1983 Jeep CJ

Pickup truck

Unspecified

Unspecified

1JCCE87E7DT027133

Gasoline

1983 Jeep CJ-7 / Scrambler "Gaucho" pickup Back in 1976, when the CJ-7 first was introduced, a Jeep dealership/racing team in Southern California built a custom stepside pickup based on the CJ7 and called it the Gaucho. The owner of the dealership, Brian Chuchua, was very influential with Jeep Corporation due to his Jeep racing success, and he eventually sold the Gaucho idea to Jeep... and this Jeep pickup concept became what we know today as the CJ-8 Scrambler. The original Gaucho still exists today, but it is in a private collection in Italy so it is unlikely anyone will ever see it in the U.S. again. This auction is for a "new" custom Gaucho stepside pickup. Constructed in 2009, this new Gaucho was designed to pay tribute to Chuchua's original concept while at the same time improving on some of the compromises Chuchua made with the original - for example, the original was built on a 104" wheelbase CJ-6 frame, which resulted in an extremely cramped cab and rear fenders pushed up against the back of the cab - this "new Gaucho" is built on a 113.5" wheelbase frame to improve the proportions of the truck. Photos comparing the original Gaucho to this one are included in this listing so you can see how this one is faithful to the original concept but improved in proportions. The details: 113.5" wheelbase fully restored, lengthened and strengthened frame. Steel pickup body tub with custom removable half-cab hardtop. Steel tailgate with embossed factory Jeep logo and custom latch mechanism. Steel bed, fiberglass rear fenders and and composite decking floor. Custom removable bedside Jerry can holders. Full CJ front clip – grille, hood and fenders. Factory hard doors. Custom “sport bar” with windshield connector bars and padding and body tie-in for strength. All mechanical components will swap over to the Gaucho frame and body from a CJ-7 or CJ-8 donor. No engine, transmission or transfer case is included with this vehicle. The only custom work required when swapping parts over from your donor vehicle will be the few parts that need to be lengthened – driveshaft, brake lines, wiring to tail lights, fuel lines and emergency brake cable. Everything else will be a direct wrench swap. Or, install your own custom choice of engine and drivetrain - perhaps a V8? This Gaucho is a blank canvas ready for your dream drivetrain. The frame is painted and ready for installation of your parts; body parts are primered in PPG two-part epoxy primer. A full decal set will be included in buyer’s choice of color - the correct “Jeep” decal for the tailgate, “Jeep Truck” decals for the cowl sides and more. The wheels and axles included are “shop axles” whos main purpose has been to allow the project to be rolled around while under construction - the axles are usable, but would need to be gone through before use (seals, etc.); the chrome on the wheels has seen better days. The fuel tank shown in the frame photos there is for mockup purposes and is not usable. The tires are 31x10.50 and are usable. JP Magazine did an article on the original Gaucho in 1999, and three truck/offroad magazines published articles on the original in 1977 - copies of all of those articles will be included with the Gaucho. If you've ever wanted a one-of-a-kind Jeep but didn't have the time or ability to do the custom body work, this is your chance - consider this a "wrench kit" custom - the "hard work" of building a custom is done, all that's necessary is the mechanical work and paint work. The vehicle has a New York State title. Because the vehicle is more than 10 years old, the odometer reading is "mileage exempt". The mileage is a required field in eBay, so I entered 50000 just to satisfy eBay's data entry requirement. The Jeep is in Elmira, NY and I will help in any reasonable way I can with delivery. A non-refundable $500 deposit via Paypal is required within 3 days of close of auction.