Find or Sell Used Cars, Trucks, and SUVs in USA

1983 Am General Dj-5m Mail Jeep Postal Jeep on 2040-cars

Year:1983 Mileage:47831 Color: Ford Wimbledon White matte coat
Location:

El Portal, California, United States

El Portal, California, United States
Transmission:Automatic
Engine:2.5L AMC Straight-4
Vehicle Title:Clear
Fuel Type:Gasoline
For Sale By:Private Seller
VIN: 1utuf00b0ds191793 Year: 1983
Exterior Color: Ford Wimbledon White matte coat
Make: Jeep
Number of Cylinders: 4
Model: CJ
Trim: Utility truck 2-door
Warranty: Vehicle does NOT have an existing warranty
Drive Type: Two-Wheel drive
Mileage: 47,831
Sub Model: DJ-5 M
Condition: UsedA vehicle is considered used if it has been registered and issued a title. Used vehicles have had at least one previous owner. The condition of the exterior, interior and engine can vary depending on the vehicle's history. See the seller's listing for full details and description of any imperfections.Seller Notes:"Used and formerly in US Government service. Not a show car, but in good shape and runs/drives well. No known significant engine/transmission/body issues. See vehicle description for information on known minor issues."

An American icon!  The DJ (Dispatcher Jeep) series was built for the U.S. Postal Service from 1955 to 1984. This 1983 DJ-5M has reportedly lived its entire life in central California, and drove a mail route from 1983 to 2009.  The previous owner was a USPS rural route driver, and when the Government sold the vehicle around 2002, he purchased it and continued to use it to deliver mail until he sold it to me.  This one was built under Government contract by AM General (the company that made Humvees), but is identical to the DJ-5's manufactured by Jeep.

The DJ-5 line was discontinued in 1984, so this is one of the newest models of DJ-5 available, and it shows.  Many DJ-5s were worked into the ground, rusted out, and were scrapped; this one is comparatively new, has lived a dry California life in the San Joaquin Valley, and was well taken care of.  It's in great shape.  I grew up in New England, where salt rusts away cars over five years old, so it still surprises me to see how little rust this 1983 model has.  

Features: 150 cubic inch 2.5L AMC Straight-4 engine with a Chrysler 904 transmission, both running strong. Previous owner worked over the engine in 2008; I'm not sure of the extent of the work that he did, but I have had no significant issues with the engine.

Passes smog testing in California (fully rebuilt catalytic converter in 2011).  All tires are in good shape with plenty of tread. Paint in good shape, very little surface rust on exposed surfaces; the paint is Ford Wimbledon White in a matte gloss, recently touched up.  No body damage is known, and all sheet metal is smooth and undented. There are a couple of holes in the floorboard under the pedals due to wear, but they do not constitute a safety hazard.  New battery. 

Issues: 1. Runs at low idle on cold startup, air intake probably needs adjusting. Warms up quickly and stays at correct idle afterward. 2. Slow oil leak from oil pan gasket (no fluid leaks from engine).  3. Speedometer and odometer not functioning (odometer reads 47K+ miles, but that's inaccurate - actual mileage not known).  I tried to put "Unknown" in the mileage box for this auction, but eBay wanted a number, so I put the displayed odometer reading in. 

There may be additional mechanical issues present of which I am unaware; I am strictly an amateur mechanic.  This description is complete to the best of my knowledge; no warranty or other statement of material fact regarding the vehicle's condition is expressed or implied.

This vehicle was built for utility, not luxury, so it's simple and sturdy.  There is one seat for the driver, a mail-sorting tray, and a cargo area, and little else in the passenger compartment.  If you want to add a passenger seat, it's easy - the holes for seat bolts were factory drilled.  Just get a seat (jcwhitney.com Jeep parts, or from a salvage yard) and pop it in.  There is also a radio under the mail tray; it would work for FM reception, but I never bothered to hook up the power wiring, so it is currently unpowered.   

Included is the official USPS service manual for the DJ-5M.  It's incredibly detailed, and tells you how to fix virtually anything.  Loaded with exploded diagrams, the manual has made it easy for me to work on the vehicle.  The Jeep also comes with all the extras shown: magnetic US MAIL signs, parking sign, extra mirrors (the USPS originally put a LOT of mirrors on it to avoid accidents), cool mailman jacket!

I have clean California title in hand, in my name.  Delivery of the Jeep is not available; you'll have to come pick it up.  Fortunately, I live literally right next door to Yosemite National Park, so if you come here to get the Jeep, I'll be happy to give you a pass to get into the park.

I posted a video of the Jeep, including starting and running, at   http://youtu.be/PzcUwivjvcg

This has been my fun cruise-around-town car for the last four years in our little mountain town, and it has performed very well in that role; I've also had it on the freeway, where it did just fine.  I hate to get rid of it, but we're moving from the woods to San Francisco, and of course that means the extra car has to go.  The Jeep is a lot of fun, and really gets positive attention and smiles from everyone you pass. 

Good luck!

Auto Services in California

Zip Auto Glass Repair ★★★★★

Auto Repair & Service, Windshield Repair, Glass-Auto, Plate, Window, Etc
Address: 2549 Marconi Ave, Rncho-Cordova
Phone: (877) 890-9370

Z D Motorsports ★★★★★

Auto Repair & Service, Automobile Body Repairing & Painting
Address: 8115 Canoga Ave, Calabasas-Hills
Phone: (818) 932-9222

Young Automotive ★★★★★

Auto Repair & Service, Automobile Parts & Supplies, Auto Transmission
Address: 890 Central Ave, Permanente
Phone: (650) 969-1151

XACT WINDOW TINTING & 3M CLEAR BRA PAINT PROTECTION ★★★★★

Auto Repair & Service, Glass Coating & Tinting Materials, Window Tinting
Address: 5140 E Airport Dr Suite G, Montclair
Phone: (909) 605-0422

Woodland Hills Honda ★★★★★

New Car Dealers
Address: 6111 Topanga Canyon Blvd, Bell-Canyon
Phone: (818) 887-7111

West Valley Machine Shop ★★★★★

Auto Repair & Service, Automobile Machine Shop, Engine Rebuilding & Exchange
Address: 9811 Deering Ave, Val-Verde
Phone: (818) 998-5084

Auto blog

Crawling Moab in the 2015 Jeep Renegade Trailhawk [w/video]

Thu, Apr 9 2015

The funny thing about the Renegade Trailhawk is that Jeep still feels the need to defend it. For the past 20 years, automakers have sent emissary vehicles outside the citadel walls surrounding their brand niche. In doing so, these companies found buyers eager to join the cult instead of an angry horde. With the kingdom successfully expanded, automakers had to build new walls to contain this broader identity. This is the story of Jeep's modern expansion, growing with new models while the faithful at the brand's center howl at every quest into broader market segments. Thirteen years after it busted out the Liberty and eight years after birthing the Compass and Patriot, you'd think the resistance to new Jeeps would subside. But no. It's 2015, and while nobody makes the slightest tantrum over BMW's new minivan (except for Sniff Petrol), the Renegade still has to fight its way through pitchforks and torches. Which is a long way of saying that this author is guilty of brand prejudice, too. When the company told us that we'd spend the first day of the Easter Jeep Safari driving seven awesome concepts and the second day driving the Renegade Trailhawk on Dome Point Trail, we could only think, "They giveth excitement, and they taketh it away." Our pessimism was later proven to be incorrect. Sharing the sentiment our colleague Brandon Turkus expressed after his Quick Spin, we found the Renegade to be "in a word, impressive." Dome Point will not trouble a kitted-out Wrangler, but in a compact SUV with on-road tires the rocky sections were chunky enough to require close attention to your lines or use a spotter. As instructed, we put the little 4x4 into the Selec-Terrain's Rock mode, and with common sense plus one eye on the man directing us with hand signals the Renegade climbed over everything with some wheelspin but little fuss. At the first rest point, we turned the car off to wait for vehicles behind. Not realizing that this resets the drive mode to Auto, we crawled through the next two rocky jumbles in the default setting. The result was the same: a bit of wheelspin climbing over thick steps, but an altogether drama-free passage. Auto mode can't use the engine throttle maps unique to each Selec-Terrain setting, but it doesn't hamper the Renegade's capability by much. On a steep bit of trail with a crest capped by stacked stone plinths, it took three tries to find the right line, but that's on us – the Renegade did more than expected.

2014 Jeep Grand Cherokee gets surprisingly comprehensive update, new diesel power

Mon, 14 Jan 2013

Traditionally, automotive journalists can be heard muttering something to the effect of "Geeze, it's about time!" whenever a vehicle's midcycle refresh is revealed. As we routinely see and drive new models many months before the public even claps eyes on them in showrooms - and then go on to tweeze apart their minutia in our daily writings - perhaps some impatience is to be expected. With so much exposure to a given vehicle, it's fair to say we tire of most cars and trucks far more quickly than the average consumer.
The alterations are handsome, if not subtle touches from the "If It Ain't Broke" school of design.
Which is why we're pleased to say "Oh, is it time for that already?" when it comes to the 2014 Jeep Grand Cherokee. The current WK2 Grand Cherokee hit the market in 2011 and climbed its way into our hearts with its rugged good looks, go-anywhere capability and surprising refinement. We're not yet tired of its appearance or performance, but even so, we're very glad to see Chrysler giving its flagship Jeep some attention, including a much-anticipated diesel powertrain option and some other economy-minded measures.

April Fools' Day brings Jeep Sedan, Hyundai N Roadster, Toyota Yaris pickup and more

Mon, Apr 1 2019

There is one day out of the year when public relations professionals have permission to lie to journalists and to the public: April Fools' Day. Manufacturers release details about wild, weird and wacky new technology, concept vehicles and services. Some take it to obvious outlandish extremes (Jeep Sedan anybody?), while others plot to mislead with products that are just outside the realm of possibility. Check out all the "jokes" below. BMW Motorrad BMW doesn't want to exclude anybody from experiencing the thrill of high-level racing, so it is introducing 'iRace" autonomous programming on its S 1000 RR sport bike. It includes beginner, sportsman, advanced and unlimited driving modes, and stores GPS information for all Superbike world championship tracks. Hyundai Hyundai is wrong for this. The Hyundai N Roadster is the work of South Korean designer Yeonjoon Park and features a 2.0-liter turbocharged engine, rear-wheel drive and a hard convertible top. Hyundai says this is a "concept (for now)," but we think it'd make a seriously great Mazda Miata competitor. Honda Honda wins the award for the best interactive gimmick, as its press release for the '90s-inspired special-edition Pastport includes a live hotline number with a message from Fred Savage. Call 1-833-PASTPORT for more information. Jeep Put the Jeep Cherokee face on the Chrysler 300's body, and voila! The 2019 Jeep Sedan is born. We can't decide if the name or the rendering is better. Land Rover Accessibility to charging ports is of major concern to anybody with a plug-in vehicle. So, with the recent launch of the Range Rover P400e and Range Rover Sport P400e, Land Rover is putting forth an effort to install more stations around the globe. First up is Scotland's Isle of Skye. Adventurers need juice too! Lexus Australia Lexus expands its Encore service to include doggos. The new service, called Enpaw, will take pups to luxury boarding kennels in style. Toyota U.S. Toyota created the Yaris Adventure pickup for "those who want to tell their friends they own a truck but never veer off pavement." It's part Mazda 2, part RAV4, 100 percent ute and it looks ... great? Creating a new segment might be all fun and games to Toyota, but Ford is reportedly considering a Focus-based ute in a similar, albeit larger, style. Toyota Australia Toyota is launching a new HiAce van, and it's already getting a limited-edition variant called the PieAce.