By the mid-1960s , the International Scout and Ford Bronco were poach in Jeep territory . Clever use of the share binful gave the Toledo firm a way to fight back : the 1967 - 1973 Jeepster Commando was establish .
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In 1966 , Jeep was a companionship on the verge of change . Its full name then was Kaiser - Jeep Corporation , and it was the sole U.S. remnant of both the old Willys - Overland and Kaiser - Frazer motorcar companies .
A merger of those two auto manufacturer , in April 1953 , had failed to stanch deprivation from car production , so even before the fifties ended , the Jeep transmission line of vehicle was the only one still being produced by the company in America . The Kaiser automobile proceed on to come through in Argentina for a minute longer , while the Aero - Willys motorcar was bring forth in Brazil from 1960 - 1972 .
The Jeep product line was live through changes . It get with the small Jeep Universal , a.k.a . CJ . The venerable Jeep Station Wagon , first introduced in 1946 , had continue in the card through 1965 despite being overshadowed when it was joined , in 1963 , by the all - newfangled Wagoneer . The quietus of the line of merchandise consist of trucks .
The basic Jeep pickup , first introduced as a 1947 exemplar , share its chassis and front - end styling with the hoary old station wagon , and when they were drop at the end of the 1965 model class , both the wagon and pick - up seemed ancient .
A more modem line of truck , the FC ( Forward Control ) series , had arrived in 1957 , but quirky styling and nontraditional cab - over engineering made them slow marketing oddballs in the marketplace . They were still in the line , but 1966 would be their last season on the market . The workhorse and show horse of the Jeep hand truck communication channel was the Gladiator pick - up , based on the modern Wagoneer chassis and likewise introduced as a 1963 model .
In plus , the grocery was shift . Jeep was then , as now , synonymous with four - wheel - drive vehicles , but the four - wheel - driving market was in its infancy and could barely support the few small makers that compete in it .
During the first geezerhood after World War II , Jeep had the market middling much to itself , with the only contention coming from a smattering of aftermarket four - steering wheel - driving conversions of regular filling - ups , a few imports , the Dodge Power Wagon , and International Harvester plectron - ups .
But in 1960 International Harvester introduced a new product , the Scout , to do battle with Jeep . Its modem slab - sided body made the Jeep Wain appear even more dated than it already was , and its range of body stylus encompass the market . A canonical roadster was available in two- or four - cycle drive , as was a blame - up version , while a place wagon model won the hearts of many a sportsman by providing a hunting - sportfishing vehicle that could also haul the fellowship around in style .
The new Scout quickly establish itself and sell in decent book . True , it was n’t a " real " landrover , but then again Jeep was n’t quite the magical name it is today .
The Jeep Wagoneer was larger and competed in a more upmarket one-armed bandit when it arrived in 1963 , and for a while it seemed that the two makers could eventually watch to break what business there was available , coexisting as challenger in a slowly expanding market .
But Ford put an end to that hope in 1966 with the presentation of the Bronco . This was a young securities industry segment for Ford , yet in its first year it produced more than 23,000 units , good volume indeed . Ford stated that the Bronco was " a stable companion of Mustang , " and one could n’t help but observe that the four - cycle - drive wagons were becoming ever sporty and less utilitarian .
Against this handsome Modern Ford and the solid , sturdy Scout , Jeep had only the lilliputian Jeep Universal and the much big and costlier Wagoneer with which to vie .
A new mid - sizing product was needed to do struggle in the securities industry , that was obvious , because if Jeep lost the mid - size 4WD waggon market , it might soon lose the rest of the business enterprise , plain and simple .
The Jeepster Commando was introduced in January 1967 to vie with the Bronco and Scout . Continue on to the next page to learn more about this exciting fresh fomite .
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The Development of the 1967 Jeepster Commando
landrover could show the handwriting on the rampart as well as anyone else , but was in a bind for product investment trust for the ontogenesis of the 1967 Jeepster Commando .
The cost of prepare an all - novel model was just too high to lay on the line in the tiny market that then live , and Jeep could speedily go stony-broke seek to fit joyride dollars with a giant like Ford .
But Jeep always had a talent for wring fresh models out of honest-to-goodness tooling , and it rise up to the task of bringing out a challenger for the Bronco and Scout . This new Jeep , baptize the Jeepster Commando , was introduce in January 1967 .
In choosing that name , Jeep was harkening back to a vehicle from its recent past times . From 1948 to 1951 , Jeep , then called Willys - Overland , had built the famed Jeepster , one of the last true roadsters made in this country . That Jeepster Sports Phaeton , as it was call , was a fairly expensive corner vehicle , and though admire by many , it was purchased by relatively few .
The fresh Jeepster was imply to be a volume merchandise , so it come in a full range of consistency manner . The lineup included a Jeepster Commando Roadster , Commando Pick - Up , and Commando Station Wagon .
All Commandos shared the same handsome sheetmetal , with the model difference of opinion being noted principally by the roof . The Pick - Up featured a metal cabriolet top over the front can , while the Station Wagon had a full top . The top were bolt - on affairs , so they were removable ( although not easily ) . The Roadster could be ordered with no top at all , a full soft top , or a " hack top " that made it a convertible pick - up .
A separate model in the series , not share the Commando nameplate , was the confusingly title Jeepster Convertible . This Jeepster was supposed to be the apparitional replacement for the former Willys Jeepster – but with bodywork shared with the Commando , except for some trimness differences , few customers get the connector .
To save development costs , the unexampled Jeeps used the 101 - inch wheelbase physical body from the CJ-6 , a farseeing - wheelbase version of the CJ-5 . Although the CJ-6 was useable in the U.S. , it was more popular in abroad markets .
Use of this long - wheelbase chassis contribute the new Jeepster much more interior room than a CJ-5 and a better drive as well . Front fenders were stock Jeep point , but the hood was much wider , overlapping the fenders . This made the Jeepster appear full than it actually was .
The traditionally styled Jeep grille had seven slot , with the top bound offer to agree the shape of the wide cap . The body itself was a slab - sided sword affair . Jeep stylists did a full-strength job of contribute the Jeep a pleasing , purposeful look that retained the classical styling trademark so important to its image . Roll - up window , door curl , and vent wing give it the necessary civilian touches most families required .
Front bucket seats , which were stock equipment , sported horizontally pleated vinyl upholstery . A rear seat was optional for the Roadster and Station Wagon , as was vulgar for sport / utility vehicles at the meter .
The non - Commando Jeepster Convertible follow with jazzier trim . A cardinal styling element ( and the easiest manner to spot one ) , was its two - tone paint scheme , consisting of a narrow band of white paint , framed by chrome moldings , that ran along the top edges of the rear fenders and door and enclose around under the windshield and onto the rear deck of cards .
The decklid was also white and trim with chrome strips . Standard on this Jeepster was a fold top with glass rearward window , color align front and rear floor mats , " Continental " plain tire with cover , and hubcap .
Unlike the " classic " Jeepster , these new Jeeps all get along with received four - wheel movement . This mull family tastes , and recognize that the mutant / service program mart jolly much demanded four - wheel drive .
Engine choices were limited . Standard was the " Hurricane , " Jeep ’s dated four - cylinder F - Head engine , which was running out of lead by 1967 and put out just 75 horsepower from 134 cubic inches . This railway locomotive follow with a three - speed manual gear box only , since it was really too underpowered to chum an automatic .
But power lover could – and usually did – order the optional " Dauntless V-6 , " a 225 - three-dimensional in , cast iron , overhead - valve social unit ramp up on tooling Buick had used for several class before selling the line to Jeep . The V-6 ’s full-bodied 155 - 160 HP was more than rich for the Jeepster , and could be had with either the standard three - speed or an optional three - f number Turbo - Hydramatic built by GM .
Although the Jeepster Commando had a lot to offer , the upcountry decor was not in particular attractive – it was , in reality , quite spartan . Read on to learn more about the Jeepster Commando ’s interior features .
The Interior of the 1967 Jeepster Commando
As was customary for the time , the interior of the 1967 Jeepster Commando was rather spartan .
Dashboard aficionados could get world-weary stare at the Jeepster ’s dah , since it was mostly paint metal . A rectangle directly in front of the driver housed the speedometer , milometer , and ferment signal indicators , while a small rectangle to the left hand held four rocker switches for luminosity , wipers , washers , and warmer rooter .
In addition there were two telephone dial switches nearby for defrost and heater temperature . The center of the dash held the optional radio , if so govern , while the area in front of the passenger was paint alloy , broken only by the glovebox door and a cigarette lighter .
Still , the Jeepster was in line with the times . As Alex Markovich notice in aPopular Mechanicsarticle at the time : " Generally , the Jeepster is finished neatly and tastily , though not lavishly . expanse of the doors and side panels that miss upholstery are finished in crackle paint that resembles leather . All body panels fit perfectly . "
The door and side panels were upholstered , again not lavishly , but handsomely for the times and type of fomite .
Jeep pulled out all stops to set up the new serial . To simplify the rest of the batting order , the honest-to-god CJ-3B and DJ-3A models were dropped .
Lavish full - coloring catalogs were printed , and the auto imperativeness was supplied with test railcar .
This was still , after all , a Jeep , so a certain amount of four - wheeling expertise was expected by the testers . They were not foiled . " Off - road traction : in every respect , splendid , " said V. Lee Oertle , report forMotor Trend .
Ginny Ade , write inWheels Afield , say that " The adhesive friction was really something ! As the ads say , ' You have to labor it to believe it ! " '
Veteran auto author Jim Dunne articulate that " I ’m still amazed at how easy it is to get through snow drifts , bank , and agglomerate . I pop off out of my fashion to think up knotty trial , but nowhere did the Jeepster have any trouble in keeping going …. "
Comfort and convenience rated highly with testers , too . Dunne noted that " front hindquarters room , with bucket seats , is comfortable and headroom is splendid . "
automobile Life’sDave Epperson wrote that " … rough pavement drive , a smashing experience in many off - route car , was extremely satisfactory . "
Motor Trendwent a mo further , saying that " Passenger ease is direction above norm for a vehicle of this type . "
Pricing was fair , with the basic Roadster listing at $ 2,466 , the Pick - Up at $ 2,548 , the Station Wagon at $ 2,749 .
The Jeepster Sport Convertible was at the top remainder , at $ 3,186 , although it , like the rest of the credit line , broadly speaking went for quite a bit more when the optional item were tacked on . The serial publication was called C-101 .
The 1968 , 1969 , 1970 , and 1971 example years did not introduced many changes to the Jeepster Commando , but a change in ownership did encounter .
go on on to the next page to learn more about Kaiser - Jeep Corporation ’s new proprietor .
Features of the 1968, 1969, 1970, and 1971 Commandos
There were only a few changes to the dash features of the 1968 , 1969 , 1970 , and 1971 Commandos .
The Convertible received a retool rear organic structure to allow a hinged prat - logic gate for comfortable accession to the storage area as well as a revised top . Prices went up : disinvest Roadster , $ 2,730 ; Pick - Up , $ 2,817 ; Station Wagon , $ 3,005 ; Convertible , $ 3,442 .
unexampled competition move into the sales arena in 1969 with the appearance of the Chevy Blazer . Some manufacture analysts were noting that the tendency in four - wheel drivers was toward what they termed " large , soft units " – meaning more the size of the big Blazer than the smaller Jeepster .
There were scant changes to the Jeepster line for 1969 , the addition of side marker lights being the most obvious . A detrimmed Convertible was contribute to the Commando series to allow for a lower price , which now started at $ 3,005 , make it chintzy than the $ 3,113 Station Wagon .
Perhaps the biggest maturation for Jeep was being decided in secret conversation that would not come to fruition until 1970 , when a few other changes were planned as well . Also shown that year was a newfangled prototype off - route two - seater , dub the Jeep XJ001 , to gauge public reaction to the estimate of a flashy Jeep .
The 1969 talk led to the February 1970 purchase of Kaiser - Jeep Corporation by American Motors Corporation for roughly $ 70 million . AMC ’s Chairman , Roy D. Chapin , Jr. , was convinced that the four - steering wheel - drive market was about to start a meteoric climb , and he want to be there to cash in in on it .
A few years earlier , Chapin had headed AMC ’s oversea sales and production and had found Kaiser - Jeep to be a solid and worthwhile partner in several joint output exertion , and there the seed of Jeep ’s and AMC ’s futures were planted . AMC renamed its new division Jeep Corporation . But it would be two year before the new owner could make any real changes to the Jeep mathematical product transmission line . And anyway , the 1970 line of Jeeps was already in the saleroom .
As in 1969 , the 1970 cable consisted of the Roadster , Pick - Up , Station Wagon , and the detrimmed Convertible . All were Commandos . Jeep was publicize its entire personal line of credit under the theme " The Two - Car Cars , " a reference point to their usefulness as both playfulness gondola and workplace vehicle . There were few changes , save for the addition of power steering as an option for V-6 model .
For 1971 , Jeep introduced two specially trimmed Jeepster Commando Station Wagons . The SC-1 , with a received V-6 locomotive , roof rack , wireless , sporty wheel covers , finish in Butterscotch golden rouge with a fateful sport stripe , was a handsome sporty wagon that had looks and power and record yet again the changing drift toward sportier sport / utilities . This glamor chore was n’t a exchangeable , as might be expect , but instead a high - trim house wagon .
The sporty trend was further evidenced with the 2d strength Commando , the Hurst Jeepster . This wagon was presuppose to be a carrying out model , but was strangle by the lack of an locomotive engine larger than the V-6 . However , it did play violent - and - blue rally racing stripes over its Champagne White paint , plastic hood scoop with a build - in 8,000 - rev tach , roof wrack , particular 15 - in steering wheel , and G70 - 15 wide - tread Polyglas tire .
Interiors could be done up in charcoal , blue , or buckskin . The package , which carried Hurst / Jeepster emblems on the hood and tailgate , was quite attractive , but break to trade in significant numbers .
A joint effort of Jeep and Hurst Performance Products , 500 units were planned . accord to one seed 300 were equipped with Turbo - Hydramatic and a Hurst Dual - Gate gearstick , while 200 got the stock three - focal ratio manual with Hurst T - hold gear lever . According to another source , however , less than 100 were in reality produced . In any case , the balance of the 1971 line was carried over with few changes .
AMC put together a squad of mathematical product planners to work on enhancing the Jeep mathematical product melody . James W. Alexander , a long - sentence AMC employee who had formerly range an interior plan studio , was one of those contriver .
recall Jim : " It became apparent that a declamatory vehicle was going to be needed to compete with the Blazer . We began to bring on that , and to give the existing merchandise a few more eld of sale , we blend in ahead with a front - death redesign for the 1972 model year . The designer , as I retrieve , was an passe - Kaiser room decorator who occur with the steal - out of Kaiser - Jeep , a fellow by the name of Jim Anger . "
Major changes were in store for the 1972 and 1973 Jeep Commandos after AMC took over . Continue on to the next page to learn about the change that AMC made to compete with other four - wheel - driving vehicles .
The 1972 and 1973 Jeep Commandos
The arrival of the 1972 and 1973 Jeep Commandos bought many variety to the company , including major restyling via the new possessor . persist in reading to discover more about the changes that occur in 1972 and 1973 .
The 1972 Commandos were substantially retool . For one thing , it was decide to use AMC engine in all Jeep products . But to make the 232 - cubic inch , 100 - Equus caballus full-strength six convulsion into the Commando ’s locomotive Laurus nobilis required an addition in cycle - base , to 104 inches .
at the same time , Jim Anger ’s restyled front end was introduced , and although it did n’t have the classic slotted Jeep grille and separate front fenders , it was a clever facelift that gave the Commando a new lease on spirit . Featured was a longer , bluffer beak living accommodations a full - breadth eggcrate grille that incorporated the headlights . The overall face was more formal , more family orient , less hair shirt and jungle - buster . Like it or not ( and some did n’t ) , this was where the marketplace was head up , and Anger ’s facelift was right for the times .
AMC engineers tore into the veteran chassis , enhancing it with bigger brake , a substantial front axle , and tough front suspension . Two raw optional locomotive engine were the 258 - cubic column inch , 110 - horsepower six , like the 232 a cast - iron , seven - master - bearing workhorse , and , for the first time in a Commando , a V-8 selection : AMC ’s 304 - cubic column inch , 150 - H.P. job ( all 1972 - 1973 horsepower ratings were last , not sodding ) .
The card was simplify , with offerings limited to Pick - Up , Roadster , and Station Wagon . The " Jeepster " name was dropped as the vehicles were shout out plainly " Jeep Commando . " The serial was now the C-104 in reference to its long wheelbase . After three yr of sink sales , output of the restyled Commandos increased 35 percentage , aided by a swelling four - roulette wheel - parkway grocery .
There were few changes for 1973 . Axle joints were strengthen and tires were upgraded , but the market had moved in the direction of the larger Blazer - character vehicles , so it was time for Jeep to prepare a newfangled product .
The Blazer eclipse the sport / utility market , making it obvious that Americans want larger - size four - bicyclist . Thus , after 77,573 had been produce – an norm of just 11,000 per year – the 1973 Commando came to the end of the logical argument . It would soon be replaced by the fresh Cherokee , a two - door version of the declamatory Wagoneer that was , as Jeep ads exclaimed , " A Jeep and a Half ! "
production Planner Jim Alexander adds a PS : " The CJ-7 Jeep that came out in 1976 really replace the Commando . It had a longer wheelbase than the CJ-5 [ 94 inches ] , could be had with automatic transmission and fiberglass hardtop , yet was still a capable off - roader . We go for the bulk market place with Cherokee , but still could extend the CJ-7 for the traditionalist . "
