The Unofficial First-Year (1974) Cherokee Registry

[jaber]

My wife found an Esquire magazine from Oct '73 and it had this ad in it...

[PlasticBoob]

Bump!! Any more first-years?

Very cool, especially Flint's pics!

Taz, not to say that isn't just as cool a rig as a '74, but I'd have to say it doesn't count due to the stripe pattern and tailgate stripe placement (seen Mike7009's pics).

[JeepinPete]

Very cool thread. My pop bought a stripped '74 new. 258/T15/D20. I have so many memories from that truck. But like most over in this part of the country, it returned to the earth a little bit at a time. Looked just like yours Rob.

[austinaubinoe]

solid looking texas 74

http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/1974-JEEP-CHEROKEE-4X4-PROJECT-CAR-/330720269286?pt=US_Cars_Trucks&hash=item4d0076d3e6#ht_500wt_1182

[PlasticBoob]

Just want to bump this back up in case there are any new members or members who missed it.

I wonder how many decent '74 Cherokees are left nationally? Decent meaning not rusted apart at the D-pillars or modified as to be unrecognizable (truggies, etc.). Original AMC power is always a plus, too.

Great to see such a large number of responses. Another question/opinion: I think Jeep originally intended the wagons to have wood or a stripe where the '74s sits. Later years that did not have this indentation striped just looks wrong to me, and it bugs the heck out of me - ESPECIALLY the rear tailgate stripe moved from the bottom to the middle.

On the J-trucks, it doesn't look nearly as incomplete, but I still notice it. Anyone else feel the same way?

[Southern Gorilla]

i know my 76 had the clear lenses for sure. because i still have them laying around here somwhere. so if 75 was the last year for them then my 76 must have been an early 76 maybe built in 75? and i know it was a 76 model because it was a WT.

My '76 had amber lenses when I bought it. Can't verify they were original. But they were trashed enough to make me think they hadn't been replaced.

My '74, don't have pictures of the tag, will post one later.

Jr. West Coast mirrors with high-mount spot mirrors! Yes! Thanks for posting this. Now I know for sure that's the way I want to go with mine.

[Mike7009]

Congrats !!

That's one of the very first cherokees for sure.., august is generally the first month of production for the model year. Only 2772 '74 jeeps, most of them CJ5 i guess, to pass the line before this one

so this has got me thinking. i know theirs probably not alot of 74's left. and it looks like mine is one of the first ever made. so what are the chances that mine is the oldest one left? i think i'd be correct in saying that theirs probably very very few if any left with an august 73 build date. any way to find out? it would be awsome knowing that out of all the cherokee's still out there that i have the oldest one.

http://i295.photobucket.com/albums/mm132/pamike/jeep/SANY0268.jpg

[PlasticBoob]

Jacked's Cherokee is a very interesting example: it seems that Jeep started using the 1975-style stripes and emblem placement in September, '74, according to Jacked's info.

With a low-range lever instead of a cable, the style of the stripes, newer style window cranks, and the big round "Chief" emblem instead of an "S" emblem, I'd swear it was a '75 - but the VIN indicates it's a '74 model.

Notice that Ugly Truck Nut's was manufactured the same month, yet has a low-range cable!

[PlasticBoob]

so this has got me thinking. i know theirs probably not alot of 74's left. and it looks like mine is one of the first ever made. so what are the chances that mine is the oldest one left? i think i'd be correct in saying that theirs probably very very few if any left with an august 73 build date. any way to find out? it would be awsome knowing that out of all the cherokee's still out there that i have the oldest one.

02773!?! I'd say there's a very good chance that you have the earliest. That would be so cool, considering the shape yours is in! I'd love to get to the bottom of this. I would guess the only way to find out would be to build a registry: hunt down other owners and force them to post up their door jamb stickers and data plates here. Seems to be the norm with other classics. I actually got the idea from the FJ-55 Iron Pig guys; they have a registry thread.

In some of my searches, I've seen Cherokees claiming to be '74s on foreign websites - it might be worth trying to track them down and asking them to submit their information. Old SUVs seem to be becoming popular in other countries.

Of course, you never know with this wide, wide world - there's a guy in Japan who owns my Jeep's doppleganger: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mLfgXbmKD6c

[Migz]

a couple small photos of mine. The link below has better pics that show what I started with and where it is now.

http://s280.photobucket.com/user/jpmigz/library/74%20Cherokee#/user/jpmigz/library/74%20Cherokee?sort=3&page=1&_suid=1371586719964003082816650028236

[UKJeeper]

Posted this in Outside listings too, but thought it should be here:

http://losangeles.craigslist.org/sgv/cto/4078785927.html

[vanaisa]

well, i dont have door jamb sticker anymore but cowl tag is here:



Originally bronze, now flat black. Interior original, engine etc too...

[berettajeep]

Last 7 numbers in VIN Z26383.

401/Auto I am the 3rd owner.

[Mike D]

is there a first list for Wagoneer's?

[Metal Twister]

is there a first list for Wagoneer's?

No.