1950 Willys Jeepster

Description

The Willys Jeepster delivered open-air motoring to a public that had recently fallen in love with the rugged Jeep out on the battlefield. This 1950 Jeepster combines that same tough attitude and ruggedness with a sporty convertible body to make an appealing little speedster that embodies all that's great about Jeep: durability, simplicity, and classic good looks.

Painted in traditional colors Nassau Cream with a black upper body, this doesn't look like a low-priced machine. The angular front fenders and upright grille are instantly recognizable trademarks that continue on Jeeps today, and that's a big part of this little car's appeal. Finish quality is quite good, better than most Jeepsters receive given their rather affordable prices, but with recent market shifts, these are no longer bargain-basement machines. You'll find prices all over the map with these, so it pays to do your homework, and what you'll find here is a solid trucklet with an honest look and nice finish quality that drives great. They were never designed to have show-grade gaps, so it's about how the factory did it, but the paint is probably a lot shinier than anything they had in 1950. And unlike military-spec Jeeps, this convertible sports bright chrome bumpers, a dressed-up grille, and a V-shaped windshield that helps cheat the wind at least a little bit, giving it a rakish, cut-down appearance.

The basic interior is just that: basic. Black vinyl upholstery wraps around rectangular cushions that could be equally stylish on your patio. Piped in cream, they do look appealing and the passenger's side bucket seat tilts forward for access to the rear seat area. The upholstery work was done a few years ago, but thanks to durable materials and good workmanship, it's holding up nicely with only a few signs of age here and there. The centrally-mounted instrument panel made manufacturing easier and it's full of recently restored gauges that look awesome. Thanks to extensive use of sound-deadening materials under the carpets, this Jeepster feels substantial and tight and doesn't cook your shoes on hot days. The folding top fits well and looks great with its fastback profile and the Jeepster was one of the last US-built vehicles to still use side curtains, so it feels very old fashioned when it's all buttoned up.

In 1950, there were two 134 cubic inch inline-four cylinder engines, and we believe this is the more powerful "Hurricane" version simply because this is a late production Jeepster and the Hurricane engine was introduced about three months into 1950 production. Regardless, it isn't terribly fast, but it's bulletproof reliable if treated properly and has a great 'can-do' attitude that overcomes its modest specifications. Learning from their battlefield experience, the engineers put all the delicate stuff up high, including the carburetor and generator, while the original air filter housing was upgraded to use a replaceable paper element. It's tidy under the hood and a dedicated hobbyist could bump this truck up a couple of points just by cleaning and polishing a few bits. The chassis isn't detailed for show, but shows the rugged hardware you'd expect of a Jeep and it looks quite solid. Color-matched steel wheels with simple hubcaps and modest whitewall radials complete the no-nonsense look.

The ideal addition to a Jeep fan's collection or a fun collectable that's a little out of the ordinary, this Jeepster offers a lot of charisma in an affordable package. Call today!