Vehicle Description
Hard to have more fun on four wheels than with a Jeep CJ-7,
especially one as dialed-in as this bright orange 1977 Jeep CJ-7.
With a high-impact paint job, a V8 engine, and trail-rated hardware
atop a 'go-anywhere' lifted chassis, it's ready to do some serious
off-roading. You just can't beat the old-school look and anvil-like
durability that the CJ-7 brings, and this attention grabbing
example is ready to have some fun.
We're finally getting to the point where these CJs are legitimate
collector's items and bringing the kind of money they deserve, but
you'll probably discover that very few are finished to this level
because they're still so often ragged out on the trails. The shape
is unmistakable, especially with the doors and top removed, and
thanks to a shiny Burnt Orange paint job and a set of blacked-out
wheels, a color-matched roll bar, and blacked-out bumpers fore and
aft, it looks incredible. Sure it's no trailer queen, and in our
opinion no vintage CJ ever should be, but the driver-quality paint
was laid down just right on the original sheetmetal, and we love
the high-impact 'Rocky Top' look. Thanks to years of a life lived
easily (relatively speaking, as we all know vintage Jeeps can't
help but venture off-road just a little) this CJ is put together
right, the tub feels tight and all the panels fit quite well, and
while a lot of these CJs led hard lives, this one has obviously
been taking it easy since the work was completed. Heck, some Jeep
guys might scoff at how bright and shiny this one is, but nobody
will argue that this isn't a great-looking off-roader. Add in the
side pipes, heavy-duty black bumpers fore and aft, black rocker
panel molding, big side mirrors, and that covered spare tire
hanging off the back, and it looks to be ready for just about
anything.
Inside, this one is almost too nice to hop into with dirty shoes,
with fresh tan vinyl front bucket seats and a matching rear bench
leading the way in the comfort department. There's also a matching
tan dash pad protecting the Burnt Orange metal dash over the
floors, and a durable spray-in bedliner material was applied over
the inside of the tub to provide a little much-needed sound
deadening and heat insulation, not to mention the ease of clean-up
it affords. The factory gauges look good in the painted orange
dash, highlighted by the large speedometer in the center that also
contains the fuel and temp instruments. There's a retro-style
modern AM/FM head unit in the Jeep's original dash slot the dash -
the only entertainment you get - but if you've ever experienced the
thrill of an open-air Jeep than you know you don't need any extra
frills. There's also an original, wrapped three-spoke Jeep steering
wheel which makes it feel far more sophisticated than you'd expect
inside, and the tall shifter for the 3-speed manual transmission is
just a short reach away, and it makes this V8-powered Jeep feel
like a go-anywhere muscle car rather than a utilitarian machine. A
full-size soft-top and matching soft doors come with the package,
and the durable tan canvas matches the seats for an all-together
feel that really works well with the Burnt Orange paint.
In 1977, most Jeeps carried the 4.2 liter inline-six, which was
certainly adequate, but lots of owners longed for the torque of a
V8. Thankfully, the ample Jeep engine bay can easily accept just
about any small block (or big block for that matter, if you're
willing to shift a few things), and we often see Chevy and Ford
engines make the 'Leap to a Jeep', so to speak. The owners of this
CJ opted for a Ford 302 V8, a venerable motor that has powered some
absolutely legendary vehicles for decades, and the bright blue
engine is topped with a stock carburetor and factory-style intake
manifold, and delivers big power for fun on or off the pavement.
Power steering is probably mandatory with those giant tires and the
chrome open-air air cleaner adds even more flash to the Burnt
Orange engine bay, and stock exhaust manifolds feed a custom dual
exhaust system with side exits that sounds awesome. The chassis is
in great condition, including the 3-speed manual transmission and
2-speed transfer case, and much of the hardware underneath looks to
have been serviced regularly throughout the years. Beefy off-road
shocks manage the lift kit, which provides plenty of ground
clearance for some pretty hairy rock-crawling with room for those
giant, blackwall Nexen off-road radials on blacked-out 15-inch deep
dish wheels.
A muscle car for the dirt? You'd better believe it. Not many CJs
get refinished with these specs, so when you find one this nice,
don't hesitate. Call today!