Throwback Thursday: Father & Son’s 1967 Willys-Kaiser Jeep CJ-5 Reminds Us of the Simple Pleasures
A 1967 Willys-Kaiser Jeep CJ-5 is a spartan vehicle with one gauge, two knobs and three gears. The perfect modern-day escape pod.
This 1967 Willys-Kaiser Jeep CJ-5 represents all that is good with the Jeep and with the world in general. In a world of ever-increasing complexity and speed. It is welcoming to just slow things down a little bit once in a while. Modern Jeeps are great, no question about it. But they are far from the simple machines they used to be. Their drivetrains are advanced, there are miles of wiring and computers. They are as capable as ever, but also more complicated than ever. So, if you yearn for the simple life you have to step back in time a bit.
This week’s “Throwback Thursday” is all about this 1967 Willys-Kaiser Jeep CJ-5. It is owned by Cy Schmidt, and he shares it with his son Steve Schmidt. A video of this special Jeep is posted on the Hagerty YouTube channel. It is part of their Why I Drive series. And while this video is about this father and son team it could really be about Jeeps in general. They bring family together and are often passed down from generation to generation. Let’s take a closer look at this refreshingly simple CJ-5 and its owners.
Classic Jeep Difference
“The old cars had style, had a different sound, had a different look, had a different feel when you drove down the road. And they have a soul when you start it up,” said Steve at the opening of the video. And you can’t argue with that. A JL Wrangler is an amazing machine. But sometimes you want to enjoy the simple things that a modern Jeep can’t offer. This 1967 Willys-Kaiser Jeep CJ-5 is like watching a sunrise or a morning cup of tea or coffee. A good honest pleasure that is reliable and not complicated.
1967 Willys-Kaiser Jeep CJ-5
How simple is this Jeep? Well, it has a single gauge on the dash that shows you the speed, fuel level, temperature and miles. There are also just two knobs on the dash. One is for the lights and the other is the choke. Under the hood is a Buick V6 engine connected to a manual 3-speed transmission. No air lockers, or auxiliary lights, or heated seats, or Hemi engines. This CJ-5 is bare bones transportation that is perfect for reminding you the journey is as important as the destination.
Father & Son
This video could almost be a three-minute-long Jeep commercial. The elder Schmidt explains that he likes to pickup his son in the Jeep and the two of them go out and explore in the woods. They drive off road a bit, build a fire and talk about Jeeps and life. What can be better than that? If something goes wrong with the Jeep, then they figure it out together. There is never a shortage of projects to work on with the Jeep. And that is the beauty of it. That is where the bonding happens, and the memories are made.
Chances are you are having a crazy day today. Take a breath, set aside a few minutes, and watch the video below. It will remind you of what the Jeep life is all about. It will reset your attitude and remind you to focus on what is truly important. If you forgot what the Jeep thing is, this video will help you understand.
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