“You’ve come a long way baby” a certain cigarette advertisement once proclaimed. But I’m not talkin’ smokes here, I mean Jeeps. From its utilitarian-military origins to six-figure over-wrought Grand Wagoneers, Jeep has covered a lot of middle ground along the way with unique vehicles such as this 1950 Willys-Overland Jeepster. Located in Butler, Pennsylvania, Ted found the listing for this “rare cruiser” as the seller suggests. It looks pretty good, so I’m interested, I hope you are too.
Similar in architecture to the Jeep utility wagon and pickup truck, the Jeepster, introduced in ’48, was a departure from the typical military Jeep. Though it was still an open-body style, or convertible, it carried more car-like body features. In existence for only three years (’48-’50), total production was just under 20K units. Our subject Jeepster presents quite nicely for what the seller claims is a barn find. The description for this 80K mile example is a bit light but the images provide a decent description. The black finish is still strong, the convertible top shows as being sound and the chrome plating is fair revealing typical age and usage wear. The body panels appear to be straight and there’s no evidence of rust, rot, or structural weakness.
Jeepsters came equipped with both four and six-cylinder engines and our subject is in possession of a 75 HP, 161 CI, in-line, flathead six-cylinder engine. The seller suggests, “Runs and drivers great (for what it is).” This Jeepster, actually all of them, had two-wheel-drive-only capability, and a three-speed manual transmission makes the rear wheel connection. Repairs include, “a new head gasket, new brake master cylinder, new fuel pump, and more!” Reliability is one of this Jeep’s claimed attributes.
The interior is a basic black vinyl upholstered arrangement and from what’s photographed, it looks good. It’s not stated but it’s easy to imagine that the upholstery has been replaced at some point as it shows as being quite stout for having experienced three-quarters of a century of existence – undoubtedly some of it in top-down mode. The instrument panel is a spartan affair with a radio mounted to the left of the steering column – a placement seen on some other vehicles (’69 full-size Ford) but not many. Of note, there are no side roll-up windows on a Jeepster.
So, appealing? Probably to a Jeep or Willys-Overland aficionado but it’s likely to be limited beyond that. Jeepsters have been criticized for a lack of power and its two-wheel-only drivetrain which belies the vehicle’s go-anywhere projection. But there is a collectability factor involved and I imagine this Jeepster would be a willing, and welcomed participant at a local car show. Interested parties will find it here on Facebook Marketplace where it’s available for $10,000. Jessica Caldwell who manages insights at Edmunds was recently quoted as saying, “Jeep is sort of that rugged, do-anything, go-anywhere, very basic American brand,” she says. “[Now] they’re expensive. They’re flashy and it seems like it’s kind of missing the mark in terms of where people are right now.” Perhaps this Jeepster is a better reflection of what Jeep was and should be, as opposed to what it’s now become and that thought process could bode well for this example, right?
This was Jeep’s “Phaeton” I always liked these, and also the Jeepster Commando of the late 60s with the removable hardtop. Too bad I don’t have $10k lying around, I’d give this old girl a look.
Thank you. In fact the last American built phaeton.
With you on this one, Terrry, remember seeing these new as a kid, liked them then and still do. It’s a configuration that says simplicity with functional “limited” pizzaz. Jeep was able to show “class” built for casual fun when they put out the Jeepster. How about we go 50/50 on this, I’ll consider my $5k and you your $5k and we trade off every week on who can use it?
My name’s not Terry,but how many BF regulars are familiar with the tune “Jeepster” by T Rex? Warning: It’s not really a “car” song.
“Jeepster” by T Rex is part of the excellent soundtrack for one of my favorite movies “Deathproof”.
Love T-Rex. Marc Bolan was a car guy.
A fatal attraction.
The author missed the point, like many of the Jeepster posts, but as mentioned before, this was the idea of Brooks Stevens, and had no intention of it being an off road vehicle. He heard stories from GIs and the cars they saw in Europe, and somehow convinced top brass, this was what returning service folks wanted. Too bad, just the wrong market. Jeep was riding high on the CJs, and this just wasn’t a Jeep. To be clear, I believe it was 4 years, as leftover 1950s were sold as 1951s. Didn’t matter, faded away quietly until Kaiser came out with the Commando in 1966, a much improved vehicle, with about the same attraction, none. I’d get a sad chuckle if someone bought this thinking, they always wanted a 4×4 Jeep. Like the DJ stories,,,so please, buyer beware.
For the record, that was a Virginia Slims slogan. Not many guys smoked Virginia Slims then unless stolen from Auntie Ethyl, who was always a bit rebellious.
I didn’t miss the point at all, I stated that these were two-wheel drive vehicles and no one was going to buy one for off-road activities. These were an attempt to come up with something more car-like, on the cheap, that still presented rugged Jeep looks and maintained Jeep simplicity.
I can read Wikipedia too, though I try to avoid it…
JO
Well, JO, I sense a bit of animosity, give me a little more credit than that. I live and breathe Jeeps and grew up in Jeeptown,( no, the other Jeep town) I did not use Wiki for that info. Brooks Stevens was practically a God in Wisconsin, and we all knew full well his accomplishments. Not to call you out, but you made no mention of Stevens, or the fact he was trying to mimic European roadsters. And another thing, it WASN’T cheap, and further exasperated the situation. Peace, eh?
I like this Jeepster, but it certainly would be limited to slow traffic roads, not the PA Turnpike. Price seems okay and located about 400 miles to the west maybe. Not crazy about black color but it looks clean. Just dreaming.
The new Jeep Grand Wagoneer is a GORGEOUS vehicle. It should be for $100,000 +. Every creature comfort, all the latest tech and much nicer than a Cadillac Escalade. But I seriously doubt anyone would take it off road even though they do come in 4X4.
The one and only Jeep my ex and I had was a 1972 Jeep Wagoneer 4X4. The only power option was a power rear window on the tailgate. God I miss tailgates. I’m not a fan of liftgates. In the late 90s he had his 1972 Jeep and I had my 1972 Buick Riviera. It was paradise.
Around the same time a small vintage/classic used car lot in town had a 1967 Jeepster convertible, white on white on white. It was not on the lot, but behind the building and it was in non running catastrophic shape. But I loved it and wanted it. Dealer wouldn’t sell it to me. He knew it needed too much and was beyond my capabilities. But ever since then I’ve been interested in Jeepsters. It’s a Jeep, but a car. It’s stylish with a Continental rear spare. Just something about them I really like.
Are you referring to the new EV Jeep Wagoneer?
no crank window, slider, side curtain? Couldn’t tell from pics if there were brackets for side curtains. Don’t recall if info on top.
Nice looking vehicle. Only 50 m from me.
Well, here’s a wrinkle for you. In about 1977, I had a 1950 Willys wagon that I built for fun and an occasional mud drag. It had a basically stock ’70 L-T1 (that I got out of a totaled ’70 Z-28) a TH400 mated to the stock Willys transfer case with Willys overdrive. I happened to run across a ’50 Jeepster for sale for a reasonable price, drug it home, took all the running gear, (including the front and rear differentials) out of the wagon and transplanted them into the Jeepster. Had re-arched springs, GM tilt steering column and steering box, and Armstrong Tru-Tracks on 8″ wheels. Not only was that little dude a screamer, ( 5:38 gears w/ Eaton posi in front and a Detroit locker in the rear) it attracted a whole bunch of attention. As a side note, I had fella approach me at a little mud drag event that I was at, and he had built one as a Baja pre-runner with a 396 and a Turbo. We both drove them on the street as well. (to answer a question, they had side curtains)
1970 and two girls in my high school had a Jeepster with the Magical Mystery Tours album artwork painted on the sides . . . they frequented the free outdoor rock concerts on the weekends . . . everybody loved the Jeepster :-)
I remember these when I was a youngster. Friends of my parents had one and I thought it was way COOL! I still do, 10 K seems fair to me, but it depends on what you expect to do with it.
Met a gut who mounted a Jeepster on a Nissan Xterra chassis. Easy conversion and the V6 raelly made it peppy.