Question: How do I find out if my CJ-5 was a Renegade”, “Golden Eagle”, or any other “special” model? The VIN doesn’t help, but there are other numbers on the VIN plate. How do I decode these? I had heard that the Renegade option did not have a tailgate, which mine doesn’t. Any information would be appreciated. Thanks for your help! Richard
Answer: Richard, Those codes probably mean (or better yet MEANT) something back in the AMC days but decoding them now is probably impossible. Chrysler didn’t retain much thats available from when AMC owned Jeep. The VIN doesn’t make any indication and there isn’t any options that either had that couldn’t be ordered except special decaling. Decals are available through the aftermarket. Somewhere in the 70’s the CJ-5s lost the tailgate for good. I don’t believe the gate was ever an option. Jeep only used one style of bodies at a time.
Recently we answered another Golden Eagle question. Give it a read.
How to tell a true Golden Eagle, Is it in the VIN?