Used Car of the Day: 1988 Jeep Wrangler YJ

by Tim Healey

Published: November 2nd, 2023

used car of the day 1988 jeep wrangler yj

Today's UCOTD comes from your author's backyard. Not literally, of course -- this 1988 Jeep Wrangler YJ is for sale in Chicago's near north suburbs.

It has some frame issues, but it's also been a daily driver and the seller has a frame repair kit available. Underhood is a four-cylinder engine and the transmission is a five-speed manual.

Both hard- and soft-tops are available, as are both full and half doors.

One red flag? The odometer isn't accurate.

The brake booster, the master cylinder, and starter are new.

The driver's side floor pan was replaced recently, and the passenger's side needs it. There are one-inch lift shackles for all four corners, with the fronts installed.

The ask is a very low $2,000. Click here to check it out.

[Images: Seller]

Become a TTAC insider. Get the latest news, features, TTAC takes, and everything else that gets to the truth about cars first by subscribing to our newsletter.

#UCOTD #UsedCaroftheDay #UsedCars #Jeep #JeepWrangler #YJ #JeepWranglerYJ #1988JeepWrangler #WranglerYJ #1988JeepWranglerYJ

Tim Healey

Tim Healey grew up around the auto-parts business and has always had a love for cars — his parents joke his first word was “‘Vette”. Despite this, he wanted to pursue a career in sports writing but he ended up falling semi-accidentally into the automotive-journalism industry, first at Consumer Guide Automotive and later at Web2Carz.com. He also worked as an industry analyst at Mintel Group and freelanced for About.com, CarFax, Vehix.com, High Gear Media, Torque News, FutureCar.com, Cars.com, among others, and of course Vertical Scope sites such as AutoGuide.com, Off-Road.com, and HybridCars.com. He’s an urbanite and as such, doesn’t need a daily driver, but if he had one, it would be compact, sporty, and have a manual transmission.

More by Tim Healey

Comments

Join the conversation

2 of 29 comments

Evan on Nov 03, 2023

I've had a YJ like this since it was nearly new. A later 4.0 5-speed in good shape seems to be worth a few bucks these days, but this isn't. Frame rot on these is something I wouldn't touch. Rust in the floorboards is common and repairable and fenders are replaceable, but this thing is mostly rust and therefore worthless. I'd be afraid to even look under those aftermarket rocker panel covers.

The hardtop and full doors are worth half of the asking price or more, the rest is scrap.

2 Reply
Abraham on Nov 03, 2023

The hard top actually looks pretty good. This guy could probably sell it for $2000 all by itself. I’m guessing all the parts are a-la-cart and you’ll have to negotiate separately.
ONLY THE RUSTY MASS IN THE MIDDLE IS $2000!

Like Reply

Recent Comments

ToolGuy Let's count the poor decisions: Honda 18 model years past peak Honda. Ohio. Following too closely ('rock on the highway' doesn't leap up and attack your vehicle by itself, it is riding on a vehicle or thrown up by a vehicle, and you should be alert to this). Ohio. Not enough doors. Choosing to expand family -- in Ohio. 😉 Also not great at math.Engine bay picture: At least take a shower before your glamour shot lol.
ToolGuy Took me a minute to post; had to go back and see which account I was using the last time I commented on this topic (consistency is important). Thank you for your patience.
ToolGuy Ok wow, just wow. I used to live in America. Land of the free -- have I heard that somewhere? And here come TTAC writers and commentariat goose stepping in lockstep, dancing on the grave of liberty. Didn't your dysfunctional homeowners association get all that government overreach out of your system? I thought we won WW2, guess I was mistaken.
Dartman If one is so hellbent on drawing attention to themselves just mount a big “Trump 2024” or “Black Lives Matter” flag (your choice) on your truck and call it day. Lot cheaper, same result.
AZFelix I'd buy a 'harlequin' edition if it was composed of a company's complete palette of greys and silver.Family had a couple of Pontiacs in teal and purple in years past. I was not a fan.My current ride is Lakeside Blue.