Jeep Jeepster

The Jeepster was an automobile sold under the Jeep marque. The original Jeepster was produced by Willys-Overland from 1948 to 1950. The Jeepster name was revived in 1966 on a new model, the C-101 Jeepster Commando, and American Motors (AMC) (successor to Willys-Overland) removed the Jeepster name for 1972 and halted production after 1973.

VJ

The original Jeepster ("VJ" internally) was produced from 1948 through 1950, although some leftover models were sold under the 1951 model year. After World War II, Jeep trademark owner, Willys, believed that the market for the military-type Jeep would be limited to farmers and foresters, therefore they began producing the "CJ" (or Civilian Jeep) to fill this growing segment as well as producing the new Jeep Wagon in 1946, and then the Jeep Truck in 1947.

Realizing a gap in their product line up, Willys developed the Jeepster to crossover from their "utilitarian" type truck vehicles, to the passenger automobile market. The car was originally only offered with rear-wheel drive, thus limiting its appeal with traditional Jeep customers. While its distinctive boxy styling (created by industrial designer Brooks Stevens) was a hit with critics, it did not catch on with the intended market segment. Sales were also limited by sparse advertising. In the end, 19,132 original VJ Jeepsters were produced (1948 - 10,326; 1949 - 2,960; 1950 - 5,836). [http://www.hemmings.com/hcc/stories/2005/12/01/hmn_feature23.html Matar, George. "1948-1951 Jeepster" Hemmings Classic Car - December 1, 2005] retrieved on August 28, 2008.]

The VJ Jeepster was powered by the convert|62|hp|0 "Go Devil" engine, a auto CID|134|1 straight-4 also used in the CJ. A 3-speed manual transmission with optional overdrive was used, as were drum brakes all around. The vehicle's front end and single transverse leaf spring suspension, was from the Willys Station Wagon, as was the rear driveline. The flat-topped rear fenders were copied from the Jeep truck line, as were the pair of longitudinal rear leaf springs.

Engines:
* 1948-1950 - "L134 Go Devil" I4 — 134.1 CID (2,197 cc)
* 1949-1950 - "L148 Lightning" I6 —148.5 CID (2,433 cc)
* 1950 - "F134 Hurricane" I4 —134.2 CID (2,199 cc)
* 1950 - "L161 Lightning" I6 —161 CID (2,638 cc)

C101

The Jeepster was revived in 1966 in the form of the Jeepster Commando ("C101"). The F-head "Hurricane" straight-4 was used (a direct descendant of the original Go Devil engine) and four-wheel drive was finally added. This engine produced convert|75|hp|0 at 4000 rpm and convert|114|lbft|0|abbr=on of torque at 2000 rpm. The convert|160|hp|0 "Dauntless" V6 was optional and preferred with its convert|235|lbft|0|abbr=on of torque. A total of 57,350 Kaiser-spec "C101" Jeepster Commandos were sold between 1966 and 1971.

There are several unique body styles of the Jeepster Commando: Station wagon/SUV, Convertible, Pickup, and roadster. One unusual offering was the deluxe station wagon, with sliding rear windows and full interior trim. In rare cases, these models were finished with a two-tone exterior.

The 1971 Hurst Jeepster built with modifications by Hurst Performance is possibly the scarcest model of all production Jeeps. [http://www.hemmings.com/mus/stories/2005/06/01/hmn_feature1.html Foster, Pat. "The Forgotten Hurst" "Hemmings Muscle Machines", June 1, 2005] retrieved on August 28, 2008.] Standard equipment included a Champagne White exterior with red and blue stripes, a roof rack, a sports steering wheel, and Goodyear G70 x 15 raised white letter tires mounted on wider steel wheels. Hurst equipment included special exterior insignia, an 8,000-rpm tachometer on the back of the hood scoop in the driver's line of sight, as well as a Hurst T-handle shifter on manual-transmission cars or a console-mounted Hurst Dual-Gate shifter with the optional automatic transmission.

The convertible came in three types: Revival Jeepster, Commando convertible, and an open body roadster with no top at all. The Revival Jeepster was the showcase vehicle of the fleet, offering deluxe interior appointments, powered convertible top, and a Continental tire kit. The Commando convertible offered the same body with just the basic finish and equipment.

Engines:
* 1966-1971 - "F134 Hurricane" I4 —134.2 CID (2,199 cc), 75 hp (55 kW) and 114 ft·lbf (154 N·m)
* 1966-1971 - "Dauntless 225" V6—225.3 CID (3,692 cc), convert|3.75|in|mm|abbr=on bore, convert|3.40|in|mm|abbr=on stroke, 160 hp (119 kW) and 235 ft·lbf (318 N·m)cite web |url=http://www.jeeptech.com/engine/dauntless225.html |title=Jeep Engine Dauntless: Buick 225 V6 |accessdate=2008-04-30 |last= |first= |coauthors= |date= |work= |publisher=Jeep tech]

C104

The Jeepster name was removed after 1971, but the model remained in production for two more years as the Jeep Commando. In 1972, it received a "conventional" full-width grille (see picture). The Commando had one of three AMC engines, the auto CID|232|1 or auto CID|258|1 AMC Straight-6 or the auto CID|304|1 AMC V8. A total of 20,223 AMC-spec "C104" Jeep Commandos were made in 1972 and 1973.

Engines:
* 1971-1972 - "AMC 232" I6— 231.91 CID (3,800.3 cc)cite web |url=http://www.matadorcoupe.com/images/engineappchart.jpg|title=Engine application chart |accessdate=2008-04-30 |last= |first= |coauthors= |date= |work= |publisher=] , convert|3.750|in|mm|abbr=on bore, convert|3.500|in|mm|abbr=on stroke, 100 hp (74 kW) and 185 ft·lbf (250 N·m)cite web |url=http://www.matadorcoupe.com/images/enginespecchart.jpg|title=General Engine Specifications |accessdate=2008-04-30 |last= |first= |coauthors= |date= |work= |publisher=]
* 1971-1972 - "AMC 258" I6—258.08 CID (4,229.2 cc), convert|3.750|in|mm|abbr=on bore, convert|3.895|in|mm|abbr=on stroke
* 1971-1972 - "AMC–304" V8—303.92 CID (4,980.3 cc), convert|3.750|in|mm|abbr=on bore, convert|3.753|in|mm|abbr=on stroke

References

External links

* [http://www.jeepsterclub.com Willys Overland Jeepster Club]
* [http://www.hurstjeepster.com/ Hurst Jeepster Pages]