Incredible frame-off restoration designed to go off-roading. Upgraded engine with fuel injection and electronic ignition, all-new undercarriage components, killer stereo with all-weather speakers. Full weather equipment included. Great Jeep!
Although the title says this 4x4 is about to celebrate its 41st birthday, the truth is that a recent high-quality restoration pretty much turned it into a brand-new Jeep. Almost everything but the tub itself is new, and it was freshened with an eye towards getting dirty and playing rough. That explains the dark blue paint, which was fortified with bedliner material to make it virtually indestructible. No shiny, pretty Jeep here, just a raw-knuckled mud crawler that doesn’t sweat the little stuff. Trail dust and debris bounces right off and that means you don’t have to worry when you head out to use this one as intended. Underneath there’s super clean, straight sheetmetal that comes from a warm climate and shows none of the usual signs of distress these old Jeeps often get. You’ll note that the fender flares that cover the oversized tires have also been covered with that durable all-purpose textured paint, as have the bumpers and tubular steps. Someone was really thinking about using this Jeep as intended when it went together.
New bucket seats flank a locking center console that gives you secure storage and thanks to the bedliner material on the floors, you can just hose this one out after a day of fun in the dirt. The familiar AMC 3-spoke steering wheel and big, round Jeep speedometer should look familiar, and all the controls, switches, and indicators are new. There’s an upgraded Sony AM/FM/satellite/Bluetooth stereo in the dash that feeds a pair of monster weatherproof speakers mounted to the roll bar, so it sounds good on the roll as well as at the campsite. Of course, a power terminal with USB ports was added to make all your modern devices happy when you’re going someplace remote. There’s also a hand-held controller for the Holley Pro-Jection fuel injection system, so you can tune it on the fly. The 4-speed manual transmission makes it fun to drive and it’s joined by the shifter for the 2-speed transfer case that offers both high and low ranges. For protection, there’s also a brand new soft top with matching doors and it seals up surprisingly well, so don’t be afraid to make this your daily driver.
Power comes from one of Jeep’s best powerplants, the 258 cubic inch inline-6. Torquey, bulletproof reliable, and with plenty of power for the upright Jeep, it’s the unit you want for going off-road. Fully rebuilt, this engine is fortified with a Holley Pro-Jection fuel injection system that makes for near instant starts, a great idle, and smooth power at any speed—a big improvement over the original carburetor setup. It also has a GM-style HEI ignition system with a cool clear cap so you can see it at work inside. The engine was nicely detailed with factory-style hardware and even an ORM air cleaner assembly, which, of course, was also painted to match the bodywork. It also includes all-new wiring, a giant radiator, power steering, and fresh belts and hoses.
Underneath, there’s a whole lot of new equipment and you can see that while it was built to go anywhere, it hasn’t. It’s spotless! The axles, transmission, driveshafts, springs, shocks, brakes, and more are either new or rebuilt and it has been upgraded with Rancho suspension components and a modest lift that keeps it reasonable for regular usage. A new stainless exhaust system with a Flowmaster muffler gives the burly inline-6 a great exhaust note and will last practically forever, and the transfer case is protected with its own skid plate. Take a moment to examine the original floors carefully, as you’ll find that this was an incredibly solid vehicle before the restoration started. And for just the right look, it sits on blacked-out American Racing aluminum wheels carrying giant 31x10.50-15 BFGoodrich All-Terrain radials.
Simple, yet beautifully built, this gorgeous CJ5 is everything that you’d want in a Jeep. Traditional look, hardcore hardware, and built with an eye towards functionality. Pretty enough to hit car shows but rugged enough for almost any trail, it remains one of the very best ways to have fun on four wheels. And like our GIs learned, Jeeps do everything well. Give us a call and take this one home today!
For more details and photos, please visit www.HarwoodMotors.com
Harwood Motors always recommends and welcomes personal or professional inspections of any vehicle in our inventory prior to purchase.
