1979 Jeep CJ7

Description

Jeep guys know what they like, and somehow the late-model Wranglers don't quite live up to the legend of the CJ, particularly the CJ7. So if you're one of those guys who insists that the best Jeep of all went out of production thirty years ago, then this 1979 CJ7 delivers that old-school 4x4 experience with a traditional desert paint job that's about six different kinds of cool.

The look is unmistakable, from the round headlights flanking the upright 7-bar grille, to the open doors to the roll bar behind the front seats. The paint is fresh, done in a matte-finish desert tan using single-stage urethane so it's easy to maintain and black decals on the hood give it a military-spec vibe. There's no rust in the usual spots above the rear wheel wells, and diamond plate trim along the rockers and on the rear corners makes it nearly bulletproof off-road. The paint is good, but no so perfect that you'll be afraid to take it out and have some fun in the dirt, and it wears correct rubber fender flares for the oversized tires. Other upgrades include a custom front bumper with brush guard, two additional driving lights, and tubular step bumpers that make it easy to climb aboard. The rear bumper is a matching tubular unit and there's a heavy-duty spare tire carrier out back with a full-sized fifth wheel and tire assembly, just in case.

Inside, if you can touch it, it's new. The high-back buckets wear fresh seat covers, there's a weatherproof, lockable center console, and rubber floors that can be hosed out after a day of fun. That Grant GT steering wheel looks a lot nicer than anything we've seen in a stock CJ, and it fits well and feels great in your hands. Even the single round speedometer shows crisp markings and a bright pointer, and recent auxiliary gauges were added just to its right. An AM/FM/CD stereo head unit that sounds good out on the trail and there are some heavy-duty floor mats underfoot. The removable hard top, bikini top, and half doors are all in excellent condition and show very little wear since they were installed.

The 258 cubic inch inline-six was AMC's workhorse, making plenty of torque and so reliable that it would get you home from just about anywhere the Jeep would take you. You'd think that a Jeep would spend a lot of time in the dirt, but the ultra-clean engine bay says otherwise. The hardware is rugged as hell, simple, and easy to service, with a heavy-duty air cleaner for off road fun and a big radiator for low-speed operation without any worries. This one is neatly detailed with bright red paint on the air cleaner and valve cover, and both power steering and power brakes are part of the package. A 3-speed manual transmission and 2-speed transfer case allow this Jeep to practically idle up the side of a hill, and with a heavy-duty off-road suspension it's highly capable in the rough stuff. New wiring certainly helps in the reliability department, and the frame and undercarriage is ultra-solid with no evidence of abuse. Black painted steel wheels look sharp against the fresh tan paint and wear recent radials that are a nice combination of capability and comfort.

So if you're an old-school Jeep lover, you won't find a cleaner, fresher CJ7 than this. With a bunch of smart upgrades, it's ready to have fun in the sun. Call today!