Jeep’s entry into the early ’80s small pickup truck market, the Scrambler, brought a rugged edge that daintier offerings (mostly Asian imports) lacked. This 1982 Jeep CJ-8 Scrambler calls Wilmette, Illinois home after spending most of its life in Oklahoma. The oversized rear bumper suggests a swing-out motorcycle carrier and towing occupied this Scrambler’s past. The claimed 122k miles on the inline six barely exceeds the break-in period; most double that number before an overhaul. After a claimed $4000 in new parts, the refreshed rig heads to auction here on eBay. At least six bidders have the 4×4’s market value scrambling over $10,000 without meeting the seller’s Reserve. The $17,995 Buy It Now price would signal a happy day for the seller, who no-doubt wants a return on the investment that proffers this Jeep in daily driver condition.
Nutmeg “denim look” vinyl came with the SR Sport package, and new carpeting recently replaced the dirty originals. Credit the seller for detailing this Jeep’s shortcomings and showing solid-looking body pan pictures from the carpet installation. A stealth stereo with Bluetooth connectivity and new dash speakers add 21st-century technology.
The SR Sport package added the “SCRAMBLER” script and accent stripes. Stripes and other cosmetic variations sometimes comprised the only difference between models in the mid-’70s to mid-’80s, so why not enjoy them? In this case the SR Sport also added these white 15 inch steel wheels. Thanks to lov2xlr8 for its library of factory brochures. Front bumper brackets could have held this Scrambler behind an RV.
The venerable 258 cid (4.2L) inline six-cylinder engine hails from the Nash and Rambler days, and the one-time winningest engine in Baja 1000 racing rarely leaves you stranded roadside or creek-side. Variations of the I6 powered Jeeps from 1964 through 2006. My 1997 Wrangler’s fuel-injected 4.0L version shows no weakness at 242,000 miles. Thanks to Wikipedia for some details.
Though not huge, the 61.5 inch bed is only 4.5 inches shorter than that of the 2023 Ford F-150 SuperCrew and readily carts enough bagged mulch or firewood to keep you busy for a day. A missing roll-bar-mounted spare tire and a badly bent tailgate mark two demerits on a truck that mostly shows expected wear and tear. How would you use this precursor to the modern Gladiator?
Is it me, or does carpeting inside this rough-and-ready Jeep seem somewhat out of place? I would have thought rubber would encourage more of an active usage.
My CJ-7 had neither with rubber mats just wear your feet rested & quick release drain holes for water intrusion or spilled beer extraction for the unfortunate person and that 258 never let me down or was I stuck ! That’s with a 16 year old driver but I was tricked into thinking I was stuck one time after smoking some pretty good stuff on a dirt road heavily rutted as to remain hidden when I left the emergency brake on to my relief I eventually caught! I’ll never live that down!
Carpet is the ruin to many a Jeep floor pan
Bingo, it’s the only rust on mine.
This is what so many hoped for or thought Jeep was going to build in the new Gladiator. What we got is another crew cab. It would have been a limited audience either way. So many of these were driven hard and put away wet. This one appears to be a solid unmolested example to use and enjoy.
Exactly! Take the current Gladiator, lose the rear doors and two-thirds of the space behind the front seats, leaving just a decent amount of rear space for overnight bags or groceries. At that space to the bed. It would still be a niche market, but at least it would have a useful bed length.
The Gladiator’s bed length is only 6 in. shorter than an F150 Supercrew’s standard 5.5″ bed. 83% of pickups produced are crew cabs making anything but a crew cab impossible to be profitable in a niche pickup market.
Seven, one between each crank throw and one on each end. I think that’s what you meant to say! :o)
Nice CJ-8! Buy it now. These guys are starting to follow the Blazers, Broncos, etc. Looks like a couple of weekends of bolt on spare wheel & new repainted tailgate. Straighten the front bumper. Put a winch on her. Yeah! Ready to go!
Thats one unique jeep!
Glad you think so! I got the same one in my barn!!
$10K would be the top price I would pay, nothing more. I’m sure these would only appreciate as long as they’re solid and running, and for an OK/IL example this looks decent and certainly daily-driver shape. A useful survivor.
I had a cj-7, and I ended up towing out my brother in law, a ’88 wrangler, and boy, is the 6 stronger than the 4!
Oh, the cj7 had no carpeting, and wanted something to have something between the metal and bare feet! The wrangler wasn’t a problem, as it had carpeting.
The 199, 232, 258 and the 4.0 litres all were 7 main bearings. This contributes a lot to their durability.
A N D…
u wouldnt get it for that. As B. S. sez above they’re sky hi right now.
For me? this is the only heep to have. And this poster echos the few above re: new long version (lol ‘crew cab’). I dont need it, the longer bed, yes! In fact there were wranglers that had been modded into the very same B4 this 4dor came out.
I had an 80 CJ7 Golden Hawk with a V8. Like driving a buckboard. Dumped it in 2 months.
If your looking for a good ride buy a Honda Civic
lol! 🤣
I’ve never driven a buckboard but I did buy and quickly sell a ’73 CJ-5. Old Jeeps are only so far removed from covered wagons; 40 years newer and steel body but with buggy axles, buggy springs and buggy tarp. The ’73 had a V-8, metal hardtop, thick stacks of leaf springs, seat right up to the steering wheel, turn signals that cancelled by a rubber wheel rolling against the steering wheel hub, manual steering, brakes and 3-speed. I think it had positive ground electrical, too. Then I bought an ’82 CJ-7 which was a Rolls Royce by comparison. Bigger interior, wider axles, softer springs, power steering and brakes, tilt wheel, 5-speed, padded roll bar, console; pleasant to drive daily and take off-road. Got it in ’91 and still have it. See lots of new Jeeps and Broncos that are very fancy but don’t look they ever see dirt.
I had an ’85 CJ-7 back in my college days. I wanted a Scrambler, but there were none to be had back then. Folks who had ’em weren’t parting with ’em. Hence the CJ-7. So long ago…
Owned 3 in my time before only owning a honda(non-SUV)
1ST:a cj7, and then a jeep grand Cherokee, and also a wrangler! Best one: cj7!
There were only about 25k CJ8s made in its entire run. About 200k CJ7s; and then, of course, the Wrangler was just an updated CJ7 (dropped frame, Panhard rods front and rear to stabilize the chassis, and wider axles).
The CJ7 hit the sweet spot; but not so much, at the time, the Scrambler. Not sure why. Sometimes a product misses the market; and sometimes it’s too soon. Jeep had done both – with the Jeepster Commando, it was about ten years ahead of the Sport-Ute craze. With the CJ6, they were chasing a commercial market that had moved on, to more-modern trucks.
The Scrambler didn’t make it, but the current Gladiator, no thing of beauty IMHO, seems to be taking off. I don’t think it’s because of the crew cab.