1979 Jeep CJ7

Description

Hard to have more fun on four wheels than with a Jeep CJ-7! This 1979 Jeep CJ-7, with a bright white paint job and a venerable 258 inline-six engine mated to a 3-speed manual transmission, likely hasn't seen as much as a gravel road, let alone serious off-roading, but it's ready, willing, and able to tackle just about anything you throw at it should you choose.

We're finally getting to the point where these CJs are legitimate collector's items and this CJ, with a few choice aesthetic upgrades and a moderate lift, is ready for all the elements. It was repainted several years ago to a decent driver-quality level and still has a soft shine atop solid bodywork that suggests this Jeep has always been loved. Far from perfect – like any good Jeep with solid bones that's been driven and enjoyed – there are few imperfections here and there, but they're quickly forgiven the first time you're smiling ear-to-ear behind the wheel. The CJ's shape is unmistakable, especially with the full doors and soft top in place, and with that very bright white paint job offset by the black oversized fender flares, and tubular brush guard, bumpers, and step bars, it looks awesome. Thanks to good workmanship throughout, it feels tight and fits together quite well, and while a lot of these CJs led hard lives, this one has obviously been taking it fairly easy since it left the dealership. Heck, some Jeep guys might scoff at how bright and shiny this one is, but with that tough roll bar sticking out from inside, running lights atop the front bumper and at either side of the windshield, and the lifted stance crouching over those flashy wheels, I don't think anyone will question its off-road credentials. A black soft top fits tight over the cabin, matching the cover over the spare tire, and a few extra decals at the profiles add some interesting pop to the otherwise monochromatic finish.

The interior has been neatly redone, and it's no longer full of the familiar low-maintenance Jeep stuff that one might expect. Instead, you get sporty, high-back buckets wrapped in weatherproof seat covers, a stock rear bench decked out the same way, a Tuffy box center console, along with stock door panel inserts on the white doors that continue the two-tone color theme. The floors are covered in black carpeting, a sign of sophisticated refinement that's rather rare for a Jeep of this vintage, and a white, 6-point roll cage adds extra safety. The white dash has been adorned with performance decals and it features a stock-style chrome bezel equipped with factory gauges, augmented with a couple auxiliary units attached below, along with a black grab bar above the glove compartment. Like most CJ's, options are sparse, but you do get a Jensen AM/FM/Cassette player in the center of the dash, a tall shifter with a billet knob that controls the 3-speed manual transmission, aluminum racing pedals, and a thick-rimmed, 3-spoke steering wheel with a Jeep cover. Overhead that a robust roll cage is partially wrapped in padded vinyl, seatbelts remain fore and aft for added safety inside, and there's even a bit of storage space behind the rear bench.

The venerable 258 cubic inch inline-6 (aka the 4.2L) standing by underneath the hood is one of the most reliable powertrains ever to be built, and off-roaders and weekend-warriors alike have trusted it to carry them through any situation for decades. The engine bay presents fairly well, with black paint on the firewall and inner fenders, neatly organized components, and a black valve cover that matches the original snorkeled air cleaner up top. The well-maintained straight-6 pairs with a highly desirable manual gearbox that extracts maximum performance from its output, and even though it's not a burner off the line, it's plenty peppy with a great torque curve in every gear. 4-wheel drive agility is activated with its lever within easy reach of the driver, and the heavy-duty axles are strong enough to take this Jeep up and down mountains with ease. In keeping with Jeep's intention to arm the model with good road manners on asphalt and more rugged terrain alike, power steering makes for easy navigation, while front disc brakes provide low-effort, fade-resistant stopping ability. This sharp looking classic rides on a bright set of 15-inch chrome wheels outfitted with beefy 32x11.5x15 BFGoodrich T/A white-letter off-road tires.

Ready for the daily grind and/or weekend dirt? You'd better believe it. Not many CJs are presented and ready to go at this dialed-in level, so when you find one this nice, don't hesitate. Call today!