Elite Dealer

1979 Jeep CJ-5

Michigan

$30,995

Vehicle Details

Make

Jeep

Model

CJ-5

Year

1979

Mileage

3,000 miles

Body Type

SUV

Exterior Color

Red

Transmission

Automatic

Drivetrain

4WD

Fuel Type

Gasoline

Engine

350 V8 Chevy

Condition

Fair

Description

This 1979 CJ-5 is a comprehensively built performance machine, powered by a 350 cubic inch Chevy V8 featuring big valve aluminum heads, a.480 lift Comp camshaft with roller rockers, and ported and polished heads. The engine breathes through a ported chrome Edelbrock intake and carburetor with a Jet coated header system, fed by a new fuel tank with Holly electric fuel pump and MSD ignition. A rebuilt TH350 transmission with racing components and high stall converter, paired with a Dana 20 transfer case, channels power to a Dana 30 front axle and AMC 20 rear differential with Auburn locker and Moser axles.

The chassis has been thoroughly refreshed with a new power steering system, custom aluminum radiator with electric fan, and a complete brake system overhaul. The striking candy red fiberglass body features ghost flames, complemented by a custom roll cage, Kirkey racing seats with Corbeau harnesses, custom nerf bars, and stainless dash. Fresh Cooper Discoverer tires sit on unique chrome wheels.

Recently brought out of storage, the engine starts, runs, and drives very well. Note: minor oil seeping from engine, fuel gauge inoperative, and small rust hole at lower right frame.

Classic Jeep CJ-5 Buyer's Guide

Full guide

Robert Halloran

Classic Trucks

1954–1983

~3 min read

Updated Apr 2026

Complete buyer's guide for the Jeep CJ-5 (1954–1983). Generation breakdown by era, frame and tub inspection, drivetrain identification, and current market values for stock and modified examples.

This guide covers

✓ 10-point inspection checklist

✓ Common issues & what to avoid

✓ In-person inspection guide

✓ Market pricing by year & condition

✓ 5 FAQs answered

✓ History & fun facts

Read the Full CJ-5 Buyer's Guide

Jeep CJ-5 Market Overview

Based on 24 Jeep CJ-5 listings currently on ClassicCarsArena.com

Listed Now

$18,520

Avg. Asking Price

1967–1983

Year Range

Price Position on Our Site — Above Average

This car: $30,995

Low: $5,995 High: $37,495

Transmission Distribution

Automatic 13% ◄

Manual 71%

Condition Distribution

Excellent 8%

Good 29%

Fair 8% ◄

Data from ClassicCarsArena.com listings Browse all 24 listings →

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What is this car worth?

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Classic Jeep CJ-5 Buyer's Guide

The Jeep CJ-5 is the original American off-road icon — a direct descendant of the World War II Willys Jeep, refined for civilian use and sold continuously from 1954 to 1983. In nearly thirty years of production, the CJ-5 barely changed in concept: a short wheelbase, a rugged ladder frame, a solid front axle, and enough ground clearance to go where no sensible person had been before. Today clean CJ-5s are legitimately collectible, and the market for sorted originals is stronger than it has ever been.

What to Check Before Buying

✓

Inspect frame rails at body mount points — Primary rust concentration zone. Use flashlight and screwdriver. Soft metal at mount points is a structural concern.

✓

Check body tub floor and lower cowl — Steel tub floors rust through from below. Lower cowl panels rust from water ingress at windshield. Fiberglass tub = rust eliminated but value reduced for purists.

✓

Test front Dana 30 axle for play — Grab front wheel at 9 and 3 o'clock, rock firmly. Any play = worn wheel bearings or damaged axle housing from trail use.

✓

Check for bent or cracked axle housing — Trail use commonly bends the front and rear axle housings. Sight down the axle — any curve indicates damage.

✓

Verify transfer case engagement — Both high-range and low-range 4WD must engage cleanly. Transfer case that slips out = rebuild required.

✓

Identify engine and verify condition — F-head four, AMC six, or AMC V8? Compression test all cylinders. Should read within 10% across all cylinders.

✓

Check steering box and tie rods — CJ-5 steering is inherently imprecise. Excessive play beyond normal (more than 3 inches at wheel) means worn box.

✓

Inspect rollbar mounting points — Rollbar bolts to the body tub. Check mounting flanges for cracks or rust-through on both tub and frame.

✓

Test brakes — drum all around (pre-1977) — Drum brakes on all four corners. Pedal should be firm. Any pull to one side = stuck cylinder.

✓

Document with photos before purchase — Frame rails, tub floor, axle housings, engine, transfer case, every body panel.

Common Issues

Rust affects both the body tub and the frame on CJ-5s. The frame rails rust at body mount points and at crossmembers — these are structural issues. The body tub rusts at the floor, lower cowl, and rear corners. The Hurricane F-head four-cylinder is long-lived but slow and parts for it are becoming harder to source. AMC inline-sixes and V8s are robust — the 258 is the most reliable engine in the lineup. Trail use causes specific damage: bent axle housings (front and rear), cracked differential covers, stripped skid plate mounting threads, and worn U-joints are all common on trucks with serious off-road history. These are identifiable on inspection — and should all factor into price negotiation. The CJ-5's short wheelbase (81 inches) makes it inherently tippy. If the truck has been lifted without a corresponding suspension geometry correction, it's more unstable than stock. Always ask about lift kit installation history.

What to Look For

Frame first. The ladder frame on a CJ-5 is the foundation of everything. Inspect every frame rail with a flashlight, probe suspicious areas with a screwdriver. Pay special attention to the body mount points and the front and rear crossmembers. Body tub second. Is it steel or fiberglass? Steel original tubs rust but are correct for value purposes. Fiberglass tubs are practical but reduce collector value. Inspect the steel tub floor from both above and below. Drivetrain third. The front Dana 30 and rear Dana 44 (or Dana 35 on some years) are the 4WD system. Test both front and rear locking and listen for differential noise. Bent axle housings from trail use are the most common hidden problem.

Price Guide

Early CJ-5 with Hurricane four-cylinder in clean original condition: $18,000–$35,000. AMC-era CJ-5 (1972–1983) in sorted stock condition: $15,000–$28,000. Professional restorations to correct stock specification: $35,000–$55,000. Modified trail rigs with lift kits, aftermarket bumpers, and lockers: $10,000–$25,000 depending on quality — the modifications rarely add value and often reduce it for non-trail buyers. Early F-head four-cylinder trucks in concours-original condition are approaching $40,000–$55,000 as supply shrinks.

Did You Know?

The CJ-5's 81-inch wheelbase was derived directly from the M38A1 military Jeep. The M38A1 was the Korean War-era military vehicle; the CJ-5 was its civilian equivalent, using the same basic dimensions and the same front suspension geometry. Kaiser Jeep, which owned the brand from 1953 to 1970, built CJ-5s alongside military M151 Jeeps at the same Toledo, Ohio factory — meaning civilian and military Jeeps literally came off the same assembly line for over a decade.

Elite Dealer

$30,995

1979 Jeep CJ-5

Michigan

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