One of Willys-Overland’s biggest claims to fame was they gave us the wartime Jeep. A civilian version would be developed after the war (called CJ which was short for Civilian Jeep) and would remain in production through the mid-1980s, even after American Motors bought the company. We’re told this 1960 CJ-5 is a one-owner vehicle, while at the same time saying it had the same owner for the past 45 years, so the math doesn’t quite work out. This running project is in Mountain View, California, and is available here on eBay where the bidding has reached $2,900 with no reserve.
The Willys Jeep CJ models were the world’s first mass-produced, civilian-use four-wheel drive “cars”. The machines drew much from the wartime military Jeeps that brought Willys a boatload of business in the 1940s. All CJ Jeeps had separate bodies and frames, rigid live axles with leaf springs both front and rear, a tapering nose design with flared fenders, and fold-flat windshields. They could also be driven with or without doors. Add to this at least part-time four-wheel drive on almost all products. From 1945 to 1986, Willys (and AMC) built more than 1.5 million CJ Jeeps, so they were seen almost everywhere.
There’s a V6 engine under the hood of this CJ where a 134 cubic inch “Hurricane” I-4 would normally live. But it wasn’t until 1965 that the company bought a license to produce Buick’s 225 V6 Dauntless engine. Eventually, 75% of all CJs would have that motor, but since the 1960 CJ-5 was five years senior, we must assume the powerplant in this Jeep has been replaced. We’re told this set-up runs nicely and has been treated to a recent tune-up. A new battery and tires round out some of the changes.
The body on this Jeep appears to be fairly solid although the yellow paint, which may be original, is pretty tired with surface rust. The condition of the undercarriage suggests the Jeep was never used for off-road purposes, according to the seller. The interior may be okay, but the seat covers are about as dirty as you can imagine. The 12-volt electrical system has been upgraded with an HEI ignition. The odometer reads 14,000 miles, but we’d guess it’s turned over at least once. Perhaps this Jeep could be a decent workhorse.
See? One of two things are happening from my perspective. Either Barn Finds has a huge audience and they are actually listening to this crab Howard A. rants, or, and a more plausible reason, people are finding out what these really are, hopefully before buying one. Probably, the latter. It’s what Jeeps like this should go for, and being a California post, it pretty much blows my half baked theory that all folks from California are money hungry monsters. I apologize for that. Great find here, and I wouldn’t dawdle on this one.
Howard I have 2 4.0 automatic YJs and a XJ ,I don’t always agree with your comments unless on Jeep products.
your like the Mike Royko of cHicagos’ papers. he was funny and to the point. mostly.
Is this Tanya Harding’s Jeep? Her web page stated that Miss Harding
had such a Jeep only hers had a 4-
speed tranny instead of a 3-speed
that these things normally came with.
On the face of it, it looks like a nice
vehicle you could have fun with while
you whipped it into shape. Wouldn’t
mind taking it to our local Jeeping
event sponsored by our county
sheriff. Every year, he throws a real
shindig where Jeep owners can strut
their stuff on several different courses from novice to expert. If I
were only 20 years younger…
I know this jeep it’s solid and everything works
And I believe a stranger why
Either this was owned for 45 years or it was owned 63 years, which is it. How can this be an original vehicle when it has a V-6. Makes me wonder what else is missed stated. Honesty is the best way to sell something. Too many clouds here.
Just speculation but..
It’s possible to be in a sense a “one owner” even when the math doesn’t work out……
My Dad bought his 1974 Plymouth Fury Sport Suburban new. I was always the care taker of the car in that I performed all of the maintenance on it from 1976 when it was off warranty until I sold it in 2017 ten years after he passed away.
I’ve known other sellers with the same situation do likewise but they they and I stipulated that it was “in my family” as well as being a “one owner” car…
This seller may be in the same situation or maybe not… but granted, it would be preponderant upon them to state as such.
PS: The Buick V6 is a huge improvement over the four banger.
There is a 65 in my neighborhood- saw it today. Same color but show quality. Beautiful.
This one is nice and can be made more so but open the wallet. Good luck with the sale. Randy