All this...and 8 years ago I didn't know what a Jeepster was!
I have been collecting, buying, selling and trading Jeepster/Commandos for 8 years. In that time, I've had 55 jeepsters. My introduction to this rare addicting breed of jeeps was a 72 commando. It was mainly stock hard top that I bought from a co worker. I was actually looking for a early model Bronco or Scout and this thing looked like a Bronco in the front and the price was right so I bought it. I wanted a trail rig and some of the modifications I made to it was, disc brakes on all 4 wheels, spring over axle conversion, lockers, custom roll bar, roof rack and installed a half cab. This was a fun jeep, got lots of looks and did the trails as built. It made it completely over the famous Rubicon trail with ease. If I had to do over again, I would have held on to this jeep and restored it back to original. I didn't know much about these jeeps when I bought it and not until after I bought my 1st jeepster commando convertible did I realize that my 72 commando was actually a 72 convertible. The odd thing about is it there are no records off any production of 72/73 commando convertibles. The top assembly was gone but the body studs were still intact where the top mounted to the tub and the quarter window track were also intact. I had made too many cuts and modifications to bring her back to her original state. Now that I know that there are a few Commando convertibles (I've seen one other) my eyes are open for one of these jewels to restore back to original. Here is a photo of my 1st commando the day I sold her
As I stated to get to know a little history about these beasts, I found a jeepster club on the web and this was the biggest single event that helped me owning a jeep like this. The bulletin board was a life saver. I think I waited a year before I posted anything. I didn't want to ask dumb questions. Now I ask them all the time. I was able to buy sell and trade parts on the clubs classified (still do). I started looking for jeepster parts and cars to part out (rust buckets beyond repair) and found out there were a lot of them in my area (500 miles or less from home). I also would buy running jeepsters, fix them up and resell them. To date, I've had in my possession 55 jeepster and a few commandos.
My next quest was to find and restore a 67 true convertible. I found a nice running 67 deluxe convertible in Missouri and had it shipped out. This car set a few years with out any work done on it and I sold it after acquiring another 67 convertible. I got this car out of Yuma Arizona. It was rust free and mostly stripped down. I decided I would restore this convertible for my wife Diane. The restoration is about 95% done and plan on having it ready for the summer (07). I wanted to keep the car as stock as I could but also make it fun to drive. I started with a frame off a 71 jeepster, put a Dana 44 axle in the rear with 11" brakes with 373 gears. I upgraded the from Dana 27 axles with disc brakes. I had to replace the original rims with early CJ rims when I changed to disc brakes so I could run the stock hub caps. I also installed Saginaw power steering. For the motor I decided on a 231 Buick even fire with a small Holley 4 barrel. Some other features this car will feature are spinner hub caps, hydraulic top, a custom 4 point roll bar (fits in-between top) center console clock, a/c, and a stereo. I plan on adding a restoration page and will cover the full project there. Here is a photo of the convertible after the paint shop.
The reason for selling the 72 commando trail rig -- I bought a 1968 modified Jeepster for my trail rig. The Jeepster already had a 350 Chevy motor installed with a SM 465 transmission and NP 205 transfer case. It also came with a custom Ford 9" rear end with a Detroit locker. This deal was too good to pass up and the previous owner did a great job installing the new components (how often do you read positive comments about previous owners). I knew I had a good Jeep when I picked it up and had to drive it home 600 miles in a 110 degree weather and it ran like a clock! I've made many modifications to this Jeep--starting with a custom matching Ford 9" front axle with ARB. I installed a custom 21 gallon Aero tank, 6 point powder coated roll cage that is attached to the frame, completely rewired it, added a Lee hydraulic steering, 35" tires, 9000 pound Warn wench, custom swing away rear tire carrier, electronic ignition, new intake manifold and carburetor. This Jeep is a work in progress and this year's upgrades include painting, stereo, CB, and custom dash gauges. Future upgrades include fuel injection and Klune V under drive. Here is a photo of my 68 Jeepster: I have a custom license plate "6jpstr8".
My next Jeepster is from another era--it is a 1949 2 wheel drive. The car is completely stock, the only thing I've done to this car is to rebuild the original Hurricane 4 cylinder motor. Future plans for this car is to upgrade the electrical system to 12 volt and add a nice stereo. One day I plan to repaint this car. This car is mainly driven on weekends to and from the golf course and picnics with my wife. This car has a custom "Geepster" license plate.
I had been collecting jeepsters for 3 plus years and already had a large selection of parts when I was contacted by a man in Yuma Arizona about an estate sale of jeepsters. The gentleman that contracted was the son in law of a man that passed away a few months earlier. He had been a merchant marines his whole life and started collecting jeepster commandos in the seventies. The man tried to describe what he had for sale and I found it very hard to believe so I asked him if he could send photos. Again, I was convinced it was a prank from one of my friends and didn't think much of it. A few days later the son in law called me back and said there was so much stuff that he couldn't possibly take photos of it. I told the man that I would visit him the following weekend to check out what he had for sale. I flew to San Diego and rented a car and drove to Yuma. When I arrived, there was one jeepster on the street and a convertible in the driveway (the one I'm restoring) I was a little early for the appointment and while I waited I decided to look over the back yard fence and to my surprise, the back yard was completely full of jeepster (some stacked 2 high). There were sheds and boxes full of jeepster parts and the garage was also full of parts (some NOS stuff that was never opened). The old guy knew his jeepsters and most of them were 71 jeepsters. In total, I ended up bringing back 7 jeepsters in various states, truck loads of parts and one CJ 5. Getting all this stuff back to Northern Ca. was going to be a challenge. I took off a week of work and hired out a few friends to help me get the stuff home. I made deals for jeepsters and the CJ in return for labor and use of vehicles. I rented a 26 foot U Haul truck in Yuma to help cart the stuff home. We loaded up one of my friends truck on my car hauler, pick up another and headed out to Yuma. On the way we picked up Al Dunkle and his empty car hauler and continued on to Yuma. So we had a total of two car haulers, one truck with a tow bar in the back, a 26 foot U Haul with a car hauler behind it when we arrived at the house full of jeepsters. One of the hardest parts of the trip was getting the other guy to stop drooling and gawking over all the parts and jeeps and help load. We ended up loading three jeepster tubs and the CJ tub in the U Haul and as many boxes full of parts that we could stuff in the truck. Loaded the convertible on the trailer behind the U haul and filled it full of parts. Loaded 6 motors in the back of my F250 and put a jeepster on the trailer, loaded Al Dunkle's (Jeepsterman Al) truck bed full of parts and one jeepster on his trailer and finally hooked the tow bar to the truck we hauled on my truck and filled the bed of that truck full. Just in case anyone's counting, that was a total of 7 jeepsters and 1 CJ. We had driven all night to get to Yuma and it took us 16 hours to load the stuff up and get back on the road. We were all tried and only made it 60 miles before we decided to stop for the night. One friend (AL) went back with me and we picked up two more jeepster and again both truck beds full. We ended up leaving behind 3 jeepsters and one M3B and as many parts as we took (I was jeepstered out and didn't think I would need anymore (oh how wrong I was). I have sold, traded or given away most of those parts. I ended up keeping 2 of the jeepsters (one convertible and the old mans daily driver) Here is the first load in my shop of Yuma parts
That was the best road trip ever
For the past 6 years, I've organized the Ione BBQ for jeepster/Commando owners. We draw anywhere from 15-25 jeepsters and many more future owners. We have the BBQ at the end of Sept. each year and everyone is welcome to come and best of all it's free.
In 2002, I organized our 1st club trip to Moab Utah and we have returned each year after with a planned trip in April of 2007. I also organize a yearly jeepster Rubicon trail run and in 2007, it will be our 5th year running the famous trail. Last year we had 17 jeepster and commandos and expect the number could reach in the 30ies this year.
Check out my events page for dates and details on the BBQ, Moab and he Rubicon and other runs scheduled for this year
Future projects (pipe dreams) not necessarily in this order
Find and restore a Hurst Jeepster (I bought the Hurst and plan on restoring it back to original)
Build a jeepster trailer
Restore a jeepster half cab automatic (axles frame and motor already complete on this one)
Restore a 72/73 commando deluxe continental kit convertible (might have to use some parts off the 67-70 convertibles to make this happen)
Build a 49 jeepster street rod
Build a two wheel drive 67-71 jeepster hot rod