63 cj5 Tuxedo Park Mark III

I have a 63 cj5 that was lifted and engine swapped and I decided I wanted to go back to stock. I searched craigslist for a doner Jeep with a bad body that I could put mine on. I found a 63 with 51k miles that runs and drives. It needed brakes rust repair pass seat fenders and top. I purchased went to look at it and instatly noticed the chrome front bumper bolted to it. Then I also noticed pink (Indian Ceramic) paint in locations like where the steel hardtop had been mounted and under the windshield. It has wheel well seat pads that have been spray dyed black but sill show pink underneith. The steeringwheel also has been sprayed black but you can see pink in all the spots where the black has flaked off. It has chrome windshield hinges too. There is no rear bumper due to the rear crossmember being a replacement. The driver seat is black and pink as well. Now here is my question. Is there a market for a little pink Jeep. I have seen a few online one was going for 8k but is anybody going to pay that for it. I know its rare. I am also a CJ6 owner and totally appreciate the harder to find Jeeps. The whole point of me getting this jeep was to put my other one back to stock and to sell it. But now I'm slapped in the face with a dillema and I dont know what to do. Part of me says I have a rare piece and I should bring it back to life and the other says just slap your other body on it and sell it like you origionally planned. This would be just one more project which I have plenty of. I currently have 2 63 cj5s a 61 cj6 a yj Sahara with a cj nose a 70 conv Mustang a 30 Model A a 83 944 and a 93 Lightning. It has to stop somewhere, Right? ok well I guess I wasnt ready for this accidental rare find and am looking for some guidence. What should I do
Matt

 

If you don't have a tux vin then just sell me your chrome bumper and move on w/ your original project.


edit - Actually, in 63 "tuxedo park" was an option w/o a specific vin. 64 was the 1st year w/ a specific vin. Good luck on the project what ever way you go! keep us updated w/ pics.

 

theres one of those at my local junk yard right now. pink wheel and fender pads and chrome accesories. I got quite a few pieces off of it. Pretty cool

 

I say keep the Tuxedo as is or sell it to someone who will. While they may not be super scarce, I feel they are worth keeping original. Besides, there are plenty of other doner cj5s out there with much greater production numbers. Just try to find some of these original Tuxedo parts. It can be a challenge, and a Mark III may be even more scarce. ( Notice I am refraining from using the dreaded R word R) ) Just my .02

 

eBay it and see what happens. Let the market decide if it's worth saving.

Early CJs are not particularly scarce, but an Indian Ceramic Tux is cool, and there may be someone out there that wants to save it.

 

I am not really sure, but is the first few years of the Tux package a option that could be added by a dealer, and then it became a factory only option with a VIn Number?
I had a 65, it said tux on the hood, sad but that jeep jumped off a cliff in Mexico 6 years ago. Anyway.....
I didnt even know about Early CJ5 back then and now I sometimes wonder about the history of that jeep and the tux package.
I know, do a search, this forum is famous for that quote.
but anyone knows interaction with other tux owners makes a nice way to learn than just being told you do not want to talk about it and do a search.

 

I have a lot to learn about them but, again with out doing the search, I thought 61 was the first year for the option and ran through 67. But... I could be wrong........

 

Did you get the locking hubs off it?I saw those were gone. Got the hood today. The blue one, hard top,?

 

No the hubs were gone when i got to it. I went again last night and saw the hood gone. I got the tailgait chains , windsheild latches, wiper arm protector backets, windsheild to hood catch, pto cover, heater controls, fender pads, drain plug, pulley skid plate, door window cranks. And some little other little stuff. I tried to get some other stuff but didnt have the right tools. Also got a ton of parts for my minibikes from the mowers there and my bro got the tranny from the vw squareback. I havnt had time to sort what i want to keep and sell yet. Just picked up another minibike to restore today. Busy busy