This 1949 Willys Jeepster is said to have been running only 20 years ago! It’s listed for sale here on craigslist and is located in Greencastle, Pennsylvania. While the seller is only asking $7,500 for the car (truck? roadster?), there are some issues for any new owner to deal with. I wonder why the vehicle was parked in the first place?
Let’s deal with the obvious to begin with. The body of the Willys looks pretty darned good; perhaps a wash and wax is all that’s necessary? I’m guessing it was in pretty dry storage to look this nice coming out. There were only around 19,000 Jeepsters produced during a three-year production run from 1948-1950, and I find it truly interesting to see how modern historians characterize the vehicle. The natural comparison is to the Jeep itself, of course, and it’s obvious Brooks Stevens designed the vehicle to have a softer overall appearance than the original. However, others have called the Jeepster the “first SUV” and even compared it to the MG TC! Unfortunately, marketing efforts weren’t great, the lack of 4WD doomed it from taking many sales from Jeeps, and the Jeepster disappeared without much fuss. Interestingly enough, the failure didn’t stop AMC/Jeep from pretty much doing the same thing in 1966; that version of the Jeepster ran until 1973.
It’s clear that this vehicle has led a somewhat sheltered life based on how undented the bumpers are, and things like the cover over the spare tire. Again, I really wonder how nice this would look cleaned up!
Even the original ads weren’t very clear on who was going to buy this unusual vehicle!
Apart from the steering wheel and horn push, the interior doesn’t look horrible either. I can’t imagine anyone storing this car outside now, so the tattyness of the side curtains shouldn’t stop you. And I still miss vent windows! There’s a manual transmission with overdrive installed, but we don’t know what transmission, because there’s a surprise in the next picture.
Hmmmm. That doesn’t look like the four-cylinder Hurricane or the six-cylinder Lightning engine that should be in here! It’s not; the seller says they were told it’s a Studebaker six-cylinder but I was unable to find a perfect match from South Bend. I’m sure our educated readers can tell us what this engine is really from! And honestly, does it really matter? The six-cylinder looks period enough and probably provides more “go” than either of the original engines. Have you ever driven a Jeepster?
For that matter, I ran 20 years ago too. Now I just walk.
Learned to drive in 1965 in a ‘48 Jeepster that our father had converted to 4wd by setting it on a Willys Station Wagon chassis. He repowered it with a 283 Chevy with a Chevy three-speed and OD transmission, adapted to a Willys military transfer case, for its extra low, low range. Was his ultimate hunting vehicle, would go anywhere he wanted to go.
$3,000 tops and take a chance. Old Shriners are dieing off…not much demand for synchronized Shriner Jeepster parade duty. Any new Shriners will likely form some Tesla “patrol” for parade duties.
That engine may be the later Willys/Kaiser-Jeep “Hurricane” six, developed for the 1962 Wagoneer. Essentially an OHC conversion of the Continental-engineered six that Kaiser had been using.
That engine turned out to have teething issues that Kaiser wasn’t willing to deal with, given the death of Henry Kaiser and the parent company winding things down. The engine design was sold to IKA Argentina (a partially-owned subsidiary) where it had a long life…albeit, unburdened by smog regulations.
As to Jeep’s “resurrection” of the concept in 1966…not quite. This was a 2WD-only roadster only cosmetically resembling a Jeep. The C101/C103 Commando was based on the CJ-6; was 4WD only, and really, quite in line with the early SUVs of the time (Bronco and Scout).
The second generation’s failure was IMHO due to the quirky styling and questions about Kaiser-Jeep’s longevity…and those were not answered with AMC’s purchase, as AMC itself was camping out on the steps of Bankruptcy Court.
I think they called it the Tornado engine (230.51 c.i.).
Correct Todd, but that doesn’t look like the Tornado either. Nor does it look like the Studebaker Skybolt six. The valve cover is wrong, and most of them had the oil filter facing upward on the driver’s side of the engine.
My pops talks about a jeep that he drove as a delivery boy in very early 50s he described it as a 2 wheel drive version of the panel van that didnt have a top. He said he loved it. But not enough to buy any jeeps. He was a hot rodder bought a 65 formula S Barracuda, too replace the 62 Lancer he was forced into upon Arriving back in states as Capt in USAF in 62 with me in tow as a 2 year old.
lota parts missin plus the wrong motor. Hope some 1 dont get gouged.
I like em but the 7 yr 2nd gen’s got it all over these (either pre or post ‘face-lift’ – that chrome surround’s OK, doin it to my 1st gen bronk).
Bought one from Ozzie’s junk yard in NJ when I was in High school.
’49 no top of course, engine in back seat, popped the engine in and ran like a charm. Used it out in back forty 4 wheeling cutting down dried up corn stalks, much fun
I have the twin to this jeepster. The engine is what they call an F head where the intake valves are in the block and the exhaust valves are in the head. the engine is 161 cu.in. hurricane as the word hurricane is cast on the intake manifold. Very nice write.