HappyTrails

Today I installed the 21 slot grille I have been looking for. Found it at Burkhardt Automotive in Indiana. Ebay. Turns out he had it on the shelf for years (like since 1985!) It is an NOS grille in near perfect shape! I kept the 92 Laredo headlight bezels I have on my 96 Sport, added upper and lower stainless steel grille trim from an 88 XJ, and screwed the 84/85 Wagoneer 21 slot grille right in! Easy. Had to trim the stainless a bit, but it was one of the easier XJ projects. I really like the look. Seems to go along with the many slotted louvers on the hood. Lots of bling. Maybe I will call it my tuxedo XJ.

Michael952

Not 7 slots? That's un-American!

Grip

7 slots look best.

HappyTrails

I know what you mean, Michael. I was thinking about that too, but perhaps I can be forgiven since this grille is truly American--As in AMERICAN MOTORS CORP. Not Chrysler, DC, or Fiat. Sometimes we forget how great AMC was in many respects.

HappyTrails

When it comes to just looks, my vote actually goes for the 10 slot. But I have this thing about getting rare and nearly forgotten OEM stuff. It wins over looks sometimes.

salad

That certainly is a lot of shiny! Nice find and good work!

FTHESHACK

I have never seen a grill like that on an XJ. Great job trimming it to fit and adding a personal touch to your jeep. Thumbs up here!!!

XJwonders

I guess your jeep is now three times as American lol (21/7=3)

freegdr

Kinda a knock off from Granpa ....

HappyTrails

I think it was. AMC had a real problem on their hands with the XJ, in that they did not know how successful it would be, or which way to market it. Just look at the original XJ model line up: Cherokee, Cherokee Chief, Cherokee Pioneer, then Cherokee Laredo. But also Wagoneer. XJ, but not Cherokee. Wha? And the Wagoneer came in base and Limited (fake wood), But I thought Wagoneer had all the goodie standard. But they made a base model Wagoneer? And that was not to be confused with the FSJ Wagoneer they were still making. But it was confused with it. Its like they threw it all out there to see what would take. Well, most of it took. And as they say, the rest is history. All the while they were underfunded and using Renault cash to push their products forward in exchange of giving the French a market foothold in America for stuff like their Reliant etc. That's part of the story behind the RENIX system. Cross breeding for cash. There's another word for that too.

I was caught in that original barnyard when I bought my 86 Laredo new in 1986 (yeah, I am that old) with that Chevy engine equipped with a carburetor that never worked right. Cross breeding at its worst.

I have a 1986 XJ Sales brochure. Nice pics and descriptions. But it really leaves your head spinning as to why the differences and what they are.

HappyTrails

I put a set of FSJ Cherokee Chief Indian Head medallions on the front fenders of my XJ. Not meaning to be confusing. It is more of a nod to its heritage...

HappyTrails

They never made these here in the colonies, but I took the liberty to use something from across the pond.

WarPath

like the 4 slot oem switch panel for 97+, or the infamous oem tool box that actually uses that near pointless cubby pressed into the rear well. $$$ for who ever finds either!!!!

playbass

I've seen the toolbox in pictures, but I've never seen the 4 slot switch panel. Do you have a pic?

Otherwise, very cool grill.

WarPath

You wana talk about elusive!!!