After producing military Jeeps during WWII, Willys developed the Jeepster as a crossover from their more utilitarian trucks to passenger automobiles. However, with a short run only starting in 1948 and ending in 1951, the Jeepster was hardly a home run for Willys. Each year, improvements were made to the previous model, such as the introduction of the inline six-cylinder engine in mid-1949 and a styling revamp for the 1950s. Style changes included more rounded front fenders with a peak on the forward edge, a V-shaped grill with five horizontal chrome bars and a redesigned instrument panel.
The total yearly production for Jeepsters in 1950 was 5,845 units, of which 1,799 were six-cylinders. This vehicle weighs approximately 2,500 pounds and sold for around $1,500 new.
This Willys is unique, not just because it has the rare six-cylinder option (as opposed to the typical four-cylinder), but because it was actually titled as a 1951 and is considered an “assembled” vehicle. When production ended on the Willys Jeepster in 1950 due to poor sales, a few more were scraped together in 1951 from the last few available 1950 Willys’ parts, including this Jeepster. It was originally purchased by a local farmer to use as a farm vehicle during fall harvest before the Hagerty family purchased it in 1966.
