Vehicle Description
Jeep created an undeniable winner when it rolled out the CJ-5. Such
was the car's appeal that its manufacturer kept it in production
for a full three decades while continuing to release new lines
alongside it. This neatly restored 1979 Jeep CJ-5 is a great
representative of the model - it's an agile mountain goat on wheels
and it has fun written all over it. Its sharp exterior features
some great touches and there's plenty of dependable power under the
hood to propel it over any obstacle in the way.
While the CJ-5 has an extensive military heritage and was designed
with a sort of "no-nonsense" functionality in mind, its appealingly
rugged demeanor attracted quite a legion of civilian fans over the
years. This CJ-5 arrives at the present looking pretty darned sharp
after a faithful restoration finished a few years back. Its
appealing white paint is in good condition throughout, with a good
shine from front to back that's not perfect, but just right for a
driver-quality rig you want to show off and have a bunch of fun in.
The close-set headlights have a definite military spirit to them as
they sit in a painted grille that matches perfectly with the rest
of the exterior while bracketed by a pair of fog lights below to
add some distinction. Come around to the side and you'll find
another clue that this Jeep was designed for real off-road action -
its compact wheelbase contributes to its ability to navigate
challenging terrain. There's an aggressive 'bash' bumper painted in
black up front, and it matches the rear bumper and hinged
spare-tire assembly in the rear, along with the black step-plated
at the flanks that all work together to beef up this CJ's
trail-cred. You also get a front-mounted Warn winch to help you out
on the trail, along with a big red jack, and blacked-out oversized
mirrors at the sides help with the butch look. This Jeep just looks
like fun on wheels, period.
The usual stock and spartan interior of the early CJ-5 has seen
some sprucing up recently, and now features fresh tan buckets and a
matching rear bench, so everyone rides in comfort in this classic.
The buckets are in great shape and straddle the shifters for the
3-speed manual transmission and 2-speed transfer case, and the
crystal clear windshield ahead of the driver still drops down - one
of the coolest features of a classic Jeep. The tub's been
completely line with spray-in bedliner material, meaning clean-up
is a breeze, and a set of heavy-duty vinyl mats up front match the
seats. A 3-spoke steering wheel sits atop the original tilt column,
while just in front of it the white-painted dash area is also
looking sharp - with a minimalist presentation and a classic
all-in-one gauge that handles the basics. The roll bar is covered
with a black pad, and it helps stiffen the body while adding some
safety in case of a roll over. The rear seat was covered to match
the front buckets, and although there's not a ton of storage space
in the shorter wheelbase CJ-5, the drop-down tailgate does revel
room for a small bag or two. Worst-case, the rear bench can be
removed fairly easily for even more room. And in case this Jeep
gets caught out in the elements, a full black soft top with full
doors comes with the sale to seal up the cabin neatly.
A 4.2 liter inline 6 cylinder (aka the 258) sits under the hood to
power this Jeep over any terrain you might wish to conquer. The
engine is in good form and looks to have been recently attended to,
starting up promptly and running strong thanks to a newer carb,
freshened wiring, and a big radiator all on tap. Shifts are very
smooth thanks to the addition of a 3-speed manual transmission, and
it spins an uber-rugged rear end out back. Should you decide to
take temporary leave of the road, with a flick of the lever just in
front of the distinctive shifter, you can engage 4-wheel drive and,
with this CJ-5's generous wheel clearance and travel, its ability
to handle obstacles is substantial. There are accommodations for
more civilized conditions, as well, as power steering and front
disc brakes are part of the show, all of which help provide the
road manners you'd want in a frequent driver. This timeless 4-wheel
drive classic sits on a set of blacked-out alloy wheels, outfitted
with beefy 31x10.5x15 BFGoodrich all-terrain tires.
Looking sharp, packing plenty of power and offering undeniable
nostalgic appeal, this Jeep CJ-5 would be a great acquisition for
the collector and off-road enthusiast alike. Call today!
