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Jeep Grand Cherokee ZJ · UK press photography, 1997 · P123 YTH
What Was the Grand Cherokee?
When Chrysler launched the Grand Cherokee in Britain in January 1996, they did so with a straightforward claim: here was a genuine American 4x4, built in right-hand drive, sold through franchised dealers, equipped to a standard that made the Range Rover look expensive for what it offered.
The Grand Cherokee ZJ had been on sale in the United States since 1992. The 4.0-litre AMC inline-six engine was already a known quantity with hundreds of thousands of owner-miles behind it. The interior was genuinely well appointed. The four-wheel-drive system was driver-selectable and capable. At £28,995, the Limited undercut a comparably specified Range Rover while outspeccing it on almost every measurable point.
What made the UK launch distinctive was that this was a real American car, not a renamed version of something built in Europe or fitted with a different engine for export. The Grand Cherokee sold in Britain was the same vehicle sold in the United States, converted to right-hand drive at Chrysler's plant in Graz, Austria, and meeting full UK and European specification. Heated leather seats, automatic climate control, cruise control and ABS all came as standard on the Limited.
Three years of strong UK sales followed. Then the WJ successor arrived in 1999, the ZJ went out of production, and without a current model to sustain dealer interest, the cars began their slow decline. Scrappage, corrosion, economics and the passage of time have taken the majority.
About This Site
This site exists to bring together everything useful about the ZJ Grand Cherokee as sold in the UK. The aim is to build a resource worth referring to, working with other owners and Jeep fans to make it as accurate and complete as possible.
Suggestions, corrections and contributions are welcome.
Start ReadingWhere Are They Now?
Most UK ZJs are gone. By filtering DVLA data to manufacture years 1999 and earlier across all tracked Grand Cherokee entries, we estimate around 247 ZJs are currently licensed on UK roads, with a further 1,404 registered but off the road.
Based on manufacture year filtering of DVLA data. The confirmed floor is 101.
Registered but off the road. In garages, awaiting restoration, or awaiting a decision.
The highest number of ZJs ever licensed in the UK at a single point in time.
Contents
How the ZJ was developed, how it came to Britain, and what happened to it.
Laredo, Limited and Orvis. UK specifications, original prices and survivor data by trim.
The 4.0-litre I6, the VM turbodiesel, the V8 question, and everything underneath.
Full DVLA survival data with interactive charts and tables. Updated daily from howmanyleft.co.uk.
Current UK values, original prices, VIN tools, and a detailed inspection checklist.
Availability by category, with UK and US supplier details.
Forums, manuals, wiring diagrams and the people who know these cars.
UK press photography from the 1996 and 1997 model years.