The Jeep JJ Project: the 1990 Entry-Level Jeep That Never Saw Production

by Bob Sheaves (former Jeep-Truck engineer)

JJ was to be a "softroader" (I hate that term) in the sense that it was a very softly sprung vehicle, but actually performed as well as the then current Grand Cherokee. It was, on the other hand, to cost on the order of one quarter to one third less than the Grand Cherokee.

Money was saved by using a conventional transfer case (the 2.2 Chrysler engine and 5 speed transaxle was lifted directly from the Plymouth Horizon and Dodge Omni), a fabricated frame ("toy-tabbed" for assembly - a trick that was proven out on the HMMWV body assembly), and minimal option availability (as I remember, A/C was not even an option). [It was designed to be 13 separate modules, assembled by suppliers, and practically 'snapped' together at the assembly line.]

The powertrain was lifted directly from the Chrysler parts bin and the whole mess was turned north-south (from east west). It worked out quite well, for what it was. No separate transfer case, a short, lightweight powertrain....for a Suzuki Samuri-type vehicle, it could beat the pants off anything in its class.

This was planned to go into production as a lower cost, but still highly mobile vehicle for the third world countries and marketed in the North American region as a "beginner's Jeep."

At the time, it was determined that the vehicle was too advanced and that there would not be sufficent market to justify the cost for setting up a totally new plant, considering the Grand Cherokee was to debut at the same time. Marketing determined that the money was better spent on the BR (Dodge Ram) and second-generation Grand Cherokee programs.

Ultimately, it was killed as it could not make it over the Rubicon unassisted and wasn't considered a true Jeep by the majority. Evan Boberg and I disagree on this point, as I feel it was a true Jeep, same as the original MBs were. A stock MB a friend of mine had was unable to cross the Rubicon trail without assistance.

Evan wrote: “When these prototypes were put to the test on the Rubicon, they did make it to the end, to the glee of Francois Castaing (VP of Engineering, the JJ was his idea). However it required much assistance with the help of a tow strap. Fortunately the project didn’t go much further.”

A total of 60 some vehicles were built as preproduction prototypes and all met the durability standards for the regular Jeep line, surprisingly enough (especially when you realize that, with the exception of the engine and transmission, literally everything else was new).

Bob Sheaves and Evan Boberg both worked on the JJ and Grand Cherokee. Photo supplied by Mark Dayman. This was one of the second generation (production intent) mules, even to the paint job. John Kent was the executive engineer.

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