4x4s.org BASE MODEL · 1954–83
BASE MODELUnited States

Jeep CJ-5.

The longest-lived CJ: the civilian M38A1 body sold from 1954 to 1983 on an 81-inch (83.5-inch from 1972) wheelbase, with the Hurricane four, the Buick-derived Dauntless V6 from 1965 and AMC's 232/258 sixes and 304 V8 from 1972; 603,303 built.

Difflocked · free browser gamePlay & customise vintage 4×4s →Race classic 4×4s, build your own and keep it in your garage. Free, in the browser.
Sources & evidence
Jeep CJ-5 — 1975 Jeep CJ-5dave_7 from Lethbridge, Canada · CC BY 2.0 ↗
MODEL LINECJBUILT BYWillys-Overland Motors, Kaiser Jeep Corporation, American Motors Corporation (Jeep Corporation)PRODUCED1954–83PRODUCTION603,303LAYOUT4 wheels · 81″

The record

Introduced by Willys in 1954 from the M38A1, the CJ-5 outlasted Kaiser's ownership (1953–70) and became AMC's core Jeep from 1970, gaining AMC engines, a longer wheelbase and the Renegade, Golden Eagle and Laredo trims. Rollover concern in the early 1980s hastened its end in 1983.

Specification

MANUFACTURED1954–83
ENGINE2.2 L F-head Hurricane; 2.5 L Perkins diesel (option); 3.7 L Dauntless V6 (1965–71); AMC 3.8 L 232 / 4.2 L 258 inline-six and 5.0 L 304 V8 (1972–83); 2.5 L AMC four (1983)Willys Hurricane F-head · Buick Dauntless V6 · AMC 232 six · AMC 304 V8 · AMC 2.5 four
PRODUCTION RUN603,303
COUNTRY OF ORIGINUnited States
STATUSreplaced by the CJ-7; production ended 1983
RECORD KINDBase model
MODEL LINECJ
FAMILYCJ
WHEELS4
NOMINAL WHEELBASE81″
BODY STYLEOpen
VARIANTS2

Catalogue fields describe the vehicle's structure and body as this registry records it. They are not certified factory measurements, and no performance figures are published here.

Body styles & colours

Body style

Factory colours

  • Firecracker Red
  • Renegade Yellow
  • Renegade Orange
  • Olympic White
  • Classic Black
  • Sebring Red
  • Sterling Silver
  • Deep Night Blue

Codes on hover. Hex values are representative approximations of period paint unless a source states a measured value.

AI rendering impression

An AI rendering impression starts from a 3D model of this vehicle, which an image model then paints into a scene. It is an artist's impression of the type, made to give a feel for the vehicle in its element — not a photograph, and not a record of any particular vehicle.

Proportions, fittings, markings, colours and the setting can all drift from the original in the process. For the vehicle's actual details, rely on the specification, the photographs and the cited sources on this page.

Sources

  1. 1Jeep CJ ↗Wikipedia · accessed 2026-09-22SOURCE
  2. 21976–1986 AMC paint codes ↗Jeep-CJ.com · accessed 2026-09-22SOURCE

Registry record updated 2026-09-22 · status: researched