A 1978 Jeep Cherokee “Golden Eagle”

This is a largely original Jeep Cherokee “Golden Eagle,” interestingly this is the vehicle for which the term “Sport Utility Vehicle” was first used – appearing in a 1974 Jeep Cherokee (SJ) advertising brochure.

Exactly who came up with the term SUV is lost to history but it’s become an important part of the automotive lexicon, and the SUV genre has now all but made more traditional rear-wheel drive sedans extinct.

Fast Facts – The Jeep Cherokee Golden Eagle

• The Jeep Cherokee (SJ) was first introduced in 1974, it was based on the Jeep Wagoneer platform and targeted at younger 4×4 enthusiasts who had out grown the smaller and perhaps less practical CJ-series Jeeps.
• The Cherokee was initially offered with just two doors on a long wheelbase chassis, the design was more sporting than the four-door Wagoneer which is likely why it was described as a “Sport Utility Vehicle” in a brochure – the first ever use of the term.
• A number of different trim levels were offered including the S (Sport), Chief, Golden Eagle, Golden Hawk, and Laredo. Some, like the Golden Eagle and Golden Hawk were graphics packages, and others like the Laredo were upholstery packages.
• The 1978 Jeep Cherokee Golden Eagle you see here is powered by the popular 360 cubic inch (5.9 liter) V8 producing 195 bhp, power is sent to all four-wheels via an automatic transmission, and it has air conditioning, a luggage rack, and the Levis Edition interior with real Levi’s buttons in the seats.

The First Sports Utility Vehicle

The term SUV has been retroactively applied to a slew of vehicles, including the 1940 Humber Heavy Utility, a four-wheel drive off-road vehicle with a station wagon-like body, and the 1948 Ford Marmon-Herrington Super Deluxe 4×4.

This two-door body style helped to differentiate the Cherokee from the Wagoneer that used the same chassis and was largely similar from the A-pillar forwards.

As mentioned in the introduction, the term was first used in 1974 in a printed brochure for the then-new Jeep Cherokee (SJ). It was used to differentiate the sporting two-door Cherokee, which was targeted at a younger audience, from the somewhat more mature four-door Jeep Wagoneer.

The executives at Jeep had taken a look at their model lineup and realized they needed something between the Wagoneer at the top of the line and the CJ at the entry point.

The Cherokee slotted in neatly between them, offering more space and practicality than the CJ with less cost and more dynamism than the Wagoneer.

The gamble on this new concept paid off for Jeep. The model has been in production non-stop since 1974 over five generations, with millions sold and no sign of their popularity waning.

The Jeep Cherokee (SJ)

The Jeep Cherokee (SJ) was released in 1974 and it proved almost immediately popular. The sporting two-door styling combined with the space and seating to compete with a four-door made it eminently practical, and the rear seats could be removed for lugging cargo or turning into an impromptu camper.

There’s seating for five inside and when ordering the vehicle new you could opt for things like air-conditioning, power steering, and front power disc brakes.

The chassis, engines, gearboxes, and much of the body from the A-pillar forwards came from the pre-existing Wagoneer, which meant the Cherokee was a relatively inexpensive car for Jeep the develop and sell.

A number of different trim packages were offered for the first generation (SJ – Sport Jeep) Cherokee, they included the S (Sport), Chief, Golden Eagle, Golden Hawk, and Laredo. Some were graphics packages and some, like the Laredo, were more focussed on the interior.

SJ Cherokee: Engine & Transmission Options

A number of engines were offered including the 401 cubic inch V8, though this engine was only offered from 1974 until 1978. After that the 360 cubic inch V8 became the top of the line engine, followed by the 258 cubic inch inine-six and a much rarer Zeitgeist/Peugeot turbo diesel.

Buyers could opt for either a 4-speed manual or a 3-speed automatic, and the permanent four-wheel-drive QuadraTrac system was also an option. Other options included air-conditioning, power steering, and power front disc brakes.

The first generation Cherokee would remain in production from 1974 until 1983, when it was replaced with the XJ Cherokee.

This SJ is fitted with the 360 cubic inch V8, the top of the line engine choice for 1978 with just under 200 bhp.

The 1978 Jeep Cherokee Golden Eagle Shown Here

This is an original 1978 Jeep Cherokee with the Golden Eagle graphics package, this consists of a unique brown and gold exterior with “Golden Eagle” decals, gold steel wheels, and a large winged eagle on the hood.

During the 1970s Jeep offered a “Levis Edition” package which included an interior upholstered in a Levis-style pattern with real brass Levis buttons. This Cherokee has the Levis package, which will increase its attraction to collectors and enthusiasts.

This SJ also has the popular 360 cubic inch (5.9 liter) V8 producing 195 bhp, power is sent to all four-wheels via an automatic transmission, and it has air conditioning, a luggage rack, and chrome bumpers front and back.

It’s clear that this Cherokee needs a little TLC where and there, but it looks like it’ll make an excellent project for the right person. It’s due to roll across the auction block with Mecum in mid-May and at the time of writing there’s no price guide.

If you’d like to read more about it or register to bid you can click here to visit the listing.

Images courtesy of Mecum

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1974 Porsche 911 2.7 Flat Six Engine Coffee Table

This coffee table was made using an original Porsche 911 2.7 liter flat six engine from a 1974 car. The engine in question apparently suffered a catastrophic failure, which led to it being removed from the vehicle to make way for a replacement engine.

The engine-based coffee table is nothing new of course, it’s a popular conversion for old or unusable blocks – we’ve featured a fair few of them on Silodrome over the years as a result.

This particular flat six coffee table was built by an engineering student as a class project, with help and oversight by professional technicians. As a result it’s a cut above the sometimes questionable examples of engine-based coffee tables that pop up for sale.

A series of LED lights have been fitted to better illuminate the inside of the engine, and various colors can be chosen.

The 2.7 liter flat six that powered the G-series Porsche 911 that launched in 1974 quickly developed a reputation for grenading itself, frequently within 50,000 miles of use and sometimes within the first year of ownership.

The reasons for this are many, but in short its development was rushed and corners were cut. The engine was essentially a modified version of the earlier 2.4 liter engine, similar to the flat six used in the Carrera RS though it was detuned and tweaked for mass-production.

The primary problems were warping magnesium engine cases, head studs pulling out, and failing valve guides. The 3.0 liter engine with its aluminum crankcase that followed in the Porsche 911 SC was a considerable improvement, but signifiant harm had been done to Porsche’s global reputation.

The cylinders are well-sized for holding bottles of champagne, wine, whiskey or whatever your favorite tipple happens to be.

Many Porschehiles will tell you that the best place for a 2.7 liter flat six is under 70 tons of household waste in a local landfill, though using a blown example as a coffee table is far more creative.

This coffee table is currently being offered for sale in a live online auction with Collecting Cars in the United Kingdom, it’s currently in Cheshire, England and at the time of writing there are still a few days left to bid.

Images courtesy of Collecting Cars

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The Zagato Zele 1000: A Quirky Electric Car From The 1970s

The Zagato Zele 1000 was a car born decades before its time, it was released in 1974 as a compact electric car with a lightweight composite body, independent front and rear suspension, and a design penned by prestigious Italian design house Zagato.

Designed specifically for low-speed city transportation, the Zele 1000 had a top speed of 25 mph (40 km/h) and a range of 50 miles (80.5 kms). Recharging was as simple as plugging it into a wall outlet, and it could accommodate two people plus some cargo in the rear.

Fast Facts – The Zagato Zele 1000

• The Zagato Zele 1000 was first shown to the world at the 1972 Geneva Motor Show, it attracted some attention at the time but less than a year later when the 1973 Oil Crisis hit the interest in the 100% electric Zele increased significantly.
• With its compact, boxy design the Zele was designed to be the perfect city car. Two of them could be parked in a normal parking bay, they had a top speed of 25 mph (40 km/h) and a range of 50 miles (80.5 kms) – more than enough for typical urban use.
• The car entered production in 1974 and was sold until 1976 with 500 or so built, some of which were sold into the US market by distributor Elcar Corporation.
• Power is provided by a 1000 watt Marelli electric motor with electricity coming from a bank of four linked 12 volt lead acid car batteries. To recharge you would just plug it into a wall outlet in your garage overnight.

The Electric Car

Electric cars are nothing new of course, they first appeared back in the 1830s and for a time, around the turn of the 20th century, there was a three-way battle between gasoline, electric, and steam-powered automobiles for supremacy.

The interior of the Zele 1000 is spartan to keep weight (and cost) down. The driver sits on the left and operates a traditional steering wheel, two pedals, and a 3-speed semi-automatic shifter.

Gasoline-powered cars typically had the best range but were smelly, they had to be hand-cranked to start, and they could be unreliable. Steam-powered cars could be run on many fuel types, including easy to come by materials like coal and wood, but they were also temperamental and inconvenient to operate daily.

Electric cars could have won the battle if it wasn’t for the well-known limitations of battery storage. Electric motors are small, powerful, and they have excellent reliability. Starting is easy, they don’t need oil, coal, or gasoline, and they became the preferred automobile type for many women in the 1910s for these very reasons.

The battery problem held electric cars back, however thanks to technological developments in this field over the past few decades the electric car is staging a major comeback, a comeback it looks poised to win over the next 10 years or so.

The Zagato Zele 1000

There can be no denying that the Zagato Zele 1000 was a car ahead of its time, so prescient was it that it could almost be released today as a new electric city car and no one would bat an eye.

This is almost certainly the least expensive car ever designed by Zagato, the most expensive is almost certainly the Aston Martin DB4 GT Zagato, now worth $12.8 million USD.

The team at Zagato had been studying the future of the automobile and mobility, specifically the future of mobility in cities. They worked to design the perfect city automobile, with seating for two and space for some groceries or other shopping.

As an Italian company, Zagato looked around locally for a platform to use as the foundation for their new car, they settled on a combination of parts from the mass-produced and inexpensive Fiat 500 and the Fiat 124.

With a steel chassis, independent front and rear suspension, and brakes all in place a new body was designed to fit over the platform. It’s an upright fiberglass box with little consideration given to aerodynamics, as the planned top speed was under 30 mph.

Power from the 1000 watt Marelli electric motor is sent to the rear wheels via a 3-speed semi-automatic transmission, and electricity comes from a bank of four linked 12 volt lead acid car batteries stored in the floor. As mentioned above, the top speed is 25 mph (40 km/h) the range is 50 miles (80.5 kms) on a full charge.

The design is somewhat similar to the Smart Car that came decades later, inside there’s seating for two and some space behind the seats for groceries.

The Zagato Zele 1000 was released in 1974 and sold until 1976, approximately 500 would be sold over that time. Today the surviving examples are quite collectible, and we see them come up for auction once or twice a year, typically in Europe.

The 1976 Zagato Zele 1000 Shown Here

The Zele 1000 you see here is a 1976 model, the final year of production. It had its batteries and wiring replaced in 2020, upgrading them to modern standards.

The original charger is provided with the car, and it’s still riding on its original 10 inch steel wheels shod in Goodyear custom G8 tires.

It’s finished in light blue with a black center stripe, with a black vinyl-trimmed interior, and a black dashboard, with black carpeting throughout.

The odometer displays just 2,063 kms (1,282 miles), and it’s listed as being in very good overall condition.

This Zele is currently being auctioned live online on Collecting Cars, it’s currently based in Rome, Italy. At the time of writing there are still a few days left to bid and you can see the listing here.

Images courtesy of Collecting Cars

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Full Documentary: The 1958 Alpine Rally – “Coupe des Alpes”

In the 1950s and 1960s the Alpine Rally, officially known as the Coupe des Alpes, was one of the most prestigious rally events on the global calendar, on par with the likes of the Monte Carlo Rally.

This film covers the 1958 running of the event, a brutal multi-day race that stretched from Italy though Switzerland and into France on public roads that were open to the general public – forcing competitors to dodge trucks and other moving obstacles while racing.

As the name of the event suggests, it took place almost entirely in the Alps winding around the famously treacherous passes though the European mountain range. The 1958 Alpine Rally made its way through 70 named passes on its route, with the highest reaching up to over 8,500 feet.

Of the 55 entries just 25 would see the checkered flag at the finish line, the brutal nature of the Alpine Rally made it a major victory for anyone able to claim the trophy.

The famous Stelvio Pass with its countless switchbacks makes a notable appearance in the film, with driver Paddy Hopkirk doing his best to keep his Triumph TR3 on the asphalt with a blown rear tire –stopping to change it during a timed section would have resulted in a fail.

Lengthy sections of various mountain passes have no safety railings at all, some roads have drop offs that lead down steep mountainsides thousands of feet down to the valley floor below – essentially a certain death sentence for any driver who goes over the edge.

Of the 55 two-person teams who entered the 1958 Alpine Rally just 25 completed the event, perhaps a good indication of just how grueling it really was.

The 1958 Alpine Rally began at the Monza circuit in Italy, including a few laps, before the cars headed off on open public roads up into the Alps to cross 70 mountains passes up to 8,500 feet in altitude.

This film was produced in-house by The Standard Motor Company, they were the owners of the Triumph Automobile brand at the time, and just a year after this film was released in 1959 they would officially change their name to Standard-Triumph International.

Despite the fact this film was made by a company fielding their own cars in the rally it does a good job of capturing the action and showing the other drivers and their cars in action.

The entry list was a veritable smorgasbord of 1950s sports cars including the Triumph TR3, Austin-Healey 100/4, Alfa Romeo Giulietta SZ, Sunbeam Rapier, Austin-Healey Sprite, Porsche 356, Ferrari 250 GT, and a slew of others.

If you would like to read more about the history of the Coupe des Alpes you can click here to visit the informative Wikipedia page on the subject.

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For Sale: The California Highway Patrol Chevrolet Camaro From “The Junkman”

The Junkman is an action film that was released in 1982 by H. B. Halicki, it was the second part of his trilogy that started with the original Gone in 60 Seconds and was then followed by Deadline Auto Theft.

While filming The Junkman over 150 cars, trucks, motorcycles, and planes were wrecked, today the movie still holds the Guinness World Record for the most vehicles destroyed in a single film.

Fast Facts – The Camaro From The Junkman

• This 1979 Chevrolet Camaro was one of over 200 cars used while filming “The Junkman,” however most of the vehicles didn’t make it to the end of the film, with over 150 being wrecked in total.
• Many of the sheriff deputies and police officers that appeared in the film weren’t professional actors, they were real law enforcement personnel that had been hired, mostly from San Luis Obispo County, Paso Robles, and Atascadero.
• After the film was released, this 1979 Chevrolet Camaro was acquired by the California Highway Patrol Museum where it would remain on display for decades, only recently passing into private hands for the first time.
• This car is fitted with the 305 cubic inch V8 paired with a 3-speed automatic transmission, it has 15″ wheels, bucket seats, sirens, spotlights, period-style communication equipment, and California Highway Patrol livery.

H. B. Halicki And “Gone In 60 Seconds”

Henry Blight “Toby” Halicki, better known as H. B. Halicki, was an American director, writer, stunt driver, actor, and filmmaker of Polish ancestry who started out working on vehicles as mechanic before starting his own impound and towing business in California.

Above Video: This is the original trailer for The Junkman, the full film is also available to watch on YouTube.

In 1974 Halicki wrote, directed, produced, and starred in the film Gone in 60 Seconds, it became a cult classic that was loved for its unusual style and its extensive chase scenes.

During filming he would end up with 10 compacted vertebrae after performing the film’s 128 foot long (39 meter) jump finale, it left him with a limp for the rest of his life.

Halicki’s next film would be The Junkman in 1982, he wrote, directed, produced, and starred in the film, it took place in the same cinematic universe as Gone in 60 Seconds, and the earlier film was referenced in the plot.

A year later in 1983 Halicki released the third film in the trilogy, Deadline Auto Theft, which he also starred in, wrote, produced, and directed.

Tragically, Halicki was killed in a stunt while filming Gone in 60 Seconds 2 in 1989. He was preparing for the film’s main stunt sequence in which a 160 foot tall (49 meter) water tower was going to collapse, however a stabilizing cable attached to the water tower snapped unexpectedly, sheering off a telephone pole that fell and killed Halicki instantly.

This is the original Japanese movie poster for The Junkman, it highlights the 1974 Bricklin SV-1 and the Goodyear blimp, which both appear prominently in the film.

The 2000 “Gone In 60 Seconds” Remake

Six year later in 1995 Halicki’s widow, Denice Halicki, began working with Jerry Bruckheimer and the team Touchstone Pictures to produce a remake of Gone In 60 Seconds.

The film was released in the year 2000, it starred Nicolas Cage, Angelina Jolie, Giovanni Ribisi, Robert Duvall, and Vinnie Jones – it would go on to make almost a quarter of a billion dollars at the global box office.

Years after his death, Denice Halicki began dating Robert Kardashian, best known for representing O. J. Simpson and for being the father of Kourtney, Kim, Khloé, and Rob Kardashian.

The CHP Chevrolet Camaro Shown Here

The 1979 Chevrolet Camaro was one of over 200 cars that were used while filming The Junkman, the vast majority wouldn’t survive, with over 150 being wrecked before filming wrapped.

This 1979 Chevrolet Camaro was given period-correct California Highway Patrol livery, as well as a front nudge bar, lights, sirens, and a radio aerial.

Once the production of the film was completed, this car found its way into the California Highway Patrol Museum where it would remain on display for decades.

The car was modified for filming with a new white and back paint scheme to replicate CHP livery, “Highway Patrol” emblems were added to each door and it was also added in script form along the rear spoiler. Red and white A-pillar mounted spotlights were fitted, as well as a front nudge bar, and a large radio aerial.

Given this car’s history as a member of the Gone In 60 Seconds cinematic universe it’s likely to attract a fair amount of attention now that it’s being offered for sale on Bring A Trailer out of Emeryville, California.

If you’d like to read more about it or register to bid you can click here to visit the listing.

Images courtesy of Bring A Trailer.

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