Vehicle Description
Given how quickly they move through our showroom, Jeeps like this
1981 CJ-7 are finally getting respect from collectors as well as
from folks who still understand that there's no better off-road
machine than this. Nicely refinished with a lot of new components,
this is a trail-ready 4x4 with a lot to offer, including an
ever-dependable 4.2L Inline 6, a couple much-needed options, and a
reasonable price.
The Gray-Blue Metallic paint on this CJ-7 is a lot nicer than what
it was wearing originally, and that upgraded metallic finish looks
really great on the upright Jeep bodywork. It's a few years old and
this is a Jeep, after all, so it's not a perfect trailer-queen, but
for a vehicle ostensibly designed to chase through the mud, it's
actually pretty darned nice. The trim is mostly blacked out, so you
can forget about any shiny add-on chrome, and we like that the
grille was painted to match the body, not covered with a cheap
overlay. A heavy-duty Smittybilt front bumper with an integrated
winch gets you out of trouble, tubular side steps make it easier to
climb aboard, and there's a giant Smittybilt tire carrier and rear
bumper out back. You'll also note heavy-duty fender flares to cover
the oversized rubber, the lower-body armor that protects the
rockers, and a minimum amount of frills that means no cheesy
graphics or '70s murals here. Few Jeeps are this nicely equipped,
this well-finished, and this thoughtfully built.
The interior is the familiar low-maintenance Jeep stuff that you've
come to expect. The high-back black buckets are vinyl Bestop
pieces, a material that wears like iron and you can just hose it
off after a day playing in the mud. The floors are covered with
spray-on bedliner material with heavy-duty rubber mats, and the
matching Bestop back seat looks like it's never been used. The dash
features updated knobs and handles, a correct oversized speedometer
with built in temperature and fuel gauges, and a pair of auxiliary
gauges for voltage and oil pressure to its right. An auxiliary fuel
gauge was installed under the dash, a couple toggle switches were
added as well, and entertainment comes from the Clarion AM/FM/CD
player inside the factory slot. There's a locking center console
that splits the front buckets and adds a bit of security, the
thick-rimmed 3-spoke steering wheel is an upgraded unit mounted on
a tilt column. Overhead there's a robust 4-point roll cage as well
as a new soft top and paint-matched hard doors that were borrowed
from a YJ and fit great.
Jeep's rugged and reliable 258 cubic inch inline-6 is the engine
most CJs use and it's a great choice. Torquey and willing to just
crawl along at little more than idle speed, it was built for
situations just like this. It's nicely maintained and runs great,
thanks to a correct 2-barrel carburetor and newer HEI ignition
components. Compared to most vintage Jeeps, the engine bay is very
tidy and clean, but most importantly it's highly functional and
doesn't need any excuses. It has what looks like a newer high-power
alternator and radiator, and a stock-style exhaust system includes
a chambered muffler and even still carries a catalytic convertor,
and gives the Jeep a very cool soundtrack. A Tremec T-176 4-speed
manual transmission feeds a 2-speed transfer case, and the Rough
Country suspension lift makes it a lot more capable in the rough,
while power steering and power front disc brakes mean that this
Jeep is a great asphalt cruiser as well. Custom bead-lock black
wheels look butch and carry oversized 33x12.50-15 Pro Comp Mud
Terrain radials that look like they can handle anything.
The Jeep always looks like it's ready for an adventure and has a
lot of money invested in it to keeping that spirit alive. These
machines represent a ton of fun for the money, and can be enjoyed
both on and off the trail. Call today!