The super jeep that never was

"HammerheadFistpunch" (hammerheadfistpunch) 12/17/2013 at 17:57 • Filed to: Jeep

3

15

I just discovered this after looking for the 99 Jeepster concept from the article on Truck Yeah.

Its the 1997 Jeep Cherokee Casablanca. And aside from the stupid name and the dorky lights...this is 100% how I pictured my dream Cherokee.

2 inch lift with 9.5 inches of clearance, extra long travel shocks with specially tuned dampers, 31 inch wheels, integrated winch with shorty bumper, exo cage, rock sliders, swing out tire carrier with extra fuel storage and shorty rear bumper for a kick off.

"so what? Go and buy a Cherokee and make it happen!" you say. Well, first off, no need to be rude and second this has two features you can't buy on any us Cherokee.

1. This rad canvas roof

And secondly, it was a diesel 2.5 liter 4 cylinder. The entire concept was rooted in long distance expedition travel! its even in a sort of brown! I'm in love.

4 wheeler magazine had the audacity to include this in a list of worst Jeep concepts.

Jeep continues the tease to this day with the Incredibly-awesome-diesel-powered-I-dont-care-if-its-a-liberty-this-is-badass concept (official name) from a few years ago.

Arch Duke Maxyenko, Shit Talk Extraordinaire > HammerheadFistpunch 12/17/2013 at 18:03

0

O HI!

HammerheadFistpunch > Arch Duke Maxyenko, Shit Talk Extraordinaire 12/17/2013 at 18:05

0

Right, the canvas roof did make it, but no diesel in that model in the US. besides...liberty, right?

Arch Duke Maxyenko, Shit Talk Extraordinaire > HammerheadFistpunch 12/17/2013 at 18:07

0

Because very few bought the first gen diesel Liberty

HammerheadFistpunch > Arch Duke Maxyenko, Shit Talk Extraordinaire 12/17/2013 at 18:08

0

try to find a decent one now though....much desired.

Dann > Arch Duke Maxyenko, Shit Talk Extraordinaire 12/17/2013 at 18:19

0

We got the diesel version of the update XJ Cherokee in Australia, and it sold in reasonable numbers in comparison to the gasoline version, and have had a diesel version in the Cherokee/Liberty lineup since

Supreme Kiwi Zorro > HammerheadFistpunch 12/17/2013 at 19:11

0

* sighs* Ah, there goes one of the forgotten concept cars from my collection for daily Good Night Oppo post.

lucky's pepper > HammerheadFistpunch 12/17/2013 at 19:39

0

Amazing how good those white steel wheels make that Liberty look, and that's despite the stupid zebra stripes.

HammerheadFistpunch > lucky's pepper 12/17/2013 at 19:40

0

I would totally rock it...stripes and all.

The Opponaut formerly known as MattP123 > HammerheadFistpunch 12/17/2013 at 22:21

0

There seems to be some shoddy by today's standards/ok by 1997 standards Photoshopping going on in these pics. In this one in particular, it looks like the ground in the background, visible above this corner was stretched to cover something up.

vicariousILive > Dann 12/17/2013 at 23:01

0

The canvas rooftop itself is so intriguing to me. I don't know why I want it so bad all of the sudden.

DangerRanger > HammerheadFistpunch 12/18/2013 at 21:25

0

I haven't read the article yet, but I have to say...

Those lights are NOT dorky, they are PERFECT.

I am willing to defend round headlights, especially on Jeeps, until I run out of breath or die of lung cancer, whichever happens first.

EDIT: Yes, I will read the rest of it, and correct if anything there makes an ass out of you or me.

DangerRanger > DangerRanger 12/18/2013 at 21:50

0

Now that I've read it, I'll go ahead and respond to myself. I confirm that round headlights look perfect on that Jeep, along with any other Jeep with a good boxy shape. I know we're all used to headlights that meld into the general shape of the vehicle, but I'm just too used to Wranglers and old Cherokees to accept that that's the best design aesthetic for them.

Traditionally, Jeeps are nothing but straight corners and edges. That's out of simplicity, as it should be for vehicles meant specifically to take off-road, rather than on. Obviously they've evolved a lot from that point, and only the Wrangler is made in that spirit (thought they seem to at least nod to it with most of their cars). I, personally think that the Wranglers that came with round headlights are the very sexiest.

To try and understand the rest of you, I guess you think that round headlights mean that the engineers designed the car, then realized they needed headlights and said "ahh, shit. Well, let's just put some of those round jobbies on there." Sure. If I saw those bastards tacked onto a BMW, I'd laugh my ass off. But on a Jeep, to me, it means that they spent their creative time on making a rugged offroader, then they decided to stick some lights on the front so you could move at night.

The funny thing is, though, that I can argue for it logically with all the Bullshit I can muster, but if I'm honest, it's just that I'm a horrible perverse man who loves round headlights on a boxy car.

I wish my '99 Forester had round headlights. That would be perfect. My '91 beater Toyota Pickup? Deserves them. My stepmom's '12 Kia Soul. NEEDS them. God why doesn't it have round headlights? Newer Foresters, new Cherokee, other round-ish vehicles, etc. Should never have round headlights. They would make me sick.

Boxy cars should have round headlights. I guess that's all I have to say.

oldirtybootz > HammerheadFistpunch 12/21/2013 at 10:21

0

I hate Libertys yet I really really want that Zebra edition. Nom nom nom that's hot.

HammerheadFistpunch > oldirtybootz 12/21/2013 at 15:50

1

the power of wheels and tires. (and diesel engines) Ive got those tires on my car, very good in the snow

oldirtybootz > HammerheadFistpunch 12/21/2013 at 16:43

0

Mmm, Land Cruiser.