Vehicle Description
You've undoubtedly noticed that we sell a lot of Jeeps here at
Streetside Classics, and that market is to be red hot right now.
And nothing with the Jeep name on it is hotter than this 1985 Jeep
CJ8 Scrambler, which has all the rugged awesomeness of the
venerable CJ with a longer bed out back, creating a Jeep/pickup
hybrid that's rare as well as functional.
Better yet, this one is bright red, which is the best possible
color on a CJ of any kind. It emphasizes the chiseled upright lines
and never looks dated. The Scrambler is easy to spot with its
extended rear end, and it makes a notable difference in interior
space, especially those of you who like to take a lot of gear with
you when you go someplace remote. Finish quality is excellent; it's
a recent respray that shows no signs of having been off-road, let
alone ever even being outside. The silver hood decals are recent
and look great on the shiny red paint, and unlike so many of its
siblings, they aren't goofy orange and yellow and brown that was so
popular at the time. Even though there's a touch of pickup truck
DNA mixed in there, the chrome grille, asymmetrical mirrors, rubber
fender flares, and heavy-duty spare tire carrier out back all say
"Jeep" loud and clear.
The black interior comes complements of BestTop, including fresh
bucket seats and a new dash pad to make it feel new inside. The
floor was treated to a spray-in bedliner, so no maintenance
required there, and the removable rubber mats add some civility
without affecting its no worries demeanor. A locking center console
adds some secure storage space and it appears that this Jeep was an
original radio delete truck, because there's a block-off plate in
place. Bright gauges fill the Jeep's simple dashboard and the
4-speed manual shifter and 2-speed gearbox are right where you need
them. There's also a 3-spoke steering wheel that's easy to grab and
a traditional Jeep roll bar overhead. Like most Jeeps, this one is
best enjoyed alfresco, but in case of inclement weather and to make
it more user-friendly if you're in a more urban environment,
there's a set of steel doors and a removable hard top to turn it
into a 2-seater pickup that seals up rather well.
AMC's 258 cubic inch inline-6 makes the power and it's plenty
adequate for the Scrambler. The engine bay is quite tidy, with the
engine looking mostly stock under the hood, which is a good thing.
It's not about speed, it's about reliability, and this Jeep nails
it. Thanks to a fresh rebuild, it's ready to enjoy without worries,
and they didn't take any liberties with the equipment. An original
carburetor lives under that heavy-duty air cleaner, there's a big
radiator up front, new belts and hoses, and it cruises easily at
modern highway speeds. The desirable T-176 4-speed manual
transmission and 2-speed transfer case offer the best of both
worlds and there's a recent exhaust system with a Flowmaster
muffler to give it some attitude. The longer wheelbase really makes
a difference in ride quality, which might be why the Scramblers are
so popular, and a modest lift kit allows you to really make the
most of those big BFG off-road tires and aluminum wheels.
This is a beautifully finished, frame-off restored Scrambler that
gets everything right. We urge you to call right now while you're
thinking about it, because it won't be here when you get around to
it later. That's how hot these are. Call now!