Stripped down to the essentials and stuffed full of 350 cubic inches of V8 thunder, his 1978 Jeep CJ5 Renegade is a lean, ean, ff-roading machine that delivers on Jeep's promise of go-anywhere fun. The only thing that'll keep you off the trails in this one is the fact that with a body-off restoration, t's just too nice to take it out among the rocks.Lots of cash went into this ultra-clean Jeep and you can see it everywhere you look. You know about black vehicles and how much attention they need before the paint goes on, nd this one received it. It's one of the straightest, leanest Jeeps we've ever featured. Not perfect, ind you, ut nicer than these off-roaders usually are and clearly someone did it for love, ot money. The usual Jeep trouble spots above the rear wheel arches and by the tailgate are quite good and the two-stage urethane paint looks like it should be on a much more expensive vehicle. Rubber fender extensions offer protection from the oversized tires and a "Renegade" decal package adds contrast to the otherwise all-black Jeep. Other new gear includes a chrome grille and windshield hinges, ypical asymmetric side mirrors, nd bright rocker panels that protect the bodywork from debris on the trail. There's also a trailer hitch for utility and that rear-mounted spare just looks butch.Bare-bones is the word inside, here fresh seat covers have been wrapped around the front buckets and rear bench. The high-back seats look sporty, specially with the roll bar hovering above them, nd they're comfortable enough for a long day of fun. The floors are protected by spray-in bedliner material, o you don't have to worry about getting it dirty; just hose it out when you get home. A GM tilt steering column wears a fat steering wheel that is easy to grab and keep pointed in the right direction, ven with the ground fighting you, nd the gauges are all big, lear, nd easy to read in the rough. A 4-speed manual transmission makes it easy to find the right gear for slogging through the rough stuff, nd the 2-speed transfer case gives you enough torque to power through just about an obstacle. For entertainment, here's also an AM/FM/iPod stereo system and the heater is powerful enough to roast a Thanksgiving turkey.The crate GM Goodwrench 350 cubic inch V8 is a neat fit in the CJ's engine bay, lmost as if the same guys designed them both. It's clear that the goal was an OEM look, nd you can see that cubic dollars were spent here to get everything dialed in. The engine looks quite stock and wears a nice Chevy Orange paint job that stands out in the black engine bay, nd a few chrome dress-up parts don't hurt. Thanks to an awesome power-to-weight ratio, erformance is very impressive and the soundtrack provided by the dual exhaust system with tips under the rear bumpers is worth the price of admission all by itself. You'll note that the hardware underneath is in excellent condition with every component restored or replaced, nd all the skid plates are intact, o go have some fun if you dare. Shiny aluminum wheels look great, specially wrapped in fat 33x12.5-15 Wild Country off-road radials.So don't sweat it, his CJ5 has you covered. Lots of power, wesome good looks, resh interior and paint, ll ready to hit the trail or highway. On the other hand, t's just so pretty that it would be a shame to dirty it up. Your choice, ut a fantastic Jeep either way. Call today!