Yee Haw!, That's what you'll say when you land in the Jeep Renegade, just like the Daisy Duke and Duke boys! (If you remember the Dukes of Hazzard). The classic CJ7 Jeep is an American icon, and even better, this one has had an extensive restoration since 2017. The restoration occurred mainly in Malta, getting held up due to Covid-19, before having some final bits finished in the UK.

The restoration has been extensive, to say the least. The body has been entirely removed, and many of the body panels have been replaced or repaired. Mechanically the Jeep has also been given a complete engine rebuild. The gearbox and differentials are reported to have been stripped and rebuilt with new gaskets and seals. The end result is a lovely usable 4.2 litre Jeep Renegade, just itching to be out for the coming summer months.  

The Jeep is reported to be one of 150 shipped over from the USA to test the water on how the Jeep would be received on UK soil. It is believed to initially have spent some time on a farm before it was sold and went through several owners. 

The Jeep was spotted by the seller in need of some restoration; no stranger to the odd Jeep or two, he knew exactly how to approach this. Living between Malta and the UK, he knew the perfect restoration company in Malta capable of carrying out the work. 

The Jeep was sent off, and the hunt was on for various parts which were required. Although noted on the V5 as a 1982 model, the seller reports that parts from a 1982 don’t fit and believes the Jeep to have been manufactured in 1980. A lot of the parts came from the States, and, although they can get quite expensive with shipping costs and import duties, the seller knew that they would be the correct parts for the Jeep. 

During the restoration, the company in Malta did take photographs of various stages and sent them to the seller, so you will be able to see the extent of the work involved in restoring this American icon. 

Just as the restoration was completed, Covid struck, and the pandemic took hold; this left the Jeep unable to be exported from Malta back to the UK. Unable to leave, the jeep stood there for nearly two years until travel and shipping restrictions were relaxed. The Renegade has been back in the UK for around 12 months, and with very little use, it is now looking for a new custodian. 

Inside The Renegade, the vinyl covered seats are said to be the originals which are in excellent condition, showing little signs of any wear. The door cards are also in good order, with no scuffs or damage to note. The roll cage has been covered in a custom made vinyl which zips around the cage helping to protect it from any knocks or scuffs. The carpets have been replaced and are therefore in good order, with a set of Jeep rubber mats to help protect them. The two gear levers engage the hi-lo range, and the 3-speed automatic gearbox is easily distinguished by the number 12 pool ball gear knob. 

The dashboard has a vinyl covered top, which does have a small split at the end of the driver's side. The fascia is finished in the body colour with some instruments mounted directly to it and others on a black instrument panel. The gauges are reported to be working as they should, except for the temperature gauge and an intermittent fuel gauge. These were said to be working when the restoration was completed, but the seller has not investigated it further since returning to the UK. The odometer shows a reading of 65,837 miles.

Helping the Jeep stand out even further than it already does is the lovely light metallic blue paintwork which has been the chosen colour to finish the restoration. Starting from the front, the chrome grille has been replaced along with a new set of lights which are free from any chips or cracks. The bonnet aligns nicely and is held in place with the chrome bonnet catches. Moving up, the windscreen is in good order with no chips or cracks and mounted to the top of the frame is a light bar with four spotlights fitted. 

Looking down the flanks of the Jeep, these are nice and straight, and the doors have an equal panel gap. There are a couple of small cracks around the door hinge on one door and another near the aerial on the nearside wing. New wheel arch extensions have been fitted and cover the larger tyres just nicely. Having had a lift kit fitted, the vendor has added some side steps that aid when getting in and out of the vehicle. 

At the rear, the spare wheel is mounted to a frame which will pivot out of the way to open the boot lid. The lights are all in good order, having been replaced. The alloy wheels are good too, with just a small amount of surface tarnishing which, with some elbow grease and a sunny day, would have them gleaming. The tyres, although they do have a good amount of tread remaining, the seller informs us that they are quite old. The spare does have some signs of perishing, but the four on the road appear to be free from any cracking. 

As mentioned earlier, the 4.2 litre straight-six has had a complete rebuild and is running just as it should with no untoward noises coming from the engine bay. The Jeep fires up on the button and sounds fantastic as it goes down the road. 

For the rest of the mechanics, everything is reported to have been taken apart and had new gaskets or seals fitted where necessary. Probably the main thing to mention is that the body has been off the chassis, which has been thoroughly inspected, and any repairs carried out before having the body refitted, meaning that nothing has been missed. 

You have probably noticed by now the Renegade sits higher than a standard Jeep. This is due to a 4.5” lift kit installed by a previous keeper. This has been retained because the seller liked the height and look. The leaf springs have been stripped apart, refurbished, rebuilt and now have Bilstein dampers to control the ride. 

The sterling damper has been replaced, helping reduce unwanted movement and vibrations through the steering wheel. The brake system has also been given an overhaul having all the pipes and hoses replaced, which are reported to bring the jeep to a stop in a straight line. 

The American dream! A classic Jeep Renegade which is an original one of 150 made in right-hand drive and sold in the UK.

With an entire body off restoration and engine rebuild, the Jeep is ready to be enjoyed. You get a vehicle which is quite rare as Jeep Renegade numbers are relatively low in the UK, and also something which stands out from the rest. Powered by the wonderful 4.2 litre straight-six, the Jeep is ready to tackle anything you throw at it on or off-road.