*Images of restoration are now included*
Highlights
- Major body-off restoration and respray in black
- Restored by a respected engineer, motoring journalist and TV presenter
- Long MOT to August 2025
- Recently serviced in August 2024
- Only 100 or so miles covered since restoration completed
The Appeal
The XJ Wrangler is a clever idea. It mixes the aesthetics of Jeep’s classic CJ with a more comfortable and usable design. It could be argued it is the original SUV. Then there’s the dinosaur-bating, iconic status thanks to a run of Jurassic Park appearances.
This stylish example was restored in 2021 by Ralph Hosier, the engineer, journalist and TV presenter and refinished in black. It has been in the hands of the current keeper since and barely used. So the buyer gets the benefit of all that investment.
Beyond the distinctive styling, these are highly capable vehicles. The 4litre straight six engine is one of motoring’s most durable gems and it has the specification to tackle the urban jungle or the actual jungle easily. There is a full folding roof, padded roll cage and space for four.
The seller has recently put a fresh MOT on the car - valid to August 2025 - and it has just been serviced. As an alternative to Britain’s homegrown all-roaders, this is a very stylish slice of Americana and one with great provenance.
History and Paperwork
- First registered 30th January 1995
- 12 registered keepers
- Vendor acquired the car in October 2021
- Restored by Ralph Hosier in 2021, which was completed shortly before purchase
- Previously painted red and now re-registered with DVLA as black
- Vendor advises it has only covered 103 miles since purchase
- Current MOT to 12th August 2025 with one minor advisory
- 106,692 miles showing on test and now showing 106,687 miles in photographs
- Serviced in August 2024 in preparation for sale
- History suggests it has spent some time in France during its life
- Restored by previous keeper Ralph Hosier who presents shows on Dave and National Geographic
- Some MOT certificate included in history file
This Jeep was restored in 2021 by well respected chartered engineer, Ralph Hosier. He is a veteran motoring journalist, author and TV personality, who has presented shows such as Supercar Megabuild for National Geographic and Scrapyard Supercar on Dave. Some of his most well known builds include Shane Lynch's Rolls Royce drift car and Top Gear's insane L200 'Project Swarm' desert truck. Ralph has spent nearly 30 years as an engineer, working with companies such as Jaguar Land Rover, Bentley and Ford, as well as countless other projects.
When Ralph acquired the car it had been stood for some time. He put it through a major body off restoration to get rid of any rust or problem areas. The current keeper acquired it shortly after completion in October 2021. He has only covered 103 miles in the intervening years but has ensured the Jeep has been regularly MOT’d. It was serviced in August prior to sale and comes to market with a full 12 months MOT.
The Condition
- Professional body-off restoration and respray in black in 2021 with only few miles use since
- Remains in good order with some minor points to note in photographs
- These include bubbling to the rear offside corner and small marks here and there
- Light bubbling noticeable below windscreen
- Bodywork is in good order with underside showing no structural advisories on current MOT
- Fitted with front nudge bar and tread plate to sills and wing tops
- Uprated to LED lighting conversion to improve night time driving
- Alloy deep dish wheels in good condition with all-terrain tyres fitted all round showing plenty of tread
- Black seats with red piping showing some aging but very presentable
- Padded roll cage in good condition with removable folding roof
- New door cars in metal trim and new carpets in the footwell, all fitted in 2021
- Three-spoke leather wheel with red stitching
- Advisories for seat belts to note on current MOT
- Well-kept cabin with auxiliary dials to console and Kenwood stereo (stereo is not working)
The Mechanics
- Highly regarded 3,960cc straight-six petrol engine
- 3spd automatic gearbox
- Major service in 2021 following restoration
- Only around 100 miles covered between last two services
- Serviced in August 2024
- Custom side exit exhaust fitted
- No reported running or driving issues
- One running gear advisory to note on current MOT
BEFORE YOU BUY
This sale is subject to the Car & Classic Terms and Conditions. By bidding and/or making an offer, you also agree to the following:
✓ The seller is registered as a private seller which means consumer rights stemming from EU consumer protection law do not come into effect. However, you are still covered by Car & Classic’s own Terms and Conditions..
✓ We request that a non-refundable fee be paid if you are the lucky winning bidder at auction or if your offer is accepted Please refer to our helpful FAQs and T&Cs for specific rates.
✓ This vehicle is “Sold As Seen”, on an “As Is Where Is’ basis and without warranty. Photos and descriptions are solely for guidance purposes and it's customary to carry out a full inspection of the vehicle prior to purchase for your own peace of mind.
✓ VAT is included in the buyer's deposit. VAT may or may not be included in the final bid or offer price, as specified in the listing.
✓ We want a smooth transaction just as much as you do and as such we run all UK-registered cars and motorbikes for sale on Car & Classic through an online HPI check to verify that they show no insurance database markers for damage or theft, and have no finance owing, allowing you to bid with confidence.
✓ We also check whether vehicles are recorded as being written off as part of an insurance total loss claim at the time an advert is placed on Car & Classic and we helpfully provide write-off category labels (Cat C/D/S/N) for your assistance. However, the presence or absence of a label does not guarantee the vehicle’s status and it is always worthwhile carrying out your own full vehicle history check before making an offer on a vehicle.
✓ Buyers are responsible for vehicle collection
or delivery. Importing vehicles may result in additional customs duties and import taxes so it’s worth checking beforehand.. If requested, we may refer you to a third-party shipping company who can help. For more details and to speak to the team, email [email protected]