What's It Worth

I am trying to get a feel for the value of non-molested jeeps, as well as the cost of fixing them up. In this eBay auction, the Jeep appears to be in mostly original condition:

http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/1972-CJ5-Arizona-Jeep-unrestored-original-paint-rust-free-/130879964500?_trksid=p3984.m1438.l2648&ssPageName=STRK:MEWAX:IT&forcev4exp=true

A few questions:

1. Is this Jeep original (why are the floor boards grey)
2. What is it worth
3. How much work would this Jeep need

 

The bid is at $5100 and the reserve is not met. I would not pay over 5g for it. Your in Wis. do you plan to haul it back? It looks good but it all depends what you want it for. I think you could find a better one. The tail lights and wheels are wrong. Air cleaner missing, roll bars are old style, just for starters. Without seeing it in person you have no idea on the motor and pics are always better then the real thing. It looks like it had some type of cage bolted to the body, like a safari bar. Maybe it was on a ranch? Are you looking to restore or just drive? Rock crawler?

 

I have no intentions of purchasing this Jeep. Just trying to learn more about jeeps like this. Ultimately, I just want a basic, near original jeep for weekend driving. No crawling or bogging, maybe some easy trails. Certainly don't want a garage queen or muse piece.

 

eBay prices are crazy. After looking on there I should sell mine! All are going to need something. I would look for a jeep with a clean body and frame. Not lifted with stock size tires. Try not to get someone else's half *** work. A lot of the work on mine was the PO shoddy work, and that happens a lot with jeeps. People drive them into the ground and barely fix them. Some jeeps should be in the junkyard long ago but people think that they have something so they hang onto them and ask premium dollar when selling. Ewillys is a good place to get info. I have seen some good deals there.

 

In So Cal, 3-6k will get anywhere from bone stock like mine, to some caged, saginaw, winch, and 31s-33s.
Just depends on the day really.

 

Here in the Midwest that will get a rust bucket with purple paint or a failed project.

 

Well, it's a 232 3-speed Jeep, which would only come in the basest of base model CJs. The 258 engine was a very cheap upgrade over the 232. However, a 232 with standard size tires was just fine on the highway, though I expect it's going to be pretty gutless with big tires. Esp. if it has the standard 3.73 axle ratio - it would be better with the optional 4.27s. Smittybilt roll bar.

So $5100 seems like a lot for this very basic Jeep. Is it what you want? If you are planning to go with a SBC Vortek swap, the 232/T-14 doesn't matter. But you'd really need to look at it in person.

It might be ok ... the floors have been painted, likely to stop rust. Maybe the floors have been repaired. The Jeep letters on the side should be white, so it may have been repainted or touched up with the original color. Butterscotch Gold was a '72 color, 490 code.

If you just want a cheap and capable Jeep, buy a YJ. Otherwise, look for the type of Jeep that you want, and buy the best example you can find. Pay what the seller wants. You might find what you want cheap, or not.

If I wanted an intermediate CJ-5, I'd look for a 258/T-18 example with 4.27 axles. Or a Renegade (304 and fully loaded). But I'd be prepared to pay for it. The initial price is a fixed expenditure, and becomes less relevant the longer you own the Jeep. And buying a better example will be cheaper in the long run, even if you have to pay up for the best one you can find.

I would not think about the price too much if it's not outrageously high.

 

Thanks for the great replies. Very helpful.

Well, it did not sell as the highest bid ($5,100) did not meet the reserve, so you guys were spot on with your evaluations.

I am not looking for anything fancy, I just want a very basic Jeep that will be reliable and enjoyable. No crawling, bogging, or hard trails. Just putzing around rural areas (45 MPH and lower speed limits) on sunny days. I don't mind doing small things, but am not looking for anything major. I do have a Jeep now, but it is uber inexpensive, and is turning out to be more of a project than I was expecting. I won't put much money into my current Jeep as it has very limited potential, so I am exploring the market a bit to help me determine my next move.

For whatever reason, I just don't like the newer jeeps - I want an all metal interior (except for the seats), mostly original, primitive, with rust free body (paint does not have to be very good). I actually like the faded, worn look of older Jeeps, such as this one. As I stated in another thread recently, the older Jeeps around here are just awful - rust buckets or fiberglass bodies. The ones that are not awful are really expensive ($15K+).

Thanks for taking the time to help out a noob.

 

When I was looking at buying a Jeep, I found alot of the rust buckets and fiberglass bodies too (Minnesota). I must have looked at a dozen and was not planing on an early 5 but the one I got was the only one without a rusted out frame. Keep looking and you will find something.

 

Stuff like that goes for big bucks out here. Most jeeps get the bejeezus built out of them and then go on the market cause they are no longer driveable.
Peruse the PHX craigslist to get a feel for the travesties that abound here. People are always wanting to buy mine to turn into something "chingon"