New Member :]

[JDP]

Just wanted to say Hi to everyone here and thanks for having me.

I never thought I’d get the chance to have one of these classics which are older than me even, it’s such a cool bit of history which I absolutely adored after seeing one in person whilst on holiday in Greece back in 2016 but it wasn’t till the next time I watched my favourite ever movie and quite possibly the biggest nerdiest thing about me is Jurassic Park, after that I knew I wanted one and no other car would compare…

 

Fast forward to 2023 and I finally got my dream car in early July after searching for a painful number of years going through many (difficult) sellers.

 

I ended up getting a ‘94 YJ Limited/Sahara (I’m not entirely sure which edition tbh, Gov says Limited, insurance says Sahara) which I admit isn’t entirely original but it’s a Monster! Hopefully I can give the car some more original touches whilst also making it more applied for today’s convenience.

 

My first car was a ‘03 Smart Brabus and yeh, If you’re asking: “Going from a Smart then going straight to a YJ is a BIG step up” (Quite literally lmao). You’d be right xD

 

People have always told me that I was older than my actual age applies which is true I won’t lie. I’ve always been fascinated with the past (Especially the 80’s) so if you showed me an old VHS Tape or a Cassette I’d probably go crazy with excitement haha.

I’m a big movie buff and as I said before Jurassic Park is my big go to so if anyone wants to chat about it I’m your guy xD

Also a hardcore Gamer, nothing better to do imo than chilling at home away from the Rat-race by playing Xbox, drinking Monster and enjoy looking out the window at my new Wrangler.

I am also willing to learn how to fix the YJ myself as a future hobby so that will be something I hope to get informed and perhaps get help on here with when the problems arise.

 

Anyway, that’s all I can think of for now, thanks again for having me and I look forward to what this Club offers :]

JP

 

Edited October 3 by JDP

[UKTJ]

Welcome on board, not many YJ owners, so nice to see a new one join!

[MGomes]

Welcome! Hopefully we will see you (and your beautiful car) in one of our events!

[digger]

Welcome aboard!   Brilliant to have another member with a YJ, the Original Wrangler. 

I love my YJ which I've owned for 7 years and rebuilt much of her after being in a barn for 7/8 years. I hope you have as much fun with yours as I have with mine. They are gr8 cars which are very rare now (I believe less than 60 on the road now in UK).  Just ask for info or help on here.

 

ps One of my latest additions is a brand new in box, sadly not Jeep but make/ period correct tape player to replace the modern  one fitted!

[JDP]

10 minutes ago, digger said:

Welcome aboard!   Brilliant to have another member with a YJ, the Original Wrangler. 

I love my YJ which I've owned for 7 years and rebuilt much of her after being in a barn for 7/8 years. I hope you have as much fun with yours as I have with mine. They are gr8 cars which are very rare now (I believe less than 60 on the road now in UK).  Just ask for info or help on here.

 

ps One of my latest additions is a brand new in box, sadly not Jeep but make/ period correct tape player to replace the modern  one fitted!

Wow, I didn’t know there were so little YJ’s on the road in the UK. I know they are unpopular and seen to be the black sheep among the Jeep community but I love them.

 

Yours looks great too!

 

I would LOVE a Tape-Deck in my YJ, I’m also thinking of having a CB installed too haha. Small touches make all the difference. :]

 

Thanks for the warm welcome!

[Cameron]

Welcome to the group and I love your buggy!!!

[V]

6 hours ago, JDP said:

quite possibly the biggest nerdiest thing about me is Jurassic Park

You are not alone there. I have always been a dinosaur enthusiast. I saw the movie in it's opening week and I was astounded as to how close the movie portrayal was to how I had imagined them to be when I first saw dinosaur skeletons in a museum.

 

I was fortunate to be in California in 1994 and took time to go to Universal Studios theme park where they had temporarily converted a sound stage into a special one month long Jurassic Park exhibition. They had almost all of the original movie props there on display and guides giving various talks on how the movie was made with the props. They had the Triceratops and Dilophosaurus as static displays but some of the dinosaurs were moving and you could see the mechanisms inside them. My highlight of the visit was being asked to control the finger operated controls of the baby Velociraptor emerging from the egg shell. They had a live camera set up with a display so that others in the room could see how the scene would appear for each take. It was quite hard to get a realistic movement from the puppet. I could have easily spent all day there. Outside the sound stage in one of the nearby lots were a couple of JP YJs looking a bit sad covered in dust. They weren't in the exhibition. I spotted them while on the tour-train-bus thingy.

 

A year later I was working at an engineering company and I had a Silicon Graphics Indy or Indigo2 on my desk. The company had a lot of SGi models including a few Crimsons that Nedry used. I remember a demo program being installed of the graphical file manager featured in the door lock scene. The closest I got to owning my own SGi computer was the Nintendo64 that I bought for my kids.

 

This year Helen and I almost completed Lego Jurassic Park on PlayStation 3. We got to 99% but the unfinished challenges were just too difficult and frustrating to complete after the 100th or so attempt. She's playing Lego Lord of the Rings now with her mum who is in her mid 70's now.

Edited October 3 by V

[UKTJ]

@V and @JDP, surely one of you must be interested in this YJ currently on Aurotrader...

 

 

 

[UKTJ]

5 hours ago, digger said:

Welcome aboard!   Brilliant to have another member with a YJ, the Original Wrangler. 

I love my YJ which I've owned for 7 years and rebuilt much of her after being in a barn for 7/8 years. I hope you have as much fun with yours as I have with mine. They are gr8 cars which are very rare now (I believe less than 60 on the road now in UK).  Just ask for info or help on here.

 

ps One of my latest additions is a brand new in box, sadly not Jeep but make/ period correct tape player to replace the modern  one fitted!

I think there are a few more than 60, but still pretty rare.  This is a useful site, just drop in a reg number and it will tell you how many of that model from that year are still on the road.  I believe the YJ ran from '86 to '96.  I grabbed a few reg numbers from cars for sale on Autotrader and Ebay and came up with the numbers for '91 (1), '94 (88), '95 (64) and '96 (33).  So maybe a couple of hundred if you can fill in the missing years?

[V]

If I had that YJ, I wouldn't be able to resist driving it around with an animal trailer containing an animatronic Velociraptor inside.

 

https://www.mydinosaurs.com/product/halloween-animatronics-life-size-robotic-velociraptor/

 

Edited October 3 by V

[digger]

Hi UKTJ, I don't know mate but I'm sticking with the information that used to be available (removed to save money I guess) from DVLA when I bought the car that clearly said  61 taxed and 46  SORN. I find it difficult to believe it has changed much. I've also seen other ''sites'' on the net with widely differing figures. They can't all be right!

The number suggested on ''How rare...'' must be incorrect. I can't remember exactly but DVLA quoted a figure similar to 6000 odd as being the total sold in the UK! The colours numbers are incorrect because I have seen 2 Fawn Saharas, a colour not even mentioned plus how can the average age be 12years! I also know that since I have owned my YJ over the last 7 years , I have seen on the road only 7 including the ones in our club. I viewed 11 when I bought mine and i travelled hundreds of miles to see them.  Five  of them were so rotten and in shameful condition that I  believe it is unlikely that they would have remained on the road! I know that at least one of the 11 was scrapped.

 

Come on JDP, none of this 'black sheep'  stuff. My research suggests that it's all about a few 'enthusiasts' who didn't like the square lights when the YJ was first launched. Amazing that they should ignore a super Jeep which was the first 'Wrangler' yet never commented about the XJ, another super jeep with square lights! 

Yours looks gr8 too, can't wait to see it! Can you make Aldermarston?

Edited October 3 by digger

[TimC]

Also YJ owner

Also gamer

Welcome to the club, nice Wrangler

[UKTJ]

10 minutes ago, digger said:

Hi UKTJ, I don't know mate but I'm sticking with the information that used to be available (removed to save money I guess) from DVLA when I bought the car that clearly said  61 taxed and 46  SORN. I find it difficult to believe it has changed much.

The number suggested on ''How rare...'' must be incorrect. I can't remember exactly but DVLA quoted a figure similar to that as being the total sold in the UK!  I also know that since I have owned my YJ over the last 7 years , I have seen on the road only 7 including the ones in our club. I viewed 11 when I bought mine 5 of which were so rotten and in shameful condition that I  believe it is unlikely that they would have remained on the road! I know that at least one of the 11 was scrapped.

Come on JDP, none of this 'black sheep'  stuff. My research suggests that it's all about a few 'enthusiasts' who didn't like the square lights when the YJ was first launched. Amazing that they should ignore a super Jeep which was the first 'Wrangler' yet never commented about the XJ, another super jeep with square lights!

Hard to check a number that is no longer made available   If there are only 60ish YJs on the road and you have seen more than 10% of them that is remarkable!  Apparently, of the 89 2002 Grizzly edition Wranglers sold there are 66 left on the road and I have never seen another one in the flesh - maybe I am just not observant enough

[digger]

I think you have hit the nail!  I don't think its remarkable at all!     I think its a reflection of how few there are!

  I, for 7 years, have deliberately looked for YJs. Take out the JOC ones, four, and I have only seen 3 apart from the ones I went to see at the beginning.

 

[JDP]

4 hours ago, TimC said:

Also YJ owner

Also gamer

Welcome to the club, nice Wrangler

Ahh a Gears fan, looks great!

[JDP]

4 hours ago, digger said:

Hi UKTJ, I don't know mate but I'm sticking with the information that used to be available (removed to save money I guess) from DVLA when I bought the car that clearly said  61 taxed and 46  SORN. I find it difficult to believe it has changed much. I've also seen other ''sites'' on the net with widely differing figures. They can't all be right!

The number suggested on ''How rare...'' must be incorrect. I can't remember exactly but DVLA quoted a figure similar to 6000 odd as being the total sold in the UK! The colours numbers are incorrect because I have seen 2 Fawn Saharas, a colour not even mentioned plus how can the average age be 12years! I also know that since I have owned my YJ over the last 7 years , I have seen on the road only 7 including the ones in our club. I viewed 11 when I bought mine and i travelled hundreds of miles to see them.  Five  of them were so rotten and in shameful condition that I  believe it is unlikely that they would have remained on the road! I know that at least one of the 11 was scrapped.

 

Come on JDP, none of this 'black sheep'  stuff. My research suggests that it's all about a few 'enthusiasts' who didn't like the square lights when the YJ was first launched. Amazing that they should ignore a super Jeep which was the first 'Wrangler' yet never commented about the XJ, another super jeep with square lights! 

Yours looks gr8 too, can't wait to see it! Can you make Aldermarston?

That is very true, numerous Jeeps have had squares but seems to me the YJ gets all the hate which is unbelievable. What matters is that we love them! B]
I wouldn’t have anything else in the world.

People kept telling me “Go for a TJ” but they’re just not for me, the interiors aren’t interesting and they don’t have the same appeal at all compared to the YJs but that’s just my opinion, if people prefer XJs, CJs or TJs then that’s fine! We have our own preferences :]

 

Aldermarston? Idk what this means.

[UKTJ]

4 hours ago, digger said:

Come on JDP, none of this 'black sheep'  stuff. My research suggests that it's all about a few 'enthusiasts' who didn't like the square lights when the YJ was first launched. Amazing that they should ignore a super Jeep which was the first 'Wrangler' yet never commented about the XJ, another super jeep with square lights! 

Yours looks gr8 too, can't wait to see it! Can you make Aldermarston?

I agree with @digger, nothing wrong with a YJ.  Of course everyone will tell you why their Jeep is the best Jeep, but the JOC is a welcoming group and all Jeep owners are welcome, regardless of the model, the degree of originality vs modification, or any other factor.  Appreciate it may be a trek from Chesire, but it would be great to see you and your Jeep at an event in the near future.

 

You mentioned in one of your posts that your Jeep is older than you are - rare amongst JOC members!  Is it rude to ask your age?  My reason being I am curious about how easy it was to insure your Jeep as the conversations I have had about getting my daughter (age 20) insured on my TJ have been generally unhelpful.

[JDP]

1 minute ago, UKTJ said:

I agree with @digger, nothing wrong with a YJ.  Of course everyone will tell you why their Jeep is the best Jeep, but the JOC is a welcoming group and all Jeep owners are welcome, regardless of the model, the degree of originality vs modification, or any other factor.  Appreciate it may be a trek from Chesire, but it would be great to see you and your Jeep at an event in the near future.

 

You mentioned in one of your posts that your Jeep is older than you are - rare amongst JOC members!  Is it rude to ask your age?  My reason being I am curious about how easy it was to insure your Jeep as the conversations I have had about getting my daughter (age 20) insured on my TJ have been generally unhelpful.

I’m 25, the insurance isn’t THAT bad considering my age and that’s with No years no claims as I have 2 vehicles.

Next year I will probably transfer so will be considerably cheaper when it does.

[UKTJ]

12 minutes ago, JDP said:

That is very true, numerous Jeeps have had squares but seems to me the YJ gets all the hate which is unbelievable. What matters is that we love them! B]
I wouldn’t have anything else in the world.

People kept telling me “Go for a TJ” but they’re just not for me, the interiors aren’t interesting and they don’t have the same appeal at all compared to the YJs but that’s just my opinion, if people prefer XJs, CJs or TJs then that’s fine! We have our own preferences :]

 

Aldermarston? Idk what this means.

There are a few JOC offroading events coming up in the near future.   See here for details (one is at a site in Aldermaston).

[JDP]

3 minutes ago, UKTJ said:

There are a few JOC offroading events coming up in the near future.   See here for details (one is at a site in Aldermaston).

It would be great to do something sometime but unfortunately I work weekends so I rarely get the time anymore. =(

[jeepstertim]

Welcome.  I also ran/ run a smart and a Jeep.  This was my Bluewave coupe and JKU, now have a JTR and a Bluewave notch!

[AlexK]

On 03/10/2023 at 09:52, digger said:

They are gr8 cars which are very rare now (I believe less than 60 on the road now in UK).

 

For the stataholics out there - I can't break the sales figures down by model, but I can say that between 1993 (when CJI launched) and 1996, Jeep UK sold 1,339 Wranglers.

 

As for how many are left, as at the end of 2022, there were 303 pre-1997 Wranglers licensed for use on the roads, and 502 SORN. So 805 in total.

 

Of those, 523 are 4.0L, 282 are 2.5L.  52 are listed with a year of manufacture prior to 1993 so are probably imports.

 

Fun fact: all UK YJs were originally made as LHD. They were converted to RHD on arrival in Dover.

[UKTJ]

2 hours ago, AlexK said:

 

For the stataholics out there - I can't break the sales figures down by model, but I can say that between 1993 (when CJI launched) and 1996, Jeep UK sold 1,339 Wranglers.

 

As for how many are left, as at the end of 2022, there were 303 pre-1997 Wranglers licensed for use on the roads, and 502 SORN. So 805 in total.

 

Of those, 523 are 4.0L, 282 are 2.5L.  52 are listed with a year of manufacture prior to 1993 so are probably imports.

 

Fun fact: all UK YJs were originally made as LHD. They were converted to RHD on arrival in Dover.

Is that sourced from DVLA?

That would make sense in terms fof not being able to split models, as I do not believe DVLA records the manufacturer's model code, but instead the name (say Wrangler), engine (say 4.0l) and trim name (say Sahara).

Edited October 4 by UKTJ
Missing '

[AlexK]

The sales figures are from my days working with CJI back in the ‘90s/early ‘00s. The ‘how many are left’ stuff comes from DVLA data.

[digger]

Well ,I don't understand. I can't remember(memory flagging all the time) the exact detail of my search in DVLA  7 years ago. It was just a matter of interest to me. I seem to recall that one could look by specific years and that is how I broke out figures for the YJ. However , I wrote down the figure of 61 still on the road, 46 SORN at that time in my YJ 'history' records. It didn't occur to me that the DVLA would withdraw the facility.  At the end of the day , I'm not that bothered, the fact is they are very rare and increasing in value.  Every year , now and again, individuals approach me and try to buy my car. Some are just tyre kickers I think but others are serious.

I believe that lots of info on the net is inaccurate  misinformation  for various reasons be they in good faith or not.

 

Hi Alex, may I ask 'what is CJI? Where did you get the DVLA data?  It seems strange to me that the numbers should be increasing when so many I have examined are only fit for the scrapyard without major work(eg new frame). Many had bogus MOTs.  This work comes at enormous cost these days unless it is undertaken by enthusiasts like us. Sadly, there aren't that many of us capable of doing this  left!

UKTJs point about splitting models, may well be key in this discussion! It just doesn't make sense to me that your figures suggest a lot more on the road than I believed when we very rarely see one. As a comparison, I wonder how many modern 'Wranglers ' , there are on the road, say that were registered in the last decade? I see one a week (two so far this week!) on average I guess, as opposed to virtually nil per annum YJs. I must say ,whilst I do not record TJs seen , they are not a lot more in number, guess a dozen per annum  maybe.

 

Hi JDP, Insurance. Not many people realise that once a car is over 20 years old it can be insured as a 'classic' providing it only does a low mileage per annum usually up to 5k miles. This reduces the cost considerably and carries some extra benefits such as an agreed value etc. This may be worth investigating for anyone with an older Jeep. It works for me!

Edited October 5 by digger