Well, Willys may have given up the ghost on the passenger car biz in ’55, but the Jeep side of the house was in full bloom and a major component of their lineup was the station wagon such as this four-wheel drive example that hails from Big Pine, California. Considered an unmolested time capsule, this early version of an SUV is available here on Facebook Marketplace for $19,500. Thanks are due T.J. for this tip!
Offered between 1946 and 1964, the Willys station wagon became known as the “Utility Wagon” in 1955. Two models were offered that year, the 6-226, such as our subject vehicle, and the less powerful model 4-75 – both variations were available in two or four-wheel drive. Body styles included two and four-door wagons and a panel truck – though the two-door version appears to be the most common. The total nineteen-year production volume was about 300K units. This particular wagon has a claimed 58K miles of use, though there is no authentication of that mileage recording. The exterior is a flat “burned brown” – another patina job? (see 1963 Chevrolet C-10) Regardless, it looks good, with no sign of rust, an exceptionally clean underside, and nice chrome bits.
The interior is a real surprise; the seller states, “New: Headliner, upholstery, shift boots, mechanical gages, wire harness, turn signals…” It’s a primitive environment, but it looks fabulous – bright, clean, and purposeful. I imagine, in spite of the interior redo, comfort is probably fleeting for a long drive, but comfort wasn’t exactly this Utility Wagon’s goal.
Powering this 4X4 version is a 115 gross HP, 226 CI, inline, “Hurricane” six-cylinder engine. The seller adds, “Rebuilt original carburetor. Automatic choke. Runs like a sewing machine.” I imagine the sewing machine reference equates to smoothness, as it’s a descriptor usually not associated with power. A three-speed manual transmission puts power to a Dana transfer case and axles while improvements include, “Undercarriage, frame, driveshafts, and axles cleaned and painted, shocks, Ujoints, front and rear pinion seals, front and rear transfer case seals, motor mounts, transfer case mounts, radiator, thermostat, exhaust system, fuel pump…”
If you look at one of this Utility Wagon’s descendants, such as the current Jeep Grand Wagoneer, you might be inclined to think, “You’ve come a long way, baby.” Or have you really? Sure, the newest rendition is larger, more luxurious, comfortable, powerful, safer and on and on. But it’s also pushing six figures, and you start to wonder if too much has managed to push things right over the edge. We won’t return to vehicles as rudimentary as this Willys, but it’s nice to know that, if so inclined, you can experience the origin of today’s Jeep SUV lineup with this Willys Utility Wagon, wouldn’t you agree?
This remits me of Terry Thomas’ Jeep in “Its a mad, mad, mad, mad World”.
It’s under the Big “W”.
That was a classic movie Rex.
My first thought with Ethel Merman yammering away at the poor Colonel…
Get out of this machine!
When Mitsubishi was producing Jeeps under license they made one as well although right hand drive and Diesel and Diesel Turbo were available
Oh boy, I bet leiniedude feels a whole lot better, like that $45K YJ to me a while back. I think California plates should have the word “Dreamin” on them , because $20 grand for these primitive 4x4s is simply way out of line. Maybe with a V8, or some sort of modernization, but it really isn’t very compliant for todays roads. Off road? Nah, modern ATVs give a lot more for half the cost,,,,nostalgia up the ying yang, including that line of cars you are holding back, only getting madder and madder, it’s not the 50s, I’m continually reminded.
LOL ! Not really feeling much better, if they get that money I will feel much better ! Sad to say I have not sat in mine since the broken neck thing 4 years ago. Going to sell her this Summer. No more sense of hope. Supposed to be 64 in the Badger next week, imagine that ! Take care Howard, Mike.
Nostalgia is a powerful drug Howard. 😵💫
I’ve been addicted to it since birth…
The FB post details the amount of work they’ve done on this, it should be a decent runner. I owned one of these, and yes, they rattle and shake, but for some of us, that’s part of their appeal.
@Todd J. I know exactly what you mean. There’s something very satisfying being “connected ” to an older vehicle, with manual steering standard transmission, feeling everything working. It’s the only way I can describe it. Our newer vehicles isolate us too much.
I know these are pretty crude, uncomfortable and barely capable — if at all — of venturing onto a highway, but I still think they’re neat.
In my ideal world, I’d have two: one absolutely stock, and one with upgrades (done as unobtrusively as possible) to make it into a more comfortable and useful cruiser.
Nostalgia is wonderful, and I love it, but is best when you have an alternative.
My dad and his friends had these when I was a kid, a long time ago, and I have pictures and remember going hunting in my dad’s. Love these!
Yes, the interior is surprising after seeing the exterior. What is it? I can’t decide from the photos, a combination of red oxide primer and surface rust? And the mechanicals are supposed to be sorted, so there may be a buyer, maybe after a deal. Howard is correct. This is likely for country roads where there is a place to pull over and let the cars pass by. There is a desolate road in central West Virginia, a logging road during the week, that goes over the hill from hamlet to hamlet. Safe on the weekend. I see this there. Kind of spooky, actually, as I traveled in two-wheel drive modern car. No other cars for 10 miles. Could also be a good ranch car.
I am infinitely familiar with these as I built two of them in the eighties and I can tell you that this thing is WAY overpriced. My last one was powered by a true ’70 LT-1 with Hooker headers, a Turbo 400 with a Hurst ratchet shifter and mated to the Willys transfer case with overdrive. The rear end had a Detroit locker, the front end hac Eaton posi-traction and both were supported by custom arched leaf springs with KYB shocks. It had custom 10″ steel wheels with Armstrong Tru-track tires and the steering was converted to a GM box with a tilt and tele wheel. The body had been media blasted, all dents removed and painted green with tan fenders. The reason that I listed all this is because I sold that rig in ’86 for $6,000. Now I know that ’86 dollars aren’t comparable to 2025 dollars, but I had $12,000 tied up in that one and I did all the labor. Stock, these come with 5.38 gears and without overdrive, they cannot be driven on public roads easily. The seller has done a good job of cleaning up the under carriage, but there are no new components, just new paint. Completely restored with all new everything, the price would still be high but not unreasonable.
$6,000 in 1986 is $17,400 in 2025. Which hurts more- getting older or dealing with inflation? 🤔
Both, but that wasn’t my point. If what I sold in 1988 equipped like it was would be worth $17,400 today, what do you think that this one should sell for?
Inflation.
I think that the first SUV of this type was the 1940 Marmon-Herrington conversion of Ford Woodie Wagons!
“…rattle’n shake…”
not when ‘gone over’ as this (yeah, even new king pins; u-joints; modern, not bias ply tires, etc, etc).
“…pretty crude, uncomfortable and barely capable…”
Once gas tanks R cleaned/re-placed, carbs rebuilt, and all the other stuff I’d rather this than a safer, gas efficient, today rig. But I drive two 1/2 hrs commute for work and may be 25 mi ‘at work’. Not much traffic (I miss one ‘rush hr’) 5, 10 min on interstate 1X (or again several times w/in the 25 mi ‘during wrk’). Easy…
So (as Goldie Locks said) this is just right. Or a regular wagon, bigger hatch…
I have a ‘62 Willys Wagon that I have been restoring for many years. The mechanicals are complete and I drive the bare chassis without the body around my yard/cul-de-sac on a regular basis but the bodywork and final assembly is a few years away from being finished.