1979 Jeep CJ7

Description

The undisputed king of go-anywhere survivability has to be the Jeep CJ7, and with upgrades like those on this awesome 1979 CJ7 Renegade there's virtually no mud you can't grind through, no stream you can't ford, and no rock you can't climb.

The Renegade was the top-of-the-line CJ, a package that gave the utilitarian Jeep a look-at-me makeover that's hard to deny, and only grown more popular after all these years. With a variety of off-road-ready upgrades, this one looks as rough and rugged as John Wayne in a gun belt. Hailing from the warm, dry southern US, none of the usual body issues are a factor here, with solid sheetmetal even above the rear wheels and in the tailgate. The bright blue paint is only three years old and still looks good, but not so perfect you'd be afraid to head into the brush with it. There's also a painted-on stripe running down the center of the hood, which matches the RENEGADE lettering on the hood, so it's hard not to get noticed when you're driving this 4x4. Goodies include chrome bumpers with an electric winch up front, fender flares, and aluminum dress-up pieces for the fuel filler. The net effect is that this is a hardcore backpack that you can drive anywhere.

The interior appears to be fairly original, another indicator that this Jeep has led a good life and hasn't been abused or neglected. Having a hardtop and steel doors surely helps, sealing the cabin up no matter what the weather. Factory bucket seats are still comfortable enough for bouncing around off-road, and the floor wears black carpets, so it feels more polished inside and helps control noise. A custom center console houses offers lockable storage for those days when you've got the top off and are having fun in the sun, and there's an AM/FM/cassette stereo head unit in the dash for entertainment. You'll also find a control unit for the winch in the glove box, should you ever need it.

AMC's 258 cubic inch inline-six still runs beautifully following a rebuild in the mid-2000s. Torquey and robust, this is the engine you want pulling through the worst slop Mother Nature can throw at you. Virtually bulletproof, it also has the low-end torque you need and gentle throttle tip-in makes it easy to feel your way through the slippery stuff. The 3-speed manual feeds the stock 2-speed transfer case and seriously beefy axles at both ends, with the front end being fitted with new locking hubs. Tall gears and low range give it rock-crawling stability, but thanks to the oversized tires, it can cruise relatively easily at highway speeds in high range. The suspension also features a modest lift which gives it exactly the right attitude and improved functionality without being a handicap on the streets. Shiny 15-inch aluminum Eagle Alloy wheels look flashy and wear giant 32x11.50x15 BFGoodrich off-road tires.

With all the upgrades, this awesome Renegade is a lot of fun, both on and off road. Call today!