The Jeepster Commando is a compact recreational vehicle built by Kaiser Jeep from 1966 to 1970 and by American Motors from 1970 to 1973. It followed the idea of the original Willys-Overland Jeepster of 1948–1951 and came as a pickup, a convertible, a roadster and a two-door wagon. After AMC bought Jeep, the car was redesigned for 1972, renamed the Jeep Commando and dropped after 1973 in favour of the Cherokee.
Jeepster Commando at a glance
| Maker | Kaiser Jeep, then American Motors |
|---|---|
| Production | 1966–1973 |
| First series | C101, introduced January 1967 |
| Chassis | 101 in (2,565 mm) wheelbase from the CJ-6 |
| Bodies | pickup, convertible, roadster, two-door wagon |
| Engines, C101 | 2.2 L Hurricane four, 75 hp; 3.7 L Dauntless V6, 160 hp |
| Drive | four-wheel drive standard |
| Trims | Jeepster, Commando Convertible, roadster |
| Second series | C104, 1972–1973, renamed Jeep Commando |
| Engines, C104 | 3.8 or 4.2 L AMC six, 5.0 L AMC V8 |
| Rare version | 1971 Hurst Jeepster, about 100 built |
| Replaced by | Jeep Cherokee (SJ) |
History of the Jeepster Commando
The C101
Kaiser Jeep revived the Jeepster nameplate in January 1967 with the Jeepster Commando, the C101. With limited resources and a small market segment, Kaiser developed the car by revising tooling from the 1948–1951 Willys-Overland Jeepster and using the 101 in wheelbase chassis of the CJ-6. It was aimed at the growing recreational market that already included the International Scout and the Ford Bronco. The original engine was the F-head 2.2 litre Hurricane four, a descendant of the wartime Go-Devil, with an optional 3.7 litre Dauntless V6 of 160 hp that proved popular; four-wheel drive was standard. Buyers could have a station wagon with a full-length metal hardtop, a convertible with a soft top, a pickup or a roadster with half- or full-length soft tops. Three trims were offered: the Jeepster, the flagship with a powered top and a deluxe interior, the Commando Convertible with the same body and simpler equipment, and the open roadster.
The Hurst Jeepster
A notable variant is the 1971 Hurst Jeepster, a limited edition built by AMC with Hurst Performance. It was finished in Champagne White with red and blue stripes, and came with a roof rack, a sports steering wheel and Goodyear G70x15 raised-white-letter tyres on wider steel wheels. Hurst added special badging, an 8,000 rpm tachometer on the hood scoop and a Hurst T-handle shifter on manual cars or a console-mounted Dual-Gate shifter on automatics. Underneath it was a C101 with the 225 cu in V6 and a two-barrel carburettor; about 100 were built, and it was the last Hurst/AMC collaboration.
The C104 and the end
For 1972 and 1973 came the second generation, the C104, the first major change after AMC took over Jeep in 1970. The Jeepster part of the name went, and the most obvious change was a full-width egg-crate grille, unlike anything else in the Jeep range and closer to a Chevrolet K5 Blazer. The bigger front end made room for AMC engines: the 232 and 258 cu in straight-sixes or the 304 cu in V8. The wheelbase grew to 104 in, the tread widened and the frame was strengthened; the rear axle, front axle and steering were revised, larger drum brakes were fitted and a new rear-mounted tank raised capacity to 16.5 US gallons. The 1973 cars were essentially unchanged apart from larger tyres as standard. The Commando was discontinued after 1973 and replaced by the full-size Cherokee.
Design and features
- Four body styles: pickup, convertible, roadster and wagon on one chassis.
- CJ-6 chassis: the 101 in wheelbase gave it genuine off-road ability.
- V6 option: the 3.7 litre Dauntless of 160 hp was the popular choice.
- Hurst edition: about 100 cars with muscle-car trim in 1971.
- AMC redesign: the 1972 C104 brought a new grille, longer wheelbase and AMC engines.
Jeepster Commando versions
- Jeepster Commando C101 (1966–1971): the original, with the CJ-6 chassis.
- Jeepster: the flagship trim with a powered convertible top.
- Commando Convertible and roadster: the simpler open versions.
- Hurst Jeepster (1971): about 100 built with Hurst Performance.
- Jeep Commando C104 (1972–1973): AMC engines and a new front end.
The Commando was replaced by the Cherokee and shares its chassis with the CJ-6; its Spanish cousin is the Jeep Ebro. More models are in the Jeep collection.
Video: 1973 AMC Jeep Commando Dealer Commercial
Video by This-Old-Jeep.com on YouTube.
Sources
- Jeepster Commando, English Wikipedia: C101, Hurst edition, C104, engines
