1996 Jeep Cherokee Sport 4x4 -- Project Car? -- Parts Car? -- Other?

1996 Jeep Cherokee Sport Description

This vehicle spent much of its early life in Pennsylvania, where it was subject to harsh winter chemicals that cause major body and undercarriage damage to vehicles unless one takes extra care and precaution. Originally shipped to the dealer, Kovatch Jeep-Eagle Inc. in Lehighton, Pennsylvania, the car was sold new with to its first owner in White Haven, Pennsylvania. It remained under their ownership for 7 years and 9 months, and on August 14, 2004, it was bought by a near-by fellow resident of Crozet, Virginia for his son, who was attending Pittsburg State University, The car spent much of the next year and ten months in that area, and very little was done to counter the effects of the harsh winters. Upon his graduation, he landed a job in the heart of New York City, and decided not to take the Jeep to that area. So, on June 19, 2006, he offered the Jeep to me, which I bought for a very reasonable price. On June 20, 2006, with just 82,511 miles on it, I put tags on the car and have been driving it ever since. At that time of purchase, however, the Jeep was already showing the significant effects from the winter chemicals, and I have been dealing with those effects ever since. But, I have to drive to Texas on a regular basis, and it had gotten to the point where I just didn't trust the structural integrity of the undercarriage on those long trips and had to purchase another vehicle. The Jeep runs great, the 4 wheel drive works well, the A/C works well, the interior is in reasonably good condition and I absolutely loved that vehicle so I continued to "Sport" around in it until September 2015, when the alternator froze up and broke the serpentine belt. Glad that happened in my driveway, and not on the road, where I was able to shut the engine off immediately. Now, speaking of structural integrity issues: it has been a ritual of mine to crawl under the Jeep before every trip to Texas wash down the undercarriage, and inspect the entire under side. Every time I noticed a new hole in the floorboards and/or rocker panels, I would patch them up in various ways and apply a coat of rubberized undercoating. I would also prime and spot-paint areas that looked sorta iffy. I have been doing this for ten years, and each year the rust problems got a just little worse. My plans were to replace the alternator, but when I went to get something out of the passenger side, I noticed that, in spite of my best efforts, the rocker panel on that side had pretty much totally self destructed. .. So, I ordered a replacement. It wasn't until I went to install it, that I realized just how bad things had gotten. I did get the rocker panel on, however, and again patched the underside, but the rust is very bad, rendering my patch jobs temporary at best, I'm sure. Now, I have decided that it is time for me to part with my "pride & joy" and offer it here as a project car, a parts car, or for whatever else somebody might do with a good looking, great running Jeep, plagued by major rust problems. It still needs a new alternator and a serpentine belt, so even though it runs great, it will need to be put on a trailer for transport.
In addition to the undercarriage, the bottom edges of the front doors and the rear bumper display some rust issues as well.
The hollow frame, which was core filled several years ago as a preventive maintenance measure, is now starting to have some rust issues.
I have put 79,074 miles on this vehicle over the past 10 years, most of them highway miles to and from Texas, and except for the issues mentioned, I wouldn't hesitate to venture another trip to Texas in it. If I can answer any questions for you, please feel free to contact me.
This Jeep is being sold "AS IS" with NO WARRANTY either written or implied.
It is located near Crozet, Virginia and will need to be picked up at this location.
All sales are final.
Payments in the form of check or money order must clear my bank before the vehicle will be released.