Most Wanted: 10 Vehicles Which Need A Restomod

November 15, 2017

Jeep CJ-8 Scrambler

Production years: 1981-1986

The CJ-8 is a Jeep with almost legendary status. A long-wheelbase version of the CJ-7, itself already a longer-wheelbase version of the CJ-5, it was a really interesting car. The CJ-8 came at the end of the first generation of Jeeps, built upon the venerable troop carrier of WW2. As a result, it had had the kinks ironed out by this point, leaving a superb off-roader with added bonus features. Take the removable half-cab for instance, which could give you a pickup-style bed. You could get automatic transmission, but if you really want to take this thing into the dirt, I wouldn’t. The Scrambler wrapped all this dirt-beating supremacy into a neat little 80s package, care of some decals and model-specific wheels.

If you like the aesthetic of the 1980s, and want a great off-roader that you could potentially craft into a speedster if you go the weight reduction route, it’s well worth considering. They’re expensive, as finding one is hard enough, and finding one in good condition, even harder, but that doesn’t stop other modders. Rip out the V8 and replace it with the Hemi V8 as packed by a Grand Cherokee. Weight reduction wouldn’t be too bad of an idea, and also shouldn’t be too hard, but it all depends on what you’re interested in it for. If you’d like to take out some extraneous steel, drop it and chop it, you’d end up with a unique restomod truck. If you want to off-road in it, you could do a lot worse than fitting a modern roll cage and some other structural improvements, plus some larger wheels.

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