Somewhere between a farm tractor and today’s Jeep Wrangler, the Jeep CJ5 offers go-anywhere capabilities in a (theoretically) road-legal utility vehicle. This 1972 Jeep CJ5 in San Antonio, Texas recently swallowed a claimed $1200 in parts and runs and drives “as it should,” according to the listing here on Craigslist. Interesting features include the Arctic Top, bright orange paint, factory V8 engine, and winch. Thanks to reader T.J. for spotting this classic four-wheeler. The Texas-sized $11,999 asking price may test the mettle of would-be buyers for a rig that’s unlikely to have its capabilities tested anytime soon.
Flashback to Jeep headquarters in the ’60s. “For the instrument panel design, how about a piece of sheet metal with some holes in it? Brilliant thinking, Stan; consider it done.” Form follows function in a big way in the CJ-5’s hose-ready interior. At least one nauga perished to yield the durable naugahyde upholstery. Real outdoor lovers don’t need air bags; they throw their sternum into the steering wheel hub in a crash, rip off a chaw of tobacco, and toss back a slug of Ten High to dull the pain. The three-speed manual shifter changes gears while the transfer case lever selects 2WD, 4WD, and 4WD Low Range.
The Arctic Top (just a nickname according to CJ3B) adds sturdy all-weather protection with fancy roll-up windows just like Uncle Leon’s Plymouth.
The AMC 304 cid (5.0L) V8 sports a rebuilt carburetor. That and the new gas tank and sender should keep fuel system problems at bay for some time. I’ve driven a four-barrel 304 three-speed of this vintage; the 150 HP won’t win any street races, but the 285 lb-ft of torque lets you keep the revs down on-road or off. Thanks to lov2xlr8 for some details.
Crank windows and solid panel doors keep the weather and thieving neighbor kids on the outside better than canvas panels and prayers.
Today’s winches look like a 3/8″ drill and a cable spool. Operating condition escaped the listing, but this unit looks like it could pull the Dreamsicle-colored Jeep up the side of a building like Bat Man. How would you put this tough short wheelbase 4×4 to work?
Rest assured it will go anywhere the capabilities and sense of the driver require. Like all jeeps it has a drinking problem. With the 304 it qualifies as a full blown problem. Dont ask me i know. Lol
I’d put this rig in 4 wheel low & pop a wheelie with that 304s torque of course!
Pretty similar to the 1979 model that I had. Mine had a dash pad thingy, although I’m sure you’d do the “sternum into the steering wheel” thing way before you ever got to the dash pad, and on the passenger side you’d just smash your head into the windshield as you soared over the dash pad with the seatbelts being lap belts only. It’s kind of amazing that these things were still street legal up until 1982. I dated a highway patrolman’s daughter when I was 19 and he wouldn’t let me take her out in the Jeep. Oh well. I don’t blame him now that I’ve got my own kids. I did have some near misses using a CJ5 as a daily driver through part of high school and college, but I think it made me a better driver.
I bet this bugger is tough to mount for the larger folks. A CJ 5 is already a little tough to get into (especially without a tilt wheel). With this one you get to navigate around that roll bar in the front floor pan and the door of that “arctic top” while sliding over the doorframe hump and under the steering wheel all at the same time. I bet that top is a squeaking, rattling son of a gun. I’d just go with the soft top (or no top, weather permitting).
Don’t see a clutch pedal in the pictures (?).
It’s there, compared to what the majority of my CJ-5/7 customers paid for their toys, it’s about in line,
This is the first year of the jeeps after AMC severed the links to Willys and Kaiser- that is to say original- jeeps with roots in WWII. How can you tell? If you are not driving around sitting on your gas tank it ain’t a real jeep. Don’t get me wrong, later CJ’s are very capable- think CJ-7 with the 258- but they are still missing a certain something (like bell crank/pitman arm steering and mechanical clutch linkage or 11 leaf’s in the spring pack) that were trademarks of the pre-’72 jeeps. Truth be told, driving a 134 CI 4 banger with 5:38 gears on the freeway is not a happy experience! (’55 CJ-5, ’53 M-170, ’79 CJ-7)
Pretty sure CJ’s had a mechanical clutch linkage. The “bellcrank” on the clutch linkage, as I think they termed it, had plastic bushings that would wear out and break, then there’d be slack in the linkage, then it would pop apart and your clutch pedal would slam to the floor. Then you’ll crawl under there, look at it and go “hey, there’s a zerk fitting there, I should’ve greased that thing!” Kind of amazing the plastic bushings survived 20 years with no grease before they broke, though.
I stand corrected on the clutch, but will stand by the steering. Actually, if I could have my ultimate jeep it would be a CJ-3A with the 225 V6, 4-speed tranny and OD, and Saginaw steering conversion.
As built in 1972 the CJ5 came with a cable operated clutch. This soon proved unsatisfactory and a rodded linkage with the “z” bar with the zero fitting was available to replace the cable. I installed 1 in the 72 CJ I bought new around 1974 at the latest.
That CJ if it runs well is worth every dime of the asking. Interior is all intact and clean for a universal. Engine looks like it hasn’t been butchered and appears nearly correct. Hardtop, and no wholes to be seen in the body.
Less V8’s out there too. I have a 66 CJ5 V6 that can go anywhere. One would work hard to get is stuck in even the deepest snow. Could pull down a house if need be. Many vehicles with must less abilities than this CJ bring way more money. It would be money well spent to purchase this one, look around.
That is an Orville hardtop. They were sold as Meyers hardtops through the Meyers snowplow company. That top is the Deluxe model also refered to as the 5 window top.
great humor Todd. Glad an owner didnt take offense. We keep it light around here… Readin onto the others comments I was still in ‘that mood’ so U odder guys got some gwuffs too. Good Time!
But not as much a drivin one? 8^ 0
Wrenchin em I see others get in that mood too (from the writin). If we dont we might start to ball?
My fav is the cj8 esp as alaska postal or w/the solid-all panel/hrd top, lift off body (alu). Like my bronk (it 103 v 92 inch mine) kinda, but bigger (longer anyway, not sure on width). I’ not sure if you saw the fella rock crawlin w/1 of these early models (uTube). Looks like the WWII version. The frnt tires seem out further than any body part and it crawls over a big crevice. Wham ! parts crash the rock as he proceeds (3 mi/hr?) and successfully crosses. Looking unscathed. He appeared as one of these ‘large persons’ just cuz the small size of that 1st version & lack of doors, top windshield, low back seat(s?). Amazing
Definitely has the Hayduke vibe! Nice, honest example. Can’t comment on the price, I know these have gotten pricey over the years. I had a handful of CJs that I bought, cleaned up, drove and sold in the late 80s. I went to look at a CJ-5 with the 304, but after driving it, I decided the big motor, short wheelbase combo would have me flipping the jeep in a different way. I stuck with the CJ-7s. This one, buy it, sell the top, pull the roll cage, and drive.