The Birth of the Fast Family Hauler: The Jeep 5.9

After quickly becoming one of America's best-selling SUVs, the original Jeep Grand Cherokee competed with the likes of the Ford Explorer, Chevy Blazer, and Toyota 4Runner. In a risk to attract a new type of buyer to the brand, Jeep rolled out the first ultra-capable, high-performance SUV. Join me in turning back the clock with facts and a story you didn't ask for, but I tell you anyway.

Special thanks for those that have supported the research and development of the video, you know who you are! And of course, 'THE SQUIDD' for inspiration.

Written, narrated, and edited by: Julian Higgins

Music:
Dramatic Intro Music - VFXZach
Real Gone- Sheryl Crow
1AM On my way!- Ballpoint
Fahrenheit- Neon Nox
Ascension- Scott Buckley
Inspiring Cinematic Background Music- Michael Nik Music

[carlocarletti]

have 5.9 from 1998, buy it new when i was 18, in Rome, Italy. still in my garage

[patrickmichael]

The 5.9 limited made SUVs never the same again.

[GaiusPrimusMatius]

Love this car....my dad bought a new one in 1994 Laredo 4 L and was a beauty ....was realy something in the eyes of other people....greets from Portorose Slovenia ❤❤❤❤

[swatscorner]

Love it!! Great video. The ZJ is super nice looking. Had no idea of the design history, though I guessed it was based on the XJ

[WAEMIDIV]

I know Synthwave when I hear it! Neon Nox is incredible. So was the video. I guess I gotta get a ZJ now

[jeepstertj]

don't forget with the edition of the magnum engines you now have mopar performance behind you and can make that 360 into a 408 stroker putting down over 400hp

[cecilmcgee]

I had that that exact 5.9 limited in silver.
I looked forever for it.
It was really great until it decided to blow one of the cylinders and cost Chrysler $7, 000.
Not to mention basically replacing all of the infinity gold speaker's.
And trapping me outside the middle of the night in lake Tahoe because it couldn't get off of a snow embankment where I had to have a sheriff come and pull us out or we would have died.

And also its flipped the front left rotor which prompted me to get rid of it

But beyond that it was really bad ass and I loved every minute

[sonthaidds]

Of all the Niner videos on YouTube, yours is the best. Liked and subscribed.

[cadeleith]

I have a five nine. This video captures my thoughts. Simple time then and these made big power then. I remember racing one in a built fox body and it was stock in ‘98. I won but it was less than a door handles worth. Those days are so far gone now….sad

[jorgerodrigogomezflores]

Dad had a 5.2 Grand Cherokee back in the day, and it was gorgeous, but the fuel consumption was just too much, far more than his 80-Series Land Cruiser, a much larger vehicle, when the 5.9L came out it was great looking and interesting, but he never even wanted to test drive it thinking on the fuel bill.

[GreenHawkDrive]

Hey man just came across your channel. Keep it up, looking forward to future content!

[WyattWillis]

The effort put forth into this is incredible 👏 helluva job brother seriously you kick ass

[ramcharger]

Ram chargers are giant Jeeps on steroids I love them to death

[stevemino]

The 5.9 litre chrysler magnum is just a LA 360 cubic inch small block 245 hp and 330 lb torque from the factory the 360 came out in 1972 as a replacement for the 340 small block

[ramcharger]

I have a 5.2 and the 5.9 work for Chrysler for many years believe it or not you can actually put more power into the 5.2 and it's more reliable especially after all the work I did to mine with the 508 cam amazing

[Jimmy-wliw]

Owned two, loved them driving a Navigator now

[saddrums]

The interior was a huge upgrade in the 5.9, it was calf grain leather! My father and I both had zjs, mine was a 97 limited 5.2 and my dad has the 5.9, and the difference in the leather is night and day

[bledwhite]

I love my ZJ so much! I have a lifted 4.0 Laredo; runs like a dream

[starwolf]

Cool video!
We had a silver 5.9 that we bought new and drove for 17 years.

[xsyphen]

I found a loop hole within a race between the Mitsubishi pajero Evo and the jeep grand cherokee 5.9 limited. The pajero had a 7.4 second 0-60 and a top speed of 130mph. But test show it actuality had a 0-60 of 6.4 seconds and a top speed of 138 mph. This was due to the gentlemans agreement. But compared to jeep manufacturers saying the jeep had a 0-60 of 6.8 seconds and a top speed of 124 mph.