Get the Best Priced Jeep CJ7 Parts

Toward the end of the Second World War when Allied victory was in sight, the Willys-Overland company, which had been producing jeeps for the U.S. military and its allies since 1939, began considering a civilian version for the post-war market. The result was the "Civilian Jeep," or CJ-1, which came out in May 1944. It differed from the military version, equipped with a tailgate, a drawbar for towing and a canvas top. Very few were produced, and none were sold on the civilian market - nor have any examples survived. The first CJ model to show up at civilian dealerships was the CJ-2A, which started production in 1945. Most were built from surplus military parts left over from the war, since supplies in during the immediate post-war period were far from reliable. Nonetheless, nearly 215,000 Jeep CJ-2As were produced between 1945 and 1949 - and a legend was born.

The Jeep CJ-7 was introduced in 1976. Production continued for eleven years. It was similar to its immediate predecessors, the CJ-5 and CJ-6, it differed in a number of ways. The chassis was changed to a design that allowed the installation of road springs and dampers closer to the outside of the body, resulting in a substantial improvement in handling and stability. The CJ-7 was also the first to feature a new automatic "Quadra-Trac" all-wheel drive system as well as part-time two-speed transfer case. Available options included a removable hard top, steel doors and a tilting steering wheel.

After 1980, the CJ-7 was equipped with the Dana 300 transfer case. This transfer case has proven so reliable and durable that Jeep parts for the model are still being manufactured, as well as Jeep CJ7 aftermarket parts for easy upgrades. This is a part-time gear-driven model with a 23-pline input shaft. Available Jeep CJ7 restoration parts include oil paddles that are installed on the main shaft in order to keep the mechanism well-lubricated.

Several engines were available for the CJ-7, ranging from a 150 cubic inch AMC inline four to a massive, 304 cubic inch V8. At one point, there was also a 2.4 liter diesel motor available, manufactured by Isuzu. These were mated to a number of different transmissions, including three Borg Warner four and five-speed manual models and a 3-speed automatic from General Motors.

The CJ-7 also came in a long wheelbase version, known as the CJ-8 Scrambler. This was used by the U.S. Postal Service in Alaska, however, they were (and are) rare: AMC produced only 230 for the U.S. market, though many more were sold in Australia and Venezuela. Production of the CJ-7 ended in 1986, when it was replaced by the Jeep Wrangler.

Although it has been out of production for more than three decades, the Jeep CJ-7 remains one of the line's most popular models. A used Jeep CJ7 for sale goes for anywhere from $5000 to $12,000, depending on the age, mileage and condition of the vehicle - a testament to the durability of this off-road vehicle.