1978 Jeep CJ5

Description

All-original vehicles always get collectors excited, but it's rather rare to come across an all-original Jeep of any kind. However, not only is this 1978 Jeep CJ5 almost entirely original, it's also a 1-family owned California vehicle with a V8. Jeep fans, this is an amazing find.

As cool as the new Wranglers are, there's still something about the early CJs that make them special. They're not sophisticated, but they have an enduring appeal that makes them some of the most popular collector vehicles you can buy. Obviously the family that originally bought this Levi's edition CJ5 agrees, as they took great pains to keep it in top condition while still enjoying all the fun it has to offer. The metallic tan paint was applied by the guys at the factory back in 1978, and thanks to a life in the California sun, it still looks great. Not perfect, mind you, but if you're a fan of survivors, this one will surely impress you. There's a gloss to original paint that no customizing technique can duplicate, and even the Renegade decals are remarkably well preserved. It shows no signs of having been beat up on the trails, and was probably used as a commuter vehicle for a few years before being retired to "special occasions" only duty. The fender flares give it a purposeful look and it carries those simple chrome bumpers fore and aft, one of the Jeep's few concessions to life on the pavement.

The tan interior is every bit as nice as the exterior, with durable cloth seat covers that were part of the Levi's package. The floors are solid, showing no evidence that this Jeep spent a lot of time outdoors without its top, and critical things like the steering wheel and dash pad are in excellent shape. The gauges will be familiar to anyone who's ever driven a CJ, and it appears that the lone modifications are an unusual knob for the 3-speed manual shifter and an AM/FM/cassette stereo that was surely installed decades ago. This Jeep also includes a useful back seat that looks virtually unused and a relatively new convertible top with matching doors.

While most Jeeps got an inline-six, the 304 cubic inch V8 under the hood of this CJ5 makes it a 4-wheel-drive muscle car. Completely unmodified, right down to the original air cleaner (OK, there's a K&N filter inside) and 2-barrel carburetor, it makes great V8 noises and the torque is downright shocking in the short wheelbase Jeep. Recent work includes new ignition components, but as you can tell, it needs little else to be in top shape. Even the corporate orange engine enamel is shockingly well-preserved on this user-friendly Jeep. Power steering is a good idea on anything with tires that big, and a newer single exhaust system carries a glasspack-style muffler to really let the V8 sing properly. The chassis is a bit grungy, but again, there's not much evidence that this Jeep has done anything but a daily commute on paved roads, so everything is in remarkably good shape today. Flashy aluminum wheels are a great addition and a big upgrade over the originals, and wear recent 32x11.50-15 BFGoodrich off-road radials (including the spare).

With all the good stuff going on here, the sticker price should come as a very pleasant surprise. Whatever your reasons for loving Jeeps, this one will easily meet your expectations. Call today!