It’s really funny how sometimes you will look at the most unlikely of cars and find yourself quite taken by them. This little Jeep has had just such an effect on me. I’m trying to put my finger on exactly what it is. I think that it might be its basic simplicity coupled with the fact that it is obvious to see that it has been designed for a specific purpose. This CJ5 is listed for sale here on eBay. Located in Mize, Mississippi, it is for sale with a clear title. With 5 days remaining on the auction bidding has risen to $3,550 but the reserve hasn’t been met.

Bodily this CJ5 looks to be in pretty fair condition, especially when you consider both its age and the life that it was designed to live. It’s by no means perfect, but the seller states that the frame is solid with no cracks or rust. This is good news as that gives us a structurally sound base to work from. There is some rust in the floors, but the photos indicate that none of this is particularly bad, and that it would be a fairly easy fix. The seller also indicates that there is some rot on the tailgate and near the windshield post that requires attention. Those wheels and tires are brand new which is a plus.

A nice bonus included with this car is a hard top and doors. The seller believes that these are genuine Jeep articles, and they come with fitting instructions along with all of the bolts and brackets to install them. If these were given a freshen up and maybe painted in the same shade of white as the wheels they would look really nice on the vehicle.

Under the hood is the 232ci six backed by a 3 speed manual transmission. This all seems to be quite robust. The seller has undertaken some work such as replacing the radiator and having the alternator rebuilt. There are some issues that need addressing, but all of them appear to be fairly minor and not particularly urgent. The speedometer cable is broken and the gas gauge doesn’t work. The throw-out bearing can be noisy occasionally and the clutch clevis rod is worn, so both should be replaced at some stage. There is also a leak from the master cylinder. You could decide to either tackle all of the issues immediately, or work through them on a priority basis depending on what your ultimate plans are.

This Jeep represents motoring at its most basic. This isn’t a car that has been adorned with all manner of options and trinkets. It has been designed to do a job and to do it well. The interior is spartan by modern standards and it does appear that the radio is missing from the dash. Otherwise, the seats are there to sit on, the pedals make it go and stop, and that big round thing is to help you to avoid colliding with things. Everything works except the previously mentioned speedometer and gas gauge. You can see the rust in the floor in this shot. None of it appears to be rot-through from the provided photos, so if it is addressed and given a decent coat of paint then this old girl should be good to go for another 40 years.

You have probably guessed by now that I quite like this little Jeep. As I said before, it is designed to perform a specific purpose and to perform it well. It is motoring at its most basic, with no unnecessary additions. It is by no means perfect, but if it were then you probably would be less inclined to use it for its designed purpose. It has some issues that need addressing, but none of them appear to threaten the long-term viability of it. We live in an increasingly complicated and stressful world. Sometimes it is beneficial for each of us to draw breath and return to the basics. This CJ5 is the automotive equivalent of that concept.