Living in the metro Phoenix area, I’m used to seeing off-road vehicles, especially Jeeps, on a daily basis. Two of my coworkers are Jeep guys, and a huge chunk of my fellow commuters drive them too. But in the nearly six years I’ve been in Arizona, I can’t recall ever seeing a 1981-86 Jeep Scrambler. It seems I had to go all the way to Dallas to spot one.
Last November, my family and I flew to D-Town for my wife’s cousin’s wedding. While checking out the Bishop Arts District, I came across a Jeep Scrambler that stopped me in my tracks. Not only was it in outstanding condition, but it also had an oddly cool color scheme: beige with tri-tone orange stripes, tan aftermarket hardtop, and white wheels. On paper, that combo may sound a little boring, and in a way it was like that in-person, but the Scrambler also came across as so 1980s that I fell in love with it. In fact, if I ever buy a Scrambler of my own, it will be in that exact configuration.
The auxiliary lighting and winch up front, and the rear-mounted jerry can were nice bonus features. I’m not sure which exact model year this particular Scrambler was, but it was dressed a lot like the Scrambler in Jeep’s 1983 promotional materials.
With its 103-inch wheelbase and long rear overhang for more cargo space, the Scrambler pickup (known as the CJ-8 in international markets, according to Jeep) was meant for customers seeking a roomier Jeep. It shared parts with the CJ-7, but a V-8 was not one of them. Instead, the Scrambler was available with four- or six-cylinder power as well as the choice of a soft top or hardtop.
Perhaps I had to wait so long to see a Scrambler because Jeep itself even admits that it was “not a hot seller in its day,” although President Reagan used one at his Rancho del Cielo vacation home. I’m sure he had plenty of space inside the cab for some of his beloved Jelly Belly jelly beans.
