The Willys FC (Forward Control) series truck was introduced to the public for the 1956 model year and while the company’s expectations for the vehicle were never attained the unique trucks hold a special place in Jeep history. By the time production ceased in 1964 (sales of finished vehicles continued into the 1965 model year) just over 30,000 units rolled off the assembly line at the Toledo, OH manufacturing facility and are becoming increasingly popular among certain collectors today.
Willys already had a traditional pickup in its vehicle line-up but were looking for something different to bring to the marketplace replacing Kaiser cars. Independent designer Brooks Stevens, who had been under contract to Willys since the 1940’s, drew on styling cues from the cabover designs offered by large truck manufacturers to come up with the unique futuristic design of the FC series trucks. What resulted was different than anything the light truck world at that time had never seen—a cab the comprised 2,747 square inches of glass that looked more like it had been borrowed from a helicopter than a truck with the capability to adapt any number of bed options to the vehicle.
While the FC trucks never reached the mainstream success Willys hoped for the trucks created a niche for themselves in specialty markets such as airport support vehicles, tow trucks and railroad maintenance vehicles. The trucks were also popular with fire departments and government agencies, thanks to their four-wheel drive capability. The design of the cab located over the engine instead of behind it allowed for a pickup bed length of up to nine feet while retaining the ability to get in and out of tight situations.
The initial vehicle in the FC line was the FC-150, which was rated as a ½ ton truck. Subsequent years saw the FC-170 (rated at ¾ ton) and the FC-180 and FC-190. The FC-150 debuted with a four-cylinder 134 cubic inch engine borrowed from the company’s CJ and pickup lines. Power was transmitted through a Bord Warner T90 three speed manual transmission. The 226 cubic inch Super Hurricane six cylinder was introduced in 1957. The 1958 model year saw a 272 cubic inch Y-block V8 added to the option list along with a Borg Warner T98 four speed manual transmission. An automatic transmission sourced from Ford also became available but only with the Hurricane Super Six. A manually shifted transfer case featuring two high, four high and four low was standard for the entire production run.
The best sales year for the FC series vehicle came 1957, with the 9,700 units accounting for nearly a third of the total nine-year sales. After a couple of rather dismal sales years, the 1960 model year saw sales rebound to 4,925 units before tailing off significantly in the final years of production.
This 1960 Willys FC-170 is one of the just under 5,000 units built for the 1960 model year. Considering the fact many of these vehicles were used in commercial and industrial settings, it’s rare to find an FC-series vehicle in this condition. It is believed this vehicle was purchased new by the owner of a welding service in Maryland. Registration documents with the vehicle indicate it was registered in the state of Maryland as late as 1984-85. The truck was apparently stored for a time before being purchased by a Pennsylvania car dealer in March 2008. During their ownership the truck was treated to a servicing of the various operating systems including brakes, fuel and cooling replacing parts as needed. The cab was rust-free but there were a few holes that required patching in the bed floor. After repair the bed was lined and additional paint work was done on the bed and rear fenders.
The present owner acquired the truck in June 2016 and has addressed a few minor dents and paint issues on the cab, adding the period-correct two tone red and white paint scheme. While we believe the odometer reading of just over 27,000 miles to be correct the truck is being sold “mileage exempt” due to age as required by regulations governing licensed Missouri auto dealers. Power comes from the 226 cubic inch Super Hurricane engine backed with the Borg Warner T90 three speed manual transmission. The interior, while showing some signs of age, is original to the truck. The vehicle presents very nicely. These vehicles are becoming increasingly difficult to find, especially in this condition!
Evergreen Digital Showroom offers this 1960 Willys FC 170 for sale at a price of $49,900 USD. Pre-purchase inspections are welcomed and encouraged. We will gladly arrange shipping for this vehicle at buyer’s expense or work with the shipper of buyer’s choice. Pre-purchase inspections and welcome and advised. For additional information or to make an offer on this vehicle, contact sales manager Steve Russell at 417-532-8000.
NOTICE
Because of the number of vehicles we represent we cannot drive every vehicle for long distances. These vehicles have been part of static displays for long periods of time, in some cases for decades, and are subject to the flaws and imperfections consistent with that. While we do our best to disclose all issues we known about a vehicle in our advertising, these are old cars and something that has always worked in the past might not function properly today. Please check the requirements of your state regarding the licensing and registration of classic vehicles and make sure the vehicle you are looking at meets those if applicable. Unless otherwise noted, all vehicles represented by Evergreen Digital Showroom possess a clean (non-branded) title which will be provided the new buyer when purchase funds clear our financial institution. Virtually all our vehicles are sold as mileage exempt due to their age. We do not warranty any vehicle, nor any part of the vehicle including air conditioning systems, brake systems, electrical systems and gauges, fuel systems, accessories or powertrain components.
These are old vehicles and it is very common for them to require certain maintenance and upkeep for them to be operational. In many cases issues with leaks may develop when being driven after a long period of not being used. This is common, as classic cars at some point will leak fluids. For this reason, we do not encourage buyers to attempt driving their purchase home as we cannot guarantee functional reliability of these vehicles. We strongly encourage prospective buyers to be sure they are comfortable with these issues before purchasing a classic car.
Descriptions of vehicles represented by Evergreen Digital Showroom are intended to be informational in nature and do not in any way constitute any sort of warranty, expressed or implied. Again, these vehicles are presented “as-is, where-is” without guarantee or warranty. Vehicles manufactured prior to 1981 will likely not be included in the databases of companies such as CarFax and AutoCheck that provide vehicle history information to consumers. If you have specific questions regarding a vehicle we urge you to contact us at 417-532-8000.
