. It is pretty obvious, and I think that it is beyond the sort of damage that a paintless dent removal company could tackle. The Jeep has been garage-kept its entire life, which explains why its overall condition is so impressive, and why it remains rust-free. The glass and trim are in excellent order, while the alloy wheels shine beautifully.

There’s nothing quite like living life in the lap of luxury, and this Grand Wagoneer delivers on that front. The original owner ordered the vehicle with air conditioning, but if the buyer prefers fresh air, they can open the sliding sunroof instead. That owner also chose a power driver’s seat, power windows, cruise control, an AM/FM radio and cassette player, leather and cloth upholstery, and a leather-wrapped tilt wheel. The overall condition of the interior is great for a vehicle of this age and type, and it has no immediate needs. There are some marks on the wheel rim, but I would consult a leather specialist to see if they could address these before they deteriorate further. The Tan carpet has also accumulated some stains, but in a vehicle of this type, that’s almost par for the course. The cloth inserts on the seats continue that trend, but they still present well. Otherwise, the remaining upholstery, trim, dash, and pad all look to be in excellent condition.

Refreshingly, this owner doesn’t make outrageous claims about this vehicle being a low-mileage survivor. He says that the odometer shows 165,000 miles, and while this figure is lower than average, it remains plausible when considering the vehicle’s overall condition. However, it appears that we don’t need to take the owner’s word in this case because the Jeep comes with plenty of documentation that should support his claim. The engine bay is occupied by a 360ci V8 that should produce 144hp and an impressive 280 ft/lbs of torque. Shifting duties are tackled by a three-speed manual transmission, while selectable four-wheel-drive should help this classic when the going gets rough or slippery. For potential buyers, there’s a lot to like here. The owner treated the V8 to a rebuild around ten years ago, and it remains in excellent health today. He says that the Wagoneer runs and drives well, and the addition of a hitch receiver and trailer brake controller means that this classic should also be an accomplished tow vehicle.

This 1988 Jeep Grand Wagoneer is in surprisingly good condition for its age, although it isn’t perfect. However, it has no pressing needs and is a turn-key proposition for its next owner. Addressing its few flaws would not be difficult or expensive, but nor would they be essential. If its next owner wishes to retain it as an original survivor, that would be a decision that deserves respect. If I am surprised by anything, it is how low the bidding has stayed with the auction at the halfway point. I would expect the price to cruise past the $20,000 mark before the hammer falls. If it doesn’t, I feel that someone will have scored themselves a bargain. Are you tempted to watch this auction to see if that person could be you?