Jeep Jeepster Parts & Accessories

Interesting Stuff about the Jeep Jeepster

• The Jeep Jeepster was the last vehicle manufactured to sport a true phaeton design, which is an open automobile style. The Jeepster was manufactured by Willys-Overland Motors from 1948 to 1950.
• When World War II ended, Willys started creating a civilian Jeep or CJ to cater to a new market since the military-type Jeep would most likely appeal only to farmers and foresters. Willys produced a Jeep Wagon and eventually a Jeep Truck. The Jeepster was built to fill in the gap in the Jeep family. It was a crossover from the utilitarian truck to the passenger vehicle.
• The Jeepster’s design was highly commended. It was considered as “one of the most daring postwar automobile designs.” Brooks Stevens, industrial designer, used a common platform based on the Jeep pickup and station wagon and a two-door open car, creating a bold design that’s quite new and unique.
• Sold at $1,765, the 1948 Jeepster’s price is almost the same as the Ford Super DeLuxe club convertible. Compared to the Ford vehicle that featured a V8 engine and some fancy styling, the Jeepster had a 4-cylinder engine and plastic-side curtains. Automotive critics and journalists liked the boxy styling of the Jeepster, as well as its performance. But because of its limited rear-wheel drive feature, the Jeepster appealed more to Jeep enthusiasts and didn’t really capture the target market. For the 1949 Jeepster, the price was down to $1,495. Standard features on the previous model year became optional at an added cost. The 1950 Jeepster introduced various styling revisions and engine variations/options.
• Original VJ Jeepsters sold a total of 19,132 units. The 1948 model sold around 10,326 units, while about 2,960 units were sold for the 1949 model, and 5,386 for the 1950 model year.
• Even after the original Jeepster’s production ended in 1950, the name resurfaced on a new model by Kaiser Jeep in 1966. The C-101 Jeepster Commando was introduced and was built to compete against vehicles such as the Ford Bronco, Toyota Land Cruiser, and International Scout. However, the Willys-Overland successor American Motors Corporation AMC, which acquired Kaiser in 1970, decided to cut off the Jeepster in the lineup for 1972. Production then ceased after 1973.