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 1983 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 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 warmed-over, driver-quality CJ-5 arrives at the present
looking pretty darned sharp, with a very appealing red paint job in
strong condition, featuring a nice shine from front to back. 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 that add
further distinction. Come around to the side and you'll find
another clue that this Jeep was designed for real off-road action -
its compact CJ-5 wheelbase contributes to its ability to navigate
challenging terrain. There's an aggressive 'push' bumper/brush
guard painted in black up front, and it complements the uber-tough
diamond-plate rear bumper and mounted spare-tire assembly in the
rear, along with the oversized fender flares and rocker moldings at
the flanks that all work together to beef up this CJ's trail-cred.
There's some bright stuff too, including the headlight surrounds
and hood hinges/hooks, but even accessories like the oversized
mirrors, fog lights, and roll bar bolted down inside are
blacked-out, continuing the Jeep's two-tone theme.
The usual stock and spartan interior of the early CJ-5 saw a little
sprucing up in the '80s models, with this one featuring tan Bestop
front buckets and a matching rear bench, so everyone rides in
comfort in this classic. A locking center console splits the
buckets, adding some much-needed storage (and cupholders) inside
the rather diminutive interior, and it comes mounted ahead of the
shifters for the 4-speed manual transmission and 2-speed transfer
case. The entire tub was lined with black bedliner, and if we're
honest it probably could've been done a bit more comprehensively,
and it could use a thorough detail for that matter. The front
windshield still drops down - one of the coolest features of a
classic Jeep, a 3-spoke steering wheel sits atop a tilt column and
provides more for the driver, while just in front of it the black
steel dash come protected with thick dash pad. A minimalist gauge
presentation is one of Jeep's trademarks, and the classic
all-in-one gauge mounted in the center handles the basics with a
couple flanking auxiliary units managing the rest. A JVC
AM/FM/Cd/AUX head unit powers upgraded speakers, the roll bar was
bedlined to match the tub, and a full soft-top and doors transform
this CJ into a four-season cruiser. Despite the CJ-5's relatively
modest wheelbase, there's enough room for four (in a pinch), and if
it's more cargo space you seek, the rear bench can be removed
fairly easily.
A 4.2 liter inline 6 cylinder sits under the hood to power this
Jeep over any terrain you might wish to conquer. It's not pretty,
but as far as performance the engine is in good form, starting up
promptly and running strong thanks to a newer carb, new wiring
harness, and aluminum radiator all on tap. Shifts are very smooth
thanks to the addition of a 4-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, front disc
brakes, and an aftermarket steering stabilizer 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 wheels, outfitted with beefy 31x10.5x15 BFGoodrich
Mud-Terrain T/A tires with plenty of tread left to conquer the
elements.
Looking sharp, packing plenty of power and offering undeniable
nostalgic appeal, this Jeep CJ-5 would be a great acquisition for
the weekend warrior and off-road enthusiast alike. Call today!
