Top 10 SUVs and 4x4s 1979 — Best Overall + Best Value

Direct Answer

The best 4x4 of 1979 was the Toyota Land Cruiser FJ40, our Best Overall pick, an indestructible iron-bodied off-roader carrying a base sticker around $8,400. It out-durabled every domestic rival and has since become one of the most coveted vintage trucks on the planet.

The smartest buy of the year — our Best Value — was the Jeep CJ-7, which delivered genuine trail capability and open-air character for a base $5,800, the cheapest serious 4x4 a 1979 shopper could drive home. Both nameplates have aged into blue-chip collector status, but in period these two anchored opposite ends of the sensible-money spectrum: the Toyota you kept forever, the Jeep you could actually afford.

This retrospective looks back at the trucks that defined the late malaise era, when emissions tuning had sapped horsepower but rugged solid-axle engineering was still standard. Many of these names — the FJ40, the full-size Ford Bronco, the Chevy K5 Blazer — were cheap, disposable work trucks in 1979 and are now six-figure auction stars.

How We Ranked the Top 10

We weighted each truck the way a 1979 buyer who also cared about the long game would have, then sanity-checked against today's collector reality:

• Off-road capability — 25%: Axle articulation, ground clearance, transfer-case design, and real trail reputation.
• Durability — 25%: Drivetrain toughness, frame and body longevity, and survivor rates four decades on.
• Value in period — 15%: What a 1979 buyer actually paid against what they got.
• Versatility — 15%: Work, family, tow, and recreation flexibility.
• Character — 10%: Charisma, styling, and the intangible cool factor.
• Collectibility now — 10%: How the model has appreciated as a classic.

Sources include period road tests from *Motor Trend* and *Four Wheeler*, Hagerty valuation tools and market reports, Bring a Trailer and Classic.com auction records, *automobile-catalog* factory specifications, and manufacturer model histories via Wikipedia. We used real 1979 base MSRP figures in period dollars and verified engine ratings against factory data.

1. Toyota Land Cruiser FJ40 🏆 BEST OVERALL

1979 MSRP: $8,400 | Best for: Buyers who wanted one truck to outlive them

The FJ40 was powered by Toyota's 4.2-liter 2F inline-six, rated near 135 horsepower but built like an anvil, paired with a part-time four-wheel-drive system and a granny-low transfer case. It was crude, loud, and slow, yet its leaf-sprung solid axles and overbuilt drivetrain made it nearly unkillable on the worst trails.

In 1979 it was an oddball import that cost more than a domestic rival of similar size, which kept sales modest. That scarcity, plus its bulletproof reputation, has sent values soaring — clean original-2F examples now routinely trade well over $60,000, and concours trucks far higher.

Pros:

• Legendary 2F drivetrain durability that shrugs off abuse
• Best-in-class solid-axle off-road reputation
• Simple, field-serviceable mechanicals
• Strongest collector appreciation of any 1979 4x4

Cons:

• Most expensive truck here in period and noisy on-road.

Verdict: The FJ40 asked you to pay more and suffer the ride, then rewarded you with a truck that simply would not quit — the definitive 1979 4x4 in hindsight.

2. Ford Bronco 🏆

1979 MSRP: $8,000 | Best for: The full-size off-roader who wanted V8 muscle and removable top fun

1979 was the final year of the second-generation full-size Bronco, and crucially the only era Ford offered it with a solid front axle plus a 351M two-barrel V8. That combination of big-truck capability, a removable rear hardtop, and clean square styling made it an icon almost immediately.

It was thirsty and tuned for emissions rather than power, but it hauled, towed, and crawled with confidence. Survivor and restored 1979 Broncos now command serious money — an unrestored example set a second-gen auction record near $67,725, and clean trucks regularly clear $50,000.

Pros:

• Solid front axle exclusive to the 1978-79 full-size run
• Strong V8 grunt and towing ability
• Removable top for open-air driving
• Blue-chip collector status today

Cons:

• Heavy fuel appetite and emissions-choked output.

Verdict: The most charismatic full-size 4x4 of 1979, and one of the smartest things a buyer could have parked and kept.

3. Chevrolet K5 Blazer 🏆

1979 MSRP: $7,200 | Best for: The all-rounder who wanted a removable-top family 4x4

The K5 Blazer paired a removable top with a roomy two-door body and Chevy's familiar 350 V8 making roughly 165 to 185 horsepower depending on carburetion. Its NP transfer case and live axles handled mud and snow without drama, while the wide cabin made it a credible family hauler.

In 1979 it was a sensible, ubiquitous choice — which is exactly why clean survivors are now scarce and hot. Hagerty has flagged the square-body K5 as one of the fastest-rising classic SUVs, with values ranging from the mid-teens for project trucks to well over $60,000 for restored examples.

Pros:

• Versatile removable-top, family-friendly layout
• Cheap, durable, easy-to-service 350 V8
• Huge parts availability then and now
• Rapidly appreciating square-body collectibility

Cons:

• Rust-prone bodies and floors.

Verdict: The do-everything 4x4 of 1979 and a modern collector darling — capability and charm at a fair price.

4. Jeep CJ-7 💎 BEST VALUE

1979 MSRP: $5,800 | Best for: The budget buyer who wanted pure trail fun

The CJ-7 was the cheapest serious 4x4 you could buy in 1979, yet it gave up almost nothing on the trail. With an optional 304 V8 rated near 119 to 125 horsepower (or the thrifty inline-six), a short wheelbase, and stellar approach and departure angles, it was a rock-crawling natural.

The slightly longer CJ-7 wheelbase over the CJ-5 also allowed the optional automatic and Quadra-Trac, broadening its appeal. Open-top, removable-door simplicity made it the everyman's off-roader. Values have climbed steadily, with clean V8 CJ-7s now trading in the high teens to thirties.

Pros:

• Lowest entry price of any real 1979 4x4
• Outstanding short-wheelbase trail geometry
• Open-air, removable-door character
• Simple, cheap to own and fix

Cons:

• Cramped and rough-riding on the highway.
• Notorious for body and frame rust.

Verdict: Maximum off-road grin per dollar in 1979 — the clear value champion and still the easiest classic 4x4 to live with on a budget.

5. Jeep Wagoneer (SJ) 🏆

1979 MSRP: $10,500 | Best for: The buyer who wanted luxury and four-wheel drive in one package

The Wagoneer was the most luxurious 4x4 in the world in 1979, pairing a standard 360 AMC V8 (with an optional 401) and the pioneering Quadra-Trac full-time four-wheel-drive system. The Limited trim piled on leather, power everything, and woodgrain trim — features unheard of on a truck-based vehicle at the time.

It rode like a premium wagon yet went genuinely off-road. Roughly 27,000 were built in 1979. The iconic woodgrain SJ has become a coveted classic, with restored Limiteds commanding strong five-figure money.

Pros:

• Genuine luxury appointments years ahead of rivals
• Innovative Quadra-Trac full-time 4WD
• Strong 360/401 AMC V8 power
• Timeless woodgrain styling that ages beautifully

Cons:

• Priciest truck here in period and notably thirsty.

Verdict: The original luxury 4x4 — it invented the premium-SUV idea decades early and remains deeply collectible.

6. International Harvester Scout II 🏆

1979 MSRP: $6,900 | Best for: The independent-minded buyer who wanted something different

The Scout II was IH's tough, square-shouldered alternative to the Detroit and import crowd, offered with V8 gas engines or the unusual Nissan-sourced SD33 3.2-liter diesel inline-six rated around 81 horsepower for 1979. Slow but stingy and stout, the diesel Scout earned a cult following, while the gas trucks delivered honest capability. 1979 was near the end of the line as International exited the light-truck business, which adds poignancy and rarity.

Survivors are prized, and clean Scout IIs have appreciated sharply among collectors who value the underdog.

Pros:

• Rare and characterful underdog appeal
• Unusual factory diesel option for great range
• Stout, honest off-road capability
• Strong cult-driven collector demand

Cons:

• Thin parts and service support even when new.

Verdict: The connoisseur's 1979 4x4 — less common than the Big Three, and all the more collectible for it.

7. Chevrolet Suburban 🏆

1979 MSRP: $8,700 | Best for: The big family or hauler who needed maximum space with 4WD

The K-series four-wheel-drive Suburban was the ultimate haul-everything truck of 1979, offering three rows, a long wheelbase, and a choice of the 350 V8 or the new-for-1979 454 big-block that replaced the old 402. Few vehicles could carry as many people and as much gear into the backcountry.

It was a workhorse first and a family wagon second, and it did both jobs without complaint. Clean square-body 4x4 Suburbans have followed the K5 Blazer's rise and now bring real collector money.

Pros:

• Unmatched passenger and cargo capacity
• Available 454 big-block muscle
• Genuine 4WD backcountry ability
• Riding the square-body collector wave

Cons:

• Big, thirsty, and ponderous to maneuver.

Verdict: The original full-size family-and-everything 4x4 — supremely practical in 1979 and increasingly desirable now.

8. Dodge Ramcharger 🏆

1979 MSRP: $7,300 | Best for: The Mopar loyalist who wanted a removable-top full-sizer

Chrysler's answer to the Bronco and Blazer, the Ramcharger offered a removable top and a choice of the 318 V8 (about 145 horsepower) or the stronger 360 four-barrel (around 175 horsepower) in four-wheel-drive AW100 form. For 1979 it gained a new front clip and galvanized roof to fight rust.

It was rugged and roomy, if less iconic than its rivals, and the hot Macho package added attitude. Ramchargers remain the value play in the full-size SUV collector world, with good examples still reasonably affordable.

Pros:

• Strong 360 V8 option with real torque
• Removable top like its key rivals
• Galvanized roof helped resist rust
• Still an affordable entry into collector 4x4s

Cons:

• Lower brand cachet than Ford or Chevy equivalents.

Verdict: The underrated Mopar full-sizer — plenty capable in 1979 and one of the last collector bargains in the segment.

9. GMC Jimmy 🏆

1979 MSRP: $7,200 | Best for: The buyer who wanted a K5 Blazer with a different badge

The Jimmy was GMC's near-twin of the K5 Blazer, sharing the removable top, live axles, and 350 V8 drivetrain rated around 165 to 185 horsepower. Functionally identical to the Chevy, it appealed to GMC-loyal buyers and dealers, and its slightly lower production volume makes surviving Jimmys marginally rarer today.

Everything that made the Blazer great applied here, including the strong collector trajectory. Values track close to the Blazer's, sometimes a touch under for equivalent condition.

Pros:

• All the K5 Blazer's capability and versatility
• Removable top and roomy two-door body
• Proven, serviceable 350 V8 drivetrain
• Rarer than the Chevy twin

Cons:

• Same rust vulnerability as the Blazer.

Verdict: A Blazer by another name — equally capable, slightly scarcer, and just as collectible.

10. Land Rover Series III 🏆

1979 MSRP: $9,500 | Best for: The overlander who valued go-anywhere ruggedness over speed

The Series III was Britain's spartan, aluminum-bodied workhorse, powered most often by the modest 2.25-liter four-cylinder that prioritized low-end grunt over horsepower. Its corrosion-resistant aluminum panels and simple ladder frame made it a global overlanding legend, even if U.S.

Availability was limited and it was painfully slow on pavement. It asked for patience and mechanical sympathy, then crossed terrain that stopped other trucks cold. As a classic, the Series III has appreciated strongly, with clean U.S.-market examples bringing well into the tens of thousands.

Pros:

• Corrosion-resistant aluminum bodywork
• Genuine global overlanding pedigree
• Utterly simple, field-repairable design
• Steady classic-market appreciation

Cons:

• Very slow and crude on-road.
• Thin U.S. Support and parts in period.

Verdict: The purist's overlander — not fast, not refined, but unstoppable and increasingly prized as a vintage 4x4.

Buyer Decision Tree — Which One Was Right for You?

What to Look For in a 1979 SUV / 4x4 (Then and as a Classic Now)

Buying one of these trucks then or now comes down to a few make-or-break checks:

• Rust: The biggest killer. Inspect rocker panels, floors, tailgates, and rear quarters on the K5 Blazer, Jimmy, Bronco, and CJ. The Land Rover's aluminum panels resist it, but its steel frame does not.
• Frame integrity: Probe the ladder frame and crossmembers for crumbling rot, especially on Jeeps and Land Rovers. A solid frame is worth more than perfect paint.
• Drivetrain health: Confirm the transfer case engages cleanly, axles do not whine, and the engine is the correct matching unit. Original 2F engines in FJ40s and matching-number V8s command big premiums.
• Originality: Numbers-matching, unmodified trucks now bring the strongest money. Verify the engine, transmission, and trim against factory data.
• Matters less than nostalgia implies: Outright horsepower. These were all emissions-choked and slow even when new, so chasing the highest period output figure means less than finding a rust-free, honest, mechanically sound survivor. Buy the body and frame, not the dyno sheet.

FAQ

Which 1979 4x4 has appreciated the most as a collector vehicle? The Toyota Land Cruiser FJ40 and the full-size Ford Bronco lead the pack, with clean originals routinely clearing $50,000 to $70,000-plus. The square-body Chevy K5 Blazer has risen fastest in recent years.

What was the cheapest serious 4x4 in 1979? The Jeep CJ-7, at a base around $5,800, was the most affordable genuine off-roader you could buy, which is why it is our Best Value pick.

Why is the 1979 Ford Bronco so special? 1978 and 1979 were the only years the full-size second-generation Bronco came with a solid front axle, paired with Cleveland-based V8s — a combination collectors prize.

Were these trucks fast? No. Emissions tuning had cut output dramatically by 1979. Even V8 models like the 351M Bronco or 350 Blazer were modest performers, prioritizing torque and durability over speed.

Is the International Scout II worth seeking out? Yes, for buyers who want something rarer than the Big Three. 1979 was near the end of IH light-truck production, and the unusual Nissan diesel option adds cult appeal, though parts support is thin.

Did any 1979 4x4 offer real luxury? The Jeep Wagoneer did. Its Limited trim brought leather, power accessories, and woodgrain that made it the most luxurious 4x4 in the world at the time.

Bottom Line

The 1979 4x4 field was a golden moment of solid-axle, body-on-frame ruggedness just before emissions and refinement reshaped the segment. The Toyota Land Cruiser FJ40 earns Best Overall for sheer durability and the strongest collector legacy, while the Jeep CJ-7 takes Best Value as the cheapest way into genuine off-road fun.

Around them sit a murderers' row of now-collectible icons — the full-size Bronco, the K5 Blazer, the woodgrain Wagoneer — that were cheap work trucks then and are auction stars today. Whatever you needed in 1979, there was a tough, honest 4x4 for the job, and the best news is that the smartest period buys turned out to be the best classics too.

Sources

• Hagerty Valuation Tools and market reports — FJ40, Bronco, K5 Blazer, Wagoneer, Scout II, Ramcharger (hagerty.com)
• Hagerty Media, "1979 Ford Bronco sells for $67,725, setting auction record for second-gen models" (hagerty.com)
• Hagerty Media, "The K5 Chevy Blazer is the new hot classic SUV" (hagerty.com)
• Automobile-catalog factory specifications — 1979 Jeep CJ-7 304 V8, Wagoneer 360/401, Dodge Ramcharger AW100 360 (automobile-catalog.com)
• Classic.com auction market data — FJ40, K5 Blazer, Jeep Wagoneer SJ (classic.com)
• Wikipedia, "Jeep SJ" and "Jeep Cherokee (SJ)" model histories (en.wikipedia.org)
• Diesel World, "Diesel History Retrospective: The Story of IH's Diesel-Powered Scout" — Nissan SD33 specs (dieselworldmag.com)
• Allpar, "Dodge Ramcharger, the 1974-1993 truck-based SUVs" (allpar.com)
• Land Cruiser of the Day, "Collector Grade 1979 Toyota Land Cruiser FJ40" (landcruiseroftheday.com)
• The Drive, "Coyote-Engined 1979 Ford Bronco Sells for $213,000" — second-gen collector context (thedrive.com)

*SUV review — 1979 SUV and 4x4 reviews, rating, best SUV 1979, and a retrospective review of the top vintage 4x4 picks for buyers and collectors.*