Vehicle Description
The undisputed king of go-anywhere survivability has to be the Jeep
CJ7, and with a bunch of recent maintenance work, this 2-owner,
original 1985 Laredo proves there's virtually no mud you can't
grind through, no stream you can't ford, and no rock you can't
climb.
The Laredo was the top-of-the-line CJ, a package that gave the
utilitarian Jeep a look-at-me makeover that's probably the off-road
equivalent of the Trans Am screaming chicken hood decal. And
finished in original, survivor-quality red paint, it looks as
handsome and rugged as John Wayne in a gun belt. Hailing from some
of the warmest, driest parts of the US (California and Texas), none
of the usual cancerous rust issues are a factor here, with solid
sheetmetal even above the rear wheels and in the tailgate. The
paint is all original remains in decent condition and the decals
are still bright and vivid so it's hard not to get noticed when
you're driving this 4x4. The age is definitely evident, but the
warmed-over patina just works great on this CJ. Goodies include a
chrome grille, chrome front bumper, fender flares, a black hard top
with an installed roof rack, and a swing-away rear tire carrier out
back. The net effect is that this is a hardcore backpack that you
can drive. Anywhere.
The interior is in original condition as well, including a set of
cloth bucket seats that hold you in place far better than the
slippery, flat vinyl buckets when the going gets rough. Likewise,
the dash pad, door panels, and even the visors are stock, so it all
has a consistently correct look. The flooring is all-original as
well and showing a little wear and the painted areas of the doors
show where someone's elbow has been resting, but that's only proof
that this is an honest, original Jeep. A black center console
splits the buckets and provides great additional storage space, and
the custom headliner enclosure houses the modern head unit that
powers the speakers in the cabin, replacing the original unit that
was slotted in the dash. All the original gauges are fully
functional and clear and it comes with both a removable hard top
and steel doors, providing supreme protection from the elements,
and a roll bar is in place for when you're ready for some open-air
adventure.
A 258 cubic inch inline-six runs beautifully and is the
off-roader's first choice in a CJ. Torquey and robust, this is the
engine you want pulling through the worst slop Mother Nature can
throw at you. Virtually bulletproof, it also has the low-end torque
you need and gentle throttle tip-in makes it easy to feel your way
through the slippery stuff. There are a lot of new parts, including
a new alternator, starter, and wires, plus the transmission has
been rebuilt as well, so it's ready to rock. The 5-speed manual
shifts well and feeds the stock 2-speed transfer case and the stock
axles, so it's still reasonably friendly on the pavement, which is
obviously where it spent most of its life. The exhaust system
includes a catalytic converter, so it's still legal on the streets
just about anywhere, and it's remarkably solid (albeit not detailed
for show), suggesting not a lot of time out in the dirt. Finishing
the rugged look, 15-inch aluminum wheels are wrapped with giant
31x10.50x15 white-letter off-road tires.
Owned by the same person for the last 25 years, this awesome,
survivor-grade Laredo is a lot of fun, both on and off road. Call
today!