home chevron_right
more_horiz
chevron_right

1978 Jeep Cherokee

VIN: J8A18NZ041497
visibility 175
View count is the number of times the vehicle detail page has been opened in the past thirty days.
For Sale
$14,999
Mar 31, 2025
Private Seller
Bellevue, Washington, USA
69,800 mi TMU
Automatic
LHD
Original & Highly Original
  • OVERVIEW
  • DESCRIPTION
  • MEDIA
  • HISTORY (5)
  • SPECS
  • COMPS (30)
  • TAXONOMY
  • outlined_flag Report this Listing

About this 1978 Jeep Cherokee

VIN: J8A18NZ041497

This is under valued to go to a good home.
If I do a restoration it will be in the 6 figures. Not many have the big engine!!!

**For Sale: 1978 Jeep Cherokee Chief S – Rare 401 V8 | Classic 4x4 Muscle | Runs & Drives Great**

Looking for a true classic with raw power and unmistakable vintage style? This **1978 Jeep Cherokee Chief S** is the real deal — equipped with the rare and desirable **401 cubic inch AMC V8**, this beast was built to conquer trails and turn heads while doing it.

**🔥 Key Highlights:**
- **Engine:** Factory 401ci V8 – rare, powerful, and running strong
- **Transmission:** Automatic with Quadra-Trac 4WD system
- **Trim:** Chief “S” – bold fender flares, wide-track axles, and iconic striping
- **Mileage: 69,700
- **Condition:** Solid frame and body – a survivor with character; perfect for a full restore or to enjoy as-is
- **Interior:** Original dash and trim, with vintage charm intact
- **Wheels/Tires:** Period-correct wheels with off-road tires ready to roll

**Why It's Special:**
The 1978 Jeep Cherokee Chief S wasn’t just a 4x4 — it was a **statement of rugged capability** with muscle car DNA. The wide-track stance and powerful 401 make this one of the most collectible FSJs (Full-Size Jeeps) out there. You rarely find these in running condition, especially with the original 401 engine still under the hood.

Whether you’re into off-roading, vintage SUV builds, or just want a piece of Jeep heritage, this one’s got the bones and the brawn.

**Clean title in hand.**
Starts, drives, and gets attention everywhere it goes.

Market Summary

The Jeep Cherokee - SJ (1974 to 1983) market. See Similar Markets

Loading...
The Jeep Cherokee was first introduced in 1974. The first generation of Jeep Cherokee was known as the SJ, and was a range of full size SUVs... Learn more.
There are 30 Jeep Cherokee for sale across all model years (1974 to 2023) and variants, 7 are SJ and 2 are model year 1978 . There were 50 SJ sold in the last 5 years.

What's it Worth?

There are 30 comps for this 1978 Jeep Cherokee indicating a price range from $17,259 - $42,435 .

Sell Your Vehicle

We’ll help you price it right, then you can list it yourself or let a verified dealer handle the sale.
List it now

Insure with Hagerty

info
Clicking on links for insurance will take you to an unaffiliated third-party-controlled site that is subject to that site owner's privacy policy and terms of use. CLASSIC.COM Inc. does not provide insurance and makes no representations on any coverage or options that are available by such third party.
Your location may include GeoLite2 Data created by MaxMind, available from https://www.maxmind.com.
Get a quote

Vehicle History

A timeline of events that we've detected for this vehicle.

Mar 13, 2024
Purchase reported via public record for $2,500
Washington, USA
Nov 20, 2020
Purchase reported via public record for $3,500
Washington, USA
May 26, 2015
Purchase reported via public record for $6,625
Washington, USA

Comps

Comparable recent listings. See related attributes next to the score.

1977 Jeep Cherokee Chief S 4×4

Original & Highly Original
6865 mi 48k mi TMU
Manual transmission Automatic
LHD steering LHD
Sold
$40,000
Oct 8, 2021
81% Relevance
Relevance Score Criteria

Model
Year
Make
Model Family
Model Generation
Model Variant
Model Trim
Powertrain
Engine
Transmission Type
Drive Type
Mileage
  • TMU
Body
Vehicle Type
Body Style
Doors
Driver Side
Ext. Color Group
Int. Color Group
Other Details
Originality
Location
Recency

1978 Jeep Cherokee Golden Eagle SUV

Original & Highly Original
6865 mi 8k mi TMU
Manual transmission Automatic
LHD steering LHD
Not Sold
$45,000
info
Highest Bid
Jul 25, 2024
75% Relevance
Relevance Score Criteria

Model
Year
Make
Model Family
Model Generation
Model Variant
Model Trim
Powertrain
Engine
Transmission Type
Drive Type
Mileage
  • TMU
Body
Vehicle Type
Body Style
Doors
Driver Side
Ext. Color Group
Int. Color Group
Other Details
Originality
Location
Recency

1978 Jeep Cherokee Chief

Original & Highly Original
6865 mi 90k mi TMU
Manual transmission Automatic
LHD steering LHD
Last Asking
$26,900
info
This listing was either sold, or removed, by the seller. The last asking price is the last price detected by Classic.com.
Jul 3, 2024
75% Relevance
Relevance Score Criteria

Model
Year
Make
Model Family
Model Generation
Model Variant
Model Trim
Powertrain
Engine
Transmission Type
Drive Type
Mileage
  • TMU
Body
Vehicle Type
Body Style
Doors
Driver Side
Ext. Color Group
Int. Color Group
Other Details
Originality
Location
Recency

Specs

Details about this vehicle - curated by our market specialists.

Year
1978
Make
Model Family
Model Generation
Model Variant
-
Model Trim
-
Engine
401ci V8 (6.6L AMC)
Transmission
Automatic
Drive Type
Four Wheel Drive (4WD/AWD)
Originality
Original & Highly Original
Mileage
69,800 mi TMU
VIN
J8A18NZ041497
Vehicle Type
Automobile
Body Style
SUV
Doors
4 Doors
Driver Side
Left Hand Drive
Ext. Color Group
Brown
Int. Color Group
Beige/Tan

Taxonomy

Markets related to the Jeep Cherokee - SJ.

Jeep Cherokee
directions_car SJ
directions_car XJ