SUVs and plastic cladding: an abbreviated history (updated)

"Just Jeepin'" (macintux)
11/08/2020 at 15:42 • Filed to: suv, jeep, AMC Eagle

Now that I’ve stepped into the Grand Cherokee world with my first non-Wrangler Jeep (and only my second Jeep, despite the constant noise I make about them), I’ve started wondering about its plastic cladding.

Everyone keeps warning me I’m going to have to pay close attention to it to keep it looking good, but the question I haven’t been able to answer: what was the first example?

While many manufacturers today seem to throw it onto random CUVs to make them look more rugged, Jeep started using cladding on its SUVs several decades ago when they were undisputedly rugged.

So far, the oldest example I’ve found is a 1980 Jeep Cherokee Chief:

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Here’s a Cherokee Chief from just two years prior, and it certainly doesn’t appear that it ever had cladding, but rather just black paint along the bottom.

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This 1981 AMC Eagle looks like it has plastic cladding.

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So we have at least two early candidates, both from AMC. Anyone know where it actually started?

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Update : if indeed, as others are saying, the two early 80s examples above are not in fact examples, then this 1988 XJ is the earliest I’ve found:

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P.S. While I was searching for an answer to this question, this older Oppo piece popped up. I wish, I wish, I wish GMG would leave Oppo online in read-only mode rather than throw away the years of automotive trivia/history collected here.)

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P.P.S. Is it just me, or are the early Ford Explorer and Escape dead ringers for the Cherokee and Grand Cherokee?

DISCUSSION (22)

VincentMalamute-Kim > Just Jeepin'
11/08/2020 at 15:52

I can’t answer the question of the earliest example. But that AMC Eagle looks like a black trim strip with black paint below it.

The earliest I can remember is Volvo, Audi, Subaru throwing cladding on their wagons and calling them XCs, Allroads, Outbacks.

The one thing I learned in Wisconsin is that the plastic cladding can trap salt and moisture leading to early body rot hidden by the cladding.

ranwhenparked > VincentMalamute-Kim
11/08/2020 at 16:03

Some Eagles did have black plastic fender flares, but earlier in the production run, most of them didn’t even have black paint. The rockers and fenders were all just body color.

The trapping of moisture is a real problem, killed a lot of ‘90s Blazers/Jimmys. Had a high school friend with one that was perfectly clean and mint, until you got to the front fenders, which had so little metal left, it looked like the cladding was what was holding them together.

VincentMalamute-Kim > ranwhenparked
11/08/2020 at 16:07

The Eagle ad that Jeepin’ linked to looks like plastic fender flares and black paint on the rockers.

That’s also the upside of plastic cladding. When your rockers rust out, you can then add the cladding from the ‘off-road’ to hide for an easy body rust repair job!

VincentMalamute-Kim > Just Jeepin'
11/08/2020 at 16:09

Completely forgot, Pontiac bought out the plastic market with their car models. And plastic cladding was popular on upscale models too - I remember high optioned Caravans and such having the plastic.

4kc > Just Jeepin'
11/08/2020 at 16:11

Both of those cherokee chiefs have plastic fender flares but the lower rocker/door is metal on both, I think the angles and paint may be foolin’ ya.

I think the rubber/chrome rub strips from the late 70's was kind of the start? I know they were very common on fords in the early 80s.

Dr. Zoidberg - RIP Oppo > Just Jeepin'
11/08/2020 at 16:17

The E scape you posted appears to be a two-tone paint job, actually.

I hate plastic cladding. Once it's gouged or scratched, it's gouged or scratched. If I lived in a salt climate, I would never own any vehicle with cladding.

onlytwowheels > Just Jeepin'
11/08/2020 at 16:17

I’m going to say GM started the SUV plastic cladding trend with the Olds Bravada and GMC Typhoon.

Kinja'd!!!

subexpression > Just Jeepin'
11/08/2020 at 16:37

I wouldn’t use that first photo as your guide for anything. I don’t think “Super Chief” was a real factory trim level .

Just Jeepin' > onlytwowheels
11/08/2020 at 16:42

Pretty sure the XJ beat them to the punch.

Just Jeepin' > onlytwowheels
11/08/2020 at 16:43

See this 1988 XJ, e.g. https://bringatrailer.com/listing/1988-jeep-cherokee-3/

onlytwowheels > Just Jeepin'
11/08/2020 at 16:51

I forgot about those. T he Laredo package got that cladding.

Just Jeepin' > onlytwowheels
11/08/2020 at 16:52

Do you know whether that dates back to the 1985 release of the Laredo trim ? Any thoughts on how to verify whether there was any trim level that got it in 1984?

onlytwowheels > Just Jeepin'
11/08/2020 at 17:43

I have looked through XJ Cherokee brochures and google searched year by year, and no plastic cladding appears until the 1988 Laredo. None on any other trim level or on Wagoneer.

Just Jeepin' > onlytwowheels
11/08/2020 at 17:45

Where are said brochures? I’m intrigued.

So, I guess 1988 is our final answer, pending someone else stepping up.

onlytwowheels > Just Jeepin'
11/08/2020 at 17:47

https://www.lov2xlr8.no/jeep.html

Just Jeepin' > onlytwowheels
11/08/2020 at 17:50

Ermagehrd, what a rabbit hole! Thanks!

50ford500 > onlytwowheels
11/08/2020 at 17:50

I’d still love a typhoon. But given the typical prices, so would a lot of other people too lol

onlytwowheels > 50ford500
11/08/2020 at 18:03

Hard to get into one for under 20K these days.

Prime examples are $30-40k.

I wanted to buy a Syclone in 1991, but the nearest dealer that had one had slapped a steep “Adusted Market Value” sticker and wasn’t budging on the price. My uncle worked there at the time too.

onlytwowheels > Just Jeepin'
11/08/2020 at 19:06

Here’s another you may like:

https://www.xr793.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/04/2004-Jeep-Grand-Cherokee.pdf

Just Jeepin' > onlytwowheels
11/08/2020 at 19:13

Of all those lovely colors, why did I have to get stuck with white?

Kinja'd!!!

I don’t think I’ve ever seen the onyx green or steel blue pearls. Onyx green in particular looks fantastic.

Just Jeepin' > onlytwowheels
11/08/2020 at 19:15

I stand corrected: onyx green pearl is indeed the color on the one I checked out before buying mine. Looks very different in that brochure.

onlytwowheels > Just Jeepin'
11/08/2020 at 19:18

Colors may have been limited to particular trim, like many vehicles do today.

Here’s another brochure you may like:

https://www.xr793.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/11/2006-Jeep-Wrangler.pdf