OK, so here it goes. I never would have taken a second look at a Jeep had my mother not purchased a new Cherokee back in 1996, so ultimately, I blame her for my obsession. When I turned 15, I talked my dad into buying me the pic’d silver 1986 MJ. It was an XLT with all the goodies like 4x4, a/c, power everything and 5-spd with the 2.8 V-6. LOL, we bought it in Texas for $600 bux, had the motor rebuilt for another $900 bux and drove it home to Cali. I thought I was the shit; I put my heart and soul (and every penny I made) into that stupid truck. Got her restored like new. Four years later I traded it in on a new 2001 Tacoma, the dealer gave me $900 bux for it. I didn’t care, I was young and dumb, excited to have a new truck. I later found out through CARFAX it received a certificate of destruction in 2005, so whoever wound up with it must have wrecked the hell out of it.
WHEN I was 17, I stumbled across a "streetcomanche" completely destroyed in a junkyard. I knew I had to have one, sure enough 6 months later, I found one in Sacramento for $1500 bux. STOKED. That became not only my pride and joy, but it was the one included in all those awesome high school memories. It was a Red streetcomanche #54 of 100. For those of you who don’t know, the "streetcomanche" was a dealer promotion item in California. Archer Brothers Racing made a body kit for the trucks, and all trucks were equipped the same…Red on Black, 2wd base model with the 4.0 inline six and a 5-spd peugot trans. Over the years this truck assumed many different looks, I have purchased and sold it many times and I still own it today.
2001 – Purchased truck in stock form for $1,500 in Sacramento, Ca…painted primer grey
2003 – Sold truck primer grey to co-worker for $1,000, needed money.
2003 – Purchased truck back from guy for $1,000…he wasn’t into it and I wanted it back. I had the truck painted a greenish/greyish color (on accident, but it looked cool), lowered it and threw some 18" rims on it. I also installed a bitchin stereo system and did some performance upgrades.
2005 – Sold truck to roommate for $2,000…Needed money and he really liked the truck. During his ownership, it got stolen and was later recovered…abandoned having been crashed through a fence, down a hill bouncing off a couple trees and smashed into the side of a house. Done for? No way
2005 – Purchased truck back from ex-roommate for $100; a $250 pick and pull trip later (on one of their ½ off everything sales) plus $300 bux misc parts and a frame pull, she was on the road again J Returned to stock suspension, purchased new OEM rear bumper, had truck painted "Polar White" and scored some ’05 wrangler rubican wheels for it.
2007 – Traded truck to co-worker for his chevy 4x4, straight across. I needed money again, and could sell his 4x4 in the winter easier than the 2wd MJ, and I did sell it for $2500 bux.
2008 – X-mas day, ran into guy who I traded it to. He wanted it gone…reverse went out on trans, windshield cracked and dent in right bedside. I had cash on hand, $200 bux and I drove it home, complete with all my stereo, performance upgrades, wheels (with still new snow tires) and an extra set of wheels he got for it…merry x-mas to me J Unfortunately, they day after I got it home, I tore the motor out of it to put in a cherokee I needed to get running so I could sell, so it is currently sitting dead in my garage. Exploring my options…not gonna sell it again though.
NOVEMBER 2008, found a 1988 Jeep Comanche Pioneer longbed on craigslist for $500 bux. Dent in bedside and faded paint, otherwise no rust and is in good shape. 4x4, 4.0, 5-spd, a/c. Guy said the flywheel was stripped…turned out to be a bad starter motor, had one lying around…works GREAT, lol. Not gonna sell this one either, officially catagorizing myself as a "collector" of these awesome and rare trucks.
So as it stands, I have a clusterfuk of crap. 2 comanches in need of restore. A 2008 Subaru that owns my paychecks (big mistake, real POS), a streetbike and a dirtbike (neither of which I will sell, no matter what happens). I work my fingers to the bones with 3 jobs, when I am not working I am riding one of my bikes, and when I am not doing either, I race my dirtbike in long distance competitions (desert, enduro, GP’s, hare scrambles, etc)…point in case, don’t expect this page to be updated anytime soon, its gonna be awhile before I can find the time (and money)…but I assure you I do have BIG PLANS for both these trucks when the time comes J Maybe shooting for early 2010, check back then. Jeep on!
My regret...a 2008 Subaru impreza; good on gas but its just not a Jeep.
My "other" obsessions...
Bookmark this Ride
Posted by: comanche-man
03/11/2009, 12:55pm
Sweet mjs. you jus dont see ANY of these driving around anymore. i also am a jeep collector. I have 2 mjs and a 94 ZJ (the zj is also eating my paychecks). keep up the good work and 5* to u.
later