1981 Jeep CJ5, 4x4, 4cyl, 4spd

Hi Oscar,

If you want to post this in the Classifieds you may get some response. Joining JF just to post up a Jeep for sale on the technical forum is against the forum rules, the Forum charges for Classifieds in order to pay for the site.

Putting your personal email and phone number on there may also get you some unwanted attention. Prince Nakheem of Nigeria will doubtless want to send you a cheque for $20,000 if you just pop it on a transporter for him.......

Looks nice enough for a runner but the paint has worn away, despite being a garage queen, and those seat covers suggest the seats themselves are ripped, it is the base utility spec etc. It has some plus points (not rusted, unmolested, original, recent engine) but needs a fair bit of work to make it into a $12,000 Jeep. The 4 bangers are not particularly sought after but it is worth what a buyer is willing to pay.

This kind of condition was only a few thousand dollars even 5 years ago but prices are indeed climbing fast.

Good luck with the sale.

Low mileage, one-owner, all original jeeps with a slight patina have value. Sought after jeep packages like Renegade and Laredo have value. Special packages with all thier features intact like the spring special and limited models have value.

There is nothing wrong with your jeep, but it isn't a highly sought after configuration, especially with the 4 cyl.

If it was all original, with limited miles (like 30K), and the paint/interior was still basically intact, you'd be in that range, potentially.

If it was fully intact, with 100K original miles. And had a light resto back to all stock, you'd be in that range, potentially.

If it was a Laredo or Renegade, and in excellent shape, you'd be in that range.

As it sits currently, paint and body what they are, and 4 cyl. I think you are a half to three quarters way to that bottom range number.

If you list it on a site like Bring a trailer, you will fully test its value, and likely get the highest bid, but unless you set a realistic reserve, you risk it not selling.

There are scammers everywhere, you just have to trust your gut, and deal with people in person, and don't do anything unless you have real money in hand. You can state that in your ad, no text, no email, phone calls only, no test drives or offers unless in person and cash in hand.

Here are a couple examples currently avilable in the MIDDLE of that range , local to me



I realize they aren't configured the same, but just two I grabbed quickly.

This one, albeit older, is more closely optioned /conditon as yours... (again, just a quick grab), and I think is in a similar price/value range


Just a decent paint respray these days can cost anywhere from $5K-$15K


Again, best of luck in your sale.


Hoss

JoonHoss said:

Low mileage, one-owner, all original jeeps with a slight patina have value. Sought after jeep packages like Renegade and Laredo have value. Special packages with all thier features intact like the spring special and limited models have value.

There is nothing wrong with your jeep, but it isn't a highly sought after configuration, especially with the 4 cyl.

If it was all original, with limited miles (like 30K), and the paint/interior was still basically intact, you'd be in that range, potentially.

If it was fully intact, with 100K original miles. And had a light resto back to all stock, you'd be in that range, potentially.

If it was a Laredo or Renegade, and in excellent shape, you'd be in that range.

As it sits currently, paint and body what they are, and 4 cyl. I think you are a half to three quarters way to that bottom range number.

If you list it on a site like Bring a trailer, you will fully test its value, and likely get the highest bid, but unless you set a realistic reserve, you risk it not selling.

There are scammers everywhere, you just have to trust your gut, and deal with people in person, and don't do anything unless you have real money in hand. You can state that in your ad, no text, no email, phone calls only, no test drives or offers unless in person and cash in hand.

Here are a couple examples currently avilable in the MIDDLE of that range , local to me

1980 Jeep CJ 5 - cars & trucks - by owner - vehicle automotive sale

1980 Jeep CJ 5 Beautiful, 258 Straight 6, 4 Speed, everything has been gone through, new wheels and tires with matching spare, new interior, Have both bikini and full top with doors, Tow bar...

spokane.craigslist.org

1979 Jeep CJ5 - cars & trucks - by owner - vehicle automotive sale

1979 JEEP CJ5 Restored all aluminum body. Rhino-Lined inside and out. Old Man Emu 4X4 suspension. Edelbrock 350 crate engine with Edelbrock fuel injection. SM 465 transmission, Dana 300 transfer...

kpr.craigslist.org

I realize they aren't configured the same, but just two I grabbed quickly.

This one, albeit older, is more closely optioned /conditon as yours... (again, just a quick grab), and I think is in a similar price/value range

1970 jeep CJ5 - cars & trucks - by owner - vehicle automotive sale

Clean jeep, was going to be my project but other priorities took over 4cyl engine 4 speed transmission manual steering and brakes, bikini top. Does have full soft top but never used, new tires,...

helena.craigslist.org

Just a decent paint respray these days can cost anywhere from $5K-$15K


Again, best of luck in your sale.


Hoss

Click to expand...

I appreciate all the feed back. It gives me some idea of the market I am dealing with. It is a basic model CJ5! The engine is not the "original" engine but it was replaced with an identical engine and has only 4700 miles on it. It comes with the original carb and intake manifold that I still have. Other than the exhaust manifold/header, it is original. I am/was under the impression, from watching American Pickers, that the patina was a good thing. They seem to say that a paint job would lower the value of an original vehicle. I always wondered if that was true. I briefly looked at Bring a Trailer and it appears to be an auction site. How doe that work? Would I set a bottom line price with them and see what happens. If someone offers the bottom line, then I would be obligated to sell at that point? Not sure what you meant by setting a realistic reserve? Would they come and drive it home or pick it up? Just an old guy wanting to sell for a fair price, where we both feel good about it, and get a little extra garage space. Thanks again.

The term patina has a very finicky definition, and is solely dependent on the vehicle.

Please do NOT take any of this personally, and remember this is solely my opinion, other very much will have further thoughts.

Your jeep is a simple color, and to me patina means it looks like the paint is wearing through on the edges, feathered out, and flat not shiny... but otherwise intact. The more it's missing, the more it looks damaged as opposed to weathered... think of a well worn leather jacket or boots which look great, but if worn through in places, not so much.

Non stock pinstriping like yours takes away from the originality as well.

I will fully admit I'm not a huge fan of that color on anything, but I'm sure others are, and would be willing to pay more than me.

If someone bought it to flip, they'd probably spend anywhere from 10 grand and up, and try to get it as stock looking as possible, but again, being that it's a base model with no extras, that really limits the market.

I'd throw it on Craigslist and see what if any feedback you get in person, who knows, maybe someone is looking for something just like that and has money to burn. List it for what you think its worth, and see if you get a bite. If not or lowballed, pull it back off.

Us guys on here aren't your market.

A huge cleaning and detailing would help, I'm sure, like losing the seat covers and showing the original top and parts, and paperwork.

Hoss

Nice looking jeep. My opinion "as is" would be in the 5-10K range only due to some thoughts others may or may not share. At this age these jeeps CAN be driven every day but are usually just expensive toys for people who like them. I would say that the biggest negatives for me are CJ5= some people have no interest no matter how nice. Narrow track axles. 4 cylinder. I have a 4 banger in the driveway and it's fine...but second jeep had to be a 6 cylinder when i bought it. Low back seats not my cup of tea. If you painted it, put in a different engine, wide track, it would be a totally different jeep and one may never get the money back, even if jeep was free. I think your target may be someone who wants original for going to car show, getting ice cream, enjoying top off fun but that has a second car for work. I second bring a trailer auction. Also, you seem to have a little under door jeep rust, not bad, but not like it can be easily or cheaply repainted to match and once you do it's not as original as it was. Maybe "too nice to be a project jeep, wrong options for expensive restoration or build"

JoonHoss said:

I see your point, but Curious Bob, what do you think its worth, or what would you pay for it if looking? Because it's one thing to say I wouldn't change a thing, and quite another to say it's worth what your asking as is.

To be completely honest, I would want it, But I wouldn't want to pay for it, at least not anywhere near the value the OP places on it. It would have to be severely lower to make it worth it to me

(Again, nothing personal, and I hope the OP gets as much as he can, just trying to be realistic)

Hoss

Click to expand...

Honestly Hoss I don't know. Prices are so regionally affected. In my little corner of God's Green Earth we had a fellow that had dealership that evolved from a two bay gas station building with a ten Jeep inventory to the largest Jeep dealership in the world until he shut the doors in the mid 80s when AMC said he had to sell cars too. He declined. As a result you couldn't drive down a city street or country road without seeing at least one CJ per block or mile. Needless to say there is an abundance of CJs around. A friend just bought a decent CJ7 for $3K, but he got deal he couldn't turn down. We can ring the bell and any Jeep gathering will have 25% CJs. 30 to 200 will show up.

On the other hand the availability of originals is scarce. Four bangers are desirable for engine transplants. It seems those suckers came with either 3.90 or 4.10 gears. It is easier and cheaper to repower than regear or so I've been told. Because of the limited power 4 cylinder CJs aren't as prone to being mistreatment as more powerful Jeeps.

What would I pay? I'm not in the market for another project so it would be less. I say that but if I could get it for good price and not have to spend a bunch of money making it safe to drive I might keep it for around town use. In that I have a CJ5 that is kind of a hot rod I probably wouldn't. After the new wore off I'd park it more and more and eventually sell it.

I'd offer $3K and pay no more than $4K--hopefully less. That also would depend on the shape the Jeep is in. Limited rust--patina on the body and no rust of the frame might add some to my offer. If I bought the Jeep it would be to resell to one of the 10 or so folks who I know who are looking. I know one man who wants a take the kids to SONIC for ice cream Jeep and the Four banger wouldn't be an problem, but safety would. He wants a drive away CJ and not a project.

This isn't a good venue for selling a Jeep. We know what he has and would in a personal negotiation pick it to pieces. He would eventually pay us to haul it off!

I don't see the owner getting more than $5-7K. That depends on how the market is in his area. Proper marketing will get him more for it. Someone out there wants this Jeep and will pay for it. He needs to reach this person.

I also wish him the best of luck in selling it.