Up for sale is a beautiful vintage 1978 Jeep CJ5. As you will see by the pictures, the overall condition is very, very nice.
The previous owner had the Jeep completely restored in 2015, and less than 3000 miles were put on it since then until I purchased it. I will say that it has an additional 1000 miles on it since I've owned it, but probably less than that. I've owned it for about 1 1/2 years. I have not added many miles, but it has been driven regularly to keep everything lubricated and running properly. When not being driven, it has always been stored indoors in my shop building.
Exterior
As you can see in the pictures, it has a bright yellow finish that really shines. The interior of the tub is also yellow, and has been coated with color-matched spray-on liner. The overall condition of the paint is in very good condition, but there are a few paint chips here and there. I've tried to capture these in the pictures.
The front and rear bumpers, side mirrors, running bars, wheels, and exposed undercarriage are accented in black. The front bumper has a very minor outward bend on the passenger side. I've included a picture of this. Looking at it from the front, it is barely noticeable. The black accents against the yellow body make this jeep a real standout!. All of the chrome finishes are in excellent condition as well. The headlights, parking lights, signal lights, and marker lights all work properly.
The Jeep also comes with a very sought-after and hard to find ACME hardtop with hard doors! If you've tried to locate one of these hardtops, you know how difficult they are to find, and how expensive they are to buy! This one is in good condition, but does have a few scratches. All of the glass in in good condition. The doors are easily removed for that great outdoor/off road Jeep feel. The top is removable. The Jeep also comes with a bikini top in excellent condition. The windshield is in excellent condition with no cracks or chips.
The running bars are "SMITTYBILT" brand, and are in excellent condition.
The wheels and tires are also in excellent condition. I'm assuming they have less than 4000 miles on them. The tires are TOYO "Open Country", and the size is 30x9.5 R15LT.
Interior
The front seats are are obviously from a newer model Jeep as they are high-back seats, not the low-back version that came from the factory in 1978. The upholstery on both front and rear seat is in excellent condition. It has front retractable seat belts and rear lap belts. It also has new black rubberized vinyl floor mats. It has a rollbar that is also in excellent shape, and a padded rollbar cover will be included when you want to go topless, or with the bikini top.
All of the chrome trim on the instrument panel is bright and shiny. All gauges are working properly except the oil pressure gauge. The odometer reads 01224.0 as of this listing. The actual mileage is unknown and listed on the title as "Exempt". The mileage may increase slightly as I will continue to drive it regularly, and also for potential buyer test drives.
For all you music lovers the Jeep also has a very nice "Boss" radio with Bluetooth connectivity and a USB port for your playlist loaded on a jump drive. In addition is a dual stereo speaker set mounted between the front seats, and a Jenson "Octane Power" amplifier mounter to the underside of the driver's seat.
Running Gear and Drive Train
This Jeep in powered by a strong running 258 CID straight 6 cylinder engine with a one barrel carb. This is the largest 6 cylinder engine offered in 1978. Everything under the hood is clean and well sorted. It has a newish (probably from the 2015 restoration) aluminum radiator. It is mated to a smooth shifting 3 speed manual transmission. The four wheel drive functions perfectly, and the front manually-locking hubs work effortlessly.
Both the front and rear axles are mounted to leaf springs with shock absorbers. As with any vintage Jeep, the ride is stiff, and somewhat noisy, ready to go off road with the turn of the steering wheel.
Speaking of steering...I've just recently had a brand new power steering kit installed and it works perfectly! This was a $2100 upgrade and it was worth every penny.
The front wheels have disc brakes and the rear wheels have drum brakes. The brakes work as they should, easily bringing the vehicle to a safe, smooth stop with no pulling to either side.
Summary
At the risk of sounding like a used car salesman (which I am NOT), I honestly believe you would have a difficult time finding a nicer vintage Jeep than this one. The fairly recent restoration, with very low added miles since the restoration, coupled with the overall excellent appearance, make this Jeep very desirable. I've received nothing but compliments since I've owned it.
I just had a full lube service performed for it, and it is ready to hit the road (or off road)!
The original owners manual is also included.
Inspections are acceptable by appointment, and encouraged. If it isn't practical to do so, I will answer any and all question to the very best of my ability. I'll be posting many pictures, but if you need to see a particular view, please let me know and I'll post it in this listing or email it to you..
Please understand that this is a vintage, used vehicle, not a new vehicle. As such, there may be minor or unknown deficiencies. As nice as I personally consider it to be, the description is based on my personal knowledge of the vehicle, and my own personal opinions. This vehicle is presented for sale "as is", with no written or implied warranty of any kind. Please do your due diligence before purchasing. All sales are final.
The cost and arrangements for having this vehicle shipped is the buyer's responsibility. However, I'm glad to help in any way I can. I'm an old retired guy, so my schedule is flexible. The Jeep is located in Vernon, TX (birthplace of Roy Orbison!). If you choose to fly into the Wichita Falls, Tx airport, I would be willing to meet you there, provided payment has already been received. Please contact me if you have any questions, and thanks for viewing my listing!
