We return to our Wagoneer coverage today at a turning point in the greater automotive market. The introduction of the lower-priced Jeep Cherokee in 1974 allowed Jeep to push the Wagoneer into more luxurious territory, an effort cemented by the arrival of the Limited trim in 1978.5. A few months later all Jeep vehicles were restyled with a new front clip, bringing the lineup to a more cohesive and modern appearance for the ‘79 model year. But world events during 1979 would change the course of automotive history and pull the rug from under the Wagoneer in some ways.
That event was of course the 1979 oil crisis, which occurred due to the Iranian Revolution. Fuel prices shot through the roof, and Americans felt the cost of vehicles with low fuel economy for the second time that decade. The event paved the way for more fuel efficient imports, smaller engines, and future domestic downsizing.Corporate changes were in the foreground at AMC that year, as the company struggled financ …
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Author: Corey Lewis
