Jeep Wrangler LJ Already Looks like a Future Classic
Long-wheelbase 2004-2006 Wrangler Unlimited has quite the cult following, but is it really the holy grail of Jeeps?
It’s hard to imagine any modern Jeep Wrangler ever becoming a rare, coveted collectible. Mainly because, well, Jeep builds and sells a ton of them these days. But in the not too distant past, there was a model produced in relatively limited numbers. A model that, quite honestly, a lot of folks have already forgotten about. We’re talking about the 2004-2006 Wrangler Unlimited, of course. But this particular model wasn’t a four-door like today’s Unlimited, rather it was simply a stretched, long-wheelbase two-door many now refer to as the “LJ.”
Over its short lifespan, Jeep produced a mere 47,000 of these unique models. Which was only around 20% of total Wrangler sales in that time period. The LJ just wasn’t terribly popular when it was actually in production, which is probably due to the fact that it was expensive – $24,995, or around $35k in today’s money. But today, the LJ is highly coveted among both collectors and Jeep fans. Which, according to an intriguing piece by Jalopnik, is well-deserved.
Tracy, in fact, goes so far as to call the LJ the “holy grail” of Jeeps. That’s a bold statement, indeed. But he certainly makes an extensive case for this claim with plenty of facts and owner testimony. And truthfully, adding 15 total inches of length to the TJ Wrangler did make it better. The LJ had more cargo room and passenger legroom as a result. The longer wheelbase improved ride quality and towing capability. And it’s also the perfect size for off-roading.
According to Tracy, the LJ is also a fantastic canvas for building a serious off-road machine. Even in stock form, it’s equipped rather well. Add on a set of bigger tires, and it becomes a “Swiss Army knife” of sorts. His LJ-owning buddies are happy to wax poetic about it as well. They laud its looks, on and off-road handling, towing capability, and abundance of cargo space, above all.
Today, LJ Wrangler examples command a serious premium over standard wheelbase TJs. Despite being relatively unknown to many, that hasn’t really hurt their value one bit. But we’re betting that this revelation will only make more Jeep fans seek them out. And we’re also curious to know – do you consider the 2004-2006 Wrangler Unlimited the “holy grail” of Jeeps? Be sure and let us know in the forums!
Photos: Jeep
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