One of the straightest, most original 1974 Jeep CJ5's that you will find. A California Jeep through and through, it is a great example of a CJ from the hey day of Off Road Hall of Fame inductee Brian Chuchua's famous Fullerton, CA dealership.
Other than the adjustable 9000 shocks, suspension, wheels and tires, and large capacity fuel tank and steering wheel, the Jeep is ridiculously original. Most of the paint seems to be original. It is not perfect, but has a perfect small nick here and there patina. There is some surface rust, the floors are incredibly solid, maintaining most of the original paint. There is one very tiny dent on the hood where it lays on the windshield frame open. Could be easily banged out. Never bothered me. Been there since long before I got the Jeep.
The frame is very solid with only surface rust. I was about to POR it, but then I decided to sell it, so I've left it alone, as this Jeep has nothing to hide.
It's rare to find a CJ5 that still has the original long throw steering column, as well as the original tailgate that still funnctions. This one has both.
One of the rarest and greatest options it has is the factory power steering. It is therefore super easy to turn and drive.
It once had a removable hard top and still carries the attachment hardware.
It has a brand new battery, starts up and runs great. I had the famous 4X Doctor in Burbank, CA rebuild the original straight 6 engine, less than 2,000 miles ago. I also had them rebuild the fuel lines and replace the large capacity gas tank, which is practically new, as well as new exhaust pipes. The only thing that they did not address is the original carb, which needs to be rebuilt. It runs fine, but would run even better if the carb was rebuilt. Mike at the 4X Doctor suggested I replace it with an EFI set-up.
Years earlier, I had the also SoCal famous TransaXion rebuild the original transmission. And 4 Wheel Parts in Burbank helped me rebuild and upgrade the suspension, which was already set up at pretty much the same height and stance when I got it, which is, in my opinion, just right and perfect.
Years ago I did some very basic electrical repair. The electric on these is basic to begin with. The wipers work, the fan works, the headlights work, but the gas tank sender is not reading on the gauge.
The GT wheel is now period cool. Again, it's been on the Jeep since before I got it. The only other thing that I replaced are the fender rubbers. The originals were like old dinosaur skin or a 90 year-old Vegas tan that never knew what sun block was, so I replaced 'em.
The original shorty buckets are still there but need to be recovered. I also have the original back seat which has been out of it for many years and outside, so it needs to be reupholstered. You'll just need bolts, nuts and washers to put it back in, but I like running the Jeep without it.
The only noticeable damage is on the rear floor of the bed, under where the back seat goes. The floor is dented there, though still very solid, with one stress crack about 3 inches long which would be easy to weld and repair. I cannot tell if it was dented from weight being thrown into it, or if it was dented by pulling too much weight at one time, or from tying off to a tree or rock and winching. Hard for me to imagine it was from pulling too much weight, as it easily pulls my old 1950 Boles Aero trailer that is in one of the photos. Especially with the factory granny gear in 1st.
I just recently used the low 4X, so I know it's all working just fine.
The small towing ball was welded on at one time in the past, so if I were you, I would torch or saw the ball off to create more towing flexibility.
The Bikini Top has been on it for all the years that I have had the Jeep.
Even the paint on the hood brackets and original storage box door under the passenger seat is original, as are all the seat brackets and frames. There were old cushions on the vertical roll bars, so there is some surface pitting on the original bar paint under where those once were.
The original gauge trim has a rusty patina. I like it that way, but that's just me. Easily replaced or chromed.
There are really solid old rear corner brackets which I'm pretty sure supported a cross bar for a spare tire and/or spare tanks and gear, therefore the tail gate was never welded. And there is a hole in the right rear corner that had a trick little air compressor in it, which somehow disappeared out from under it when I was having some of the work done years ago.
Those two parts of its history point to it being a very well cared for off-road Jeep that was never driven too hard and was thoughtfully put together, very possibly by Brian Chuchua himself.
Floors are solid, and the inner wheel wells are remarkably straight and original. If you have been looking for an honest, vintage Jeep, look no further. If you are looking for great bones to restore, here they are. If, like me, you want great bones to leave alone and never worry about, look no further.
Bid with confidence, as I have perfect feedback here on eBay for many years now. I do not need to sell the Jeep and don't really want to, but it's time to let it go to someone who is going to use it more than I do, and really appreciate it's SoCal history.
To that, if you don't know who Off-Road Hall of Fame inductee Brian Chuchua is:
"Off-Road Hall of Famer Brian Chuchua helped off-road racing grow through both his support and participation in the sport. In 1965 he hosted the National Four- Wheel Drive Grand Prix, the first modern off-road race staged for spectators. He is also known for driving in world class cross country events such as the London to Sydney Marathon, running rallies and sponsoring numerous entries in off-road events such as the Stardust 7-11 and the Mint 400.
By the age of 21 he was considered a very experienced off-road driver. With his understanding of Jeeps and their mechanics he opened a Jeep dealership in April of 1963 with Doug Olson in Fullerton, California. The dealership grew to be one of the most successful Jeep dealerships in the United States. In the late 1960s he also began the sale of aftermarket Jeep products. His dealership sold the first aftermarket roll bars and V-8 conversion kits for both Jeeps and Corvettes. His involvement and knowledge of after market parts led him to join a group of individuals who became the founding fathers of the Specialty Equipment Manufactures Association (SEMA) in 1963.
Chuchua went beyond sponsoring and organizing races - he also collected records at famous drag races such as Bonneville, Dry Lakes including El Mirage, and quarter mile drags at Pomona, Santa Ana and Long Beach. He raced his Jeep with a super charged V-8. Recognizing his skill, the National Hot Rod Association (NHRA) asked him to captain the 1965 United States Drag team at expositions in England. He traveled far beyond the race circuits and participated in numerous international rallies. He drove the London to Mexico Rally, traveling from England to Bulgaria to Portugal, then onto a ship across to Brazil only to be time bared in Uruguay. He completed the London to Sydney, traveling through the Middle East, into India, through Singapore and across Australia, coming in 2nd place in his class and 5th overall. He also raced his CJ-6 Jeep across the African continent en route through Turkey where the Jeep crashed."
The Jeep is listed locally and I reserve the right to end the auction at any time. The Jeep is sold AS-IS. There is absolutely no warranty implied in this offering. The buyer is responsible for shipping or for local pickup. I will help in any way that I can to make either of those options easier. A non-refunable deposit of $1,000 is due within 48 hours of the auction's end, so please only bid if you have the funds available. The full balance is due within 7 days after the auction's end. The Jeep nor the title will be released until full payment has been received and verified by the bank. I will accept PayPal for the Deposit. Cash in person or Cashiers Check.
If you have any questions, you can e-mail me at speedshopfilms@me.com
Please only ask if you are a serious buyer. We are all busy with work and life, and it will just save us all a little of both if only the truly interested parties contact me. Thanks for your understanding.
And thanks for looking!
Jeep CJ for Sale
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Auto blog
Thu, 15 Nov 2012
Nearly every automaker doing business in the SUV or pickup truck segments offers a package designed to improve the off-road capabilities of its wares. But, of course, not all such factory kits are created equal. How, then, to separate the wheat from the chaff? Gather each of them up and put them through their paces, naturally.
The folks from Four Wheeler and PickupTrucks.com joined forces to run just such a comparison test, with the winner named the Ultimate Factory 4x4. A total of seven vehicles showed up to the fight: the 2012 Ford F-150 SVT Raptor, 2013 Jeep Wrangler Rubicon, 2012 Nissan Frontier PRO-4X and Xterra PRO-4X, 2012 Ram Power Wagon, and 2012 Toyota 4Runner Trail and Tacoma TRD T|X Baja Series.
With the contestants in place, the whole crew put each vehicle through a battery of tests that included skidpad and acceleration measurements, a hillclimb, a rocky stairstep course and a rock garden. Considering the nature of the beasts, on-road ride and comfort were not part of the routine.
Tue, 29 Oct 2013
Hey, Jeep fans. If you think the idea of a funky-looking, car-based Cherokee revival is offensive, have a listen to what might be in store for the next-gen Jeep Wrangler. Automotive News is reporting that as Jeep develops the 2016 Wrangler, weight reduction is a crucial target, and the Wrangler's rugged solid axles could be sacrificed in the name of better fuel economy.
We've already heard the next Wrangler will go on a serious diet using aluminum body panels and an air suspension system, so the idea of a four-wheel independent suspension setup for this OG SUV isn't all that surprising. Besides, it's not like an independent suspension would limit the Wrangler's off-road abilities - just check out the Hummer H1. In fact, it might be the aftermarket parts companies - not Wrangler enthusiasts - who would be most disappointed by such a drastic suspension change, as the article states that the Wrangler's solid axles and coil-link suspension make it the most popular SUV for customization.
There are probably still a couple years before we'll start hearing any concrete details about the 2016 Wrangler, at which time it will be interesting to see how stricter fuel economy and crash safety regulations have been balanced with traditional Wrangler cues like its removable doors and roof and folding windshield. Let us know in the comments below if a Wrangler sans solid axles is any less of a Wrangler.
Sun, May 31 2015
Summer is here and the school season is winding to a close. That means millions of students will be graduating college and (hopefully) entering the workforce. For many, that will mean buying a new car suited to the new stage in life into which they will now be embarking. That can be a bewildering choice, especially for someone who's never bought a car before. Fortunately, Autotrader has come up with a short list of recommended cars – new and used – which it recommends to the graduating class of 2015. Among the site's top choices are some compelling crossovers and hatchbacks, including the Buick Encore, Chevy Trax, and Jeep Renegade, as well as the Honda Fit, Nissan Versa Note, Mazda3 and Fiat 500. Can't stretch to buying new, or don't see the point? Autotrader has also identified the Toyota Camry, Ford Fusion and even the Lexus IS as smart buys in the certified pre-owned category. "Any time someone goes through a major life change, such as graduating college, they need to determine if their current ride makes sense for their lifestyle, from both a financial and functional perspective," says Autotrader editor Brian Moody. "For example, while that hand-me-down SUV from your parents was nice when you turned 16, you may want to opt for a safer, more fuel-efficient car as you transition into the working world." Autotrader Names 10 Best Cars for Recent College Graduates ATLANTA, May 28, 2015 /PRNewswire/ -- For many, graduating college is a milestone like no other – it represents a new chapter, a proud accomplishment and, fortunately or unfortunately, financial independence. Luckily for graduates who are in the market for a new car to suit their post-college lifestyle, Autotrader's expert editors say now is a great time to make a purchase, as dealerships are flush with affordable models that are fun, fuel-efficient and thoughtfully designed. Autotrader Logo "Any time someone goes through a major life change, such as graduating college, they need to determine if their current ride makes sense for their lifestyle, from both a financial and functional perspective," said Brian Moody, site editor for Autotrader.