Kaiser Jeep Jeepster Commando V6 Hard Top on 2040-cars

This jeepster was purchased on eBay in the summer of 2008 from the second owner for $7K in upper New York State. This required a ride in a tiny six seater plane into Saranac Lake as we wandered in and out of cloud banks, a rainbow went all the way around the plane a few minutes before we landed at dinnertime, it was magical.  I hardly looked at the car having received a divine message before I set off driving into the night to get back home to Pittsburgh.  May you be so lucky when you buy a car. I drove it with some mechanical repairs and then had it restored in the winter of 2010-2011 for $12K.  A second vehicle was purchased [$2K] and it’s chassis and body were used, with the original engine and interior transferred.  This is my only vehicle.  I drive it a few times a week and use it for hauling stuff inside, on the roof and by trailer.  Once a month, at least, the car goes 150 miles [one way] to my folks in West Virginia.  We use this car for vacation travel, the other car doesn’t have a hitch for the bicycle rack.  Looks incredibly cute with a Christmas tree on the roof.  Passes Pennsylvania’s safety inspection does not require an emissions test.  Sticker good until February 2015.  Regular license plate, not historic since it has been an everyday vehicle and carries ‘normal’ insurance.  My husband and I have agreed to sell both of our cars [he has a crown vic].  Relying on our bicycles, public transit and Zipcar [they have trucks as well] for transit.

This is my only foray into antique car ownership.  A fan of square cars, I owned a series of old body style Isuzu Troopers.  When I bought my fourth Trooper, my husband made me agree that this would be my final Trooper.  When the fourth trooper started dying by computer problems, I decided I wanted nothing more to do with such things. All the other Troopers had blown head gaskets which I would duly repair, but the frame rot was a terminal condition for the first three.  I was not going to move into the new generation of computer infested vehicles and instead went backwards.  It was a choice between the Commando and the original style of Landcruiser, the iron pig.  Advice from a jeep fanatic friend about the ease of part procurement for jeeps and a preference for a metal dashboard over plastic won the day for a jeep.  It was a good choice, the jeep nation is large and I have gotten plenty of support from the jeepster commando club forum and the three big part houses, all online.  Enough parts are available at NAPA to make some repairs overnight or same day.

Josephine has been parked on the street near downtown Pittsburgh, within a walk of the Steelers’ stadium.  Some rust has returned since the restoration.  Check photos of the tailgate and windshield framing.  Burns a quart of oil every 1K; no external leaks.  A section of the rear bumper, 2 x 1 inch, is gone; seems to be damage from a CB antenna mount.  Otherwise chrome is good. Frame is perfect.

Keeping the car stock has been important but changes have been made.  Some changes in the electrical systems, such as extra grounding or fuses are not stock.  Electrical diagrams in the jeepster manual are still accurate.  The wiper motor is not OEM.  Rear wiring harness replaced at restoration.  All lights, gauges and signals work properly.  Glass is clear, no fog, minimal scratches; windscreen new at restoration.  Mileage on the road is 17-19 mpg. She can travel with traffic at 75mph but gas mileage is better at 60mph.  In town mileage can be as low as 13 mpg but usually 15 mpg.  Clear title.  How many miles is unknown.  I’ve not turned it over, I think the previous owner said it was on 300K.

Original or stock:

Interior, some tears, some repairs

Engine, V-6 Buick Dauntless  225

Three speed manual transmission, on floor

Ross steering

Gauges, are OEM and in working order

Dash controls, in working order

Jack and lug wrench

Brake system

Beauty rings and hubcaps

Lock-out hubs from Harvester International installed by dealer in 1968, operates

Stock paint colors

Keys, one set original in leather wallet.  Locks in doors and rear hatch are original and matching.  Ignition is new, key doesn’t match doors  No key to glovebox but it is operable. Latch from new body was used-discovered after extra items were gone.

Rubber jeep flooring

Window washer fluid bag

Improvements:

Radio is USA-1, 100 watts, with mp3 hook-up.  Still one speaker [replaced 2010]

Fuel tank, side fill, from jeepsterman.  No crazy bent fill pipe to crack.

Bullet dash light and floor lights with door switch, a normal option for jeepsters but not original to this car.

Manual choke.

The front seats have been moved back about four inches, making this a much more pleasant car for this tall family.

Exhaust system [spring, 2012] exhaust pipe moved to passenger corner.

Rear seat modified to roll forward for cargo space.  Not designed for human occupant in rear seat, dogs okay. No seat belts in rear, seat not bolted to floor as designed.  Modification could be reversed; but I sold the attachment bars on ebay.

Two inch hitch receiver, 4 or 7 pin hook-up

Cargo area was upoled [like rhino liner]

Roof rack is a universal rack from the 80’s, ebay purchase

Custom-made spare tire rack is great!- will NOT fit a larger sized tire.  Folds down to removed tire.

Antifreeze overflow catch container

Extras:

Wheel rim

Carburetor rebuilt by jeepsterman

Rubber seal for rear hatch

Gasket collection

Original owner’s manual and service log

Proper mechanic’s manual and a few other books

Restoration photo album of process, suitable for car shows, also CD version

Bulbs, gauges, misc parts

Most work orders and receipts

Dog cover for rear seat

Hitch

Great custom-made center console.  Made of leather, holds drinks, lots of stuff; exhibits jeepster bling on the lid.

Cute first aid kit and hazard kit from 1968

What’s wrong:

  The upholstery is almost ruined on the driver’s seat.  Smaller amounts of damage on the passenger side.  Rear seat is nearly perfect. 

  The manual choke was installed this spring and has solved my flooding issues.  But the cable has too much movement in the install and when it is required use in cold weather doesn’t reliably close the choke completely.  Until the temperature is below 50F, not required to be used.  I haven’t bothered with it since the weather improved.

  The barrel of the cigarette lighter is too skinny, modern day chargers don’t fit.  Neither does the original lighter.  This barrel was in the replacement body and it wasn’t tested for fit until after the original body was gone.  I haven’t gone looking for a replacement, assume it’s an easy fix.  Nipple plug behind dash should fit a properly sized lighter barrel.

  The left gate latch comes up when the car is twisted while traveling on rough road.  Gate does not open or become any kind of danger.  It’s just something that happens, the correct spring within the latch would stop the behavior.

  Body rust is minimal and can wait a few years.  The tailgate is a mess and could be removed for repair while the rest of the car could be used.  Same goes for the lid and the windshield frame, if you wanted to strip it down that far but still drive the jeep.

  The lid paint failure is surface.  It’s pretty obvious the restoration garage did not take as much care with the top as the body.  There is no primer under the failed paint spots above the drip rail.  I ripped the paint off with a high pressure car wash wand. 

  My dog hates the car, too rough a ride and he can’t get into the corner of the backseat to wedge in.  He travels in other cars very well.  Luckily doesn’t get car sick.  I have to pick him up and put him in the jeep, he won’t jump in.  Really, it’s time to sell this car. 

This vehicle could be driven home without problems.  I am willing to discuss driving it to you.

A few words about Ross Steering.  It is a much maligned technology.  For this car, which should be staying on the road, not off-roading, Ross is fine.  Saginaw is the better steering system.  Traveling under 25 mph there is no return to center action in the steering.  This is normal operation.  Residential driving can be exicting/different/rewarding when the wheel must still be turned ‘out’ of a turn.  If you back out of your drive swinging the rear of the car inline with traffic, a lot of unturning of the wheel is still needed to move forward.  Parallel parking is a vigorous activity.

Pictures taken August 20, 2014 Other photos are from the restoration shop, part of the CD which comes with the car, to document the restoration process.

Would be willing to discuss delivering this vehicle to you and returning home via train or plane.  I’d pick you up at the Pittsburgh airport.  Spend the weekend, watch a Pirates game if you like, you may not be able to get Steeler tickets.  I will post questions and responses.