How many times have we dreamed about opening a garage door and seeing a nice, vintage vehicle parked inside, and then finding out that it’s for sale for what seems like a good price? And then reading that it’s “all original”? Even better. The seller has this 1971 Jeepster Commando posted here on craigslist in Woodinville, Washington and they’re asking $9,950. Here is the original listing.
The Jeepster Commando was made from 1966 to 1973 and it competed with other user-friendly 4×4 vehicles such as the Ford Bronco, Toyota Land Cruiser, and International Scout. This line of Jeeps hung around after AMC purchased Jeep from Kaiser and they’re a nice mid-point 4×4 for Jeep buyers. They’ll still go off-road like nobody’s business, as in, like a Jeep should, but are nice to drive on paved roads.
The seller refers to this Jeepster as “all original unmolested”, but then lists a bunch of new parts that have been installed, including a “poly” gas tank. I get it, I’m taking “all original” literally but it’s normal to replace parts that need to be replaced over the decades. I’m just wondering about the paint being all original. You can see some rust issues, and there’s a big spot that looks almost like a chunk of body filler fell off? Maybe they mean, original spec, it sure looks like this rig was restored/repainted at some point in its history, but I could be wrong. It wouldn’t be the first time.
The interior looks nice other than some cracking in the vinyl seats and if this is truly an original vehicle after 52 years, that’s amazing. The rear cargo area also looks nice and the underside looks amazingly solid and clean! It almost looks like the console shifter knob is missing but it’s white so it blends into the background. Speaking of the transmission, buyers would get either manual or automatic transmissions and in this case, it’s GM’s THM-400 three-speed automatic.
The engine compartment sure looks clean for being 52 years old. This is Buick’s 225-cu.in. V6, which has 160 horsepower and 235 lb-ft of torque. It runs and drives great according to the seller, and it has a new “poly gas tank, new starter, new fuel pump, new brake lines, new parking brake cable, new master cylinder, newer MT tires, window seals, and top seals.” Any thoughts on this Commando?
Wow, beautiful and rare.
This does not look like Buicks 225 cubic inch V-6! The 225 was a “Nail Head” engine. The valve covers went straight up not angled like these are! Perhaps the 225 was replaced by a 231 V-6? I saw one of these several years ago in a Mecum Auction. It had a Buick 350 in it! It sold for $15,000.
Sorry, but no, the Buick 225 V6 was NOT a nailhead engine. Two completely separate things. You cannot depend on seeing the valve covers. Not sure what these valve covers are, unless something Jeep adopted in the last years they used the 225. The 225 Buick valve covers were angled, to make the TOP of the valve covers look like they were “straight up”, but they were severely angled at the bottoms where they sat on the cylinder heads. Purposely done to make the small engines look like they were the same “family” as the tried and true nailhead.
This 225 was derived from the design of the 215 aluminum V8 Buick introduced in 1961, and then was the design basis for the later popular 231cid/3800 V6 engines, which are derivatives from the original 225 after Buick bought it back from Jeep in 1973.
Here’s a couple of good articles to read about both the V6 and nailheads to help show the differences:
https://www.hagerty.com/media/automotive-history/how-buicks-fireball-v-6-birthed-one-of-the-most-successful-engines-in-history/
https://www.macsmotorcitygarage.com/secrets-of-the-buick-nailhead-v8/#:~:text=While%20the%20production%20Nailhead%20V8,engines%20to%20follow%20through%201966.
https://www.nailheadbuick.com/post/why-do-they-call-it-a-nailhead
Please get facts straight. Misinformation spread on the internet stays there forever, and will lead people astray, reinforcing that incorrect information forever.
You are correct Dan
I’ m amazed at this, dig the console with floor shift and transfer case lever. Power steering and brakes, h.e.i. non original but at least reliable. Odd-fire or even- fire v-6 ? I’m guessing odd-fire for that era. I’d have a good mechanic fabricate a heat stove for the air cleaner for those cold wintery days if i’d take it out. This is a keeper
HEI cap looks like an odd fire. Nice Jeepster. I have a 1967 Jeepster with a V6.
The even-fire V6 wasn’t introduced until mid-1977, after AMC sold the tooling back to GM.
ICK…
$10 grand, and it looks like a queer Bronco.
Seems very reasonable for a clean not rotted out one. It will be gone quick.
Going Commando. ( ewwww) Before SUVs became these cushy status symbols, that never saw’r a flake, the Commando was as nice as it got. There were no fancy 4Landers or MBs, that we saw. 4x4s were strictly utilitarian in nature. If it was too rough for the Impala station wagon, people simply didn’t go there. The Commando changed all that and the others were quick to follow, leaving the poor Commando in the dust. As nice as I say they are, the public never got this image of the army guys flying out of a military Jeep out of their minds, and it was clear, the Cherokee was the cheese. It’s an amazing find.
I bought a 1970 Jeepster Commando in 1971 in almost as new condition. It was the last model Commando sold before the front facia was extended to fit the AMC inline 6 cylinder. The original 90 degree Buick V6 was a 350 V8 with 2 cylinders less. It came was a huge and heavy flywheel to help balance the odd fire characteristics of the engine. I built up a “spare” 225 V6 from careful research of earlier engines as a full race engine. The Norris cam I speced did not have good low RPM performance (not good for a 4X4) but good for the sports car I had designed it for. On one cross country trip through Bonneville I had it up over 125 mph before running out of smooth salt. Sure was scarry trying to slow it down. After 9 years I sold it for twice what it cost new! I still miss that old Commando.
These are a bit of an acquired taste … that I haven’t acquired.
Rolled one of these in High School. Yup.
Does it include underpants or not?
I like! My old neighbor had a barnfull of old Willy’s Jeeps. All restored and driven, but not for sale at the time.
In the 1990s I was friends with a guy who owned a used car lot. Was mostly older daily drivers. I bought my 1972 Oldsmobile 98 and my 1976 Cadillac Coupe de Ville from him.
He had a 1967 Jeepster (I guess Commando) behind the building. It was a white convertible with the Continental spare. I really wanted that car, but even back then it was just too far gone.
He had a warehouse in Pennsylvania where he housed his car before putting them on the lot. He just recently retired and auctioned off all the inventory. Had many clamshell GM station wagons. Convertibles and some great stuff. But that 67 Jeepster was the only one of them he had. Such a shame.
I had a ’73 Commando with the AMC 258 straight six and the THM 400. It was a good little truck.
Listing update: the seller has this one listed as SOLD!