Not gonna lie, we’re big fans of the Jeep CJ-5 ’round these parts.
After all, we put it on our list of The Top 10 Jeeps of All Time and we’ve featured one in a previous Lot Shots edition before.
So any time a CJ-5 pulls into a Summit Racing retail store, we try to run out and snap as many pics as we can. And that’s doubly true if it’s clean and customized for some serious off-roading—which is exactly what we got when this tough rig rumbled into the lot earlier this fall.
If you’re new to the whole Civilian Jeep thing, the CJ-5 is perhaps the most noteworthy. Produced from 1955 to 1983, it enjoyed the longest production run of any vehicle in the CJ lineage. Perhaps more importantly, it solidified the familiar seven-slot grille and round headlights that ultimately became the face of the Jeep brand—a look that *mostly* carried through to the Wranglers of today.
Learn more about the Civilian Jeep generational breakdown and evolution in our handy Jeep CJ Spotter’s Guide.
As alluded to above, this particular CJ-5 in our Lot Shots feature has been customized, which makes pinning down an exact year difficult. But there are some clues.
For starters, it wears the stretched fenders that are indicative of a 1972+ CJ-5. That year, the whole front end of the CJ-5 was lengthened to accommodate the new inline six engines coming from AMC. (An engine lineage that would ultimately spawn the legendary 4.0L six that powered Jeeps well into the 21st century.)
However, it’s got the earlier version of the windshield and requisite latches inside, which means it was built before the last major style update in 1976. Finally, it’s got the modernized Jeep logo and placement on the fenders, which occurred roughly halfway through 1974.
So, if we’re the gambling type, we’d put our money on either a late 1974 or 1975 model here. If you know for sure, let us hear about it in the comments section below.
But again, this CJ-5 has been modified—and very well, it seems.
Take a close look under the Jeep and you’ll see shiny exhaust headers, perhaps from a swapped V8. Inside, there’s a painted roll bar that integrates almost seamlessly with the vintage aesthetic of the interior.
The whole rig rolls on Cragar wheels wrapped in Dick Cepek tires. And we’re guessing there’s at least a three inch suspension lift at work here. That sparkling orange paint is perfectly complemented by stainless steel accents.
In other words, it’s a clinic in how to tastefully modify an off-roader.
Given its off-road mods, we’re hoping this thing sees plenty of trail time. And with that paint job, it likely drops plenty of jaws along the way.
Unfortunately, we couldn’t find the owner of this awesome Jeep, so if you know any of the exact details behind this build, let us know in the comments section.
I have ACJ7 I’d like to have it redone Where could I go
What does it need done? From my perspective, a Jeep CJ is an awesome project to learn on–it’s easy to service and for specific jobs you don’t want to tackle on your own, any good shop would have no trouble performing the work. Not sure where you’re located, but you might want to poke around the local off-roading or hot rod communities (attend a few car shows) and ask for some recommendations.