1980 Jeep CJ5 41087 Miles Cardinal Red Jeep 304 V8 4 Speed Manual

This Jeep is among the last of the short-wheelbase CJ5s. Their maneuverability and light weight made them very desirable for off road use and also fun to sport around town in. But they fell victim to a controversial test done by the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety that aired on 60 minutes which portrayed them as unsafe. It was later revealed that the test was rigged, but by that time, the CJ5 had already been replaced by the CJ7 with... its longer wheel base. This CJ5, short wheel base and all, could be yours. Check it out. This little Jeep looks like a party waiting to happen. As you approach it, the Cardinal Red paint really jumps out at you. There are tri-colored gray stripes on the hood along with Renegade in script. Up front is the iconic 7-slot grill that has been on every Jeep since WWII and a simple bumper. The hood is held down with spring loaded latches, and there are rubber edges on the fenders. Those 35X12.50s make this little truck sit up a bit over stock, so there is an aluminum step offering an assist up and into the seat. A padded roll bar looks classically great for top off cruising, but there is also a new Bestop soft top that can be popped on for all weather or winter driving. An extra set of driving lights are mounted on each side of the windshield and there is a trailer hitch on the back. A rare feature on the CJ5s is the tailgate that this one has. It's a handy little convenience. Open the door, (if it's on there), and step inside. The high-backed bucket seats are comfortable and supportive. There is a beefy Grant three-spoke steering wheel that feels good in your hands. To the right is a Hurst T-handle shifter for the manual transmission, and a mini-me Hurst handle for the 4WD transfer case. Switches and speedometer are off to the right of the wheel with a trio of engine gauges in the center of the dash. Just below them is a Kenwood head unit that feeds its signal to a power amp which pumps plenty of power out of the Rockford Fosgate sub-woofer hiding behind that tailgate, and the 6x9 speakers mounted on the fender wells. It sounds like an awesome bon-fire sound system to us! Open that hood, set that prop rod, and you will find a 304-cubic inch V8 nestled in a neat and clean engine compartment. It looks good with a chrome air filter housing and chromed valve covers. The engine has been warmed over a bit by using a Holley carburetor and an Edelbrock intake manifold. Long tube headers add their efficiency to the power equation and also make sweets sounds as the exhaust makes the short trip through Flowmaster mufflers and out the side of the truck. Power flows back through the 4-speed transmission and then the 4WD transfer cast to solid axles front and rear mounted on leaf springs. 4-wheel disc brakes assure good stopping power and everything sits up on those 35s mounted on American Racing wheels. Check out this CJ5. It might be just the vehicle you have been looking for to have some fun in this summer.