Another day, another survivor Jeep CJ5. This 1976 CJ5 Renegade appears to be from the same Florida seller that had the gorgeous Golden Eagle for sale. So, somewhere in Florida, he’s finding some beautiful specimens of survivor Jeeps – and this Renegade sports original paint and a sweet period-correct Warn PTO winch, along with the 304 V8 engine. The seller notes it remains uncut and numbers matching, and while it does have some isolated rust, it’s nothing that requires imminent panic. The Jeep is listed here on craigslist in Land O’Lakes, Florida with an asking price of $16,500.
I spent some time trying to find a decent video clip of a Jeep with the beefy 304 V8 opened up via a throatier exhaust and headers, and was surprised by how few I found. Instead of searching for hours, I ended up just getting my kicks in with this one here, that shows a CJ5 owner giving it the beans in his driveway so we can all take in the majesty that is a 304 with an aftermarket exhaust. It’s not particularly loud, and I actually found another video of a CJ5 with a small block Chevy swap that sounded far more sporting. Of course, even with a V8, the CJ5 isn’t exactly the kind of vehicle that’s built to rev to high heavens.
The seller doesn’t specify whether the interior is original, but it certainly appears to be – and it sports the desirable Levi’s trim that was all the rage in the 1970s. Although I don’t have hard numbers, it seems likely that the seller’s claim of the CJ5 Renegade package combined with the Levi’s upholstery being hard to come by is a fair one. The soft top frame is original, as are the soft white doors that are included with the sale. The tan bikini top is a replacement piece, and a few other original parts have been replaced as well, including the fenders and the emblems. The seller doesn’t specify why the fenders had to be replaced.
The 304 V8 benefits from recent drive belts, fuel filter, air filter, oil and filter, spark plugs wires and cap/rotor, among other basic tune-up repairs. The seller claims it runs and drives good, but will need additional sorting to bring it to a level most collectors will want, and in this case, it sounds like he’s pointing to weaknesses in the chassis related to bushings and shocks. Refreshing the suspension with a mild lift kit would likely be on the mind of the next owner anyway, or perhaps they plan to bring this CJ5 Renegade all the way back to showroom condition. Either way, you can’t really go wrong with a rare combination of features, the 304 V8, and a nicely patina’d exterior. Would you restore it or leave as-is?
What?? What are you looking at me for,,,oh, right, that OTHER CJ. I said my piece, and hurt my back stepping off the darn soapbox. I’ll admit, I was a bit cranky as a nasty toothache had control, but most of what I said on the other one can be salvaged, and like the squarebody, I’ll find one. To redeem myself somewhat( not sure why I have to) but I’ve been looking at a lot of these on FB, CL, and almost everyone has that “slash” mark through the original price, and the “amended” lower price next to it. One, a ’78, I think, I’ve been following at a dealer in Co. Springs. Claims a Cal. truck, inline 6, no top( just bikini, like this) probably a jillion miles, but no rust, for $6950, and it’s been on FB ALL WINTER, and no takers, IN COLORADO? Really? A rust free Cal. CJ and nobody wants it? So my point is, they can ask what they want, and we don’t see the sale price, it’s surely thousands less, but hey, much to my dismay, apparently it works for some. I was unaware a Levi’s edition had tan material, btw, it wasn’t cotton denim( like I thought) due to a fire hazard and was a different material that LOOKED like Levi’s, and wore terribly. Nice find, and I speculate will sell for half what they want.
Let the comments fly, folks, believe it or not, I like the comments, it’s a discussion like any other, and if it remains cordial, let ‘er rip,, :)
what’s the link to the one in CO?
Hi Jim, classified info, besides, not sure it’s cool to post stuff not affiliated with BF’s ( whispering, it was on FB in COS)
I agree. Sometimes the comments and/ or opinions are one of the great things about this site.!
Hey, I wasn’t disagreeing with your cranky/salty take, I was just wondering why you thought anyone that bought it would be some yuppie that wouldn’t know what they were in for once they drove it. I feel like the majority of interested parties would be guys of a certain age that used to have one back in the day, etc. I also blame Dennis Collins for the Jeep prices. Don’t know him? He owns Collins Bros Jeeps in TX. Ever watch Fast n Loud….n Annoying? He’s Richard Rawlings friend who would occasionally go on car buying trips with him. He specializes in vintage survivor Jeeps and asks a premium.
I’m with you on the prices, and it’s not just cars. How about the housing market pretty much as a whole across the country? While other generations got to buy a decent house for a decent price if they worked hard enough and maybe got to tinker on cool old cars when they were worth nothing, the current younger gen is faced with a housing market that consists of houses having 50 offers on them sight unseen and they’ll never own a classic car to tinker on. The gap is growing, not everyone is a fool with too much money and at least the older gens got to experience better times.
It’s cool, I’m here to interact with people of the same interests, we can disagree. I’m not sure your age, I’m 66, and while obviously, most people aren’t stupid, you’re right, they must have more than a monetary interest in these vintage vehicles, or they wouldn’t look at them in the 1st place, but PT Barnum said it best, and some folks DON’T know what’s involved, and with good intentions, give it a try, only to be horribly disappointed and now, try and recoup the investment, “yeah, I’ll give you $8 grand for your Jeep”, net loss to unsuspecting person, $12 grand. I don’t know your financial situation, but I was looking forward to retirement and maybe 1 or 2 “projects”, a time when most of HAVE the time to do so, and now we can’t. Boo-hoo? Look at it this way, the doc sez, “sorry, Eric, no more booze, cigars, or six[sic]”( none of which apply to me) how would you feel? I enjoy your comments, and yeah, I’m an old grumbly know nothing know it all retired trucker, but some of my views still have a shred of merit. Take care, pal.
Howard, can you explain to some of the folks on this forum what Death Wobble is? I own a 97 Grand Cherokee and haven’t experienced DW yet and hopefully never will. I’m curious if a vehicle like this Jeep which has a solid front axle held in place with leaf springs experienced DW as badly as a similar vehicle where the axle is held in with forward facing control arms and a track bar? The new 3/4 ton Ford and Ram pickups have this front suspension arrangement and still occasionally experience DW.
Hi 408, the “death wobble” is not Jeep specific, and geomechs is better at explaining it, and won’t happen to your GC, I don’t think. It’s a combination of worn parts, solid front axles, and big tires on any make. Lifting, which seems to be the big fad, also affects that, as steering geometry is changed. This shows, it’s usually set off by one front tire hitting something, rock, pothole, and can get pretty tense. I see now, these aftermarket companies offer shock absorbers bolted to the tie rod.
https://www.motorbiscuit.com/jeep-finally-has-a-fix-for-the-wrangler-death-wobble/
I went in to the Jeep dealer in 1974,& sat down with a salesman
& priced a new one out.He asked these questions (& more) as he
went down the options list.
“You want a passenger seat?”
“Spare tire?”
“Top?”
These came as bare-bones,& you had to add everything,
as most buyers upgraded them with aftermarket parts.
I was surprised when it totaled out at about $4500!
That was a lot of money back then.
$16,500 doesn’t seem outrageous to me. My CJ-7 drivetrain is still functional (if I don’t count the scaly rust on the drive shafts) but restoring the body and replacing the frame (serious rust holes there too) would easily cost that much. Plus this one also has a Warn winch on it. About 100 miles too far away, unfortunately. It looks like it has the bows for the top and the doors, so a soft top shouldn’t be a problem if the buyer wants one.
…typo. Just noticed. 1000 miles, not 100. If it was just a hundred miles away I’d have been there already.
Apparently the seller doesn’t know a PTO winch from an electric winch. Probably not a real Jeep guy.
I hear you John, I was just about to make the comment about the incorrect description of the winch. Good catch!
That winch looks like a WARN 8274 … sweet piece.
If I had not purchased a new car last week, I would add this to my collection today! I really love this. I have a 92 YJ Sahara that I would sell with only 53K miles. Oh well, timing is off.
That winch looks like a WARN 8274 … sweet piece.
I agree, its a Warn 8274 and worth some serious bucks if in working order.
Uncut? Numbers matching? That means nothing to an AMC era Jeep.
I suppose reach for the sky and if PT Barnum shows up to buy, great. But there is allot of fiction writers out there now. And an in person inspection is the only way to buy. But 16,500.00 LOL
And if you call it out, well then you are censored anyway.