A fantastically strange car you should know about: The “Parmley” Jeep CJ-5

Man, I’m glad I don’t live in Troy, Michigan anymore, because if I did I probably would have already hooked up the U-Haul car carrier and headed northwest to pick up that Parmley Jeep. Here I want to show you this awesome aftermarket fiber optic device that looks a bit like a frog.

The Facebook Marketplace listing in Big Rapids, Michigan is not only for this incredible (supposedly) two-owner Parmley Jeep, but also for a donor Jeep CJ-5.

Listen:

Before we delve too much into this listing (note that the top photo of the two above shows a 1997+ Jeep Cherokee XJ grille for some reason), let’s take a step back and talk about Parmley. You can think of it a bit like a Jeep version of a VW Meyers Manx dune buggy. Like the Manx (and its clones), the Parmley came as a kit that you could buy; This included the fiberglass body, a Dodge windshield, hood brackets, wiring for lighting, a windshield wiper system, an optional spare tire holder and more. I know all this because the original Parmley brochures published in the mid-1970s discuss it all:

As you can see, Parmley was an LA-based company, and in fact, according to my favorite flat-fender Jeep shopping source, ewillys.com, Parmley is a family name. From the Jeep loving website:

After destroying his CJ-5 in the early 1970s, Californian Tom Parmley, a machinist by trade, decided to build a better body for his still good chassis. He wanted the body to legally accommodate wider tires, a dashboard box with more space, a lower hood, and other features. So he built and tested his dream body with great success. He received so much positive feedback along the way that he developed a kit that allowed others to easily install a Parmley body into their CJ-5 chassis.

Believe it or not, this humble operation made the front page of Four-wheeler Magazine:

ewillys even took this look at an original price sheet from Parmley Engineering Co., Inc.:

Anyway, while I realize it’s little more than a fiberglass case for a CJ-5, I still love it. The fact that it was one man’s idea to put these bodies into production and that so few of them were ever sold makes this one even cooler to me:

“I have one owner (other than myself), a 1970 Parmley-bodied CJ5 Jeep,” the listing reads. “Own a piece of rare history. Only 30 were ever made. I’ve only seen one other for sale. Fiberglass body in good condition except gel coat has cracks.”

The listing is not about discussing the Jeep parts. “They were equipped with the Dauntless engine with an Offy intake and Holley 4bbl carburetor. This dual exhaust Dauntless has a bad camshaft. Green Michigan title from 1970,” the post continued. “I have a fully functional 1969 CJ5 with a Dauntless accessory for parts. Two Jeeps in this offer. The Parmley has a roof and bad doors. A great project that I just can’t get to that quickly. $4000 cash. Can be picked up in the Big Rapids MI area.”

I don’t know if I’ve driven four big cars in it, but this narrow, goofy Jeep that looks like a frog (it actually says “FROG” on the top of the windshield) is just plain fun to me. So I thought I’d share this with you as it’s the first time I’ve ever heard a Parmley Jeep and its cheerful appeal has made my day about 10% brighter.