Rare Alaskan Postal 1984 Jeep CJ-8 Scrambler
You see the word “rare” used here on Barn Finds pretty much on a daily basis. Well, here’s a 38-year-old Jeep that fits both the rare, and also the “unique” category, because only 230 of these special RHD Alaskan Postal CJ-8 Scramblers were ever made and you’re looking at #88. Located far from the snow and cold of Alaska in Flagstaff, Arizona, this Scrambler is for sale here on eBay. Bidding has been brisk. As of this writing, 46 bids had been made with the highest bid reaching $10,601.
I never knew these existed and had to go online to read up about these funky Jeeps that have a vintage Land Rover look to them. The Alaskan Postal Service ordered 230 RHD CJ-8 Scramblers equipped with the World Cab metal hard top and a side-opening rear door. The seller shares that the Alaskan Postal Service sold the Jeep at some point and it was used as a rural mail delivery vehicle in Flagstaff, Arizona until around 2008 when it was retired from service due to brake issues (which do not appear to have been fixed). The seller says there is rust over the rear wheel wells, under the drivers feet, and on the rear door which also has some cracking that will need to be addressed. It has its share of scrapes, bumps, and bruises on the body, the rear bumper is bent, and the left side door looks to have some alignment issues. It will also need repainting. Underneath, the seller describes the frame as being in “generally good shape.” As with any vehicle from the land of harsh winters, you’d want to make sure to do your rust and corrosion due diligence.
The interior has a typical Jeep/Postal Service utilitarian feel to it and looks okay considering its years of use as a mail truck and all the boxes that were loaded and unloaded in and out of that cargo area. Being a postal vehicle, there’s only one seat for the driver and it’s been thoroughly used and is toast. To complete the postal look, the CJ-8 Scrambler also includes the mail tray and mail bulk head along with a blue cargo net. The seller says “the metal hard top has never been removed, but the hard top’s original insulating foam has been removed” and “it appears to have a bullet hole on the dash next to the speedometer which adds a little extra character to the Jeep.”
And speaking of bullets, under that latched hood is the bulletproof 258 cubic-inch Inline 6 which offered up 112 horsepower when new. The 4WD Jeep is equipped with a floor shifted 3-speed automatic transmission (makes sense for mail delivery duties). The seller says the engine ran well when he bought the Jeep as a project for his kids in 2019, but it hasn’t been worked on since. It’s also described as “generally, very close to original parts with perhaps an upgraded carb” and that “the front drive shaft appears to be missing. I haven’t found it in my parts bin so far.” 152,674 is showing on the odometer and it sounds like the Jeep still has brake issues that would need attention before being roadworthy. What do you think? Like I said, it’s got a cool, vintage Land Roverish look to it and, with only 230 ever built, you’d most likely never run into another one on the road, off road, or at a show. I’d like to have our Jeep fans weigh in on this one and hear if they’ve ever seen one of these rare CJ-8 Alaskan Postal Scramblers.
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Comments
If you go Postal,here’s your ride.
Now this is a cool jeep, a sedan delivery.
“Rare Alaskan Postal 1984 Jeep CJ-8 Scrambler”
So what part’s rare, that it’s Postal? A 1984? Alaskan? A CJ-8? A Scambler?
Steve- How about all of the above? What’s not rare? Have you ever seen or heard of this combination? Much less a right hand drive? The low production numbers?
I think it’s pretty obviously a rare beast.
I’d love this thing!
I like that there’s an FC in the background.
@Steve Clinton I’d imagine that all of the above make it rare. Lower 48 postal use Jeeps were 4 cyl…this is a 6. Lower 48s were CJ shorties…this is a lwb Scrambler. Lower 48’s were standard height “cube” hard cabs…this is a special cab.
@Steve Clinton, also Lower 48 DJ’s were 2wd…this is a 4wd. So yeah, it’s a rare find for sure
Weren’t a bunch of these 2wd ?
Lower 48 state Postal DJ-5s were 2wd.
Look behind anybody’s house that drag raced Mopars , used always be a couple DJ postal Jeeps, they had a 727 torque flight .
“Located far from the snow and cold of Alaska in Flagstaff, Arizona…”
Well, it’s far from Alaska, and it doesn’t snow much because it’s in a desert, but Flagstaff gets mighty cold, owing to its elevation.
Flagstaffs not in the desert, it over a mile high elevation and it does snow there.
how about right hand drive?How many have you seen of those?
I’m with Steve, what’s so rare about it? Now, if it was a Hurst SC-1 Jeepster, different story, this is just a CJ8 with a tin can hardtop, and a much less desirable RHD one, at that. It’s pretty amazing all the crap “special editions”, to bolster an army Jeep, the CJ went through.
Thanks, Howard. At least YOU agree with me! LOL
A very different AND almost unique vehicle. Since the likelihood of seeing another, anywhere you go makes it rare. I like the utilitarian aspect of it. Rural mail carriers (as in contract carriers) are now having a tough time finding right-hand drive vehicles. They used to be able to order RHD Jeeps, some AMCs and Subarus from the dealers. Now they are having to find older issue DJ5, and the fore mentioned vehicles to restore/repair. Some of the current “official” Grumman vehicles will come available when the new replacements are phased in, but again, USED is the name of the game. Quigley (as in 4X4 conversion vans) makes a RHD conversion GM van, so that is available in new. But since GM (in their ultimate wisdom) killed the AWD version that makes it tough for the northern climate carriers.
With the availability of Jeep parts, the current bid price of just over $10,000 makes sense for a rural contract carrier. Sink another $15,000 into it (do the work yourself) to make a reliable vehicle and it will continue to give good service .
Wayne, you can still get a new RHD Wrangler, our mail carrier just got one.
New and used Jeep Wranglers are still popular in Great Britain and other RHD countries, that’s the primary reason they are still offered by the factory.
Wow , i would love the ride of this , i would love the look of this , i would love the wrong side steering , i would love the nice interior said NO ONE …
I almost importanted the civilian model of this from Australia it’s called a jeep overland, my deal felt through cool vehicles!
I LIKE it. Now this is the kind of thing I tune in for. This and other cars and trucks from around the malaise-era, give or take.
I wonder how she’d look w/ the top off. Ahem.
Great find. This is very unique IMO.
PS-
You know how to catch a unique rabbit? Unique up on it.
You know how to catch a tame rabbit? The tame way.
Has anybody forwarded this to Dennis Collins?
I hope they did something about the heater or insulation for these Alaskan jeeps. I had a few early 80s CJ7 s that I drove through the winter months and other than keeping the windows clear (barely) it didn’t get very warm inside especially if you spent anytime on the highway .
Howard and Steve, I guess you’ve seen so many of these at car shows, Hersey, local cars and coffee that you don’t consider them rare. Me, I’ve never seen one.
these appear on rare occasions from SA (venezuela etc) for sale.
Only jeep ta have in my mind (is the CJ8) and this is the cream of the crop (rear body additions).
Thought of making one on my break but it will not go long enuff.
Hate RHD but gota ’70 Bronk so will not be on the hunt. If not I’d swap back over during the rehab. This deserves rest0 or rest0mod at the least.
these appear on rare occasions from SA (venezuela etc) for sale.
Only jeep ta have in my mind (is the CJ8) and this is the cream of the crop (rear body additions).
Thought of making one on my break but it will not go long enuff.
Hate RHD but gota ’70 Bronk so will not be on the hunt. If not I’d swap back over during the rehab. This deserves rest0 or rest0mod at the least.
these appear on rare occasions from SA (venezuela etc) for sale.
Only jeep ta have in my mind (is the CJ8) and this is the cream of the crop (rear body additions).
Thought of making one on my break but it will not go long enuff.
Hate RHD but gota ’70 Bronk so will not be on the hunt. If not I’d swap back over during the rehab. This deserves rest0 or rest0mod at the least.
these appear on rare occasions from SA (venezuela etc) for sale.
Only jeep ta have in my mind (is the CJ8) and this is the cream of the crop (rear body additions).
Thought of making one on my break but it will not go long enuff.
Hate RHD but gota ’70 Bronk so will not be on the hunt. If not I’d swap back over during the rehab. This deserves rest0 or rest0mod at the least.
these appear on rare occasions from SA (venezuela etc) for sale.
Only jeep ta have in my mind (is the CJ8) and this is the cream of the crop (rear body additions).
Thought of making one on my break but it will not go long enuff.
Hate RHD but gota ’70 Bronk so will not be on the hunt. If not I’d swap back over during the rehab. This deserves rest0 or rest0mod at the least.
chrisful, we get it!
At least now , we can understand what he writes …
Claudio maybe we learned to understand through repetition, like a horse. Actually, these latest messages, though repeated, are a lot better than some I’ve seen in the past so I’m nominating chrlsful for most improved BF poster. :)
aint changed, U can just understand now, as U read it as if it’s spoken…
(how I write on forums).
wanna make clear, affirm those points
8^ )
Good one
I have been called many names but a horse is a new one !
I think he has greatly improved and does merit the title
damn puters!
(Nuttin like a wrench)
8^ 0
Ended:Feb 09, 2022 , 3:01PM
Winning bid:
US $10,601.00
[ 46 bids ]
Chrlsful cracks me up!
I like this old Jeep! I would fix the binders, replace the drivers seat, install a matching passenger seat, and drive it…sometimes top on, sometimes top off.
✓