Vehicle Description
Looking over the specs for this very impressive 1980 Jeep CJ-7, one
word keeps showing up: NEW. Given a thorough restoration not long
ago, this is a well-built and very fresh CJ that's ready to show
off or have fun blasting around the trails. And both tasks will be
especially enjoyable thanks to the bulletproof 258 Inline 6 under
the hood.
Freshly applied and looking slick, the finish on this CJ is a shade
between the Navy and Starboard Blues offered by Jeep in these
years, and we think it's a huge upgrade over the code OR Caramel
this 1980 was born with. For a vehicle built for off-roading, the
finish is pretty darned terrific - with a great shine, deep luster,
and a smooth surface that you don't often find on Jeeps of this
vintage. It's not a trailer queen, so you won't hesitate to take it
out in the weather, but the finish is so fresh you'll think twice
before burying it in the mud. The bodywork underneath is in very
good order as well, with no signs of trouble in the usual areas
above the rear wheel arches and in the rear tub, and the fact that
you can see a few very minor ripples down the body lines tells me
it's likely original sheetmetal, because that's how these Jeeps
looked coming out of the factory. Heavy-duty steel bumpers, a
chrome grille guard, chrome rocker moldings, and polished
side-steps provide a little extra flash to the vivid finish, and
they also speak to the Jeep's abilities to handle itself out in the
field. On the other hand, things like the folding windshield, round
headlights, and traditional oversized side mirrors are reminders
that Jeeps have always been, well, Jeeps.
You can see more evidence of this Jeep's off-road credentials
inside, where you'll find a brand new set of high-back bucket seats
and a matching rear bench, with all four seating positions anchored
with seatbelts. The metal dash was painted to match the bodywork,
with chrome accents on the windshield wiper motor harness, glove
compartment handle, and windshield hinges that all add some 'bling'
inside. There's chrome around the gauges as well, stenciled around
the big all-in-one center unit that holds speedometer, fuel, and
temperature dials inside, along with two factory auxiliary units to
the right. And it's not completely uncivilized either, as there's a
Pioneer AM/FM/CD/AUX stereo with extra speakers behind the front
seats that actually sounds decent even with the wind whipping past
the windshield. The floors are protected by spray-on bedliner
material, so you can just rinse it out after a day of fun and there
are heavy-duty Jeep floor mats up front, too. The factory roll bar
was painted to match the exterior finish, and a new thick-rimmed
Grant steering wheel and shift knob were added to makes things look
a bit more sophisticated inside.
With a legendary 258 Inline 6 motor under the hood, there aren't
many places this Jeep can't go. Introduced as the standard Inline 6
motor in the CJ-7 the year prior, the AMC 258 was basically the
same motor as the 232 I6, albeit with a longer stroke that resulted
in a touch more horsepower and significantly more torque. A cast
iron block and cylinder heads, hydraulic lifters, and a Carter
carburetor make it a formidable performer off-road, and the engine
runs smoothly during regular, modern-day driving as well. The
engine bay is all stock and not detailed for show, but it's a
strong runner that has the kind of low-RPM torque that's critical
for off-roading fun. The 4-speed manual transmission and 2-speed
transfer case mean that it's easy to climb over obstacles at barely
a walking pace, and the clutch is easy enough to even make it
through traffic. The stock-style exhaust system has that familiar
Inline 6 note we all love, with a rumble that sounds a lot beefier
than you might expect. Cool 16-inch Dick Cepek alloys look
fantastic, especially wrapped in 32/11.5/15 Wild Country off-road
radials that set the lifted stance and are ready for just about
anything.
Well-built and full of newer equipment, it's obvious that this Jeep
was built for fun in the dirt above all else, and it definitely
delivers in that regard. Call today!
