The Jeep Wagoneer Limited 360 sits at a pivotal moment in SUV history, when American Motors Corporation turned a rugged family hauler into a fully fledged luxury truck. Understanding when this specific combination of Limited trim and 360 V8 appeared, and how long it lasted, is essential for anyone trying to judge rarity, collectability, and today’s market values. I want to trace that production window clearly, then connect it to the prices buyers are paying now for well kept examples.

Because the Wagoneer nameplate evolved into the Jeep Grand Wagoneer and helped define the modern luxury SUV, the Limited 360 has become a reference point for collectors who want the earlier, more understated version of that formula. By lining up production years, engine details, and current valuation data, I can show how this model moved from showroom experiment to sought after classic, and what that means if you are shopping for one today.

How the Wagoneer Limited 360 fit into Jeep’s luxury evolution

By the late 1970s, Jeep was already pushing the Wagoneer toward the luxury end of the market, and the Limited trim was the clearest expression of that shift. The model sat on the long running SJ platform, but the Limited package layered on upscale interiors, more comfort equipment, and a more premium image than the earlier utilitarian versions. A detailed year by year breakdown of Wagoneer production lists a “1978 Limited, Standard (Produced: 28,871)” entry, which shows that by the late 1970s the Limited name was firmly in use and produced in meaningful volume alongside more basic configurations.

That same historical arc is echoed in coverage of the later Jeep Grand Wagoneer, which notes that the SJ Series Wagoneer eventually evolved into a full luxury SUV and that Jeep’s 1984 to 1991 Grand Wagoneer “defined the luxury SUV.” When I look back from that endpoint, the Wagoneer Limited 360 reads as a bridge between the earlier, more work focused SJ and the later wood paneled Grand Wagoneer that became a status symbol. The Limited trim, paired with a V8, gave Jeep a chance to test how much comfort and power buyers wanted in a four wheel drive Station Wagon before the Grand Wagoneer name took over.

Pinpointing the production years of the Wagoneer Limited 360

To understand when Jeep produced the Wagoneer Limited 360, I start with the clearest model range data available. A dedicated market overview for the Jeep Wagoneer Limited on the SJ platform lists the “Jeep Wagoneer Limited – SJ (1979 to 1983)” as a distinct run, which frames the Limited era on that chassis between those two model years. That range aligns with the broader shift toward luxury that culminated in the Grand Wagoneer, and it gives a tight window in which the Limited trim, including 360 powered versions, would have been offered as the top specification of the standard Wagoneer line.

Within that 1979 to 1983 span, the 360 cubic inch V8 was a core part of Jeep’s engine strategy. The AMC V8 engine family, produced by American Motors Corporation, included a 360 variant that was widely used in Jeep vehicles, as documented in technical references that group the “360” among the key displacements built by AMC. When I combine that engine information with the SJ Limited production window, the result is a clear picture: the Wagoneer Limited 360, meaning the Limited trim fitted with the AMC 360 V8, belongs to the 1979 to 1983 SJ Limited era, with 360 powered examples representing the higher output end of that short run.

How the 360 V8 shaped the Limited’s character

The AMC 360 V8 did more than add displacement to the Wagoneer Limited, it changed how the vehicle felt and how it was marketed. American Motors Corporation developed the AMC V8 engine line over decades, and the “360” version became a workhorse in Jeep trucks and SUVs, providing the torque needed to move a heavy four wheel drive Station Wagon with confidence. In the Limited trim, that engine helped justify the premium positioning, since buyers were not only paying for nicer interiors and more equipment but also for stronger performance than the six cylinder alternatives could deliver, a point underscored by technical write ups that place the 360 at the center of Jeep’s V8 offerings from AMC.

Evidence from specific model valuations reinforces how central the 360 was to the Limited’s identity. A valuation entry for a “1980 Jeep Wagoneer Limited. 4dr Station Wagon 4×4. 8-cyl. 360cid/175hp 2bbl.” spells out the configuration in detail, tying the Limited trim directly to the 360 cubic inch V8 in a four door Station Wagon body. That same valuation table lists a benchmark figure of “$27,600* -4.2%” for that specification, which shows that the market tracks the 360 powered Limited as a distinct and valued configuration rather than just another Wagoneer variant.

From Wagoneer Limited to Jeep Grand Wagoneer

The Wagoneer Limited 360 did not exist in isolation, it was part of a broader transition that led directly to the Jeep Grand Wagoneer. Historical overviews of the Grand Wagoneer point out that “The Jeep Wagoneer was an” earlier model that laid the groundwork for the later flagship, and that the Jeep Grand Wagoneer carried forward the luxury formula that the Limited had helped establish. A detailed model table for the Jeep Grand Wagoneer reinforces that continuity by treating the Grand Wagoneer as a direct evolution of the Wagoneer line rather than a separate experiment, which is exactly how the Limited 360 reads in hindsight, as a stepping stone toward a fully branded luxury SUV.

Contemporary analysis of the Grand Wagoneer’s impact notes that Jeep’s 1984 to 1991 Grand Wagoneer “defined the luxury SUV,” and that when introduced, the SJ Series Wagoneer was also a technological and comfort leader for its time. One report, dated “Sep 20, 2020,” looks back on that history and highlights how the Grand Wagoneer’s long run, often summarized as “84 to 91 G,” cemented Jeep’s place in the luxury SUV segment. From my perspective, the Wagoneer Limited 360 is best understood as the last, most polished SJ era luxury Wagoneer before the Grand Wagoneer name took over that role in the market.

Current market values and what buyers are paying

Today, collectors and enthusiasts treat the Wagoneer Limited 360 as a niche but important piece of Jeep history, and the pricing data reflects that status. The SJ specific market overview for the Jeep Wagoneer Limited tracks auction and private sale results and answers a key question directly: “What is the top sale price of a Jeep Wagoneer Limited – SJ?” The answer, presented as the “highest recorded” figure for the model, shows that well preserved examples can command strong money compared with more basic Wagoneer trims, which is consistent with the Limited’s original positioning as a premium package within the SJ lineup.

More granular valuation tools give a snapshot of what a single model year Limited 360 is worth in today’s market. The 1980 Jeep Wagoneer Limited 4dr Station Wagon 4×4 with the 8-cyl. 360cid/175hp 2bbl engine is pegged at “$27,600* -4.2%,” a figure that not only quantifies current value but also shows a recent change in the market with the “4.2%” movement. The valuation chart associated with that entry plots prices across several points in the year, with markers like “01/25 04/25 07/25” and a vertical axis that runs from “$10k $20k $30k” up to a label at “Oct,” which suggests that the market for these trucks is actively tracked and can move within a relatively short period.

How rarity, trim, and condition influence prices

Within the broader SJ Wagoneer family, the Limited 360 occupies a relatively narrow slice of production, and that scarcity helps explain why prices have firmed up. The year by year breakdown that lists the “1978 Limited, Standard (Produced: 28,871)” shows that even before the 1979 to 1983 SJ Limited window, Jeep was already segmenting the lineup into Limited and Standard trims. Once the Limited became the top specification and was paired with the 360 V8, the number of vehicles that match the exact “Wagoneer Limited 360” description shrank compared with the total SJ output, which is why collectors now pay closer attention to build sheets and engine codes when assessing a truck’s value.

Condition and originality then layer on top of that rarity. The market overview that answers “What is the top sale price of a Jeep Wagoneer Limited – SJ?” makes clear that the highest recorded sales involve well preserved, correctly optioned examples, often with the 360 V8 and intact luxury interiors. At the same time, the 1980 Jeep Wagoneer Limited valuation at “$27,600* -4.2%” shows that even average condition trucks with the right specification can sit in the high five figure range. For buyers, that combination of a short 1979 to 1983 production window, the desirable AMC 360 engine, and the Limited trim’s upscale equipment explains why the Wagoneer Limited 360 has moved from used truck to recognized classic, with prices to match.