Jeepster Commando

Kaiser Jeep Jeepster Commando
1971 Jeepster Commando SC-1
Overview
Manufacturer	Kaiser-Jeep
Production	1966–1973
Body and chassis
Class	SUV
Body style	2-door convertible pickup
Dimensions
Wheelbase	101 in (2,565 mm) (1966-1971) 104 in (2,642 mm) (1972-1973)
Chronology
Predecessor	Willys-Overland Jeepster
Successor	Jeep Cherokee Jeep CJ-8 (Scrambler) (For pickup truck version)

The Jeepster Commando is a compact-sized recreational vehicle produced by Kaiser Jeep from 1966 until 1971 and American Motors Corporation (AMC) from 1971 through 1973. It followed the concept of the original 1948 through 1951 Willys-Overland Jeepster. The new Jeepster Commando was available in several body styles, including pickup truck, convertible, roadster, and two-door wagon.

Following the acquisition of Jeep by American Motors Corporation (AMC) in 1970, the vehicle underwent a redesign for the 1972 model year, featuring new front-end styling, longer wheelbase, and AMC engines, and was renamed the Jeep Commando.

The model was discontinued after the 1973 model year and replaced by the full-size Jeep Cherokee (SJ).

1966-1971: C101

Kaiser Jeep revived the Jeepster nameplate, introducing the Jeepster Commando (C101) in January 1967. The company had limited resources to design an all-new vehicle given the small market segment at that time. Kaiser was able to develop the new model by revising some of the tooling from the 1948 through 1951 Willys-Overland Jeepster and using the 104 in (2,642 mm) wheelbase chassis from the CJ-6. This iteration was designed to compete in the burgeoning recreational vehicle market that now included the International Scout and Ford Bronco.

The C101 was initially powered by the F-head "Hurricane" I-4 engine, a descendant of the original "Go Devil engine" used in World War II Jeeps. This engine produced 75 hp (56 kW; 76 PS) at 4000 rpm and 114 lb⋅ft (155 N⋅m; 16 kg⋅m) of torque at 2000 rpm. An optional 160 hp (119 kW; 162 PS) "Dauntless" V6 engine, producing 235 lb⋅ft (319 N⋅m; 32 kg⋅m) of torque, was also available and proved popular. Four-wheel drive was a standard feature, enhancing the vehicle's off-road capabilities.

The C101 was offered in various body styles, including a station wagon with a full-length metal hardtop, a convertible with a soft top, a pickup truck, and a roadster with optional half- or full-length soft tops. The deluxe station wagon model featured sliding rear windows, full interior trim, and optional two-tone exterior paint. Three trim levels were offered: the "Jeepster" (also referred to as "Revival Jeepster" or "Jeepster Convertible"), the "Commando Convertible," and the open-body roadster. The "Jeepster" was the flagship model, featuring deluxe interior appointments, a powered convertible top, and an optional Continental tire kit. The "Commando Convertible" offered the same body style with more basic equipment.

Following the acquisition of the Jeep brand in 1970 by American Motors Corporation (AMC), the Commando continued production unchanged with the exception of dropping the Jeepster name after 1971.

Original 1971 Hurst Jeepster at Rambler Ranch

A notable variant is the 1971 Hurst Jeepster, a limited-edition model produced by AMC in collaboration with Hurst Performance. It featured a Champagne White exterior with distinctive red and blue stripes, a roof rack, a sports steering wheel, and Goodyear G70x15 raised white letter tires on wider steel wheels. Hurst modifications included special exterior badging, an 8,000-rpm tachometer mounted on the hood scoop, and a Hurst T-handle shifter for manual transmission models or a console-mounted Hurst Dual-Gate shifter for automatic transmission models. The Hurst Jeepster is now considered one of the rarest production Jeeps.

Between 1966 and 1971, a total of 57,350 Kaiser-spec C101 Jeepster Commandos were sold.

Engines:

• 1966–1971: F134 Hurricane I4—134.2 CID (2,199 cc), 75 hp (55 kW) and 114 ft·lbf (154 N·m)
• 1966–1971: Dauntless 225 V6—225.3 CID (3,692 cc), 3.75 in (95 mm) bore, 3.40 in (86 mm) stroke, 160 hp (119 kW) and 235 ft·lbf (318 N·m)

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  1970 Jeepster Commando
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  Jeepster Commando hardtop
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  1971 Jeepster Commando SC-1 pickup
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  1971 Jeepster Commando interior

1972-1973: C104

1972 Jeep Commando (C104)

The Jeep Commando was redesigned for 1972 received a new front end with a "conventional" full-width grille to aligning it with other AMC vehicles. The wheelbase was also extended to 104 in (2,642 mm). This allowed the use of AMC engines, the 232 cu in (3.8 L) or 258 cu in (4.2 L) AMC Straight-6 or the 304 cu in (5.0 L) AMC V8.

A total of 20,223 AMC-spec "C104" Jeep Commandos were made in 1972 and 1973.

Engines:

• 1971–1972: AMC 232 I6— 231.91 CID (3,800.3 cc), 3.750 in (95.3 mm) bore, 3.500 in (88.9 mm) stroke, 100 hp (74 kW) and 185 ft·lbf (250 N·m)
• 1971–1972: AMC 258 I6—258.08 CID (4,229.2 cc), 3.750 in (95.3 mm) bore, 3.895 in (98.9 mm) stroke
• 1971–1973: AMC–304 V8—303.92 CID (4,980.3 cc), 3.750 in (95.3 mm) bore, 3.753 in (95.3 mm) stroke 1971: 210 hp, 1972: 150 hp

Legacy

The Jeepster Commando is significant in Jeep's history despite its relatively short production run. It bridged the gap between the early military-derived Jeeps and the later, more refined recreational vehicles now called SUVs. The Commando also offered diverse body styles and off-road capabilities contributing to the evolution of the Jeep brand and wide variety of models. By the 1970s, the market had shifted to larger-sized four-wheel-drive vehicles. The compact Commando was discontinued and replaced by the full-size Jeep Cherokee (SJ) (a two-door version of the Wagoneer) introduced for the 1974 model year. The longer wheelbase CJ-7 was introduced to fill the compact market segment occupied by the Commando as well as the Scrambler CJ-8 with a 103.5 in (2,629 mm) wheelbase.

See also

• Commando Jeep
• Willys-Overland Jeepster

External links

• The Jeepster Commando Club of America
• Vintage Jeeps
• American Jeepster Club