52 years is a long time for any of us no matter our age. Some of us (not me) weren’t even born yet when this 1971 Jeepster Commando was made. They’re really interesting vehicles and this one looks great sitting in this color-matched field in Peyton, Colorado. The seller has it listed here on eBay and they have a $6,500 buy-it-now asking price, or I’m sure you could send them a message with a reasonable offer.
This is a case when I could actually see a (fake) TV reality show crew bringing this Commando back to life again in three days. This Jeepster looks nice compared to a lot of them that we see, and especially nice compared to a lot of the vehicles that those scripted shows somehow restore in three days for some self-imposed crisis deadline, while spending 2.5 days of that time nailing each other’s toolboxes to the bench and having “challenges” to see who can ride a trike the fastest.
Jeep made the Commando from 1966 through 1973. 1971 was reportedly the last year they were named the Jeepster Commando, as in 1972 and 1973 they were known as the Jeep Commando. They also received a new grille in 1972, losing the classic vertical Jeep grille. Yes, the seller has the rear glass and gasket material, in case you were wondering.
I would love to see a YouTube video of someone cleaning this Commando inside and out, I think it would really look great just the way it is but clean. The floors are solid, according to the seller, and they report that there isn’t much of any rust to speak of otherwise, even underneath. This one has a three-speed manual transmission but an automatic would have been available, along with power steering, power brakes, and even air-conditioning.
This engine is a 225-cu.in. OHV “Dauntless” V6, which would have had 160 horsepower and 235 lb-ft of torque when new. The seller says that it was parked for years but after lubing the cylinders, and adding a new battery, fuel pump, and some gas, it starts and runs great. The transmission and brakes both work fine and this sure looks like a nice weekend project. Any thoughts on this Commando?
Wash it!
When I was 16 I had a 1972 Commando with the 304 V8 and 3 speed. I couldn’t get more than 8 mpg no matter how I drove it. I never should have sold it – traded it for a 280Z.
This motor was a great addition to the Jeep, but the Commando body looks like someone grafted Scout body onto a CJ and to avoid copyright infringements pasted a Gremlin hatch on the rear..
Unusual and unique old school CUV, this one would be a good project and fun to drive on well-maintained forestry roads.
I had a 66 I rebuilt out of two 66’s and a stainless steel military oven from the refuse dump on Adak Alaska. It was an unstoppable vehicle that handled some ponds and all snow. The V6 by Buick was an work horse and even the 3 speed cane shift did not balk at anything driving up roadless volcanic mountain sides. I would love to have that one to restore because it seems to require very little as compared to the one I had to bring back to life. Heck I even had to find an exhaust manifold in Salt Lake City while I going to Quanta Character generator school there. Another antique I had to bring back to life.
I don’t see the Scout body/Gremlin hatch – it looks like the original Brooks Steven’s designed Jeepster to me (yes, I’m an old geezer).
https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Willys-Overland_Jeepster
This was the last year of Willis that was hy the name changed in 72 to amc when you just say jeep you could be talking about 3diff. Man . Sea
I had a ’73 Commando with an AMC 258 straight six, coupled to a TurboHydramatic 400 transmission. I never worried about breaking the tranny. :D It was a good little 4×4.
For a luxury land yacht person that I am, I absolutely love these! I saw my first one behind a barn, rusting away. A 1967 white on white on white convertible with the Continental spare tire. Something about it just said to me “aren’t I cool?”
Top up or down, yes you are!
to me they’re all great (1st gen jeepster, the 2 or 3 ‘facelifts to this one). I like my bronk for p/u cab to rag top to wagon top switch-ease but these are smaller which is nice for the narrow stuff we got in such abundance Back East.
Like I say on so many models “looks better in station wagon model” there are just so many vehicles that slight stance change appreciates (lower more rarely but both ‘up’ & ‘down’) its appearance. These look great in mono color w/2 inch raise/modern 17 inch tire…
Whether you dislike Brooks Stevens for his Excalibur and planned obsolescence, or like him for umpty nine successful inventions( the 1st steam iron or the “Toastalator), you must admit, this guy had a vision, way back in 1948, when he foresaw the universal Jeep as a more user friendly vehicle, some say, the very 1st SUV. The car biz is a fickle one, and timing is everything. Today, modern Rubicons and such, really aren’t much different than this, and quite frankly, never will be like this again. It’s a great find, someone in town had an orange one, price tag of $15grand, it sat for months and never sold, in Colorado, mind you, tells you something, eh? It sadly is just not what people are looking for in a vintage Jeep, apparently. Again and again, an automatic, it would gone by now. They really were the zenith of a conventional Jeep, I feel.
Thanks Scotty, good write-up, including references to (fake) reality TV car shows. I too get turned off by the manufactured drama.
In a sense, this Commando was four or five decades before its time. Like Howard says, these don’t command the interest and respect (and price) of a “regular” Jeep. As compared to today, when anything “Jeep” is popular, even if it is a basic economy car underneath.
The vastness of the Eastern Colorado scenery in the pics is fascinating.
Thanks Scotty, good write-up, including references to (fake) reality TV car shows. I too get turned off by the manufactured drama.
In a sense, this Commando was four or five decades before its time. Like Howard says, these don’t command the interest and respect (and price) of a “regular” Jeep. As compared to today, when anything “Jeep” is popular, even if it is a basic economy car underneath.
The vastness of the Eastern Colorado scenery in the pics is fascinating.
HOWDY,
Is this a 4×4 or rear wheel drive only?
Thanks,
Looks like lock-out hubs on the front, so it should be a 4×4. My ’73 was.