Anybody know anything about Renegades?

Good Afternoon, Everyone!

First time...Long.

I recently purchased a 1976 cj5 renegade levis. Only, is it really? It has white steel wheels, original roll, AMC304 rebuilt, but the owner swears it only has 77K original miles on it. When I bought it there was NO emissions equipment on it at all, and in the Phoenix area that is a serious problem. The good news is the jeep is virtually rust free. The problem is I can't find any info on the renegade in 1976. I did notice that it has an Arizona VIN#, not the original, so I cannot research where it was made what the original equipment was. Did they actually make a cj5 Renegade Levis in 1976? What characteristics make it a renegade? What kinds of things can I look for to find out if the vehicle is as original as I thought or if it is just someone else's abortion. Thank you SOOO much for your help!

Jason

 

Thank you, Sparky!!

I am just starting to figure out how to use this forum. So far, I have found its members to be extremely kind and helpful.

Thanks again!

Jason

 

The factory VIN wouldn't help for Renegade confirmation.
It should also be stamped into the frame...
The VIN plate missing and an assigned VIN raises suspicions.......to me.
Why ? salvaged title ?
The Levi Renegade package was mostly the soft trim: seat covers, soft top, dash, visors etc, and that little red Levi decal; some other items as well: tire/wheel options, solid tailgate panel,etc.
Other than the Levi fabric and decal, it had most/if not all of the same features as a regualr CJ5.
It was a very popular model in my opinion, and good looking.

 

i did a quick search of the web after looking at a coupld o my jeep books here at the house and found an interesting looking brochure available online----some old jeep catalogs or other propaganda i guess but it had a jeep on the cover that looked very much like yours.

here is the copy from the ad

the site is http://mclellansautomotive.com/photos/B32677.jpg

Year: 1976 (Item #B32677) - Photo 1
JEEP, "Jeep Corporation Proudly Presents: Jeep CJ-5 . Cherokee . Wagoneer . Pickup . CJ-7": 32 page color catalog, 9x11. White cover, with red, blue and black lettering, has photograph showing three-quarter frontal view of red Jeep Levi's Renegade CJ-7 with black HardTop. 139 photographs, photo renderings and drawings show exterior, interior, engine, chassis, mechanical parts, features, options and accessories for Jeep Cherokee, Cherokee S and Cherokee Chief Sport Utility Vehicles; Wagoneer and Custom Wagoneer Station Wagons; CJ-5 and CJ-7; and Standard, Custom and Pioneer Pickup Trucks. Includes discussion, specifications, charts showing paint, upholstery and tire tread selections and five sets of dimensional drawings. Also includes trailer towing information and charts listing requirements and recommendations. Form No. 6-1417-5424-835. Price: $30. [/I][/I]


ray

 

Jim,

The WHY question I haven't answered yet. The jeep originally came from Texas, and I purchased it from a consignment dealership in scottsdale. To my knowledge, they would be required to mention if it was a salvage or not. Also, the title itself is not a salvage title and has the original purchase price and first date or registration. That leads me to assume it may not have the original tub....possibly due to a roll over (go figure) or accident that wasn't enough to total it. I have no idea, I'm just guessing...

But from what you are saying, it sounds like in '76 the renegade was more of a trim package and wouldn't really matter underneath.

Thank you!

Jason

 

Ray,

Thanks for all your help! That particual advertisement is of a cj-7, but the trim is amazingly similar! 1976 was the very first year they introduced the 7, i guess to make people feel a bit safer or have more storage room behind the back seat. Personally, I like the 5 w/out a backseat!

In regards to your tuxedo park. Did you know that THAT model is probably one of more RARE jeeps out there? I was doing some research on it and found out the CJ-5A (Tuxedo Park) had chrome bumpers, softer bench seats, a stick shift on the column, better suspension and a V6, which was fantastic for 1961 when they first came out!

Are you restoring to stock condition or just making her drivable around the deserts of 'ol mex? Sounds like an intersting project!

Jason

 

Not much help other than to say I recall seeing lots of the Levi jeeps in north GA when I was younger. Very popular.
From what I can see of yours it looks sharp.

The title could have been lost or had no title, some states allow a no title transfer and tags after a certain number of years.

 

In Georgia a truck before 1986 did not need to be titled so when I inherited my grandfather's truck (a 1985) I had to get an original Texas title.

 

Most likely they wanted to offer a short-wheelbase Jeep with an automatic transmission. The CJ-5 wheelbase is too short for Jeep's choice of automatic (the TH400). Plus, '76 was a watershed year for the CJ, with a complete redesign. Lots of things change between '75 and '76, so Jeep had the opportunity to introduce a completely new model that they thought would generate more sales. The discontinued CJ-6 could have taken the automatic, but to most buyers at the time the CJ-6 looked like a hack job on the CJ-5 (which it sort of was). The CJ-7 body was designed to be well-proportioned and provide easier entry (also a sales feature).

 

From the 76 brochure:
<edit> thought that the text would show up better.

 

Cool! That answered a couple of questions I had. I had thought that the 4.02:1 1st gear (close ratio) T-18 continued through 1976, and this brochure says it did. It also says that the T-18 was only available with the 258, not the 232. I had thought that was true, but had not seen anything to confirm it.

 

Same here, one of the first things I did to my CJ-5 was to take out the rear seat, rhino line the entire inside of the jeep.....The little bed room you get that way is good for most things.

 

Where did you get this from and do they have 79 CJ-5?

 

I'm not sure what you are asking, but if you're asking where you can buy a '79 cj5, I just happen to know a guy in Prescott Valley, AZ who is selling (may be sold but I don't know) a '79. It was blue, full roll, and had a 4bbl, dual exhaust on the 304, T-15, soft top, and glass packs so everyone knows where you are. He wanted about 6K for it, but if he hasn't sold it yet, i'm sure he'll make a deal. PM me and I'll give you his email address to see if it is still for sale. He also had a '68 K-5 restored and a TJ he was selling.

Jason

 

I think he wanted to see a 1979 brochure

 

1976 Jeep brochure don't have a 1979.