The 1977 Jeep Cherokee was the first of this model line to offer a four-door, as well as a two-door, version. As Jeep's Wagoneer got more and more suburban, the folks at AMC decided to take the Cherokee in a different direction; the '77 Cherokee was marketed as an outdoorsy, sporty, four-wheeling off-road utility vehicle.

With this as its inspiration, the 1977 Cherokee was pretty bare-bones in terms of interior comforts. The Cherokee Chief package offered some performance extras like power steering, as well as some plusher decor details. But many buyers liked the '77 Jeep Cherokee's no-frills ethos.

Another selling point was the Cherokee's torque and power. The 1977 Cherokee shipped with a 258 cubic inch, 4.2 liter AMC inline-6 engine. Drivers looking for more power could upgrade to a choice of two V-8 mills: either a 360 cubic inch, 5.9 liter or a 401 cubic inch, 6.6 liter plant clocked at 280 horsepower and 400 lb.-ft. of torque.