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
Nice TJ’s are already sought after and bring good money.

I’m a CJ -7 guy , had 3 , and a YJ, the TJ is everything they weren’t . In my opinion the TJ basically is the CJ design refined to its highest point.

CJ5s here and I agree with the TJ being everything they weren't.
 
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I think a lot of folks see stock TJs and think "classic Jeep" already. Everytime I go somewhere in mine, I get people telling me about how they wish they'd have kept their old Jeep. I said from the day I got my LJ that I'm going to keep it basically stock. At least nothing that can't be easily reversed. Not many people want one that someone has already "built".

I looked for half a year to find one that wasn’t lifted or had any obvious mods so I fit in that category.
 
I'm on my 4th Wrangler here - a 2004 (THE best year!) TJ "Columbia Edition" in black w/5 speed and 88K miles. It's all stock except for 31" tires and a modest 3/4" coil spring spacer lift, and that's how it's a-gonna STAY, at least while it's in MY stewardship. Whenever I get a "vintage" vehicle the very first thing I do is to move Heaven & Earth in order to make them ride, steer, and stop in a most excellent fashion. I've owned 3 early Ford Broncos as well, and driven and ridden in more "vintage SUV's" than I can count (though prolly only 1/10th as many as Mssr. Bransford, LOL)...

My take on the ride & handling characteristics of the TJ: IF you exercise EXTREME "self-restraint" and not INSIST on pursuing the "Mine's BIGGER than YOURS" locker room mentality that seems to be PANDEMIC with 99% of all truck owners these days, they can be made to drive GREAT! I've got 6+ degrees of castor in my Jeep, run the overwhelmingly accepted Rancho shocks, and all my suspension parts are stock and in good shape as well. The result? ZERO bump steer, ZERO death wobble, and 1 finger on the wheel at 80MPH on the Freeway - as were all my Wranglers EXCEPT the one that I only owned for 1 year - lifted and with oversized tires (who knew?!). A half dozen "Death Wobble Encounters Of The First Kind" in THAT one and out da' d'oh THAT one went to a contractor who was working on our house in Phoenix that just HAD to have it...

I lived in Charlotte NC for 25 years - I'll never forget one of the top street rod builders in that area's words to me when we were discussing suspension/steering/bump steer issues (this guy did a LOT of "sorting out" on NASCAR vehicles too): "As soon as you start changing 'the arithmetic' on a vehicle, problems begin to show up - then they begin to multiply like rabbits in April the more you continue to change them..." 'Nuff said, Kids; I know I won't change ANYONE's mind here - I'm just another 63 year old geezer who's "seen a few things" and prolly FORGOTTEN a few more. Now pardon me - I gotta go; my SOUP's getting cold!:ROFLMAO:
 
Where I live, you see a gazillion Jeeps in a day, but very, very, very few, if ever TJ's or older.
I didn't know any difference when I bought mine, it was just good timing and luck when I ran across it at a grocery store parking lot for sale. All original and stock, zero rust except for a tiny bit in the bolt head holes.
 
Classic yes, collectable probably no but who wants a collectable when you have a built classic that will go any where and has so many memories. Pass it on to a grandson/daughter and the joy will never end.
 
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I remember reading an article in a car magazine (Motor Trend or maybe Road & track) in the 70's. the article was about possible future classics. VW Beetles and Mustangs were written off because they made so many.
 
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.
You really get it! Well said!
 
modified TJ will never be a classic, it's gotta be an OEM to qualify.
I disagree with this statement.

There are some really well done CJs today that are a classic that are tastefully built. I feel the same way with the TJ line. Just my opinion here but an LJ in stock form is just sad to me and looks off. Needs a good 2.5 - 4in lift and some 33s to really start looking right.
 
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