The seller refers to this 1967 Jeepster Commando as being “highly original” and says that it only has 54,000 miles, which averages to 947 miles a year. No wonder it looks so nice. We’ve seen many Jeepster Commandos here on Barn Finds and this is one of the nicest original ones I can remember. The seller has it listed here on eBay in Glendale, California and they’re asking $23,000.
“Competition: meet your master! Styled better. Priced better. With more fashion and convenience features than any other 4-wheeler of its kind!” So says a 1967 Jeep brochure. Fashion and Jeep are two words that some folks may never have thought would be used together, but the times, they were a-changin’, to paraphrase Mr. Dylan. Times were a-changin’ in the mid-1960s when the Bronco and Scout started picking away at Jeep’s market share.
The Jeepster Commando was made from 1966 for the 1967 model year until the end of 1973 in several versions, including a Station Wagon as seen here, a Convertible, and a Pickup. There was also a cheaper model known as the Jeepster Roadster, which looked similar but wasn’t officially known as a Commando. The Commando lineup used the 101″ wheelbase from the CJ-6. A unique styling feature is that the hood is a bit wider than the standard CJ Jeep fare and with it overlapping the standard Jeep front fenders, it gave the Commando a wider look.
The interior looks like it’s out of that Jeep brochure, wow! The seats look new, can they be original? They must be, the seller says that this baby is original. The back seat looks perfect and, as you already know, owners could remove it if they needed more hauling space. The rear cargo area looks equally nice if not a little loosey-goosey with the rumpled carpet and the back seat cover is looking a bit loose as well. The seller has included a ton of great photos including underside photos and it looks rock-solid.
The engine is a Buick-sourced “Dauntless”, a 225-cu.in. OHV V6 with 160 horsepower and 235 lb-ft of torque. The seller says that it drives and stops straight and the 4×4 system works as it should. The transmission is a Borg Warner T86 three-speed manual and column shift and this looks like one nice Commando. Any thoughts on this one?
Looks like a floor shift to me.
I can hear T-Rex singing Girl, I’m just a Jeepster for you love… Looking at the pictures I’m surprised to see how much room these things have inside. A cargo area behind the second row of seats and that comes out? From the outside the roof makes it look like a roadster. Pretty cool for someone but not for me. I had no idea Buick made V6’s in the sixties either. Ahead of their time.
Those v6’s were very popular for use in boats.
They also sourced a Buick 5.7 in a mid 70s cj7.
Never a Buick in a CJ7, all AMC V8s. Buick V8s were used in the J trucks until AMC took control.
Nice one, drove a few back in the day as Dad sold them. Automatic was the way to go.
As they aged and rusted the clutch cable attachment usually gave out where it went through the floor/firewall. Fixable though.
Seller’s eBay ad states: “I am a ‘private collector’ and one of the largest classic car wholesalers in the country with an endless passion for classic cars and trucks. We update our collection very often and right now we are liquidating some of our “collection.’” I say “BULL.” “Collection” means inventory, and
“private collector” actually means a used car dealer. Proceed with caution.
Seems this is the seller:
https://www.vintagecarcollector.com/
Love jeepsters bought 3 for under $1000 each about 10-12 years ago they are gaining popularity pick them up quick when you find them
I think that is a floor shift, not column shift.
Definitely floor
Dang, how did I type in column shift?! Thanks for catching that Mark and Rw!
“…thoughts?…”
sure, a slight lift represents these well (even solid drker color, bigger tire) at the WB it’s got my 1st gen bronk by near a ft (92 inches v 101).
I like the 1st gen better but it is not 4WD (’48/50). For a bronk owner I’m dangeriously close to these in all generations/face lifts and the 80/800 Scouts.
My Dad had a 1967 Jeepster convertible with V6 and turbo 400 auto. He found a Buick 300 V8 that was a direct swap for the dauntless V6. It was a great weekend toy.
If I had $23G to blow on this I’d be on it like Stink on….. Well You know. This thing looks almost showroom new in the pictures and I’ve heard that the Buick V6, besides being a bit shaky, is bullet proof
This was a rig that was before its time. The SUV craze had yet to launch; the Bronco was only starting to catch on in sales; but the Kaiser engineers (probably many of them had memories back to the Willys years, and jealous of their 4wd market niche) had to launch a defensive shot.
And they had the equipment off the shelf. The CJ-6 chassis was there, and not selling well – but with military and government contracts; so it couldn’t be discontinued. Using it was making use of excess capacity.
The Buick V6, which Kaiser was also negotiating to buy rights to, had already been adapted into the engine bay of the CJs. The Jeepster nose was almost identical, and the frame the same.
Finally, a styled body with jaunty lines, a retro interpretation of the original Willys Jeepster.
It SHOULD have sold, but did not. Several reasons: The future of Kaiser Jeep was in doubt, as Henry Kaiser died that year, 1967, and estate taxes would later force the liquidation of Kaiser’s industrial properties. The Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Act would also force various standards on the market starting in 1968. That, IMHO, was why Studebaker abruptly pulled the plug in 1966, as the act was passed.
But here it was, in all its glory…the CJ in mod Chess King duds, ready to par-TAY. And few were willing to dance with it.
The odd lines from the rear quarters, probably didn’t help; the later CJ-7, with much the same styling themes but boxier, sold tremendously well, into the YJ Wrangler years.
But this one struck out. Dick Teague’s later nose-job on the model, his first Jeep attempt, didn’t do it any favors, either. Somehow, the Jeep line of the times was cursed…men and companies involved with Jeep were doomed to failure.
It’s back… https://www.ebay.com/itm/276365611395