My wife and I decided we wanted a cheap convertible for cruising Highway 101 on the Southern California coastline. One day my 14 year old son saw a 1964 CJ-5 for sale online. What better convertible than a Jeep? We drove out to Pauma Valley for a look and here’s what we saw.
As close to a barn find as we were going to get. It was kind of rough. The transfer case was stuck in low, the seats were hammered. There was some rust in the floorboards. The signals did not work but she ran. The engine (Hurricane 134), transmission, transfer case and axles were all original. There was very little modification other than locking rear hubs that were added for better towing. Apparently the owner used the CJ-5 for delivering supplies in the Sierra Nevada mountains. He had purchased it from a Marine colonel who used it on the rugged trails of Camp Pendleton. He was 6 foot 5 so he had the driver seat pushed back into the wheel well for more leg room.
Knowing very little of what I was getting myself into, I towed her home, expecting to fix a couple of things and have a cheap toy. Little did I know that I would spend more than double what I paid that day, to get her in proper working order.
After getting her home I discovered the turn signals wouldn’t work when I pushed the brake pedal, the brake lights wouldn’t work when the headlights were on, and the front turn signals would freeze when I braked. The brake pedal would either get stuck and not bounce back once I pushed it or wouldn’t push all the way down because the metal floor was bent and split causing the spring to catch. The steering wheel had three inches of play. Whenever I hit a bump the car would bounce a foot in either direction. The temperature and gas gauges didn’t work. Driving her on the streets in traffic was a white knuckle experience as the car couldn’t steer or stop. But it started and ran remarkably well and I looked cool driving it.
Thanks to many hours, help from a couple of mechanics, and parts from Kaiser Willys, I have been able to get her driving in a somewhat civilized fashion. She has new seats, floorboards, a new Solex carb, a new steering wheel and turn signals, new gauges, gas tank, new parts for the steering gear box, steering stabilizer, shocks, etc. We cleaned and painted what we could.
My son is now 17 and takes her off-roading. It still breaks down every once in a while and occasionally runs out of gas but then again it’s a Jeep, what more could we ask for. What I especially like about her is it’s the opposite of my daily driver. She has no technology, no ABS, no disc brakes, no power steering, no radio, nothing. She’s a throwback in time. You feel every bump in the road, hear every sound in the environment and get your hair blown in knots. It’s what driving was meant to be.
Willys Jeep Life Story – Derryl Acosta
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Votre histoire ma rappelle la mienne avec ma CJ5 de 1969 (moteur Hurricane).
Ma 1er jeep achétée en 2017 que je restaure lentement mais patiemment.
Elle consomme un maximum, fait beaucoup de bruit, freine mal, la direction est flottante,, elle rébondit dans tous les sens et l’allumage blindé (ex armée suisse) est parfois ssource de problème mais je l’adore !!!
Votre CJ5 est maginfique et je ne doute pas que vous pourrez l’utiliser encore pendant des années…….
Je vis en France en Normandie et ma CJ5 est appréciée (car très rare en France) même si ici la jeep Willys du DDay reste la reine des Jeep.
Merci à vous pour vos histoires de restauration qui me rendent fier d’appartenir à une belle communauté de passionnés.
Love the story behind your Willys. I am currently in week 5 of what I hope to be a 3 month restoration of my 61 CJ5 Willys that I got from my great uncle. It originally belonged to a good friend and hunting buddy of his and they used it to hunt in the Osceola national forest and when the owner passed away his Widow gave it to my uncle who gave it to me.
This will be my second CJ5 that I have rebuilt as the first being my 75 that I built when I was 15 for my first truck and still have it almost 26 years later
Nice commitment. Once again the man went to see a Jeep. And there the Jeep said to him “ I want you! “. You picked up the challenge. The MB is the roots and the CJ is one of the flowers. Like everyone of us that has a used Jeep there is a drive. So welcome to the Jeep World. Keep restoring them, not destroying them. Every one of us that repairs, or restores one contribute to the Jeep history. So enjoy the Jeep and the experience that comes with it. My passion for the Jeep got me in 1980 and I still like them.
The hunt for a vehicle is so exciting and when found its like hitting pay dirt, then you start paying. Funny the owner brought up cruising the 101 in SoCal. Just did that morning in Del Mar then North, in my Fj40 (the cj3 is still under construction).
Like the story and the reason for making purchase. I have restored several Porsche, Alfa Romeo, Corvette, and Lotus over the years which I have enjoyed. Still enjoy driving them today. BUT – there is something magical about a Jeep. I picked up a 1960 Jeep Willys CJ-5 which was worn out, rusted, not running, and everything missing except for a 2.2 Hurricane engine, all the running gear, etc. It had used as a ranch and hunting jeep with very care or storage.
I have found the Jeep CJ-5 is one of the easiest tor restoration and costs of any vehicle; also, instant enjoyment in going on back roads. I do understand where you are coming from on this one and very happy to see your son is enjoying the vehicle equally as you have over the areas. That is what the jeep trip is all about.
The CJ’s when fully restored were simple, reliable and extremely rugged. Not what is made today. electronic nightmares.
Dave
Congratulations my friend ! The Jeep is one of the the greatest inventions that has withstood the test of time.
You are now part of a special family. Wishing you wonderful
memories with your Jeep.
Byron / Texas
Nice Jeep! Nice color.
I like your positive attitude which is surely needed in these restorations.
Looks like you have a keeper. We fun with our ’64 Cj5 and I am sure you will too.
I always like to see the original motor. Nice job. I have a M38A1, and I have kept the original configuration from 1954.