Vehicle Description
We move a lot of Jeeps around here, but this 1979 Jeep CJ5 is the
first one we've had that seems to think it's a hotrod. Flashy paint
with cool flames, a sporty 2-bucket-seat interior, a big wheels and
tires, and a thumping, fuel-injected 5.7L LT1 V8 matched with a
5-speed gearbox. If you're not going to go tearing up trails, why
carry all that superfluous hardware around? Instead, this is a
quick, fun city cruiser with a lot of punch and great road manners,
all wrapped up in an excellent vintage Jeep CJ look.
Okay, despite its fairly successful hotrod cosplay, this is still
indeed a Jeep through-and-through. But what's wrong with mixing a
lot 'rodding' into the rugged world of vintage 4x4s. This custom
rig sure really knows how to make an entrance, and despite all
those killer add-ons it still retains it's awesome original CJ
shape. The Gray Metallic paint and silver flames outlined with
green pinstripes look incredibly cool, turning up this Jeep's curb
appeal to '11'. This is definitely not some trailer queen - the
front end has some signs of past bodywork and the finish has its
fair share of imperfections - but if you think a CJ that looks like
this and packs this kind of hardware was built to win trophies and
spend it's life being trailered from car show-to-car show, then
your perspective is WAY off. This Jeep was always meant to be a
driver, a great driver, and even though it's not perfect it still
has tons of curb appeal and collects big smiles and thumbs up
everywhere it goes. A lot of that attention has to do with all the
cool add-ons, including the chrome front bumper with its mounted
RoadMaster tow bar, the diamond-plate frame cover and chrome grille
overlay just behind it, black fender flares at the flanks, and the
diamond-plate body armor and custom swing-away spare tire mounted
out back. The wheel arches are clean, the bed corners are solid,
and the windshield frame looks great, and despite some signs of use
here and there, this CJ5 presents incredibly well both on the trail
and off.
Despite the CJ-5s shorter wheelbase (compared to the big-brother
CJ-7s and CJ-8s), this Jeep has plenty of room for two and loads of
storage space inside, with black buckets seats up front and plenty
of room behind them now that the bench seat was removed. Both
aesthetically appealing and very comfortable under the sun, the
plain, durable upholstery works rather well with the gray bodywork,
and the padded multi-point roll bar and carpeted floors add a touch
of sophistication inside. A brushed aluminum dash was added up
front and features an original style all-in-one round gauge, a set
of AutoMeter auxiliary units right next to it, and a big AutoMeter
tachometer to the left of the steering wheel - all of which keep a
close eye on the upgraded drivetrain that powers this beast.
There's also a Grant GT tilt steering wheel that adds some
sportiness to the interior, a locking center console between the
bucket seats, and the 8-ball topped shifter ahead of it manages the
5-speed manual gearbox while the B&M T-handle shifter to the
right controls the 2-speed transfer case. Soft half doors and a
bikini top do a decent job keeping out the elements, and like we
mentioned before, there's plenty of storage space for all your gear
behind the seats.
The engine is a 5.7L LT1 Chevrolet V8 motor, which is a popular
swap if you're looking for more pop under the hood. Here, it's
built to rock, with a responsive fuel-injection injection system, a
cold-air intake system, BBK shorty headers, and plenty of power on
tap at any speed. Corvette cladding and Edelbrock valve covers
remind onlookers that this is a street machine built for
performance, not slogging through the mud, and the heavy-duty
aluminum radiator linked with dual electric fans keeps the
temperatures down. Stainless steel braided fuel lines, a modern
power front disc brake system, power steering, and an HEI ignition
all help with the Jeep's street-friendly image, while the upgraded
exhaust system and chambered muffler below provides the perfect
soundtrack. The powerful small block is backed by an NV3550 5-speed
transmission feeding a heavy-duty 10-bolt rear end, ensuring this
CJ-5 can handle itself both on and off the trail. Upgraded Bilstein
shocks help set the stance and a set of flashy 5-spoke alloys
wrapped in meaty 325/60/15 BFGoodrich A/T rubbers at all four
corners finish off the custom look.
This is a fun open CJ-5 with a big V8 up front and a custom look.
What else might you want from a weekend toy? Call today!
