Vehicle Description
Some people take their fun very seriously. Take the pros that built
this dialed-in, turnkey 1977 Jeep CJ-7 Golden Eagle, which carries
a lot of off-road gear, a potent 360 V8 mated to a 4-speed gearbox,
and choice options including power steering and power front disc
brakes. These builders didn't want to just "Go Anywhere and Do
Anything", they wanted to do so in style, so they took this CJ-7
4x4 through an extensive tub-off restoration where every
nut-and-bolt was attended to. The results are impressive, with an
attention-grabbing paint job, striking Golden Eagle decals, a fresh
interior, and lifted stance, this isn't your Grandaddy's Jeep.
We're finally getting to the point where CJs are legitimate
collector's items, but many have discovered that very few are
restored to a level worth showing-off. Fully restored approximately
8 years ago, this CJ-7 was given quite the makeover, including a
color-change that brightened things up from its original shade of
Black to the eye-searing Copper Orange Metallic finish it wears
today. That vivid hue was borrowed from Kia's 2012 color chart
(somewhere between their Techno Orange Pearl Metallic and Sunset
Orange Metallic), and it looks fantastic poured over the CJ's
bodywork. When the tub was off the frame, all the metal was
media-blasted, smoothed, and straightened before it went back
together, and all that hard work is still paying off today because
this Jeep sparkles under our lights. The frame was coated with
POR-15, and the floorpans, the firewall and inner fenders, and
exposed steel inside were all treated to the same glowing orange
paint - further proof that this wasn't just some thrown together
4x4. With that being said, it's been enjoyed since it was finished,
and it was never meant to be a trailer queen to begin with, but it
still retains a strong, driver-quality presence not often found on
vintage Jeeps. Even though it's not perfect and has a few signs of
use, you'll never hesitate to hop in and have some fun, and you'll
never grow tired of all the thumbs-up. It's been lifted, but not so
high that you struggle climbing in, and with those beefy tires,
fender flares, and roll bar inside, it's definitely captured that
4x4 look we all know and love. A new Golden Eagle decal kit was
recently added, including Jeep's version of the "Screaming Chicken"
on the hood, and it raises the curb appeal sky-high - rivaled only
by the sparkling chrome found on the front grille, shiny rollbar
bumpers fore and aft, rugged stepbars at the flanks, and the rocker
panel moldings in between the big wheels. With great workmanship
throughout, it all feels tight and fits together quite well, and
while a lot of these CJs led hard lives, this one has obviously
been taking it easy and staying out of the mud since the work was
completed.
Inside, this CJ-7 is almost too nice to take in the dirt, with
fresh tan buckets up front and a matching rear bench, all of which
look like they've seen nothing scarier than a dusty pair of jeans.
Matching tan carpets atop the painted floors insulate the tub - an
elegant rarity against the usual bedlined floors found in CJs - and
even the black dash pad is a cool piece that pops out from the
orange dash, offering protection against the fold-down windshield.
Factory gauges are crystal-clear inside a chrome bezel that matches
the glovebox door and grab-bar, while the auxiliary clock and
optional tachometer on either side of the steering wheel indicate
that this could be an original Golden Eagle (although only a
buildsheet can 100% verify this claim on any CJ). That Grant GT
wheel has a thick rim that's easy to grip, as are the shifters for
the 4-speed gearbox and 2-speed transfer case that jut out from the
shiny bezel in the floor. A new, retro-style stereo handles the
tunes, a center console provides extra storage and offers cup
holders, and with shoulder belts and lapbelts, safety wasn't an
afterthought. Everything looks fresh, from the knobs on the dash to
the carpet/upholstery, and with the added protection of
paint-matched, YJ-style and a bimini top, it's destined to stay
that way.
In 1977, most Jeeps were got wheezing six-cylinders that didn't do
much to move them through the mud. That's been remedied here thanks
to the 360 V8 swapped-in from a Grand Wagoneer, which exhibits a
serious dose of horsepower and torque. Reportedly rebuilt during
the restoration, it's nestled neatly in the slick engine bay and
fitted with a big Holley 4-barrel carburetor, an OEM intake, an HEI
ignition, and long-tube headers that all transform this CJ-7 into a
4x4 that can handle regular driving. Dressed in finned valve covers
and a matching Edelbrock air cleaner, the powerful block pops out
from the detailed engine bay, and with bright orange inner fenders
and a matching firewall, it can be shown off with great pride. It
runs great and sounds fantastic, with those block-hugging headers
feeding into a throaty Flowmaster dual exhaust that exits behind
the rear tires, and big torque is felt through every gear of the
4-speed manual gearbox. Power steering and power front disc brakes
vastly improve the driving experience, although this is still a
lifted vintage Jeep so those expecting Cadillac-easy cruising
should probably just buy a Cadillac, but with a steering stabilizer
up front, upgraded coilovers fore and aft, and plenty of ground
clearance for the Dana 44 front axle and AMC 20 rear axle, it's a
Jeep that can be trusted out both on the roads and off. Flashy
Laredo-style wheels are the perfect endcap for this dialed-in CJ,
and they come wrapped in giant 33x12.5x15 General Grabbers with
plenty of tread.
A muscle car for the dirt? You'd better believe it. Not many CJs
get refinished to this level, so when you find one this nice, don't
hesitate. Call today!