Vehicle Description
Jeep is planning a Wrangler-based pickup in the next few years, but
don't let them tell you it's the first time it's been done. This
1984 Jeep CJ8 Scrambler is its direct ancestor, offering the same
CJ off-road goodness with a bit of practicality and a slightly
longer wheelbase, all of which make it a lot easier to live with
than a standard Jeep.
This particular Scrambler was completely restored in 2008 and has
been driven very seldom since it's thorough face-lift. The bright
white paint works well with the period-perfect red, orange, and
yellow decals to keep it from looking dated, and the finish quality
is such that it looks like it should cost thousands more than it
does. The familiar Jeep sheetmetal is flat and smooth, even in the
trouble areas above the rear wheel arches and in the corners of the
bed, suggesting that it's led an easy life in a warm climate. The
removable doors swing on well-oiled hinges and latch without a hard
slam, showing that someone really cared about lining them up just
right; even the factory didn't do it this well! Up front, there's a
standard steel bumper with two tow rings, there are step plates to
help you climb aboard, and a heavy-duty rack holds the full-sized
spare out back, all of which give it a very Jeep-y look. The decals
look new and that blinding white bed is almost too nice to use for
hauling stuff these days.
A red vinyl interior is a very pleasant contrast to both the white
paint and the usual black or tan upholstery you see in these
trucks. It all appears to be new, from the correct reproduction
seat covers to the matching door cards. The cozy cab feels more
civilized than the open-top CJs, although there's still a bare
floor (with burgundy floor mats) and the hardtop is removable for
the open-air experience. The three-spoke steering wheel is in good
condition and the center-mounted gauges are all working properly.
You'll also note that there's under-dash A/C that's fully
functional thanks to an R134a upgrade, and a newer Pioneer AM/FM/CD
stereo head unit. The transmission and transfer case shifters have
proper knobs and a locking center console gives you a place to stow
valuables out of sight.
AMC's familiar 4.2 liter inline-6 lives under the hood and remains
quite stock. Of course, when your hammer works as well as it does,
why change the design? Keeping the stock hardware also ensures
reliability when you need it most and there's plenty of torque on
tap where you need it: down low. It's been nicely maintained and
shows plenty of care, needing only a quick detail to be as
sparkling as the rest of the truck. It starts easily with that
gruff Jeep rumble from the exhaust, which still features a
catalytic converter, so it's legal everywhere. A 5-speed manual
transmission is a nice find in any Jeep, making this one far more
usable as a daily driver than you'd expect, but with a 2-speed
transfer case and heavy-duty axles at both ends, its off-roading
credentials are unaffected. The underside is quite clean with no
evidence that it's ever been on anything rougher than a gravel
driveway and the shiny aluminum wheels look new, as do those big
265/75/16 Bridgestone off-road tires.
A desirable CJ that's in absolutely fantastic condition, ready to
enjoy. If you've been looking for one of these, you aren't going to
find many that are better. Call now!
