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Desert Patina: 1956 Willys-Jeep CJ-5

Some vehicles, you don’t even need the desert backdrop or mountain landscapes to know that a vehicle has resided in one of the driest climates on earth. You just need to look at the paint, the patina, that it could only earn through a lifetime of driving through dried-out river beds and up rocky trails with boulders that could pulverize a compact Jeep should a tremor shake one loose. This Willys-Jeep CJ-5 has survived a lifetime of unpaved roads and wears its years proudly, and is now offered here on eBay as a running, driving barn find for $7,995 or best offer.

The seller has made the right moves as it relates to reviving this Jeep but not over-spending on it. This is the next iteration of the classic Willys-Jeep model that is synonymous with WWII and troop transport. While it’s still the civilian model, the CJ-5 somehow looked more robust, as if it had been built with both military and civilian use in mind, as opposed to just the former. The CJ-2A and CJ-3A models pulled no punches about their intended use, as any usefulness for civilian owners was clearly an afterthought. The CJ-5 kicked off what I’d consider the golden era of the Jeep, as this is the body style that became synonymous with becoming a vehicle everyone wanted to own, from retired drill Sargent to college coeds.

As I mentioned, the seller has been savvy about making improvements without going overboard on the project, a skill I wish I could master. The work included fresh upholstery on the bucket seats and a freshened-up fuel system that included a new gas tank and rebuilt carburetor, along with a new electronic fuel pump. The Highboy Bumper Jack is a nice-to-have feature as well, that I’m assuming the seller installed as part of his sale prep efforts. The slippery slope with any barn find is to keep making improvements in hope that a potential buyer will reward you for your efforts, but it’s far smarter to just make the improvements that help the next owner feel like they’ve got a nice place to sit and a drivetrain that’s healthy.

Presumably, since it came out of long-term storage and had no issues running, the drivetrain is healthy. These are simple machines, and not particularly powerful, with the gasoline four-cylinder making around 70 horsepower. There’s likely plenty of work to be done here in terms of deferred maintenance, but it’s at least encouraging knowing that the Jeep still wanted to run after however many years of residing in the barn. If this were mine, I might move to a larger tire and wheel package but otherwise, leave it as-is. What do you think is “next” for a desert survivor like this Jeep?

Comments

  1. Avatar RGSmith1

    I’d leave it alone and drive and enjoy the heck out of it!

    Like 20
  2. Avatar Nevadahalfrack Member

    Paint it steel blue, mount a rifle scabbard to the drivers side for a Winchester 94 30-30 and do a remake of “Coogan’s Bluff”-which, BTW IMHO had one of the best motorcycle chase scenes ever produced…!
    Great old jeep. Deming is about as dry as a Baptist wedding reception.

    Like 10
    • Avatar Bob Burgess

      I thought it was the movie Coogans Bluff.

      Like 0
  3. Avatar Brrewmenn

    To myself… You don’t need this Jeep, You don’t need this Jeep…

    Like 6
  4. Avatar Rosseaux

    I learned to drive (at age 13) in one just like this, which is the secret to my superior manual transmission skills. With the roll bar, this baby needs nothing but a canvas roof and a long, lonely desert road.

    Like 10
  5. Avatar Mitchell Gildea Member

    You know who would probably want this? David Freiburger from Roadkill and Hot Rod

    Like 0
  6. Avatar anav8r

    I love it, but it’s 1800 mile too far west.
    Service as needed and drive. Oversize tires are for youngin’s, and I’m not one.

    Like 7
  7. Avatar Robert Eddins

    There was a similar looking one on facebook about 2-3 months back.

    Like 0
  8. Avatar Brian F

    I purchased the 1967 CJ5 on BAT last month and it has a similar level of patina. I have debated the leave as is versus refurbish (not restore) goals and concluded that I am going to leave it as is and only focus on those things needed for safety, reliability, comfort, or capabilities (such as adding a tow bar). It is not going to be modified and it won’t be refurbished anytime soon.

    I cannot believe how popular these are in the well-healed areas of California — such as the Bay Area, Napa or Montecito. I could see this being picked up, made to be safe/reliable, and the patina left as is.

    The CJ5 is a great first hobby car in my opinion: quality parts are readily available at a reasonable price, easy/simple to work on, and the value is there if you spend wisely.

    Like 2
    • Avatar Eric B

      Nice, was that the one from the Malamut’s (I think that’s his name?) museum/collection? That guy buys and sells great survivors.

      Like 0
    • Avatar Eric B

      Also, no offense, but shame on you for even having the thought of restoring cross your mind! It’s already been painted by nature, it’s unique and original. Only original once and it’s actually worth more as a survivor. Glad you’re just maintaining, upgrading and enjoying : )

      Like 0
  9. Avatar TouringFordor

    Sold

    Like 0
    • Avatar Azplumber

      No auction ended, unsold

      Like 0
  10. Avatar George Louis

    What about the Jeep they had on the Roy Rogers show? Remember that one? Maybe you can dig up some information on that Jeep and tell us where it is today. Thank You!!!

    Like 3
    • Avatar Nevadahalfrack Member

      The1946 Willys CJ-2A Jeep Nellybelle sold for $38,400 at Julien’s “Icons & Idols: Hollywood” sale November 16–17 2018 in Beverly Hills, 20 years after Rogers’ death according to Hagerty Media.

      Like 0
  11. Avatar Tom Hartleb

    Where is this jeep

    Like 0
    • Avatar Nevadahalfrack Member

      Deming, NM

      Like 0
  12. Avatar Coy

    Drive one in the desert campaign against Rommel back in the day!

    Like 1
    • Avatar Nevadahalfrack Member

      Ah, “The Rat Patrol”!! Now you’re dating us…😆
      And unfortunately many folks now wouldn’t know those used for that series were Willys MB not CJ2A’s.

      Like 1

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