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At $36,000, Might This Hemi-Powered 2008 Jeep Wrangler Wrangle Itself a New Owner?
At $36,000, Might This Hemi-Powered 2008 Jeep Wrangler Wrangle Itself a New Owner?-May 2024
2024-02-19 EST 22:09:46

If you’ve ever thought that, in consideration of its unique roadability issues, what the Jeep Wrangler really needed was more power, then have a look at today’s Sahara. It has a 6.4 and a stick. Let’s see if its price puts it over the top.

El Estado Libre y Soberano de Baja California is Mexico’s northwestern most state, sharing its entire northern border with the U.S. State of California. Its remaining borders are bracketed by the Pacific Ocean on the west and the Sea of Cortez on the east, with a small strip of land at the top of that abutting the neighboring state of Sonora.

Most of us outside of Mexico just call the finger-like peninsula ‘Baja.’ That also happens to be the name chosen by Subaru for their short-lived but seemingly cult inspiring four-door open bed truck, and we had a to look at on Monday. That car came with a newer (80K) engine and five-speed gearbox, as well as a seemingly competitive $4,300 asking price. I say competitive because it did earn its seller a solid 68 percent Nice Price win, as well as a number of kudos in the comments. High praise for a car named for a low land.

Today is Boxing Day across great expanses of the globe, the day-after Christmas tradition of giving gifts to those in your service or perhaps those less fortunate. In honor of Boxing Day we want to have a representative car, and it just doesn’t get much boxier than this . Well, maybe an old Volvo would suffice, or perhaps one of those UPS trucks that have filled the roads like fleas on a cur for the past month, but we’re still going with this Rescue Green Wrangler.

That’s because this Jeep has something special boxed up underneath its hood. That’s a custom installed 6.4-litre “crate 392" Hemi V8, a mill that was crate-rated at 525 horsepower and 510 lb-ft of torque.

Behind that monster motor sits a six-speed stick intended as the seller specifies “for people who still enjoy driving.” The Hemi has been updated with an Edelbrock Victor II intake which the seller claims adds to the engine’s low-end torque performance. Other upgrades include a big brake kit, 4:1 Rubicon transfer case and Rubicon suspension. The ride height is normal at present but the seller claims the brake lines are extended in case the Ouija Board prophesies a lift in its future. All of the updates and enhancements are said to have used new parts, but there’s no word on who exactly did the work.

The body is in fine shape and includes yet another Rubicon part for its front bumper. A few dings and cracks appear present in the fenders but it doesn’t seem to be anything that couldn’t be masked by leaning on the car at a judicious angle or only driving it at night.

The interior has seen some upgrades too, with Rubicon (You keep saying that word. I do not think it means what you think it means) seats—including what are claimed to be European back seats with a third headrest. The dash looks to be in unexceptional shape, but then that’s pretty much how Jeep built them.

Back outside, the street tires look to have plenty of tread and no major age issues apparent. There’s no word on how many miles those tires have travelled, nor those that came before them. Seriously people, put the mileage in your ads! Don’t make me try and squint at the picture of the dash to try and figure it out. On the plus side, the Jeep has a clear title.

It also has a $36,000 asking price. The seller says that’s cheaper than a 2018 Wrangler from the dealer, to which I think we can all respond with a collective “well, duh.” Of course a 10-year old Jeep will go for less than a factory fresh model. I mean, this isn’t some sort of classic yet.

The question is, could its motor and manual put it into contention at that $36K asking? What do you think, is this potentially brutish Jeep worth that kind of scratch? Or, is this a Boxing Day present that won’t get unwrapped?

You decide!

Washington DC , or go if the ad disappears.

H/T to S.R. Gooch for the hookup!

Help me out with NPOCP. Hit me up at and send me a fixed-price tip. Remember to include your Kinja handle.

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