Lucas Bell 
For three decades, the Jeep Wagoneer stood atop the company’s lineup as a truly luxurious offering. Complete with great styling and a well-appointed interior, the Wagoneer was almost the perfect family hauler of its day. However, the trucks came from the factory severely lacking in the horsepower department. Thanks to Mecum Auctions, you now have a chance to buy this 1989 model which carries a supercharged 6.2L Hellcat V8 under the hood.
This 1989 Jeep Wagoneer, which is known as the Hellwagon, is being offered up during Mecum’s Kissimmee Summer Special from August 27-29. We’re pretty sure this Wagoneer is the same truck that Dennis Collins of Black Mountain Jeep built last year, as it features the same rare color combination of factory Bright Red paint over a Light Tan leather. A quick peek at Collins’ shakedown video for the truck only confirms that this thing must be a riot to drive.
The team at Black Mountain Jeep did more than just rip out the old 5.9L lump and replace it with a fresh 6.2L Hellcat motor. Getting the modern powertrain to play nice with the vintage metal took a bit more effort than that. The 707 horsepower and 645 ft.-lb. of torque produced by the Hemi are routed through a modified TorqueFlite 727 three-speed automatic transmission, which helps to retain the factory transfer case. The motor also sits on custom engine mounts, and its larger size necessitated the addition of a Hydro-Boosted brake system.
The Hellwagon is an awesome combination of old school style and new age tech. These classics are only getting more desirable as time marches on, and it is really hard to argue against the merits of FCA’s masterpiece motor. Perhaps we’ll even get a factory-built Hellwagon when the new Jeep Wagoneer comes to market, but theres no word on that front yet. Until then, this low-milage classic may just have to satisfy your wood-paneled needs.
