Will the Jeep TJ become a "classic" in 10-20 years, like the CJ is today?

Will Jeep TJs be considered a "classic" in 10 - 20 years?

  • Yes

    Votes: 85 59.9%
  • No

    Votes: 7 4.9%
  • More than 20 years

    Votes: 25 17.6%
  • Less than 10 years

    Votes: 25 17.6%

  • Total voters
    142

KCNoDots

TJ Enthusiast
Joined
Jan 8, 2019
Messages
215
Location
Phoenix, AZ
Just throwing this out for discussion, I would love to hear all of your insights.

To me, just seeing old CJs, even ones as new as the CJ-7s, which was made from 1976-1986, I instantly think of them as classics.
CJ-7s are now 33-43 years old. When the oldest TJ is 33 years old it will be the year 2029 (10 years from now!).

Will we consider them "classics" at that time, in a similar way that we consider CJs as classic vehicles today?
FWIW: Wikipedia says "Cars 20 years and older typically fall into the classic class".

More thoughts: Will the prices of a clean condition TJ in 10 - 20 years, reflect the price of a clean and restored CJ in today's market?
Some of those restored CJs go for a good amount of $$$ today.

Thoughts?
 
Yes, but I say it will be more like 20-30 years.

There's no question about it whatsoever.

However, whether or not it becomes a "desirable" or "collectible" classic, that remains to be seen.

I certainly wouldn't buy a TJ as an investment thinking that one day you'll be able to cash in big on it (there's better cars out there for that), but I do suspect one day as they become harder to find, they'll become more valuable in good condition.

Of course this is so long from now, that who knows what the future holds.
 
I can’t even think of a YJ as a classic. I think the CJs are just a bygone era. One that Willys started and AMC took over that Chrysler chose to end before renaming it Wrangler. The “Wranglers” themselves, ending with the TJ are another era before computers pretty much took over drivetrains wholesale (and before Fiat took over Chrysler). It’s a transitional era at the very least and it’s just hard to fathom that stuff as classic, it’s like saying CDs, that are themselves transitional in a sense, are classic: I just can’t grasp that concept.

Edit: then again, I never fathomed an obsession with all things 80’s so all the above being said yes it’ll definitely become a classic. Just hard to think. The YJ, probably not so much. It’s like the third generation Mustangs in that sense (they ain’t too pretty!)
 
I can’t even think of a YJ as a classic. I think the CJs are just a bygone era. One that Willys started and AMC took over that Chrysler chose to end before renaming it Wrangler. The “Wranglers” themselves, ending with the TJ are another era before computers pretty much took over drivetrains wholesale (and before Fiat took over Chrysler). It’s a transitional era at the very least and it’s just hard to fathom that stuff as classic, it’s like saying CDs, that are themselves transitional in a sense, are classic: I just can’t grasp that concept.

Edit: then again, I never fathomed an obsession with all things 80’s so all the above being said yes it’ll definitely become a classic. Just hard to think. The YJ, probably not so much. It’s like the third generation Mustangs in that sense (they ain’t too pretty!)
Thats a funny thing about those third gen mustangs and the YJs... there is just a select crowd of people who love that "unique" generation in both models and I feel like there always will be.
 
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Doesnt insurance classify any vehicle as a classic at 20 years old?

I doubt the TJ will be desirable in the future. So many of them have been hacked away and modified at by offroaders that they are unique to the owner at that time. My opinion....
 
Doesnt insurance classify any vehicle as a classic at 20 years old?

I doubt the TJ will be desirable in the future. So many of them have been hacked away and modified at by offroaders that they are unique to the owner at that time. My opinion....
I think that is true about insurance.

And in AZ I can get a "Historic Vehicle" special license plate when my TJ is 25 years old. So in 2027. Lol.
 
Even the best CJ2s have trouble getting over $20K, and the guys willing to spend $20K are few and far between. So I wouldn't say a TJ will ever be "collectible" but there is always a market for a perfect example.... of anything.

Where they will be popular will be in campsites and car shows. Old TJS, CJs will always generate that curiosity of "why are you driving it? They look soo uncomfortable".

Here in BC we have the Collectors Plate for vehicles 25 plus years old. But it has to be 100% original, including wheels, seats, radio.... suspension. Even a winch would disqualify it. Tires and adding seatbelts are about all you can change.

But it can be worth it since license and insurance drops from $800.00 to $80.00 for a Collector Vehicle.
 
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Where they will be popular will be in campsites and car shows. Old CJs always attract attention.

TJS, CJs will always generate that curiosity of "why are you driving it? They look soo uncomfortable".
Haha that is true... I have had many friends ride in my Jeeps and say how "uncomfortable it was", or they would "never get one unless it road more like their fancy stock truck" or whatever else they had. or "it's too slow" blah blah blah.

You just don't really appreciate owning a Jeep TJ until you do.

I also heard that there are three American vehicles that are almost always accepted in all levels of society, from the red carpet to the bar down the street; the Ford Mustang, Chevy Corvette, and the Jeep Wrangler. I think that stems from that they just don't go out of style IMO. Timeless.
 
three American vehicles that are almost always accepted in all levels of society, from the red carpet to the bar down the street; the Ford Mustang, Chevy Corvette, and the Jeep Wrangler.
I'm not sure the Vette is in the same class, I think I'd say Mustang, Wrangler and F150. Everyone loves a plain Mustang for sure.
 
All vehicles are classic at 20 and antiques at 25. The worth of the Jeep is in the eye of the beholder. Some wouldn't give you a plumb nickel for a Jeep. Those who love Jeeps, look at it from a view point that most people wouldn't understand. When anybody asks me about my Jeep, I flat out tell them that it is the worst riding and can be the worst handling vehicle that I have ever owned, but my Jeep makes me smile and makes me happy. My other vehicles have been just a means of transportation. My Jeep makes me happy and seeing older generations with a nice build make me smile just to see them. So in the end does it matter what they are going to be worth. You can't put a price tag on happiness. I guess I would say don't buy a Jeep to keep in a glass box waiting to see what it may be worth in another 10 years. Happiness is priceless, so take it out and play with it and if it becomes worth something in years to come, thats great, but if you love your Jeep it will never be worth to someone else, what it is worth to you.
 
All vehicles are classic at 20 and antiques at 25. The worth of the Jeep is in the eye of the beholder. Some wouldn't give you a plumb nickel for a Jeep. Those who love Jeeps, look at it from a view point that most people wouldn't understand. When anybody asks me about my Jeep, I flat out tell them that it is the worst riding and can be the worst handling vehicle that I have ever owned, but my Jeep makes me smile and makes me happy. My other vehicles have been just a means of transportation. My Jeep makes me happy and seeing older generations with a nice build make me smile just to see them. So in the end does it matter what they are going to be worth. You can't put a price tag on happiness. I guess I would say don't buy a Jeep to keep in a glass box waiting to see what it may be worth in another 10 years. Happiness is priceless, so take it out and play with it and if it becomes worth something in years to come, thats great, but if you love your Jeep it will never be worth to someone else, what it is worth to you.
Very well said! 🙌
 
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At 63 years old, I've always chuckled at the "It's 20+ years old, so it IS a classic!" statement. Really?! So you're saying that a Yugo is a "classic" then? I. Don't. THINK. So!

From where I sit, a true "classic vehicle" HAS to be not only X amount of years old, but it must also be "desirable" to a few more people than your Uncle Mert. You'd be pretty hard-pressed to find ONE person in 100 that would actually "desire" a Yugo at ANY price point, no?

But then I'm the same guy that doesn't get owning a "pet bird" either. My nephew, who my wife and I think a lot of, works for an oil company in South America. For X-Mas he sent us a live bird all the way from South America. He called us on 12/26 and asked us: "Did you get that bird I sent you?" "You bet!" I replied - "He was DELICIOUS!" "You don't mean you ATE that bird! Geez, that bird was worth a fortune - he spoke two languages!" "Well, I replied - he should have SAID something!":ROFLMAO:
 
Classics are classics, antiques are antiques, and after a random period of time some vehicles become both.

While it would be hard to say even 10 years ago, I'd say the TJ now falls into the classic category. It's been 13 years since they've been made and they look very close to the classic (and antique) CJs.

As for the YJ, even though it's is really more of a CJ than a TJ , classic just doesn't seem to fit it.
 
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I believe they will be very desirable. They are the first wrangler with “good” road manners. That mixed with their simplicity and good looks will make them desirable. Their is something very unique already with their simplicity that I don’t get while driving a brand new wrangler - my opinion.
 
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I’d bet there’s a large enough user base to drive an aftermarket option. Summit or Jegs will have a source developed by then.

Considering that I didn't even know that the 2005 and 2006 TJs with automatics had potential issues until I signed up here after buying mine I hope you are right. Just in case.
 
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