Vehicle Description
It's hard to say who built the first truly modern SUV, but the
short list would have to include vehicles like this 1960 Willys
Utility Wagon. Roomy, practical, and with an unmistakably rugged
shape, this was the manliest of station wagons long before such
things even mattered.
Yes, the Willys guys were the ones who built a civilian Jeep and
there's plenty of Jeep DNA visible in this wagon. The boxy profile
is still instantly recognizable today in the form of Explorers and
Tahoes, but it looks so much more appealing with 1960s style. It's
also fairly rare to find one of these that hasn't been used up or
rusted to the condition of a lace doily, making this a wonderful
opportunity to own a good one. With bright red paint, it isn't
subtle, but it does have a fun-loving nature and an honest
willingness to do a day's worth of work. The restoration was
completed in 2007, but it still shines up brilliantly and looks
fantastic in person. Details like the ribbed frames around each
body panel, the upright grille, and those separate fenders that are
still part of the Jeep look today all ensure that this classic will
never be obsolete.
Open a door with the rustic wooden inner panels and you'll find a
pair of tan buckets up front that were borrowed from a late-model
of some sort. They actually work pretty well in the Willys' vintage
interior and are a lot more comfortable than the original vinyl
chairs, especially with the tweed inserts. However, the rest of the
interior is pretty stock, including the painted steel dashboard
with center-mounted instruments. Custom wood inserts hold auxiliary
gauges in front of the driver, which is a pretty cool way to add
instrumentation without just hanging them under the dash. There's
also a heater hanging underneath, and the firewall has been heavily
insulated, making it comfortable inside. There is no back seat, but
rather a commodious cargo bay painted to match the bodywork with
lovely wooden slats on the load floor that totally work with the
truck's rustic attitude. And yes, it is a 4x4, with a 2-speed
transfer case actuated by the lever next to the 3-speed
shifter.
Kaiser's "Super Hurricane" 226 cubic inch inline six provides eager
performance and an exhaust note that will be familiar to anyone who
has driven a Jeep. In fact, the entire driving experience is pretty
much just like a CJ7: basic but tons of fun. The engine bay was
obviously built for reliability, not necessarily show, and upgrades
include a modern alternator, conical air filter on the 1-barrel
carburetor, and an updated ignition system. Clutch take-up is
smooth, although the transmission throws are long, more like an
antique car than a modern SUV, but that's all part of the appeal.
The suspension is live axles fore and aft, but it is more than
willing to climb over really rough stuff without complaint, and
will happily cruise at modern highway speeds thanks to factory
overdrive. Flashy aluminum wheels with 245/75/16 Michelin light
truck radials give it an updated look without spoiling the vintage
feel.
Driving an icon is always an experience, but this one is practical
and fun as well as legendary. Call today!
