For Sale: 1949 Willys Jeepster in Morgantown, Pennsylvania

1949 Willys Jeepster VJ3 463 Convertible

"The Willys Jeepster was an ingenious design by Brooks Stevens, which combined a four passenger phaeton with soft top that evoked the appearance of the wartime Jeep. The model was introduced in May 1948 with the thinking that returning GIs would be sentimentally attached to the appearance. Most GIs however, were looking to move beyond the military, and sales were disappointing. The Jeepster has an undeniable charm, though, and has nearly universal acceptance among car enthusiasts, equally welcome in the company of hot rods as it is at Pebble Beach." Thx Hagerty.com

For consignment, a 1949 Willy Jeepster VJ3 463 convertible showing 43,137 miles, but the true miles are unknown. The VJ3 was a mid year production change that resulted in a bit of a facelift with a new grille featuring five horizontal chrome bars. This example comes to you with maintenance records and an extensive list of upkeep replacement parts completed during the consignor's eleven year ownership.

Exterior
Jeepsters wear yellow better than just about any car, and this example in Michigan Yellow is proof! It's contrasted by a glossy band of black that highlights the passenger compartment, trimmed in stainless for further emphasis and tied into the black canvas top. The grille features bold horizontal bars backed in black, and a chrome bumper guard arches over the bumper itself, all in good condition. Polished domed hubcaps with a red center "W" badge covers the 15-inch wheels with the black painted steel wheels underneath showing. At the back of this vehicle is an additional hanging spare white wall tire with hubcap in a continental kit style mount between simple round tail lights and brake lights. Imperfections noted include some surface rust on the top sides of the grille bars, some metal pitting elsewhere, a hazy plastic rear window, some deglazing on the vent windows, rattle can spot fixes, chips and inclusions throughout, orange peel, bubbling, seam paint wear, scratches, and rust blistering.

Interior
Our interior begins with black vinyl cards on the yellow inner doors, tidy with a touch of utilitarian simplicity Jeeps are known for. The front seats are split and have a 70/30 configuration with smooth black grain vinyl and there's a bit of wear on the top part and piping. The rear bench, also in black vinyl presents cleanly. A black steering wheel with center cap logo shows some patina and fronts a tan painted dash with center cluster that includes a speedometer over square condition gauges and some knobs in a classic and deco-inspired design that shows a bit of age. Low pile black carpet with vinyl edges covers and also would benefit from some restoration.

Drivetrain
Driver quality conditions are found on the 148ci Lighting F-head incline six rated at 72 horsepower and fueled through a 1-barrel carburetor. It's mated to a 3-speed manual transmission with overdrive and power is routed to the Dana 23 in back with 4.88 gears.

Undercarriage
Driver quality here as well with plenty of surface rust and residual oil on the pans and rear differential. We note some invasive rust in the frame in front of the rear axle as well. Drum brakes are at all four wheels and the single exhaust runs through a stock style muffler before exiting in back. Suspension includes a transverse leaf spring in front and leaf springs in back.

Drive-Ability
On to the test loop we go with this part road car, part safari car, and always interesting car! The experience is pure analogue of course, and while not the fastest car on the road, the open air vibe is a ton of fun. We note the clutch slips a bit, the AM radio is not working, and the brake lights don't illuminate. Beyond that, all functions work as they should and now we have to decide whether to put this vintage crossover in the car area or truck room! While Classic Auto Mall represents that these functions were working at the time of our test drive, we cannot guarantee these functions will be working at the time of your purchase.

Here's a fairly rare car in need of some TLC to bring it to the next level, but with the ability to please the new owner right out of the gate. We've seen 14 Jeepsters in our eight years and what we've learned is that there is a strong following for these vehicles and more often than not, go to a new home quickly.

Classic Auto Mall is home to more than 1,000 classic and collectible vehicles for sale via consignment in a climate controlled 336,000-square foot showroom (that's more than 8 acres!). The largest single location consignment dealer of classic and collectible vehicles in the country is located in Morgantown, Pennsylvania, just 1-hour west of Philadelphia off Exit 298 of the I-76 Pennsylvania Turnpike. For more information visit www.classicautomall.com or call us at (888) 227-0914. Contact us anytime for more information or to come see the vehicle in person. There is no guarantee of mileage. A $299 Dealer Administrative fee is not included in the advertised price. All prices are before state, city and county tax, tag, title and license fees. Out of state buyers are responsible for all state, county, city taxes and fees, as well as title/registration fees in the state that the vehicle will be registered. Classic Auto Mall is not responsible for errors and omissions. Please verify listings with dealer. Vehicles may require VIN verification and/or safety and emissions inspections to transfer ownership and register the vehicle in the declared state of residence. Please check with your local DMV office to ensure compliance with your states titling and registration process.

With so many great cars, you know we have a lot to talk about, and we do that each week on the Classic Auto Mall Podcast with host Stewart Howden. Stewart discusses new inventory as well as trends in consignments and car prices, while interviewing celebrities and automotive professionals about amazing cars and their history. Tune in each week to the Classic Auto Mall Podcast wherever you enjoy listening. You can also watch on YouTube!