How does Dan Marino’s S class Mercedes end up a CJ-5? First I am not Dan Marino but rather ended up with his 1985 S Class sedan as a car for my kids to drive (you know the type, the bigger the better). After a few years my kids moved on and the Benz was just sitting, so I put her up on E-bay and ended the copy with ‘interesting trades considered’.
It was not long before I received a call asking if I would be interested in an older Jeep? My response was whether my wife was setting me up? As it turned out he had a ’65 CJ-5 that had spent most of its life out on a ranch out west and while all there it was sort of rough. We came to an agreement and the Benz left and the CJ was towed home where she underwent about four months of restoration. This was all done in a 2 car garage in a suburb of Ft. Lauderdale.
I tried to keep her as stock and true to her original design as possible. The drive train was in remarkably good condition… hoses and fluids changed. Her seats arrived as nothing more than springs and framework but after the magic performed by a local upholstery shop from nothing more than a photo they were returned recovered and rebuilt. The interior was striped and rhino lined along with the dash and new fuel tank.
There was little to no rust which needed to addressed so the body work went surprisingly smoothly. She received a fresh coat of red paint and back together she went… finished of by a new set of shoes. While she spends far too much time cooped up in the garage she does the local 4th of July parades and occasionally a run to work on nice days. So that is how a Benz becomes a Jeep!
Kaiser Willys Jeep Blog Story – James Rittenhouse
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Nice job where can i find seats like those?
Nice I have a 1953 m38a1 I am rebuilding it has a 225 oddfire that runs excellent.
Good job on your CJ5. I am doing that to a 1966 which will be the same color red. I like to see the stock white wheels and I am thinking the wind shield frame should be black like yours. I am planning the same top design which will be made by a custom top craftman. I will keep my Jeep as near stock as possible too.
I too have a 56 cj5 and would like a top like thatone. Where did he get his from.????
Awesome Jeep! Nice restore. I have a 63 CJ5 all stock except rims and steering wheel. Runs better than a new one! Got it for free. No Joke! Hang on to your Jeep.
NICE! I have a 1955 Willys CJ 5 and just about completely restored. I like your top on there. Could you or anyone tell me where to get a top like that? Thanks
Very nice, It”ll be the best trade you ever made because that jeep will out live the benz by light years plus think back how many times you were grinning from ear to ear while driving the benz?