My wife and I bought a farm from an elderly relative back in the summer of 2016. We were so excited to finally have a place to raise our children and teach them farm life. Not only did the house need a lot of work, but the land and fencing needed a fair amount of work. We raise beef cattle and have the typical chickens and ducks. Why do I tell you all of this? If you have ever tried to carry your tools or fencing supplies across a 12 acre field from the barn, it can get old pretty quick! So, along with the farm purchase, I somehow convinced my wife we needed a utility vehicle to run around on the farm. A Gator was too expensive and an ATV didn’t have a bed. Then one sunny April day on Craigslist, I found it: a Jeep CJ5. The seller only had a couple of pictures of the old Jeep and they weren’t very clear, but it was love at first sight. After exchanging the typical buyer/seller jargon, we agreed on a price and off we went, my father and I, trailer in tow.
It was the end of April 2017 and it couldn’t have been a nicer day. We had to drive about 4.5 hours from South-Central, PA to North-East, PA; Lake Wallenpaupak to be exact. The drive was uneventful and I could hardly contain my excitement! We pulled up to the seller’s house and there it sat in all of it’s rusty and crusty glory: a 1965 Jeep CJ-5 Tuxedo Park Mark IV (1 of 1,945 built for the ’65 model year), almost all original!
The story I got was this: It was purchased new by a gentleman back in 1965 (it was built in December of 1964 according to the VIN) and he put a snow-plow on it. He had a cabin right on the lake and used the Jeep to clear snow in the winter. I’m sure he also used it for hunting and other activities. This gentleman passed away and the Jeep sat, probably for 15 years or so. This Jeep eventually went up for sale at an estate sale and the guy I bought it from purchased it. He got it home, cleaned out 15 years of grime, and got it running to be used as an ATV, cruising around the mountains surrounding Lake Wallenpaupak. We exchanged our thank you’s (and CASH), loaded the Jeep on our trailer and headed for home.
As soon as we pulled in the driveway, my little boys were running up and begging to get in the new Jeep! We unloaded it and started to look it over. It was pretty rusty (typical), but it’s little 4 cylinder Hurricane and 3-speed transmission ran like a champ. First thing I did was ditch the 5-gallon gas can behind the driver seat with a new plastic tank, fuel line, and sending unit. I then replaced the alternator and radiator. It didn’t charge and the radiator had holes in it. I also noticed the major puddles of oil under the Jeep. The solution was a new oil pan, gasket, and rear main seal. The valves needed adjusted and the points were rough, so a complete tuneup and electronic ignition was done. After I got all of these mechanical quirks out of the way and got a clean bill of health on the brake system. I could focus on the fun stuff. Tires, Paint, and Lift.
I watched an episode of Dirt Every Day and saw the BFGoodrich Mud Terrain KM3’s on Fred’s Jeep. I knew then and there I had to have them! You see, I had Mud-Terrain KM2’s years ago when I had a Wrangler TJ, so I knew BFG tires are the best by far. I instantly went onto TireRack and found a set of 30X9.50-15 KM3’s and placed the order. While I was waiting on the tires to arrive, the original 15” wheels were being professionally refinished because they were very pitted due to sitting for years. Once they came, the tires were mounted up and hardly took any weight to balance. Thanks BFG! Put them on the Jeep and they completely changed the look, I LOVE these tires! Not only do they look great, but they ride smooth and straight with very low road noise. The sidewalls also look awesome!
The tires fit my stock suspension just fine, but I needed some additional height. A Rough Country 2.5” suspension lift was ordered. The install went fairly smooth and the rusty nuts/bolts only put up a little fight. Thank goodness for air tools! The Jeep drove SO much better with the new tires and all new suspension components and it also looked completely different! I was so tickled with the look but wanted to try my hand at painting. Now let me tell you, this paint job is special. It is special because it only cost me about $150! I had two paint choices: pay someone to professionally paint the Jeep and shell out thousands of dollars, or, go to the local hardware store and buy all the Krylon Peacock Blue spray paint and spray clear coat that they had. Now remember, this Jeep has chores and responsibilities on our farm. I use it as a utility vehicle but I also like to take it on little off-road excursions through the woods as well as all the Jeep Shows I can find! So I chose the spray paint option.
I began by setting up a makeshift paint booth in my barn with sheets of plastic and portable heaters. Sat the Jeep up on jack stands, taped her off, and sprayed. Eighteen cans of paint and clear later, it was done, and much to my amazement looked great! I bought a brand new windshield frame and painted that gloss black, just like Kaiser did back in ’65. After wet-sanding, a buff with some compound, and wax, I couldn’t believe my eyes. It looked amazing! So many people still don’t believe me when they see it and I tell them it is a rattle-can paint job. It’s perfect: I can still use my Jeep and not feel at all bad about running a branch down it’s side on my back fence-row, where-as with a professional paint job, I’d be worried about every little water-spot! It’s the best of both worlds and proof that with a little patience and confidence, you can spray-paint your vehicle and make it look great!
So that gets you up to date on my ’65 CJ5. There’s a lot of other parts and countless other hours in this Jeep that I’ve left out; I don’t want to make you read a novel! It has been one of the best vehicles I have ever bought (and I’ve had a few!) and it has introduced me to a lot of great people/friends in the vintage Jeep world. I think what I like most about it is the sheer simplicity and the nostalgia I get when I drive it. I also enjoy every minute of shop time, and wrenching with my little ones – future wheelers in the making! I started a YouTube channel – 65SEEJAYFIVE in May of 2019 and am trying to share my love for this little CJ with the world. I’m glad you chose to stop and look at my Jeep, it truly means a lot to me. Thank you for taking the time to read this!
Willys Jeep Life Story – Jason Miller
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I have a 65 CJ5 Tuxedo Park that I am currently working on and hoping to be on the road in the near future. Mine has a 3 speed on the colume which is different. It was in a barn in Texas with all the parts and pieces in boxes and wrapped in plastic.
I applaud you for doing the paint job yourself. I am amazed that everyone thinks thousands of dollars is tge only way to get a good looking paint job. My CJ 2A is black with red wheels exactly as jt came off the assembly line. I have cleaned, derusted, replaced panels and hood, plus repainted everything the way you did. It looks great and gets complements each time I take it in a parade. Your jeep looks great and is fit you the purpose you had in mind when you bought it. Nice job!
Great post! My first ’66 was close to that color..which I love! Unfortunately I was hit nearly head on and lost the jeep. Now I have a ’66 Tux with the V6. LOVE IT! Love seeing these stories and these old jeeps. Gotta teach my kids how to drive a stick next! Cheers!
Great Jeep, I am doing a full rebuild on my CJ5 , Busy stripping the blue paint off. Can’t wait to complete the built.
I bought one of the Tuxedo Parks used in the 1965 LBJ inauguration. Its Missing many of its original parts.
There is a Guardian Angel for everyone you Know! I must have the I gotta Have a Tuxedo Park of distinction Angel on my shoulder. It was one of the White ones and bought it for $11,000 in Trail Oregon.
I recently bought two NEW repo bumpers that come with Dings in them at $450 a piece????? When I ask for good ones he said they all have dings but he would give my money back. This jerk sells bumpers like this and says nothing even though he has all dinged (says about 200)Tux bumpers unless you complain. Presently he is the only one selling these repo Tux bumpers in the US so I am stuck and will try to fix them myself.
Great Jeep and story. I’ve got a 65cj Tux as well. Like yours, mine was all original down to the floor matts, chrome hinges, radio., hub caps .etc. It’s Presidential Red with black interior. I will never claim to be a mechanic, but loving every aspect of doing electrical, body work and mechanicals.
I don’t see many Tuxedo Park Mark IV’s here. I have a 1966 with the Dauntless V6 they’re good Jeeps Kaiser only produced them a few years in Toledo Ohio… I’m glad to see you are enjoying it with your children. Keep on Jeeping…
But, now it’s so nice, you need a beater to haul all that fence stuff sround!
It’s time for another one …
You have done a good job with your Jeep. I sure like it. We have a 1964 CJ5 ,also blue, that spent its working life on a ranch in western South Dakota. Your kids will have a good background with country life and a Jeep.
Keep the Jeep life alive.
Nice article and beautiful job. I agree with your comments. I have a M38A1.
Slick little Jeep, very nice.