Jeep: The First 70 Years Part 3

129 1105 Jeep The First 70 Years 1971 Renegade Ii

1971 Renegade II
Among Kaiser's last projects was the Renegade package. It appeared in 1970 and was based on the "462" package of the year before that included a bunch of "go" goodies. In 1970, Jeep added some snazzy looks and created a bit of a hit. AMC glommed on and increased the scope of the line for 1971 by increasing the number of colors, and three of the four known colors are shown here. The '71s were known as the Renegade II. The '71 model year was the last in which the Kaiser-era engines were available in the CJs. Gone were the 225 V-6 and the venerable F-134 that had roots back to the World War II Go-Devil.

1971 Renegade II Among Kaiser's last projects was the Renegade package. It appeared in 1

The New CJs: 1970-1986
While the CJ line had benefitted from many improvements since its 1955 makeover, it was still very much the same unit by the time American Motors took over in 1970. Job One for AMC was to incorporate its line of six- and eight-cylinder engines into the line-a most necessary step by then, especially in the case of the venerable F-head Four. That necessitated some fairly major chassis upgrades including stretching the wheelbase. That allowed for a most welcome increase in interior room, and along the way, they took the time to upgrade the suspensions for better ride and drive.

"More room" was the perennial cry of loyal but frustrated Jeep owners. To answer that, the '76 CJ-7 was developed. It was the "three bears" Jeep. It was stretched just enough to vastly increase interior room but not so much as to hamper trail performance for those who wheeled them. On top of that, they were offered with hardtops, full doors and-gasp-roll-up windows. Gadzooks, you could even get air conditioning!

Even the CJ-7 wasn't enough, and with the CJ-6 being retired from domestic sales, an even-longer CJ was contemplated. For 1981, the CJ-8 Scrambler debuted. Its role in the market was a bit vague. Was it a small pickup or a long Jeep SUV? Inept marketing, combined with AMC's financial troubles, made it a modest seller at best but long after its demise, the CJ-8 had a renaissance and became one of the hottest models for Jeep builders and collectors.

One of the most interesting parts of the AMC era was the staggering number of special editions. Take the same basic Jeep and adorn it with an ever-changing series of decals and options packages, and you see marketing at work. Sounds cheesy, but it worked! They were generally popular back then, and original versions of these special editions are now hotter than fission.

129 1105 Jeep The First 70 Years 1975 Cj5 Renegade

1975 CJ-5 Renegade
The Renegade line stayed on for 1972 and improved. Standard was the 304V-8/T-15 three-speed/Dana 20 transfer case combo, 3.73:1 gears with limited-slip, skidplates, alloy wheels and "big" 10.00-15 tires, plus a number of other small goodies. By the time Dennis Collin's low-miles '75 rolled around, you could also get the popular Levi's interior for the first time. This year was also the last where the V-8 was standard for the Renegade package.

1975 CJ-5 Renegade The Renegade line stayed on for 1972 and improved. Standard was the 3

The CJ era and the AMC era ended at about the same time. Bad publicity over rollovers left the CJ tarnished in the public eye. The CJ name, and the round headlights, faded away after 1986. In 1987, the comeback kid, Chrysler, made the still-ailing AMC an offer they couldn't refuse and took over the company. Jeep was the raisin in the bland AMC pudding. AMC cars went the Studebaker route, but Jeep flourished.

1973 CJ-5
For 1972, the line of AMC engines was available in the CJs, including the 304ci V-8. The 232ci Six was the base engine, the longer-stroke 258ci the middle-level option. To fit the bigger engines, the wheelbase was stretched from 81 to 84 inches, and the Jeeps of this era are called "long nose" CJs. Refinements were made to the chassis and suspension along the way, and to the options list. The AMC influence was decidedly good for the CJ. In 1973 Pete Dunkel bought a V-8 powered CJ-5 while in the Air Force in Colorado Springs. He still has it! It was well optioned, including a Meyers hardtop and a factory-approved accessory winch. It was long a daily driver, but since a restoration in 1998, it's been a show rig.
1973 CJ-5 For 1972, the line of AMC engines was available in the CJs, including the 304c
1976 CJ-5 Super Jeep
AMC indulged in a lot of "packaging" for the CJs. A Super Jeep package had been offered in 1973 and reappeared for 1976 in these two colors. Few were made and fewer remain. Since the packages were purely cosmetic, you could order it on a basic Jeep or a decked-out one. At this point, the CJ-5 had only a few years to exist. It was discontinued after 1983.
1976 CJ-5 Super Jeep AMC indulged in a lot of "packaging" for the CJs. A Super Jeep pack
1976 CJ-7 Renegade
Jeepdom leaped ahead for 1976 with the introduction of the CJ-7. With a wheelbase extended from 84 to 93.4 inches, full doors with roll-up windows, and an optional factory-installed fiberglass hardtop, the CJ-7 easily became an everyday Jeep, but one that didn't lose much trail prowess in the process. A full-time four-wheel drive system, Quadra-Trac (which used the Borg-Warner 13-39 transfer case), debuted as well the CJ's first automatic transmission option, the GM-sourced TH400.
1976 CJ-7 Renegade Jeepdom leaped ahead for 1976 with the introduction of the CJ-7. With

1982 CJ-7 Jamboree Edition
On the 30th anniversary of the Jeepers Jamboree in 1982, Jeep built 2,500 Jamboree Editions. It had a decent array of goodies and some very unique package additions. Unfortunately, very much "go" stuff wasn't available by then, besides the 31x10.50-15 tires and an optional rear limited-slip. Low gear options had gone due to emissions controls. Starting in 1980, the CJ base engine was a 2.5L Four, but at least the Jambo had the more desirable 258ci Six and five-speed combo standard. This Jambo is part of the Jim Marski collection.
1982 CJ-7 Jamboree Edition On the 30th anniversary of the Jeepers Jamboree in 1982, Jeep
1984 CJ-8 Scrambler SR
The Scrambler appeared as a mid-year '81 offering and delivered a boodle more room on a 103.5-inch wheelbase. It came with a pickup cab (hard or soft) and a full-length top was rumored but never appeared except much later as an aftermarket product. It came as a base model with a standard four-cylinder, or in SR or SL trim with the 258ci as an option. Almost 28,000 were sold through 1985, but they didn't get hot until about 10 years later when they were discovered by trail runners who liked the extra wheelbase. Now, original CJ-8s are a hot collectible, like Dennis Collin's nearly perfect original '84 SR.
1984 CJ-8 Scrambler SR The Scrambler appeared as a mid-year '81 offering and delivered a
1986 CJ-7
The end of the CJ line came in 1986. Consumer advocates had put a huge target on the old CJ. After the success of the XJ Cherokee, a revitalized AMC invested some time and money to develop a replacement. The announcement that 1986 would bring the last CJ brought some teary eyes. Later, when the replacement emerged, some hard-edged jibes about "real" Jeeps having round headlights were heard. The last of the CJ wore a dash plaque that said, "Last of the Breed." Time would prove that was an overly pessimistic comment.
1986 CJ-7 The end of the CJ line came in 1986. Consumer advocates had put a huge target