Does anyone how I can determine the correct year of a 97/98 4 dr. tracker. This vehicle is listed as a 1998, however the badging on the grille is a geo emblem. For the good news the owner is stating the vehicle has less than 15000 miles on the odometer.There is little rust issues from the picture that I have seen. It does have paint fade all over the vehicle. Now for the bad, the owner states that the motor is blown up. I'm still trying to decide if I want to gamble on this vehicle as a project. So I'm looking to the forum as to what to look for when inspecting this vehicle as a winter project

 

25 yr old vehicle with no miles is a disaster waiting to happen. All the rubber is going to be in some stage of rot.
When did the motor blow - ie how long has it been sitting; indoors or out; what state/climate?
Current owner should probably pay you to haul it away.

 

The model year is embedded in the 10th digit of the VIN.