Vehicle Description
1973 Jeep CJ5
An early version initially called the "Willys Overland" morphed
from military GP, (general purpose), vehicle to the mass-produced
CJ, short for "civilian Jeep." More than 1.5 million CJ Jeeps were
built, having continued the same basic body style for 45 years
since the Jeep first appeared. Widely regarded as "America's
workhorse", the CJs have been described as "probably the most
successful utility vehicle ever made." The word Jeep is an acronym
of the letters GP.
The call of the wild, the great outdoors, into the great wide open,
getting a little mud on the tires, all representative of this 1973
CJ which has undergone a full restoration and with its original V8
engine and transmission can take you anywhere, anytime, but only as
long as the weather is nice, as there are no doors and only a
bikini top. You decide, the wild is your oyster...(sic.)
Exterior
A quick glance clues us in...all like new and fully fresh, from the
fiberglass body tub to the fiberglass hood and fenders, right down
to the bezels on the dash knobs, it's all like new. A neon green,
almost Sublime Green coats the entire fiberglass body as well as
the iconic front end and is set off nicely with black fender
flares. Up front gives the perfect backdrop for the simple and long
lived grille and black bezel headlights with a twin tube black
steel bumper below. A slight lift kit is noted and this off roader
does sit high thanks in part to the like new polished lip, drilled,
and blacked out center wheels and aggressively knobby tread design
Hankook Dynapro tires which present in 31x10.50R15LT form. A
texture finished black framed windshield and black canvas bikini
top is all that separated the occupants from the great outdoors
around them. On the back is a simple smooth panel, no tailgate here
folks, with utilitarian style round taillights and a basic fuel
filler cap with another twin tube black steel bumper below.
Interior
Black vinyl covers the front buckets with smooth bolsters and broad
tuck and roll inserts provide the seating and float above an all
weather spray-on bedliner coated floor. This black spray in liner
coats the rear storage area as well which includes the rear seat
and also covers the rear wheel tubs. The body matching green dash
sports all factory gauges and a passenger dash mounted glovebox
door. Fronting the dash is a clean Jeep logoed 3 spoke steering
wheel. No stereo here, just the sounds of mother nature in all her
glory to keep your auditory senses pleased. 2 shifters sprout from
the center of the floor one for the transmission and the other for
the transfer case and the 4-wheel drive modes. No doors are
attached and with an easily removable top you are free and easy to
enjoy all the sights you pass by.
Drivetrain
The original 304ci mill in more neon green sparkles inside a
pristine engine bay. No runs, no drips, no errors here with the
chrome valve coverings and a chrome air cleaner topping the
Edelbrock aluminum intake and 4-barrel carburetor. A Borg Warner
T15 3-speed manual transmission is bolted to the back along with a
Dana 20 transfer case. Dana 30 and Dana 44 axles, front and rear
respectively, are loaded with 3.73 gears and give you the
capability to climb any mountain you may encounter. We note the
addition of an electric cooling fan to keep the temps in check and
some extra dress up is on the firewall in polished diamond plate
form.
Undercarriage
Clean and mean would be the best way to describe the underside with
its black frame, structural components, and suspension. All
nonstructural areas such as the floor pans, and underbody are also
painted black and we note a spattering of surface rust on the
untreated steel parts. A small body and suspension lift is seen,
4-wheel drum brakes are noted, as are leaf spring suspension both
front and rear, as well headers and Cherrybomb mufflers for the
exhale.
Drive-Ability
A little bit of a climb for this low to the ground writer, but all
good once in and I felt safe and secure, particularly in the low
back buckets. She fired right up, and it was off to the test track
where it had decent acceleration, good stopping, and fine
cornering. Although we didn't brave the wilds and mountains of
Morgantown, PA we did test the 4wd and it engages flawlessly. All
worked and was in working condition, and there is a nice tire song
when you get it up to cruising speed along with some wind
noise.
You don't have to be Bear Grylls to venture outside and enjoy the
country up close and personal. You don't even have to be Smokey The
Bear to have outdoor adventures. This Jeep is a well built tool to
take you where you would not normally venture in a vehicle. High
ground clearance, large gripping tires, and a tough engine and
transmission, will move you up on the survivalist ladder, and have
you feeling a Rocky Mountain high!
J3F835TH41132
J-Jeep Corporation
3-1973
F-Toledo, OH Assy Plant, 3 Speed Manual
83-CJ5
5-Open Body
T-3750 GVWR
H-304ci V8
41132-Sequential Unit Number
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