PRIVATE PLATE - A cherished number plate 'HAZ 2481' goes with this classic Jeep Cherokee, valued at around £6.500. The selling price of unusual registrations depends on the buyer's name or business. This vehicle is part of the John Storm Franchise.

The Jeep came with a private number plate registration, that amused John. Because the value of the plate HAZ2481, was worth more than the vehicle, as it came to him. Something that amused both men, and somewhat of a standing joke.

John set about restoring the truck. This soon led to improvements, such as a composite roof with solar panels, to generate power for his equipment, and keep the batteries charged when not in use for long periods. Then John added electric drive, using fuel cells to convert hydrogen. The vehicle thus became a zero emission hybrid experiment.

The Jeep Cherokee is a compact SUV that was first introduced in 1984 as a revolutionary vehicle with a unibody construction and an all-wheel drive system [1]. Some of the best features of the Jeep Cherokee SUV all wheel drive classic vehicle are:

- It offers unrivalled on-road performance while maintaining most of the off-road ability for which Jeep is famous [1].

- It comes with a Selec-Terrain switch that has up to five settings to adjust the all-wheel drive system according to different terrain conditions [2].

- It has a spacious and comfortable interior with a high level of standard equipment, such as power steering, alloy wheels, anti-lock brakes, remote central locking, air conditioning, cruise control and an automatic gearbox [1].

- It has a distinctive and rugged design with a wide D-pillar and a long fixed rear side window with an optional flip-out section [3].

The Cherokee ‘XJ’ was a radically new vehicle for Jeep in 1984. Developed under AMC with Renault, the compact SUV had revolutionary design features for a car of this class.

While other American manufacturers were rushing out rebodied pickups, AMC’s Jeep introduced the Cherokee XJ with a unibody construction and well-damped suspension that offered unrivalled on-road performance while maintaining most of the off-road ability for which the company was famous.

The Jeep XJ utilizes front and rear beam axle components (live axles) as opposed to an independent suspension. The live axle configuration offers advantages in off-road capability and performance at the expense of some on-road comfort and driveability.

ANTHROPOLOGIST - John Storm is near obsessed with the development of homo sapiens from the australopithecines, necessitating several Safari missions in Tanzania, South Africa. His trusty Jeep Cherokee is ideal transport where the going is rough. 

These were always highly equipped vehicles, especially in the UK where the value prospect was a big part of their market entry strategy. The 1993 UK-spec Cherokee Limited undercut rivals like the Isuzu Trooper and the Land Rover Discovery, while offering greater levels of standard equipment. You got power steering, alloy wheels, anti-lock brakes, remote central locking, six speakers, air conditioning, cruise control and an automatic gearbox all for free.

Electric everything of course: all four windows, the door mirrors, the front seats, and naturally the aerial for that impressive stereo. Metallic paint was a cheap option, and even leather seats were a very reasonable £1000.

The Jeep Cherokee SUV all wheel drive classic vehicle was a great choice for anyone looking for a versatile, reliable and stylish vehicle that can handle any road challenge, between the 1980s and 1990s. But is now very rare indeed.

The later iteration of the 4-litre petrol unit featured Chrysler fuel injection and is generally referred to as the high-output engine, because of its hike in power from around 175bhp to 190bhp. Torque remained roughly the same at 225lb.ft but at a significantly higher peak. This engine saw service from 1991 and proved to be exceptionally reliable, while its revised electronics were easier to diagnose when issues did crop up.

One of the best places to buy a quality classic Jeep Cherokee, is near Rome in Italy. Another is California, USA. Where they are very popular with the trendy elite.

[1] https://www.classic-trader.com/uk/cars/search/jeep
[2] https://classicsworld.co.uk/guides/jeep-cherokee-buyers-guide/
[3] https://www.autoevolution.com/news/jeep-s-awd-and-4wd-systems-explained-106633.html
[4] https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jeep_Cherokee
[5] https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jeep_Cherokee_(XJ)

[1] https://www.classic-trader.com/uk/cars/search/jeep
[2] https://classicsworld.co.uk/guides/jeep-cherokee-buyers-guide/
[3] https://www.autoevolution.com/news/jeep-s-awd-and-4wd-systems-explained-106633.html
[4] https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jeep_Cherokee
[5] https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jeep_Cherokee_(XJ)

ABOUT JOHN STORM'S JEEP

JEEPY - The Jeep Cherokee that Professor Douglas Storm gave to John - in need of much work. Previously used in connection with an ocean research project, this vehicle was fully loaded with leather seats and metallic paint job. The Professor did a lot of miles in this Safari wagon.