If you’re a Jeeper of a certain age, you probably remember 1986. This was the first use of the name Wrangler, and it debuted with the much-maligned YJ. Yep, we’re talking about the infamous square-headlight Jeep. Horrors.
We spoke about the Jeep YJ with Chris Collard. He has been driving and modifying Jeeps for over 40 years and was inducted into the Off-Road Motorsports Hall of Fame. The man knows his Jeeps.
Shop now for Jeep YJs
He says the car world was changing in the early to mid-1980s. Ralph Nader was on the airwaves talking about safety. The EPA was cracking down on fuel efficiency numbers, and manufacturers of trucks and SUVs were trying to incorporate a modicum of comfort into their offerings. Meanwhile, the old-school Jeep CJ-7 was roaming the countryside with its short wheelbase, steel dash, and manually locking front hubs.
CJ Peeves
When the YJ came along, hard-core Jeepers called it the “Yuppie Jeep.” They were convinced that, with less ground clearance, it wouldn’t make it through the Rubicon or Fordyce Trails. Purists despised the modern dash. They even hated that you could put it into four-wheel drive without getting out of the thing. And don’t even mention those square headlights.
The truth is, American Motors Corporation, which owned Jeep at the time, was going after a different customer. It wanted the lifestyle folks who liked to drive on the beach for a bonfire and then commute to work the next day. The serious off-roaders could keep their CJs.
In retrospect, the Jeep YJ wasn’t terrible. The engine options in 1986 were more powerful and efficient. And the transfer case was an improvement. Further, it featured solid axles and leaf springs front and rear, while the Toyota 4Runner switched to an independent front suspension in 1986.
It’s Not Hip to Be Square
Ultimately, the square headlights pushed traditionalists over the edge. Jeeps had been graced with round headlights since World War II, and lights with corners were a bridge too far. However, folks would have to wait 10 years—until the next-generation TJ came along—before they could unclench their teeth and let all that angst go.
Hindsight being 20/20, the YJ doesn’t look so bad. Sure, the ground clearance could be an issue, but that’s easily fixed with an aftermarket lift kit.
Collard said:
Long-time Jeepers look back and say, ‘That’s kind of a classic vehicle.’
A 1992 Jeep YJ recently for sale on eBay has a 4.0-liter six-cylinder engine and a three-speed automatic transmission. It looks pretty clean from the photos, but the seller notes, “This vehicle was owned, serviced, and operated by the FBI all of its life.”
We can only imagine the stories it could tell us. It’s hard to imagine G-men taking the top off and letting loose out on the trail.
While Jeep aficionados point to the ill-advised styling decision of the square headlamps as a reason to avoid the YJ, the fact remains that it’s still a Jeep. It’s quite capable in either stock form or with scores of aftermarket additions.
Big Tire Garage’s Jeep YJ Shop Truck strikes a pose.
Related: Big Tire’s Notorious YJ Shop Truck Climbs on the eBay ‘Parts of America’ Hauler
