Here’s a 1968 Kaiser-Jeep Wagoneer for you Wagoneer fans, or you Jeep fans, or you 4×4 fans, or you blue vehicles-with-four-doors fans.. There are any number of reasons to like this one, I can think of several reasons why I like this one. This K-JW is on Craigslist for what seems like a very reasonable price of $4,300! This one sat in a barn for 20 years which may explain why there’s so little rust on the body. It’s located in Tampa, Florida.
In breaking with all of the hard and fast rules and regulations regarding Craigslist ads, not to mention probably breaking several International laws in the process, this seller has provided great photos and there are a lot of them! I almost want to just give this seller $4,300 for that alone! No, I guess I’d like to take the Wagoneer, too. All other sellers, please take note. They aren’t high-style or even super high quality photos, but they’re so much more than a lot of other ads show for photos.
This is the last generation of the Kaiser-Jeep Wagoneer before American Motors Corporation took over in early-1970. Jeep was and still is, of course, famous for its tough drivetrain, at least as far as off-road capability goes. Was the Wagoneer the first vehicle that technically would be considered an SUV? That’s always a debatable subject. Safety (or, a lack thereof) and reliability not withstanding, I would much rather have something like this $4,300 Kaiser-Jeep Wagoneer to drive around town in the winter than a new, posh cocoon-mobile SUV, but that’s just me.
This may have been a somewhat posh, cocoon-like interior, at least for a 1968 4×4 utility vehicle, but it sure isn’t now. What it is now, is a nicely-preserved original interior that should be more than good enough and comfortable enough for the average person who would drive something like this. Not everyone is on board with a rugged vehicle like this, we’ve all been spoiled over the decades, myself included. But, I would love to have a nice Wagoneer like this one, I’m not that spoiled! And, yes, there’s a third pedal there! This one is a three-on-the-tree manual transmission model; a Borg Warner T90. Get out your #0000 steel wool and clean up the chrome and you’ll be in business. The dash is cracked but there are companies that can restore that if you can’t figure it out on your own. The rear seats look decent but the whole interior could use a sprucing up. The rear compartment looks good and is big enough for the dogs and/or luggage for a cross-country trip.
Here’s the famous “Tornado” inline-six, the first post-WWII US-designed-and-produced overhead cam engine for mass production. It has about 145 hp, not a lot and with the gearing you’ll notice a lag when merging onto your average 80 mph freeway ramp. But, who cares, let ’em wait for you, you’re driving a classic! This engine looks pretty clean for being older than a good portion of the Barn Finds readers. This Wagoneer has “New fluids, radiator, hoses, fuel lines, plugs, wires, distributor, brake master cylinder and booster, oil and filter. Has working gauges. Working 4×4 straight axle with locking hubs.” Not to mention all original paint and “tires are in great condition with plenty of life left, 15 inch original steel wheels with original Jeep hub caps. All lights work, lots of cargo room, windshield wipers work well, all the glass is perfect absolutely no cracks at all anywhere, nice original headliner in good condition with good foam underneath, good brakes 4 wheel drum brakes, all original emblems.” Have any of you owned a Kaiser-Jeep Wagoneer? What are your thoughts on this one, it sure sounds and looks good, doesn’t it?
Best Wagoneer made,,,ever. This one, while seemingly ok topside, looks like a nightmare underneath? No chassis pics? Hmm. Is that a rust hole in the frame under the heater? Florida vehicles rust too. Again, great vehicle before AMC got hold of it. ( I had terrible luck with my ’78) I’d check that underside real good.
AMC turned the brand around. Kaiser didn’t have a clue as far as marketing. And yes, this is the original SUV
A good friend of mine bought a brand new ’79 with the 360 and a Turbo Hydramatic. He was a GM auto trans man from way back and the first thing he did was pull the trans and put in a shift kit and whatever heavy duty stuff he could. Wasn’t a bad vehicle but when it was only a couple years old one day he looked down on it from an upstairs window and saw a legion of rust appearing on the roof. I think some of the automakers had serious problems in that respect then. His Cherokee turned into a rustbucket well before its time.
That’s not the cammer engine. My neighbor Slim in Central Oregon (LaPine) circa 1971 had a ’65 Gladiator pickup with the Tornado overhead cam inline 6. I think it was 230 cu in. Good engine, though complex. Unfortunately for Slim it threw a rod through the side of the block one very cold winters day. :-) Terry J
Gone already
The cammer. Terry J
Awesome. There was an engine ahead of it’s time. I read, ( sorry Dave) this motor was used in Argentina in the Renault Torino until 1982. An interesting feature of this engine, was the cam only had 6 lobes, operating both intake and exhaust valves. Some of the racing versions put out 350 hp, out of an in line 6, wow!
I have written here before about this engine……I have owned over 100 of them for sure. The Army surplused the M715 early because the mechanics couldn’t learn not to over tighten the cam cover bolts. It has a flat head under the cover with little channel to hold oil so there is a little oil laying behind the cam cover being held in by a reuseable rubber gasket. If you over tighten the cover, it cuts the gasket and it leaks like a sieve. They are very good engines, well designed and built, you just need to learn there quirks. (like a left turning distributor) I had an early Waggoner with the over head cam motor. The problem I had with it was fuel economy, a good suburban with a small block had more power, nearly half the fuel burn and much more room inside. Unlike the M37’s that the M715 replaced, they are comfortable at highway speeds and equally as capable in the crud. In my experiance, the OHC engine is superior to the AMC that followed it.
Great photo Terry! Your Willys wagon?
I wish Leinie, Always wanted one. And a Pontiac OHC six, and an aluminum 215 Olds, and a slant 4 Pontiac with the flexible driveline and the transaxle. :-) Terry J
I’ll never understand why folks replace the stock air cleaner with those dinky little open air cleaners. Then they wonder why the choke doesn’t operate correctly.
Notice the plugged AIR pump rail……assuming it’s the original engine another tip that it would be a ‘three on the tree’ vehicle.
From about 1968 thru early 70s most vehicles with AIR pumps were manual transmission cars, owing to the fact vehicles with automatics have more predictable engine load and emissions.
I believe the Tornado OHC engine was discontinued in US domestic Jeep vehicles around 1965 also.
They were built until at least 1970……..in the M715 series.
Last year for the Kaiser Jeeps is 1970, AMC bought Kaiser Jeep Corporation around may 1970. This rig has a 232 AMC, not the earlier Tornado, the 232 replaced the Tornado for ’66 except for some examples built oversea and the M715, M724, M725..
“…Some of the racing versions put out 350 hp, out of an in line 6, wow!”
How bout the “falcon” 250 (144 – 250 1960 – 83, & till ’96 in an efi – the venerable 300/4.9) which when equiped w/the stock ‘cross flow’ (inOZ) produces 500 HP?
Good eye AND photo Terry. I knew that wasn’t the tornado engine the moment I saw it. Probably a later AMC six.
I believe it’s a 258 c.i