Vehicle Description
If the Ford Model T put America on wheels, it was the indomitable
Jeep CJ that took America's new wheels off-road-and off to war. The
Willys-Overland's MB and Ford's GPW proto-Jeeps mobilized World War
II's Allied troops in an unprecedented manner; government
production contracts awarded to Willys-Overland and Ford resulted
in just over 643,000 service Jeeps built before the close of 1945.
Meanwhile, as the MB/GPW fought abroad, Willys-Overland saw
opportunity the home front. If the Willys MB flourished in the
treacherous, ad-hoc wartime environment, it was more than capable
of handling standard work on home soil. Plans for the "Civilian
Jeep"-or CJ-were born sometime in 1944, with production of the
finalized CJ-2A beginning in earnest in 1945. Returning soldiers
and farmers immediately cemented the new CJ as an American icon,
buying just over half a million flat-fender CJs by the end of the
CJ-3B's production in 1968. Essentially unchanged from the mil-spec
MBs aside from a tailgate, optional canvas top, and side-mounted
spare tire, the CJ-2 pushed Americans to wild regions of their
country physically off-limits to the workaday family wagon. In the
heartland, the CJ's power take-off option was an agricultural
godsend, providing a much-needed upgrade to many a tired farm
tractor that often was on its last legs due to wartime deferred
maintenance. 1953 saw the merger between the eponymous
Kaiser-Willys corporations, a mash-up that brought two of the
strongest independent American automakers under one roof.
Predictably, Willys' Jeep marque was the strongest asset under the
new umbrella, and management quickly set about broadening the
portfolio with the (modestly) updated CJ-5 for the 1955 model year.
Jeep's fourth open-topped civilian model still pulled its bones
from a pre-existing military model; in this case, the
government-issue source material was the new-for-1952 Willys M38A1
that served extensively during both the Korean War and Vietnam War.
Both the CJ-5 and its enlisted sibling were the first Jeeps to
carry Willys' new 75-hp Hurricane engine, a 2.2-liter (134 ci)
four-cylinder that would remain in production though 1971. This new
"F-Head"-style cylinder head was markedly taller than the outgoing
"Go-Devil" four-banger, necessitating a taller grille and new,
rounded hood and fenders when compared to the prior "flat-fender"
Jeeps. These so-called curved "funny fenders" would go on to define
the CJ for the next few decades, and remain the most significant
aesthetic departure from those Jeeps designed during wartime. And
just like the farmland CJs in the immediate post-war period, the
new CJ-5 was used for hard labor just as much as it was for
recreation. With a thick catalog of accessories and attachments,
ditches were dug, fenceposts were staked, and in the case of this
charming 1962 Jeep CJ-5, snow was plowed. Purchased new by Rhode
Island-based Scarpetti Oldsmobile for exclusive use as a snowplow,
a letter from dealership owner Edward Scarpetti indicates that the
odometer's current claim of around 1,500 miles since new is to be
absolutely believed. A lifetime of storage inside a heated
garage-except during snowfall-is evident in the exceptional
original condition of the well-preserved paint and overall
patination. Both the dealership's hand-lettering and white-wall
off-road tires are believed to be original as well, alongside the
rarely preserved metal hardtop from Koenig Iron Works of Houston,
Texas. The white model 520 "Jiffy Full Cab" top features removable
doors and a built-in, high-powered backup light for plow duty, and
presents a delightful contrast to the Jeep's bright President Red
paint. Other than the removable hardtop and a period-correct,
dash-mounted Oldsmobile badge from the late 1950s, this CJ -5 is
unmodified and features its original 2.2-liter (134 ci) powertrain.
CJs were roundly the most capable factory off-roaders of the 20th
century, and this CJ-5 is no different with its two-speed 4x4
transfer case and locking front hubs, all backed by the original
three-speed manual transmission-more than enough hardware to tackle
any early CJ rally or enter sympathetic service as a ranch shuttle.
These early Jeeps were not known for their driver amenities, but
that was never the point to begin with. The sparse but tidy cabin
is just as much a time capsule as the exterior, with minor patina
in the footwells from winter use. All instrumentation is original,
as are the shift knobs, controls, windscreen hardware, and
instructional diagrams on the dash. Owing to its incongruously
low-mileage, the engine runs strong and stout with factory hardware
that includes correct oil-filter canister, hoses, and fittings. If
you want to put this CJ back into plow duty, the rear bumper wears
attachment points for accessories, but just be careful not to
scratch those optional chrome wheel covers. This characterful Jeep
is a perfect entry point into the vast and vibrant vintage Jeep
scene, and is a shoo-in for the many marque shows that prioritize
originality and presentation. And for the days between shows, this
is a distinctive and eye-catching runabout for local summer
cruise-ins. Offers welcome and trades considered For additional
details please view this listing directly on our website
https://hymanltd.com/vehicles/7548-1962-jeep-cj-5/
