A possible unicorn???

Joined
Jun 14, 2021
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390
Location
East TN

For those of you that can't/won't see it on facebook...

Parts for this thing can't be easy to come by...
 

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I always thought those were cool, I saw one in person somewhere in Newport, RI when I was a kid. They have the Renault turbo diesel (2.1L I believe) which is hard to find parts for. From what I remember on the Jeep forums there is an older Winnebago that shares the same engine that people used to find parts.
 
This is from Motor Trend

1985-1987 Jeep Cherokee/Comanche​

The Jeep Cherokee and Comanche XJ have a loyal enthusiast following, but their available Peugeot-designed 2.1L turbodiesel I-4, not so much. Its 85 hp and 132 lb-ft were dwarfed by every other XJ engine, including the much maligned carbureted 2.5L AMC I-4. Since the 2.1L diesel is derived from a 2.0L Peugeot gas engine, its reliability suffered as well. With less torque and substantial reliability concerns, the diesel engine’s usual advantages weren’t on display in the XJ. Luckily for the world, it was replaced by the much better 2.5L VM Motori diesel engine for export markets in 1994. Unluckily for us, it was never sold in the United States.
 
I would expect that there are specialist suppliers for the 2.1td engines, but it was apparently only used in this Jeep and a few Renaults. When you have a niche vehicle, you will find what you need and RA isn't typically where you would look. That said, the 2.1 appears to be a bit of a dog but the later VM engine seems much better and widely available outside of the US.

Under different circumstances (a non-overflowing barn being one of them), I would be all over this....
 
When you have a niche vehicle, you will find what you need and RA isn't typically where you would look.
Understand.... My intent was since RockAuto sources parts from auto parts distributors all over the country and "common" parts are likely available through some of them.
 
Kid selling it probably got it for $3500 and is looking for his pie-in-the-sky price after getting it running.

"Upgraded relays" = no longer stock, cobbled wiring with autozone parts.
 
A co-worker had a Jeep Liberty Diesel for a few years, and even that vehicle he decided to get rid of early for fears of eventual parts availability and servicing concerns (or lack thereof). And that was still within this century!
 
My first love at age 17 so beautiful/amazing had as first vehicle.

Fond memories of riding around and doing other things with her in one. The vehicle itself was slow and noisy is all I remember and this was late 1980's. It was quite capable off-road.

 
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