14K Original Miles? 1959 Willys Jeep CJ-5
Years back there was a breakfast cereal tagline that went, “Koo Koo for Cocoa Puffs”. Today, it seems that the motoring public is “Jumping for Jeeps” as the venerable brand’s various models seem to fly out off of showroom floors everywhere. Jeep, along with Ram, has been principally responsible for shoring up FCA’s financial position over the last several years and is considered one of the most valuable automotive marques in existence. And that demand is reflected in resale values as well. How about with vintage Jeeps? They’re a popular draw too and here is a very nice example in the form of a 1959 CJ-5. This Jeep is located in Costa Mesa, California and is available, here on BF Classifieds for $25,000.
By 1959 Jeep was part of Kaiser by virtue of the 1953 acquisition of Willys by Kaiser/Fraiser but the Willys name was used on Jeeps through 1964. And a Jeep CJ-5 (1955-1983), at this point, wasn’t that far removed from its early ’40s military roots. The utilitarian aspect of the CJ-5 did not deter buyers as total sales exceeded 600K units.
The seller states that this Jeep is still wearing its original paint, a pretty amazing feat for 62 years of age. The finish is in amazingly strong shape and shows no evidence of the passage of time. While originality abounds, the rollbar is not original and was installed after the fact. Of note, this CJ-5 was with the same family from new until 2017 when it changed hands and ended up relocating from Tenessee to California. The mileage is reported to be an original 14K miles but there is no documentation to authenticate that claim.
Power is provided by the standard 75 HP, 134 CI, “Hurricane”, in-line four-cylinder engine working through a three-speed manual transmission. While the seller does not elaborate on this Jeeps’ operating characteristics, he does state that it was driven from Costa Mesa to Phoenix, Arizona and back, and he does not indicate that any problems were encountered. He does note that locking front hubs and a new overdrive unit have been added and those additions allow this CJ-5 to cruise at 60 MPH. The specifics of the overdrive unit are not referenced so an inquiry will be necessary if a prospective buyer wants more details.
The interior of a vintage Jeep is about as spartan an affair as one will encounter, and this example is no different. It is in fine, clean shape with its simple dash and large, clear, easy to read gauges. The seat upholstery looks too good to be original so its origin would be a question to put to the seller. Also, added at a later time was the back seat, an electric windshield wiper motor, and seat belts. This Jeep is ready to go off-roading or wherever its next owner decides to explore.
This CJ-5 is the best of all worlds, it’s a Jeep, it’s vintage and it is in extremely original condition. While a current Jeep Wrangler retains some of this CJ-5’s rough and tumble vibe, it has definitely become more “citified” in its refinement. If you want the Jeep name and an original-style representative, this would be one to consider, wouldn’t you agree?
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Comments
Nice! Next vehicle, but not as equipped and clearly out of my price range, and I don’t really need a Jeep with low miles. Concerned about gearing, I thought of an O/D, but I read, there’s a problem with that. The 4 cylinder doesn’t have enough power to hold speeds in O/D, so it kind of defeats the purpose, besides, O/D sends this vehicle over 60 mph,( down wind) and it was never designed to do so. If you’re like me, and fed up with modern vehicles, ( and don’t run I-70 everyday), you won’t find a simpler or one nicer than this, trust me, I’ve been looking.
A buddy had one almost like this. At the time I had a 61 Lark. We took his out in the fields, and mine down the road. Both were great for what they were at the time. I miss being young, we had so much fun (until we didn’t)
Fed up with modern vehicles? Yup.
Loaded with needless electronics to make my decisions for me? And, cost a fortune to repair?
Not for me.
Daughter calls me, says, “dad, you’ll know”, apparently, she has a friend that has a newer Ford something, she said, “Dad, they want $700 bucks to replace the spark plugs”. ( over $100 bucks a plug) I said, how many miles, 70K, I said, yeah, probably. Labor alone is pushing $100/hour today, a classic case of “gouge ’em where you can”, and with people practically living in their cars for commutes, they have no choice. It’s an entity I can eliminate, but not everyone can drive old Jeeps. Car repair today devastates families. I read, the average family spends almost $800/month on car repair. Doesn’t leave much left for that 5 figure classic.
$25K? No way.
It’s a Jeep w/o the benefits of anti-lock brakes, PS, PB for the price of a nice low mileage current model.
Marc, with all due respect, you totally miss the point of why someone would rather drive this than any new vehicle at the same price. That’s okay it keeps these rare finds out of the wrong hands.
That’s what I’m hoping, Bob,,
I’ve owned many rare vehicles over the years and appreciate them for what they are but just not a Jeep. I’ve never regretted paying $27k for a Shelby GT 350 in 1999 or $156k for a 6 speed Ferrari 360 Spider in 2003. That’s why they make Chocolate and Vanilla.
In 1979 I bought a new CJ 7 which was about 11 inches longer that the CJ 5 and it had larger door openings. The power train was flawless but the body began to rust 2 years later. This 1959 CJ 5 looks like a real winner and it looks like it has many good years left!
A friend of mine bought a new CJ7 in 78 and actually had a rusted fender replaced in 79. It would have been so easy to make them to last longer.
Bob McK – My experience is much like yours. I still have a (mostly the remains) of my 76 CJ-7. I really liked it. It was like the rust was built in at the factory. Everything rusted. All the body seams were spot welded and open to weather. It was a crude vehicle in some ways – I carried an ice scraper inside so I could deice the windshield while driving it. The reach for the xfer case shifter was a bit long especially if you were driving and suddenly needed 4×4. I’d like to put it back on the road, but it’s probably cheaper to find another one.
Jim, my 76 CJ-7 is a vehicle I really loved. It was crude in some ways, like keeping an ice scraper handy so I could de-ice the windshield from the inside (defrosters were wishful thinking), but the body was all spot welded with the joints exposed to the weather. Everything rusted. Even things you wouldn’t think could rust did. They salt roads here. I still have the remains (future barn finds prospect?) and I’d love to put it back on the road, but it’d be cheaper to find a decent one for sale.
Bob McK thanks so much for writing what I’ve thought on several occasions while reading comments here. As an owner of a Model A for over 60 years, I still enjoy driving it around town, grocery shopping and etc. Gets admiring glances, smiles and thumbs-up always. Not so with my wife’s Focus.
Nice CJ-5. Assuming it truly is original paint, that’s amazing. It must have lived in a garage its whole life. 14k miles isn’t hard to believe, if it mostly tended to tasks around the farm with an occasional trip to town. For me 60 mph would be frightening, and one would miss the whole point of a CJ-5.
My dad had one back in the 60’s, mostly what I remember is his complaining about how crude it was, even by the standards of the day. Which is much of its charm today.
My first vehicle was a 1959 CJ5. Same year as my birth. Drove it for 10 years in Chicago. Ended up giving it to my buddy in Mobile, Al. He traded it to an electrician for doing some work to his house. Last report it’s still running strong amongst the pine trees somewhere in the land of cotton.
Do you have the serial number. My Dad was traded a 1959 CJ5 for some construction work (not electrical) in Atmore, AL in 1994. We still have the vehicle. It would be interesting to trace it back to the original owner
I had a few Jeeps 59, 55 and three or four CJ2 and 3A’s never cared for the 4cyl. motors be they flathead or overhead. A Jeep or Buick v6 made them much better. My current Jeep is a Willys CJ3A with a 283 Chevy adapted to a T90 With a Saturn overdrive. It drives great and freeway traffic is no worry.
Just went outside to position my 66 CJ5 V6 in order to be ready for tonight’s snow storm. Simplicity at its best. The listed CJ5 is too good for anything but preserving what it is. Got to be the best one in existence.
Color is what one thinks of when dreaming of late 50’s and early 60’s CJ’s. Too nice for 4 wheeling. Keep a garage over its roof.
Remember the TV series, rat patrol!
It made me think of the CW McCall song,
CJ5 !!!!!! https://youtu.be/G7UNFEiQPys
Howard A: 7 hours to replace spark plugs? That is either abusive use of a no-other-choice position or an example of an unskilled mechanic. Even the few vehicles that require lifting the engine a bit to get at some plug or plugs shouldn’t take that long in a well-equipped shop with skilled help.
Had a 68 Charger R/T I put headers on, blew out part of the headers gasket after a night of racing and running the needle over the century mark most of the night- spent most of the day jacking up the engine and listening the exhaust to change a $10 gasket! Owners of those Chargers now won’t have to worry about that b/c they never would drive’em like that now a days!
Doesn’t surprise me, Kenn. Nephew has a Hyundai, and was quoted $800 bucks for a plug change. They claimed the top half of the motor needs to come apart. I’d imagine Ford is no different, besides, what, $300 dollars? I sense you may have a vested interest in car repair, so I’ll be polite. I won’t pad your pockets anymore, let the snowflakes that can’t drive a Willys do that, they don’t know any different.
I’d swear I sa this Jeep on “Carsonline.com” several years ago. Nice.
Not sure what your point is Howard A. I’m an 84 year old salesman whose only interest in car repair is that I do my own, as I have since about age 14. So no one pads my pockets for car repair, nor do I pad others. I was agreeing somewhat with you, I thought, about the price quoted for spark plug change being being awfully high. But then you ended up saying guess it’s O.K. (I realized after re-reading your comment just now.) Frankly, I still think it’s too high by hundreds.
Am I the only one that doesn’t understand Howard A’s comment to me? Especially the last two sentences?
Sorry Kenn, I don’t mean anything towards you, I meant I’m not going to pad the dealers pockets with repairs, I’m 66 and we’re in the same gear. If you WERE a mechanic, I didn’t want to contribute to the success they are enjoying with this new crap. “Snowflakes” refers to young people that couldn’t tell what a clutch is, and frankly don’t care. Again, I apologize for the confusion, as many folks in the car biz today, don’t want to hear about someone not using them. Cuts the profits considerable.