We’ve heard plenty about the rare Hurst Jeepsters over the years, mostly about their limited production and the importance of finding one with most original accessories intact. But when one seller claimed his might be the first one ever made, we needed to take a closer look. Find the Jeepster here on craigslist, with an asking price of $18,000 and listed for sale in Sacramento, California.

Thanks to Barn Finds reader Pat L. for the find. Don’t get me wrong: the Hurst Jeepster is a rare bird indeed, but it was also a case of mostly dress-up like so many other special editions. These trucks did come standard with the powerful Dauntless V6, along with the option for a manual or automatic. The wheels seen here aren’t original to the car, nor is the engine – it’s a rebuilt Dauntless, but the original engine does come with the sale.

The interior has been refreshed at some point, and actually has the effect of making this Jeepster look like a fine place to spend time despite the rough exterior. It has been redone, but not in an original upholstery pattern. It does need new floor pans, which are included with the sale. The Hurst dual gate shifter remains in place, but the original tach (along with the original hood scoop) were both stolen and not replaced.

The seller accredits his early production claim to checking the Hurst registry and confirming this is the earliest one in the database as of now. Sure, that could change at any time, but it’s still a modest claim to fame to own the oldest known Hurst Jeepster in existence. That said, it’s still far from an ironclad confirmation and buyers should focus on the quality of the project over an unsubstantiated production claims.