When the war was over, a whole bunch of GIs came home with experience behind the wheel of the Willys (and Ford) General Purpose vehicle, affectionately known as the “Jeep.” Compact, maneuverable, tough, simple, and adaptable, the venerable Jeep was one of the unsung heroes of World War II, giving Allied forces fast all-terrain transport that was easy to service in the field and eminently capable on all kinds of terrain. It should be no surprise that the Jeep survives in one form or another to this very day, still true to its original roots. And while today’s Jeeps are certainly capable, none can draw such a direct line to the original GP as the original CJ5, whose tidy proportions and familiar look became a legend far before most of today’s buyers were even born. If that kind of no-nonsense attitude appeals to you, then take a closer look at this 1980 Jeep CJ5, which proves that there’s still no more effective tool for going to remote places than a Jeep.

Although the title says this 4x4 is about to celebrate its 41st birthday, the truth is that a recent high-quality restoration pretty much turned it into a brand-new Jeep. Almost everything but the tub itself is new, and it was freshened with an eye towards getting dirty and playing rough. That explains the dark blue paint, which was fortified with bedliner material to make it virtually indestructible. No shiny, pretty Jeep here, just a raw-knuckled mud crawler that doesn’t sweat the little stuff. Trail dust and debris bounces right off and that means you don’t have to worry when you head out to use this one as intended. Underneath there’s super clean, straight sheetmetal that comes from a warm climate and shows none of the usual signs of distress these old Jeeps often get. The rockers are straight, the areas above the rear wheel arches are unblemished, and the floors are obviously 100% solid. Traditional Jeep styling cues include the round headlights, 7-bar grille, and Jeep call-outs on the cowl, as well as the folding windshield that really lets you get the full experience. You’ll note that the fender flares that cover the oversized tires have also been covered with that durable all-purpose textured paint, as have the bumpers and tubular steps. A few bright details stand out against the monochromatic jeep, including new light housings and lenses, fresh tailgate chains, and all-new fasteners used throughout, most of it stainless. Someone was really thinking about using this Jeep as intended when it went together.

Like all CJs, the interior is brutally simple, but simple works best when you’re going someplace remote. New bucket seats flank a locking center console that gives you secure storage and thanks to the bedliner material on the floors, you can just hose this one out after a day of fun in the dirt. The familiar AMC 3-spoke steering wheel and big, round Jeep speedometer should look familiar, and all the controls, switches, and indicators are new. There’s an upgraded Sony AM/FM/satellite/Bluetooth stereo in the dash that feeds a pair of monster weatherproof speakers mounted to the roll bar, so it sounds good on the roll as well as at the campsite. Of course, a power terminal with USB ports was added to make all your modern devices happy when you’re going someplace remote. There’s also a hand-held controller for the Holley Pro-Jection fuel injection system, so you can tune it on the fly. The 4-speed manual transmission makes it fun to drive and it’s joined by the shifter for the 2-speed transfer case that offers both high and low ranges. For protection, there’s also a brand new soft top with matching doors and it seals up surprisingly well, so don’t be afraid to make this your daily driver. It’ll do it!

Power comes from one of Jeep’s best powerplants, the 258 cubic inch inline-6. Torquey, bulletproof reliable, and with plenty of power for the upright Jeep, it’s the unit you want for going off-road. Fully rebuilt, this engine is fortified with a Holley Pro-Jection fuel injection system that makes for near instant starts, a great idle, and smooth power at any speed—a big improvement over the original carburetor setup. It also has a GM-style HEI ignition system with a cool clear cap so you can see it at work inside. The engine was nicely detailed with factory-style hardware and even an ORM air cleaner assembly, which, of course, was also painted to match the bodywork. It also includes all-new wiring, a giant radiator, power steering, and fresh belts and hoses.

Underneath, there’s a whole lot of new equipment and you can see that while it was built to go anywhere, it hasn’t. It’s spotless! The axles, transmission, driveshafts, springs, shocks, brakes, and more are new or rebuilt and it has been upgraded with Rancho suspension components and a modest lift that keeps it reasonable for regular usage. A new stainless exhaust system with a Flowmaster muffler gives the burly inline-6 a great exhaust note and will last practically forever, and the transfer case is protected with its own skid plate. Take a moment to examine the original floors carefully, as you’ll find that this was an incredibly solid vehicle before the restoration started. New lines and hoses, fresh springs, and synthetic fluids throughout mean it’s ready to rock immediately. And for just the right look, it sits on blacked-out American Racing aluminum wheels carrying giant 31x10.50-15 BFGoodrich All-Terrain radials.

Simple, yet beautifully built, this gorgeous CJ5 is everything that you’d want in a Jeep. Traditional look, hardcore hardware, and built with an eye towards functionality. Pretty enough to hit car shows but rugged enough for almost any trail, it remains one of the very best ways to have fun on four wheels. And like our GIs learned, Jeeps do everything well. Give us a call and take this one home today!

Harwood Motors always recommends and welcomes personal or professional inspections of any vehicle in our inventory prior to purchase.