I’ve been tossing and turning in my sleep these past few days trying to decide if I want to add an eighth car to my collection. But that hasn’t stopped Jalopnik readers from tempting me with even more vehicles that could send me spiraling down a dark, dark path.
I’m not even sure what the hell is going on with that Jeep in the picture above. It’s listed as a 1983 Jeep Cherokee, and the post says there are some body parts from a Kaiser Jeep M715 military vehicle. Clearly, the front fenders and the bed are from the M715, but the hood, cab, and tailgate are all off a Cherokee SJ.
The whole thing is just ridiculous. The way the back of the Jeep Cherokee just sits over top of the M715 bed, that custom Cherokee tailgate adapted to the M715 box, and am I crazy or is that a fuel filler neck peeking over top of the bedside?
Apparently Jalopnik reader Allan’s brother is selling this for $3,500. It’s got no engine, but it’s “set up” for a Chevy V8, and comes with a four-speed manual mated to a New Process NP205 transfer case sending torque to an “8 lug 10 bolt front” and a “14 bolt welded rear.”
There’s a lot of custom stuff going on here: the driveshaft, two-inch “high steer” arms to keep vulnerable tie rod ends away from the rocks, shock towers from a Ford F-250, motor mounts from Novak, transmission crossmember, the front bumper, a ram assist power steering setup, rock sliders and the rear bumper.
According to the seller, all this bad boy needs is a motor: “the dash is out because I was going to put a roll cage in it but honestly put it back in slap a motor in it and drive if you want.”
Something tells me that the market for vehicles like this is extremely niche. Because, at least to me, $3,500 sounds nuts, even if I don’t doubt that all the individual parts are worth that or even more.
But while that custom M715/Cherokee hybrid doesn’t do it for me, that same seller is letting this 1977 Jeep Cherokee Chief (with a razor grille!) go for the same price—$3,500.
The paint ain’t great, the interior needs work, and apparently the engine burns oil, but the body actually looks damn good. Is it $3,500 good? That’s between you and your automotive deities.
This next one sent to me by Tyler may look like a standard 1947 Willys CJ-2A missing its windshield, but no, there’s something very strange going on, here. Firstly, there’s that enormous counterweight on the front; if you squint, you can read “WEIGHT 235 LBS.”
That’s not the only thing different about this Willys. Look at that giant wheelbase! The CJ-2A came from the factory with 80-inches between the wheels, but this one’s got 88 for extra cargo-carrying capabilities. And really, that’s what this Jeep has been used for, as the owner says the past 17 years have put this Jeep to the test as a “farm work vehicle.”
Apparently the modified Jeep can “carry 8 adults. 6 in the back and two up front plus a kid on the metal perch between the seats.” That’s a lot of humans for a little Willys L-head motor to lug around.
The asking price is $5,950 “or make offer,” and while that sounds like a lot for a hacked-up flatfender, there are a number of things that I really like about this thing. The owner says it has no rust holes, and it comes with a shit-ton of spare parts— not just little stuff, either: stuff like axles and tires and windshields. Just look at this list:
HIS JEEP COMES WITH $3,000.00 OF EXTRA PARTS AND ACCESSORIES . 2 COMPLETE MOUNTED SETS 5 EACH OF MILITARY LUG TIRES 700x16 AND 600x16.. 4 COMPLETE AXLES AND GEARS..ONE FOR THE FARM USE 5.38 GEAR RATIO AND ONE FOR THE ROAD USE 3.73 RATIO.. A STEEL CAB WITH GLASS AND WIPERS.. 2 WINDSHIELD ASSEMBLIES AND TOW BAR WITH HITCH.. EXTRA SHEET METAL - HOOD, FENDER, GRILL...COMPLETE MAINTENANCE RECORDS , REPAIR AND PARTS MANUALS INCLUDING OWNERS MANUAL, HEAVY DUTY REAR CARRIER HOLDS 450 LBS. - 235 LBS. FRONT COUNTER WEIGHT REAR OLIVE DRAB CANVAS JUMP SEAT SEATS TWO TO THREE PERSONS, EXTRA SEAT FRAME , METAL BOWS FOR CANVAS TOP
I can dig it. Not for six grand, but if that price budged, the Jeep looked well-done in person, and the spare parts were decent (especially the windshields), I’d be tempted to throw down some cash.
Jalopnik reader Ryan sent me this posting for a 1957 Willys FC-150, whose F-head “Hurricane” inline-four actually runs, and whose three-speed manual actually propels the vehicle. But even though it fires up and drives, the seller says the body needs some serious work, and the title of this Forward Control—which hasn’t been registered in 40 years—is missing. That’s a shame, because $1,600 would have been a decent price if there were some paperwork.
The good news is that reader Keith sent me this listing of an FC with a title. It’s a 1959 FC-170 model with the longer wheelbase and with what looks like custom rear bedsides grafted on from a ’50s or ’60s era pickup. The body actually looks decent, though the bed is rusty and the engine may or may not run (I’d guess it doesn’t, as the seller says “I’ve never tried to get it running”).
Is it worth four large without the factory rear fenders? I don’t know; Forward Control Jeeps aren’t cheap these days, so perhaps someone who has a bed lying around might find this enticing.
This next one—sent to me by Chris—is a no-brainer. It’s a four-wheel drive 1989 Jeep Cherokee with a four-liter and a gorgeous body, nice vinyl trim, and a beautiful red interior.
Sure, the Jeep has 204,000 miles, and it’s got the Renix (Renault and Bendix-designed) fuel injection system that isn’t exactly known for its reliability.
It also has a closed “hot bottle”-type cooling system instead of the more robust recovery-bottle style that came in the later Cherokees.
But all you’d need to do is buy a beater XJ, take its high-output engine and its cooling system and plop them into this thing, and you’d have an amazing XJ. Even if you kept it the way it is, it’d still be a decent Jeep. Someone buy this before I do.
Ryan, who sent me that title-less FC-150 among other Jeeps, also sent me this link, which definitely contains the shittiest of the shitboxes in this article. It’s two YJ Wranglers, both in states of severe disrepair, and both being sold as a set for $800.
The 1992 black one, whose frame is “shot,” had its rear taillights cut out. I have no idea why. The red 1989 has an OK frame, and comes with new floorboards.
Neither of the underpowered 2.5-liter inline-fours in these things are currently running. The one with the good frame cranks but doesn’t start, and the 1992 apparently needs a battery, alternator and serpentine belt to run.
Eight hundred bucks for both is cheap, but neither of these things have titles, they don’t run, and they both look like bonafide shit-cans—parts Jeeps at best.