We have had some healthy debates here on Barn Finds over the years as to what the first SUV was. Or, what the first SUV was after someone defined the term SUV. In either case, these vehicles come up every time as they should. This 1960 Willys Station Wagon can be found posted here on craigslist in Mancos, Colorado, and the seller wants $11,500 cash. Here is the original listing, and thanks to T.J. for sending in this tip!
By “The First SUV”, of course, I don’t mean the 1960 model, since these rugged vehicles were made beginning in 1946. They made it through to the 1964 model year and then a more thoroughly modern vehicle, the Jeep Wagoneer, took over. By 1960, the split windshield was changed to a single windshield, but there’s something cool about a split windshield for me.
This example looks great to me, how about you? Some of the edges are a little iffy, you can see rust poking and peeking around, but it’s a rare Willys Wagon that doesn’t have some rust on the edges. The “People’s Wagon”, as the new 2WD Willys Station Wagon was referred to at the time, came out in 1946, and the 4WD version in 1949. By late 1960, they also had a one-piece rear window.
I love the look of the exterior of this Willys and wasn’t horrified by the seller’s asking price, but wasn’t excited about it. Then I got to the interior photos and I started thinking that $11,500 wasn’t such a bad price after all. This is one nice-looking interior, and the seller includes a lot of good photos. The seats have been reupholstered front and rear and it just looks clean and nice, overall. The rear cargo area looks great with the new wood strips on the floor, and I wonder if the seller has a rear seat to make this one a seven-seater?
This should be a Kaiser Continental 226-cu.in. L-Head, Super Hurricane inline-six with 115 horsepower and 190 lb-ft of torque. The seller lists an incredible amount of work that’s been done on this Willys, including new brakes, exhaust, belts, hoses, carb rebuild, and water pump, not to mention $1,600 for five new Willys rims and tires. Everything works as it should and this would be a fun vehicle to own. Does $11,500 seem reasonable given how nice this example appears to be?
You’d be surprised at how many of these are laying derelict in fields out here. Before every tin can had AWD, Willys and Colorado went hand in hand. It was the only civilized way to get back in the hills, or simply home. Travel wasn’t what it is today, and a Willys for more for emergency than anything.People just didn’t go out if it was bad, but if they had to, a Willys to the rescue. I read, the one piece windshield came out in ’59, on the “Maverick” 2wd wagon. These had several improvements, like fresh air heater, 12volt, electric wipers(?) but it was still what it was when designed in 1946. “Peoples Wagon”,,,hmm, sounds a lot like VWs “Peoples Car”,,I wonder.
Great find, again, limited use, as they will go “double nickel”, but they are a handful, and 40-45 much more like it, and that will limit travel some. I question the logic of spending a lot of money to make it like 1960 again. It should have been updated properly, I feel.
Oh, just one more thing( Columbo), the 1st time we heard the term “SUV” was the 1974 full size Jeep Cherokee. These were the 1st all steel station wagons, as previously, only wood wagons were available.
These will do more than 40-45. Especially with the 6. Mine, a 1953 with the 4 cyl will cruise at 55, with overdrive even more.
These are really cool old rigs,but like Howard said,
not really meant to drive over 55.When I used to go up to
Montana all the time,this would have fit in perfectly in the
small towns & out in the country in the days before all of
the Californians discovered ( & ruined) the character of
the state.
If you’re considering one of these, this looks like a decent candidate. Yes, they rattle and shake and you won’t want to drive it across the country, but they will go pretty much anywhere you would want to go and they are not complicated to work on.
Looks like a pretty good example of the breed. $11,500 doesn’t seem so bad in this day and age. I looked at a few of these back in the ’80s when I was a teenager. I remember one in particular that had a small block Chevy in it.
Chevrolet Suburban debuted in 1934
Suburban wasn’t available in 4wd until 1955. Willys station wagon was first with 4wd.
True, but the Suburban did not have 4 wheel drive until the early 60s.
Howard suburbans where around in 30s.
When I was a kid, my uncle had a 1955 Willys Wagon with a 283sbc and a 3 speed manual. I thought it was about the coolest car in the world at the time. When I got close to driving age I asked if I could buy it from him, but he said it needed way too much work to make it road worthy. I never asked him how much work it needed, but I really wanted that car/suv. I remember when my cousins and I would ride in it, you could see the road passing by through the holes in the floor! But the body panels weren’t very rusty and the engine ran really well, he just didn’t want to sell a potential money pit to his nephew. Wouldn’t mind having one for driving around the mountain logging roads near the camp we co-own in Pennsylvania, though. It would make a heck of a good hunting truck.
My 1st “FFW”( Flat Fender Willys) in the late 80s, was a ’54 wagon like this with a SBC, a 307, I think, that I never really cared for. It had an adapter plate to use the Willys drivetrain. I then found a ’51 pickup, ( with 19,000 miles) and put everything from the wagon into the pickup. In all honesty, the V8 was too much, more for bragging rights, a 6 would have worked fine for me. Gearing was the biggest snafu. Originally, it had like 4:88s, and the V8 didn’t like that, so I put a 3:70 rear axle from a Wagoneer, but the front axle I couldn’t. Maybe the transfer case shaft on wrong side, I forget now, but used it as a 2wd pickup for quite a while. These always had sloppy steering, and brakes one may not be used to.
Well I enjoy mine, should say used to. Been a little over two years since I drove her because of the broken neck thing. Starts up in any temp and very reliable. 11 inch brakes work well, same size as many early muscle cars. Very easy to work on. I had my radiator recored, it was from an early Barracuda, LOL. Price seems high but what isn’t now?
Anyone who has been looking for one of these would know that the price is very reasonable.This wagon has not yet been hacked with a engine that doesn’t belong in it. Yes a chore to drive and a bit harsh in the ride department but that’s what it is. Not a race car nor highway vehicle nor a sports car but a go anywhere vintage wagon. What you see is what you get,FUN.
Broken neck? ouch hang in there!
I was hoping that you’d see this one, Mike! I hope you’re doing well and will be able to tinker with your collection again in 2023!
Thanks guys, still in the wheelchair but slowly moving in the right direction. Take care, Mike.
Id love another of these, damn 11K im about to pull the trigger on an 87 F250 ext 2wd 6.9 C6 68K miles no rust runs and is tight for 2400 and im flapping about that amount, times sure have changed
First car I ever had was a 48 Willys wagon. My dad came back from China after WW2 (he was attached to Chiang Kai-shek’s staff for a while) all the returning sailors were looking for new cars, and dealers had waiting lists. Dad put his name on all the lists, and Willys was the first one to call him. Drove it 4-5 years, then passed on to my grandfather at the farm. It sat derelict in a shed for several years. When I was 11 I got a BB gun for Christmas, and promptly shot all the windows on the Willys with it, i guess thinking it was done for. When I was 15 started bugging Dad for a car. He said “Remember that Willys down at the farm, well it’s yours!” Took me a year to get it going, drove it for several years. Was down at farm Christmas last year and it’s still going strong for another farmer…used for a hundting/fishing car, never on public roads, no license plates. Simple, reliable, parts are easy to come by. Wish I’d kept it!
My first car was a 1955 Willys Wagon. This was in 1975 and it seemed like I was driving a classic even if it was only 20 years old. It was in near perfect condition, unrestored except for new upholstery. It cost me $800. I blew up the engine driving it at 70 miles an hour on a long downhill. I learned about engines rebuilding the hurricane flat head 6 with my dad. Every time I see one of these I wish I still had it. In 2010 I had a 1990 Jeep Grand Wagoneer. It also felt like a classic at 20 years old. Now my daily driver is a 2003 GMC Yukon XL. It is 20 years old this year, but I’d be hard pressed to consider it a classic like the Willys or Waggy was at that age.
Looks like a 1961 or 1962 with the one piece windshield and rear hatch window.
One thing I like about this rig is that it still has its chrome bumpers and front bumper over-riders or as some call them, “beauty bars.” These are not easy to find in any condition.
I’ve had several of these Willys wagons and pickups. By adding a Warn overdrive unit they will achieve a better cruising speed on the two lane highways but I’d still avoid the freeways!
Get out of this machine. It’s MY machine and I will do what I bloody well please!
HoBoy, & I all ways claim ta B a ‘wagonman’. Well these sure fit the grade (no worries on what’s hauled, carried & the results to trim’n finish – the opposite of my volvo’n others). But any I’ve been in ratteled and banged severly. I think this is the one for pick-up choice altho it sure is tempting (tops in looks). The split glass, large panel over the transmish (where the boot covers the stick)… Some have used the 12 panels to great 2tone effect, & so forth… well, already got one (the ’66 bronk) so wont even dream on this one…
My Dad had a 61 pickup it was like riding in a boiler factory there wasn’t a part that didn’t rattle or whine but it always got you where you were going we used to go surf casting with it and no matter what it always came through.
Very interested in buying the 1960 willys wagon for sale.
How do I go about doing this?
Thank you
Ed Stevens