Few cars are as fashion-forward as the vintage off-roader. It shows up in the premium you pay for them. Used Land Rover Defenders go for astronomical sums; the Toyota FJ40 Land Cruiser has at least reached near-Earth orbit. The closest most enthusiasts of either car will get is following an Instagram hashtag.
This phenomenon begs the question. If you want a vintage off-roader, why not just buy a Jeep? Specifically, why not buy a CJ-7?
The CJ-7 comes from the perfect spot in the Jeep lineage. It’s the last of the CJ (Civilian Jeep) line dating back to the original Willys. But, it also has decades worth of improvements. The CJ-7, debuting in 1976, brought a longer wheelbase, better stability and more room for passengers and a proper door. The shocks are better positioned. It’s the point where rugged character met relatively modern ride quality.
One could go newer with the Wrangler YJ that came out in 1987. It was formidable. I have a soft spot for it because it was my first car. But, going newer means approaching the wall of absurd Wrangler resale value. The square headlights from that gen aren’t “90’s rad.” They are an eyesore.
The CJ-7 is cheap compared to foreign idols. A search for a CJ-7 on AutoTrader Classics will find a private seller going fishing with a restored $40,000 version. But, judging from Bring a Trailer auctions, there’s a definite CJ-7 price ceiling. Only three of the 25 auctioned on site (as of this writing) have gone for more than $20,000. Only one CJ-7, with $38,000 worth of restoration work, gaveled north of $30,000 and didn’t meet the reserve.
For comparison, four Land Rover Defenders on Bring a Trailer have been bid past $90,000. So, well-worn 1990s trucks are going for the same price as a new Range Rover. If a Land Rover Defender sells for less than 20,000, it has a weird body style, an odometer well past 150,000 miles, or some form of the word “project” in the headline. Whether you want a base for restoration or a fully restored CJ-7, you can find one for a relative bargain.
