- outdoor-equipment retailer ball and buck is offering special-order jeep cj-8 scramblers that are fully customizable.
- treated to a full frame-off restoration, the scrambler also adds modern technology expected in a much younger jeep, plus amenities like an interior shotgun sleeve.
- there are three engine options, including a diesel, and all engines can be mated to a manual transmission.
do you remember the old eddie bauer fords? the clothing company put its badging on special trim levels of vehicles including the bronco, expedition, and f-150, starting in the 1980s and enduring for more than two decades. this is kind of like that: ball and buck, a high-end purveyor of hunting, fishing, and other outdoor equipment and clothing, is putting its name on a specially upgraded version of the classic jeep cj-8 scrambler.
the ball and buck original signature series cj-8 starts with the scrambler, which was introduced in 1981 and built for five model years. like the modern-day jeep gladiator, it was essentially a wrangler with a small pickup bed, making it quite versatile. vintage jeeps for the ball and buck special edition are sourced from around the country and sent to kyle smith of the original bird buggy in georgia’s quail country to be modernized and upfitted.
the interior is wrapped in ball and buck’s signature camouflage and leather and features solid brass shift knobs and heater controls. the seats are upholstered in world war ii tent canvas. functional items include an integrated shotgun sleeve and a pocket knife with a removable sheath for hunters. more universally appreciated will be the addition of air conditioning and gps.
on the outside, led headlights and a bedliner are added. the bedsides are made of hand-carved boards made of sinker cypress, a wood harvested from the bottom of rivers in the south that is known for its rich patina, and they're inset with brass ball and buck logos. the bumpers are stainless steel, and the rear boasts a 2000-pound-rated trailer hitch. ball and buck offer a matching dog crate for the back.
customers get their pick of exterior trim, color engine, transmission, color and exterior trim choice when placing the order for their scramblers. the two exterior trim options are polished stainless steel or matte black. there are four geographic-themed color schemes: coronado sand, everglades green, chesapeake gray, and sutton black.
engine options are a 4.2-liter inline-six paired to a four-speed manual transmission or an ls3 6.0-liter v-8 crate engine mated to either a five-speed automatic or five-speed manual transmission. a third option is a cummins turbo-diesel 2.8-liter inline-four with a five-speed manual. upgrades include fuel injection, traction control, and a full suspension setup from arb.
the total price for these exclusive ball and buck original signature series cj-8 scramblers ranges from $65,000 to $95,000, and fulfilling an order takes from three to six months—some of which is the time it takes to find a suitable jeep. each vehicle is hand numbered. in a clever marketing touch, would-be scrambler owners are asked to place a deposit of $1776 when ordering.