1987–2006Collector's Guide

Jeep Wrangler

The direct successor to the CJ-7 — modernized underneath, but built to keep the same open-top, removable-door formula alive.

The Wrangler replaced the CJ-7 in 1987, addressing real safety and handling criticisms of the CJ line (a widened track and revised suspension geometry, in particular) while deliberately keeping the open-top, removable-door, fold-down-windshield format that defined the Jeep experience for decades. It remains in production today essentially unchanged in concept.

History

The 1987 YJ generation's most visually distinctive change from the CJ-7 was its rectangular headlights, a departure from the round headlights that had defined every prior Jeep and remains the easiest way to identify a YJ at a glance — a change some enthusiasts objected to at the time.

The 1997 TJ generation restored round headlights and added coil-spring front and rear suspension in place of the CJ/YJ's leaf springs, a meaningful ride-quality improvement that's generally considered the more comfortable and more capable of the two classic Wrangler generations.

Notable Versions

YJ (1987–95)

The first Wrangler generation, identifiable by its rectangular headlights — the most collectible to buyers specifically seeking that distinct 1980s look.

TJ (1997–2006)

The coil-spring generation with round headlights, generally regarded as the more comfortable and capable of the two, and the more common choice for buyers who plan to actually drive/off-road the Jeep rather than display it.

Sahara / Rubicon (TJ)

Upscale and off-road-focused trim packages respectively, with the Rubicon in particular adding factory locking differentials and a genuinely more capable 4WD system.