What impresses me the most about this 1969 Jeep Wagoneer is its condition – it’s an attention-getter! Built near the end of Kaiser-Jeep branding, this very clean example has a claimed 38K original miles, and I must admit it, this one looks the part. Located in Arroyo Grande, California, this full-size SUV is available, here on craigslist and it can be yours for $24,999. Thanks to numskal for this tip!
In early 1970, American Motors acquired Kaiser-Jeep, ending an era that started in 1953 when Willys-Overland, the original caretaker of the Jeep nameplate, merged with Kaiser Motors. Jeep, seemingly always the star of the show, moved from AMC to Chrysler Corp., to Daimler-Chrysler, to Cerberus, to Chrysler Group LLC, to Fiat Chrysler Automobiles (FCA), and then to today’s Stellantis. Through it all, the Wagoneer name has come and gone but it was recently resurrected in a package that pushes $100 big ones – times have seriously changed since ’69!
Powered by a 230 gross HP, 350 CI V8 “Dauntless” engine, this SUV is actually Buick powered – a reliably stout motor that drives an automatic transmission that is connected to a transfer case and a four-wheel drive arrangement. The seller doesn’t elaborate on running prowess but does state, “serviced regularly, new water pump, new belts, newly re-cored radiator, new radiator hoses, new thermostat and housing, new distributor cap and rotor, wires and spark plugs, new fuel pump, new valve cover gaskets, fresh oil change, all new filters, Flowmaster muffler, not perfect by any means but great car for daily driver“. A nice inclusion is the front disc brake conversion.
The listing claims, “Chrome and paint have some rust” but the exterior images present a noble bearing that is clean and straight. The chrome is strong, the trim is all in place and the finish still has depth. This Jeep’s paint code of 433 translates to Spring Green but my eyes tell me this Jeep is wearing a shade of silver. As for rust, it must be minimal as it’s not photographically obvious.
Inside, we’re told that the bench seat has been reupholstered and the carpet is “newer”. It’s a tidy environment with a simplistic, clear instrument panel though the dash pad has certainly seen better days. The cargo area shows signs of use, but it’s typical wear and not indicative of something that has experienced the likes of a cinderblock load shift.
Back to the seller’s daily driver comment, I don’t think I’d want to use this SUV in that manner but what a great car this would make for periodic hauling duty when a more conventional vehicle won’t cut it. I can’t make an honest assessment of the price, but seeing the window sticker on a 2022 Wagoneer, I know where I’d rather put my money, how about you?
Well, shiver me timbers, I thought I’d seen all Jeeps power plants, but never a 350. I read, almost 95% of the last years of Kaiser had the 350. Just shows how many we actually saw, like none? The cheap knockoff AMC ( oh, I can feel the hate swelling) was what most remember. AMC used many cost saving measures, that I feel ruined the vehicle. That and new electrical gee-gaws people demanded were making the scene in their infancy, and worked poorly. How dare anyone complain about Lucas. This really was a great vehicle, military grade. Kaiser is another we should thank for our freedom. The M715, which wasn’t too different, got us through some rough times, stupid Vietnam,,
Howard, the Buick 350 replaced the American Motors 327 in 1968; and was quite an improvement. My old man had a 1968 Wagoneer…it had many, many issues but not in the drive train. That thing, 4000 pounds, would stand up and dance when you mashed the pedal.
It also delivered him 127,000 miles of service, when that kind of total mileage was unheard of.
Willys-Kaiser-Jeep in its last seven years or so, was suffering from an identity crisis. It needed to grow, and had the sales – but didn’t want to build new plants. The Toledo line, where everything from CJs to M715s were manufactured, was being sped up beyond what could be properly assembled. Jeep needed engines, and after the Tornado OHC six failure, was not going to design them in-house. A western Jeep dealer – it could have been Warn, he of the locking hubs – found that a Buick V6 dropped neatly into the CJ engine bay, and Kaiser brass liked it enough to make it a factory option. Later, even, to buy the engine rights – line, design, patents, and set it up in Toledo.
With the discontinuance of the 327 from American Motors, and needing a redesign anyway…Jeep then passed on the new AMC 360 in favor of a better-performing Buick 350 mill. Not knowing that Henry Kaiser’s death in 1967 would throw Kaiser Industries into turmoil, and have it liquidated to pay estate taxes.
I owned a ’66 Ambassador with the AMC 327 and it was one of the smoothest, quietest running engines ever. There were many times I’d pull into a parking space and people nearby would jump when they’d realize a car had silently rolled in unseen.
The main thing I generally notice in the AMC-era Wagoneers is the extremely cheap-looking Hornet/Gremlin cluster in the dashboard. I don’t doubt that costs were cut in many other areas as well.
Well, they had to do something. The original J-series dashboard was designed circa 1962; and was extremely dated-looking. There may even have been issues regarding sourcing the small speedo-gauge-idiot-light cluster. It was really out-of-step with the times…and AMC was a champion of parts-bin engineering. The Hornet, for example, grew out of a concept car that used one stamping for all-four corners of the car – mirrored, left and right, and reversed, RF to LR, vice versa. It didn’t work out, and Dick Teague added 1960s design language…like large C-pillar sails…and of course, suicide doors wouldn’t do…but, AMC wanted to spread the cost of parts.
They did, in fact, with side-marker lights – the same housings were used on all their cars, including Jeeps, for about nine years.
So. They reached into the parts-bin and pulled out Hornet gauge clusters. Put some modified padding on the dash, to hide its unchanged basic form, and presto!
No one knew how Jeep would work out under the AMC umbrella. There were many voices inside who were negative, including Gerald Myers. But AMC was strong-armed – Kaiser Industries was a big shareholder, and with Henry’s death, Kaiser Industries was cannibalizing to raise money for estate taxes. One way to get it, was to sell Jeep – Henry and son Edgar were the only real supporters of Jeep, within Kaiser – sell it to AMC. Using Kaiser shares in AMC as leverage.
It was done; Kaiser later slowly sold off AMC in the open market, and eventually ceased to exist.
But it wasn’t until 1974 or so that AMC realized they had gotten a serious money-maker, and later, their salvation and the one component that had a future.
I had a ’70 Gladiator truck with the 350. Great engine, lots of torque, sufficient hp to move a heavy full sizer, and got better mileage (marginally but better) than the 360 AMC engine that came after. The Buick 350 with the TH400 transmission and Dana transfer case made for a really stout workhorse.
Hey Howard,. I had the same 69′ wagoneer, in the spring green paint (light green) as mentioned. Had the 350 Buick engine, three speed automatic. Had a meijer’s 2- way plow on it and boy could it plow ! It would go anywhere in the woods!: Bought it in the late 70’s,. Ran it until the late 80s. Best 4×4 I ever had ! They just don’t make them like they used to !!!
The Willys tag on the firewall, is a nice touch; but I seriously doubt it’s from the factory. Willys, as a name and trademark, was abandoned by this time. As I’ve mentioned, I’m VERY familiar with this era of Kaiser Jeep and this model, outfitted this way.
And I spent considerable time under the hood, with my old man, handing him tools, learning the funny new words that little kids just love. I’d have seen that tag and remembered it, but no such label was on his 1968.
Not sure, a ’69 or ’70 Commando, I believe was posted here a while back, and the firewall tag said “Kaiser-Willys”. I suppose it took a while to run out of the “Kaiser” tags.
Guess I’m outvoted.
Since I posted about the Willys tag, I gave it a little thought.
Kaiser-Jeep management knew, by 1969, it was going to be sold. The only question was, to who.
I wonder if they had some NOS tags like that, dating back before the last name change (1963, when Willys officially became Kaiser-Jeep) and figured, what the hey, let’s use up our stock.
It’s true that manufacturers will use old names in obscure locations to keep a trademark active, but it was probably pretty clear that new names were to come. Kaiser Jeep Corporation became just Jeep Corporation, with rights to the Kaiser name staying with the former parent company.
Willys apparently went with Jeep (note the revival under FCA for certain Wrangler models) but AMC had no use for it. The former KJC became two subsidiary companies: Jeep Corp. and AM General Corporation (for all government contracts).
But…yeah. They might have been clearing inventory, and perhaps protecting the trademark in case the new owners wanted.
I was looking at a ’66 or ’67 J-series pickup that had a tag that said “WILLYS”, above the Kaiser Jeep tag. It was put there by the Corporation to let people know, the Willys heritage was still there.
I was looking at a ’66 or ’67 J-series pickup to buy and it had a tag that said “WILLYS” above the Kaiser Jeep tag. It was put there by the Corporation to let people know, that the Willys heritage was still there.
Very Cool! I love the history.
Nice rig, personally based on what all the sellers claim to have done to get it road worthy I bet the odometer has rolled once but $25k for this considering one you posted a few days ago the sellers wanted $100,000 makes this a steal
I had 2 Jeeps with 350 Buicks, a Wagoneer like this one in black with the fancy interior, and a 3/4 ton Gladiator that I plowed snow with back in the day. Not an ounce of trouble from either
engine. The truck enjoyed gas tho,10mpg, 4mpg plowing. After that, I just stopped checking, gas was 30 cents a gallon.
I owned a 69 wagoneer same 350 Buick factory motor darker green nothing but great memories.very strong motor and to date never had a vehicle that went through deep snow and adverse conditions as a wagoneer like the one shown.i would look at the rear floor pans for any one that is interested .great wagoneer
I had an 82 AMC JEEP Wagoneer with a 258 S6. I had it for 14 years thru many snow storms. Weighed over 5K lbs with a 35 gallon gas tank and Z Bart rust proofing. Sold at 22 years old with 220000 miles. What a great truck. That was 2004. It ran all the way to 2012 at will over 260000 miles.
Around 1992/1993 my husband bought a 1972 Jeep Wagoneer 4×4. It was gold in color, had the Kaiser Jeep firewall plate and if I remember a power rear tailgate window.
It was a great daily driver. Except for the rust around the rear wheel wells. Once that started there was no stopping the tin worm.
My experience with the Jeep brand is limited so can’t add much to the technical discussion of the brand. Got to ride in a military Jeep thanks to Uncle Sam but the Humvee replaced the older style Jeep before I got more rides. Fast forward to 2001 and I rented a Jeep Wrangler to drive around Maui on a winter vacation with my girlfriend. Handled well on the twisty but scenic Road To Hana and the 6 cylinder automatic had smooth torque uphill. I was impressed. I am also awed by how this 1969 model looks like it could be in a new car showroom. Timeless styling for a SUV that does not look dated at all.
As well as the article was presented comments where as good. Id love that rig but i just blew my yearly allotment on a low mile 87 F250 6.9 C6 ext cab $2100 no rust!
We had a 69 in a light green when I was a kid in the Middle East. We went camping all over Iran in it. I have fond memories of it. It had a six and a manual transmission. I think I prefer less engine in an old jeep — they don’t beat themselves up as bad if they have less power
A friend of mine called the AMC’s and later International’s ” Mr. POTATO HEAD cars because he had a tune up shop. They used parts from the big 3 for carbs and ignition parts. You never knew from year to year who’s parts you needed.
My Grandparents and parents had AMC’s and I learned to drivev in my Mom’s 74 Hornet. Ok cars but I preferred the Rebels they had before that. Philadelphia winter rusted away everything back then.
Years back when these were cheap, I worked with a fellow that shipped these to of all places, Europe. I would go here and there and retrieve units for him. One in particular was a yellow 70 model with the wood sides and fancy appointments. A Texas unit that wandered east. The old guy changed his oil and well didn’t have but two quarts and decided to drive it to the parts store. That would be its last ride in his custody. My guy sent me and 300.00 to Jerset to get it. Rust free is a big deal with these. Once back at the shop I showed him it was a 350 Buick not a 360 AMC. He told me to junk it, none of his customers would want it. Fast forward two decades and it still runs fine. I put a 70 350 4bbl in from a wrecked Skylark. 10 miles to a gallon but these are cool units. Rust is their only enemy as far as I am concerned. This one on here is a beauty in that department but kind of Blaise. Stunning how much these have upped in price in recent years.