1960 Willys Utility Wagon

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!