It’s getting hard to find a nice CJ-7 these days. Most have been modified and driven hard. Understandably so – their short wheelbase and 4×4 system makes them the perfect little mountain climbers. Somehow this one has survived mostly unscathed though. It’s located in Pheonix, Arizona and is listed here on eBay where the auction ends Monday!
Ok, so not completely unscathed. One of the three previous owners did upgrade the suspension and mount new rims and tires. It’s hard to resist the temptation to mess with things when you own a Jeep. At least there isn’t any diamond plate in sight. Good thing too because the seller claims that the paint and graphics are original! The chrome may look flashy, but it was actually part of the Laredo package.
As were the leather seats and tilt steering column. It looks like this one was even ordered with air conditioning and an automatic transmission. This was pretty plush for a Jeep and I’m guessing this particular one didn’t go off the beaten path very often. It has 100k miles on the clock, but still looks like new. I did spot a hula girl and an aftermarket radio in the dash. See, no one can resist!
This was the last year for the CJ-7 and some considered it the end of an era. The new Jeep was more civilized, but honestly I’d rather have this beautiful machine over any of its newer and more improved brethren. It just has so much more character than what’s been built since. With bidding going crazy on this one though, it might not be much more affordable…
If I were to want a jeep today CJ7’s would be my 🎫
Love seeing their logo stamped on the dash. Long live AMC.
Whenever I see a CJ-7, I can’t help but think of Daisy Duke!
I had one of these when I was younger. It was a few years older than this one but great fun. I purchased it as a college student and it was pretty decent and affordable. I recently went looking for another one, perhaps because of the nostalgia and could not believe what they are bringing. Great fun but pricey anymore
Cool Jeep.
These rode like crap on the rode. Still enjoyed riding in my friend’s earlier 80’s Renegade model CJ-7. We used it for utility around the campground and for a pulling stake trailer with mowers and for trash runs, but it was his family’s extra vehicle that we could borrow too.
Replaced a mid-70’s CJ that was even more spartan.
Things went wiggy one night while blasting the Eagles Already Gone on our wayt to the movies in our late teens when an unexpected spinout on a tight dry on-ramp left us facing the wrong way on the shoulder. The sound of the scrubbing of those off road tires very luckily did not get followed by the sound of scraping and crushing metal. This was when these were starting to take some heat as rollover risk vehicles. We were lucky, and mum was the word.
If we were in this lifted model we’d have been toast.
Maybe the Laredo was a different package, but the renegade had a great all-weather feeling fabric on the seats that looked like that “leather” shown in these pics.
Nice Jeep in nice shape. But seriously? Not one underhood shot to be found?
I never warmed to the CJ-7 because to me they look just a little awkward – like they took the pure design of a CJ-5 and just pulled it from the ends to make it longer.
Oh, wait – that’s what they did do.….
“…the renegade…”
“Scrambler”
Ya got 10 more inches in the CJ-8.
Dats da 1 4 me…
8^ )
My brother had a loaded out stock CJ-7 with an automatic transmission, AC , etc. He let me drive it on regular occasions. The state was building a new connector between two existing thoroughfares and had piled a huge amount of dirt for the foundation. My idiocy was in thinking that I could climb up a hill of some fairly loose dirt. Well, I got halfway up and the Jeep quit pulling. When I applied the brakes it started slowly sliding backward and pitching the frontend 45 degrees to the right. I knew I was close to rolling over so I immediately put it in neutral, let off the brakes and hoped I could straighten it up. That quick backward descent broke me of ever driving that Jeep again once I got it home.
I’ve always been one to drive it & not look at it. Being a current jeep owner & off-road enthusiast a jeep like this might change my way of thinking. My Dad said that time spent on a tractor or in Drivers Ed didn’t teach me to drive but watching The Dukes of Hazzard sure did. I made a 78 Monza 2+2 fly.
Well this one brought $16,800 not surprised. I agree with Jesse they are hard to find in as nice to original as this one is. At least body wise. I would prefer to have one with a manual though. I think that would have brought more for had it been so configured.
I never owned a Jeep in the eighties, but I had a few friends that did and those leaf springs front and rear really made them bounce. I own a 2015 Wrangler Unlimited Sahara and the ride is only slightly worse than the 2015 Explorer Sport my wife used to own. Those readers that are reminiscing when they see this beautiful Laredo should rent a new Wrangler for a weekend or so. They really are a lot of fun especially with the soft top folded and the doors off. I’ve already been told by my wife and children that I’m not allowed to sell my Jeep unless it’s to buy another one. For those that enjoy three pedals, new Wranglers can still be had with manual transmissions as well. I wouldn’t own one without a clutch.