Plans to revive the Jeep Wagoneer/Grand Wagoneer nameplate are still on track, but it may take a while before FCA releases a modern-day successor to the SUV.
Until then, there are plenty of classic Wagoneers in the classifieds, and some of them pack a lot of muscle.
Take this 1989 Grand Wagoneer, for example, which will go under the hammer at The Riyadh Auction in Saudi Arabia on November 23. It looks pretty stock on the outside, including the iconic fake wood paneling, but this family SUV hides a big secret under the hood, as the previous owner believed the big old Jeep needed more muscle than the stock 5.9-liter V8’s 144 horsepower and 280 lb-ft (380 Nm) of torque.
Related: Tired Of Waiting For A New Jeep Grand Wagoneer? Buy This 1991 Final Edition Instead
The Hellcat engine seemed like a much better choice, so they had one installed by the team at Texas-based Black Mountain Conversions. The supercharged 6.4-liter V8 produces 707 horsepower and 645 lb-ft (875 Nm) of torque, turning the Grand Wagoneer into a true wolf in sheep’s clothing. The old-school SUV also gained an exhaust manifold from the new Jeep Grand Cherokee Trackhawk, which we guess makes it sound even more raucous.
The original three-speed automatic transmission with part-time four-wheel drive and low-range gearing appears to have survived, though. The suspension features four-wheel semi-elliptic leaf springs attached to front and rear solid axles, while the braking system with vacuum power assist gains vented front discs. If anything, it should be quite frightening interesting to drive…
Aside from the engine swap and related modifications, this 1989 Grand Wagoneer is completely original and unrestored. That’s impressive considering the exceptional condition it seems to be in, from the Bright Red rare factory color to the attractive contrasting interior featuring Light Tan leather and cloth.
The fact that it covered less than 52,000 miles (83,700 km) from new obviously has something to do with that. However, we wonder why the owner only drove it 500 miles (805 km) after installing the Hellcat engine. Could it be that 707 horses are, apparently, too much, or maybe they did the conversion intending to sell it all along?
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