Roll Bar Question

I was wondering if anyone knows when Willys or Kaiser began placing roll bars on Jeeps. I've noticed a few early CJ 5 that didn't come with roll bars according to the early Jeep advertisements, but I'm not sure when was the first year roll bars were installed from the factory. I'm trying to restore a 59 CJ5 and the roll bar that it has is definitely not from the factory.

I'm sorry if this question has already been asked and I'm probably not finding it. Any help would be great, Thanks!

 

1974-75 roll bars became a factory option. Prior to that, dealer installed.

They were never a factory option in the CJ-6.

The dealers typically installed Smittybilt or Kayline roll bars. Post a pic and I can tell you which your is, if either.

Welcome from Boston!

 

There was a post here while back from soneone that used to work for a company in the Rockies, IIRC, that built roll bars for dealerships in the 60's or so. At least I remember it that way. It had some good picts and information on roll bars.

 

I think Tim meant to say Whitco instead of Kayline.

 

Hmm. Yes. Crossed wires

 

I don't have a picture of it right now, but as soon as I take one, I'll post it up. Thanks for the help.

 

Is there a certain height on those roll bars before a fabric top would not fit? For example if I purchased a besttop fabric enclosure and then decided to put in a roll bar.

 

The commercially available roll bars are designed to go inside a full-size fabric top. I think you'd have to have a home-made bar in order for it to interfere. Can't tell you a specific height, but someone here can get out the tape and tell you.

 

My dad bought my 67 new and it did not come with a roll bar. He bought one soon after and it was on until last year when I upgraded to an early 70"s factory type bar. I believe they came on the Renegades 1 and 2's as stock. My avatar shows what I believe is that style from the first generation of factory bars. Mine had the front section welded on and I believe it was a Smitty kit from that time period. It all fit very well. Now I need to pad it and get 3 pt. belts so my head does not hit it.

Peter

 

Don't worry about getting someone to measure I will hunt around for a Whitco that i can pick up. Thanks for the info!

 

My 71 Renegade came with a factory installed roll bar. Correct me if I'm wrong but I think all Renegades came with one starting in 70.

 

That's right - but Renegades are a special case. The regular production Jeeps didn't get the roll bar as a factory option until '75, or maybe '74 ... I know it was available from the regular option list in '75, but I'm not sure about '74. Could have been a mid-year change in '74. The factory roll bars are painted the body color... dealer-installed all were black, though they could have been painted. Pretty sure the factory bars were put in place before the finish coat of paint, so there would have been primer on the wheelwells under the bar.

 

According to the 1973 Jeep Data Book, which I acquired many years ago--
Factory installed regular production options (RPO)

Code 1651 RB Roll Bar Available CJ-5, CJ-6, DJ-5.

Ref: Dealer price list, Section 2, Page 4, Issued May 18, 1972.