'80 CJ5 vs '66 Military Jeep

[gollyjeepers]

Hello. I have been wanting an "older" Jeep for a long time, and have finally saved enough money to buy one (I'm in college). I had a CJ7 I was putting an offer on, but it got yanked from under me.

However, I have since found a '80 CJ5 in great shape that doesn't really need any work right off the bat. I was excited and pretty sold on it...until I looked around a little harder.

I have since found a '66 military Jeep that needs quite a bit of work, at least cosmetically. The owner says it's in running condition, but I have only seen it online. It definitely needs a lot of work on stuff like the seats and such (which are just the wire frame right now).

So I'm looking for advice. The upside on the CJ5 is that it is ready-to-go and I can begin enjoying the Jeep that I have been wanting to buy since I was 14. On the other hand, I like to fix things and work on things, so this one doesn't have much for me to do right now, and it's a bit "blinged" out for my taste. (Not too bad, but it does have a really big lift and some added no-slip chrome stuff).

The '66 military Jeep, in my opinion, would be AWESOME to have and drive, but it needs work and I don't have experience restoring cars. HOWEVER, I love to fix things, and have no problem doing the learning required to get the job done. But, it would be quite a while before I would get there.

Lastly, the CJ5 is asking just over $6,000. It's in pretty great shape, but I think I can get the price down to mid-to-high $5,000s. The '66 military is asking just under $4,000, but requires work (which means added dinero).

My budget is absolutely not more than $7,000. What I've read about scarcity of Jeep parts, especially for early and military models makes me worry about having enough leftover cash to work on the '66 right away.

Sorry this is so long, but I'm lost in a soul search between two cool vehicles and am looking for second opinions!

[gert]

sounds like the 5 is the winner to me since your still in college

[mhubacek]

Do you have any pics of these CJ's in question? I would think that $4000 is a little much for a 66' that needs work. Do you have a place to work on the 66'? And abundance of tools necessary to get the work completed? I made the mistake of just figuring repair costs for my 68' CJ, and not all the tools I had to purchase along the way! Welder, grinder, sawsall, air tools, compressor, and the list goes on and on! I still don't regret the purchase though, because I've really enjoyed working on it, and learned alot so far. If the choice you make has to get you around I'd say the one that is ready to go. If you want it to sit in pieces for awhile, until it's built the way you want it then I'd go with the 66'. I'm not a mechanic by any means, just a guy that likes to tinker. This site will help you get through alot of repairs that you never thought you could do.

[TDHofstetter]

Wow - they're both PRICEY. It's hard for me to imagine spending more than ONE thousand dollars on a project Jeep that can tug itself around, and there are plenty out that that still fit that budget. FOUR thousand buys a pretty nice Jeep around these parts, and SIX buys you one in nearly showroom condition. I could show you a bunch of M38s and CJ2As and CJ3As&Bs up here in about the condition you described with price tags far, far less than four thousand.

I'm thinkin'... fall out of love with 'em both. Hunker down & watch CraigsList s'more. You'll find something much closer to your goals, with nothing to undo, with some surmountable challenges, and that fits your budget far better.

[Old Dog]

If I were you and had to pick between the two, I would go with the 80
and fix it the way I wanted it, but still be able to drive it now.

[essexmo]

Do they pay you to be in college in the USA still if your budget is $7,000 you should be able to get an older one in showroom condition for that $1.000 would buy you a runner with not to much to do on it

[Sasquach]

You can not get any CJ in "Showroom Condition" for $7000.00 or anywhere close.
To me it would depend on what you want to end up with, If you want the 66 M38 original you can plan on a lot of $. If you want the CJ5 somewhat the way it is that is the way to go.
My CJ I paid $5K for with little rust and mostly original cond. and 74K miles and added another $7000 just restoring close to "showroom condition".
My vote would be to go for the one you really want to end up with after any work.

[gollyjeepers]

Originally Posted by essexmo Do they pay you to be in college

No, not exactly... But I have a job and a scholarship that pays a per
semester stipend, so sort of.

The '80 looks to be in great shape and I'm seeing it Friday for a drive and to
have a mechanic check it out. I haven't gone to see the 66 yet but he
says in driving condition, engine wise, but not cosmetically. I don't
know.

Asking price on '66 is $3850 obo, and $6200 for the '80. I've found a few others on craigslist, but none that jump out to me. I really like the '80, but am just not sure if I want one quite that polished that doesn't have much for me to do yet at all, and like I said, the 66 would be awesome to work on, but would be hard to fix up any time soon. The $7,000 budget is not what I'm looking to spend, but rather the total cost I can afford right now to buy AND spend on any fixups right now. So, chances are I wouldn't need that with the '80, and for the 66, I just couldn't do anything past that right now.

Based solely off the prices of other Jeeps that look in comparable condition, I thought if I could negotiate the '80 down to 5800-6000 that it would be a fair deal. Depending on the actual condition of the 66 and what work needs to be done enginewise and such, I think I could work it down as well.

Any way, enough of me rambling. Pictures are worth a thousand words.

'80 also comes with full soft top/doors.

[Sasquach]

No mater what you choose get dirty and look under these Jeeps and try to find defects so you don't get surprised down the road so to speak.
The 80 CJ for $6200 should be rust free for that price in my opinion and not leaking oil all over the place so get on your back and check it out. Fold the windshield down and look at the hinge area for rust too.

[essexmo]

Originally Posted by gollyjeepers No, not exactly... But I have a job and a scholarship that pays a per semester stipend, so sort of. The '80 looks to be in great shape and I'm seeing it Friday for a drive and to have a mechanic check it out. I haven't gone to see the 66 yet but he says in driving condition, engine wise, but not cosmetically. I don't know. Asking price on '66 is $3850 obo, and $6200 for the '80. I've found a few others on craigslist, but none that jump out to me. I really like the '80, but am just not sure if I want one quite that polished that doesn't have much for me to do yet at all, and like I said, the 66 would be awesome to work on, but would be hard to fix up any time soon. The $7,000 budget is not what I'm looking to spend, but rather the total cost I can afford right now to buy AND spend on any fixups right now. So, chances are I wouldn't need that with the '80, and for the 66, I just couldn't do anything past that right now. Based solely off the prices of other Jeeps that look in comparable condition, I thought if I could negotiate the '80 down to 5800-6000 that it would be a fair deal. Depending on the actual condition of the 66 and what work needs to be done enginewise and such, I think I could work it down as well. Any way, enough of me rambling. Pictures are worth a thousand words. '80 also comes with full soft top/doors.

that military jeep looks like too much work the rear end looks like a kubelwagen the old volks wagon ww 2 german jeeps lol on the CJ 5 i would worry about the chrome body plates as those usually hide rust but it looks nice it just seems really expensive for an 80 vehicle i just bought an 83 CJ 7 for 100 bucks it needs a lot of work but im cheap