1982 Jeep CJ...

Hard to have more fun on four wheels than with a Jeep CJ7, especially one as dialed-in as this 1982 beauty. With a great paint job and a venerable 258 inline-six engine mated to a relatively rare automatic transmission on the column, it likely hasn't even seen a gravel road, let alone serious off-roading, but it's ready, willing, and able to tackle just about anything you throw it.

We're finally getting to the point where these CJs are legitimate collector's items, but you'll probably discover that very few are preserved/restored to this level, without a bunch of aesthetic changes and a massive lift. It was repainted not long ago and has a great shine and fantastic bodywork that suggests this Jeep has always been loved. The CJ's shape is unmistakable, especially with the hard doors and hard top in place, and with that solid maroon paint job, white hard top, and a set of slightly oversized fender flares, it looks awesome. Thanks to professional workmanship throughout, it feels tight and fits together quite well, and while a lot of these CJs led hard lives, this one has obviously been taking it easy most of its life. Heck, some Jeep guys might scoff at how bright and shiny this one is, but with that painted-to-match roll bar, front chrome bumper, rear bumper guards, swing-away spare tire mounted on the back, and a modest lift, I don't think anyone will question its off-road credentials.

Inside, this one is almost too nice to venture into the dirt, with nice low-back buckets with black seat covers and a matching rear bench. The seats are very comfortable but do show some wear, suggesting that they may very well be original, while the plush carpet below is newer and provides great insulation and noise reduction from below, something CJs always lacked from the factory. The gauges are original, another sign of this Jeep's preservation, and there's a thick black dash pad up top with one small crack in it, but otherwise it still shows very well. Amazingly, that's a stock Jeep AM radio still in the factory position, and if you know anything about CJs at all, you'll know how incredibly rare it is to find one of those still active, let alone one that still works! The factory theme continues with the original three-spoke steering wheel that's easy to grab in off-road situations, and having a shifter on the column that manages the automatic transmission below means that this is a Jeep that can be driven laid-back without worry of shift-points, or with both hands on the wheel while going over rugged terrain. Of course, a hardtop and metal doors make this an all-weather friend, going a long way towards civilizing the all-purpose Jeep.

The 258 cubic inch inline-6 standing by underneath the hood is one of the most reliable powertrains ever to be built, and off-roaders and weekend-warriors alike have trusted it to carry them through any situation for decades. Believed to be the original block, it starts up easily thanks to a stock-style 2-barrel carburetor and snorkeled air cleaner and pairs with a relatively rare 3-speed automatic transmission that extracts maximum performance from its output. 4-wheel drive agility is easily activated in this cockpit - its lever sits within easy reach of the driver and shifts into all of its options with ease. In keeping with Jeep's intention to arm the model with good road manners on asphalt and more rugged terrain alike, the featured power steering makes for easy navigation, while front disc brakes provide low-effort, fade-resistant stopping ability. This sharp looking classic rides on a set of 15-inch bullet-hole wheels outfitted with Futura Scrambler 31/10.5/15 off-road tires that appear to have plenty of tread left.

Ready for the daily grind and/or weekend dirt? You'd better believe it. Not many CJs are preserved and maintained to this level, so when you find one this nice, don't hesitate. Call today!

Also published at eBay.com