If you’re a fan of the “Glam Rock” band T. Rex, you know what song’s in my head right now, and you’re welcome…it’s probably now in yours. For those who don’t know T. Rex from a Brontosaurus, I’m talking about the bluesy “Jeepster,” one of the best songs on 1971’s Electric Warrior album (you should really listen to it, RIP Marc Bolan). Anyone with a blues sensibility knows that Mr. Bolan most likely wasn’t talking about Jeepsters, as much a car fanatic as he was, and since this a family website, we don’t need to pursue a metaphorical analysis. But if getting a T. Rex song stuck in your head is a side effect of owning a Jeepster, count me in, and this 1949 model on craisglist in Oregon looks like a fine example. Thanks (as always) to our dedicated Barn Finder T.J. for shuffling it our way.

Looking back at the Jeepster, it’s one of Jeep’s not-too-common failures in the marketplace. “Jeepster” is clearly a portmanteau of “Jeep” and “roadster,” which is truth in advertising if nothing else. Roadsters in the late 1940s tended to be sports cars, and the Jeepster was anything but; therefore, you had a car that was impractical without being fast or nimble. It also was not in any way an off-road vehicle, so it couldn’t even trade on Jeep’s traditional modus operandi. It was not the right recipe for its time, but at least it looked good with its Brooks Stevens-penned lines.

The craigslist ad is sparse on information, but it does say that it has a Willys F-Head four cylinder under the hood. From what I can tell, this is probably not the original engine, as the flathead “Go Devil” was reputedly the only four cylinder available for 1949. The F-Head superseded the “Go Devil” in 1950, and its extra 15 or so horsepower went a long way in making the Jeepster a more practical car for a roadway system that was becoming less and less practical for low-speed driving.

The Jeepster’s interior is as spartan as one would expect from a 75-year-old Jeep or roadster, but it is carpeted, and the seats in this example are in nice shape. All-in-all, this Jeepster looks like a fun and frugal proposition for someone who wants something a little different.

With a top that goes down, a slightly more-powerful-than-stock engine, and a pretty black-over-yellow color scheme, you can buy this Jeepster for fun; it doesn’t have to be a practical daily driver these days. And for $11,000, it just might be a Jeepster that you love.