1949 Willys-Overland Jeepster For Sale in Bellevue, WA, 2146376714 Tweet

*1949 Willys-Overland Jeepster*The Willys-Overland Jeepster is the lesser-known stablemate to the CJ (Civilian Jeep) that Willys began offering to consumers after World War II. While the CJ was a rough and durable go-anywhere machine Willys realized that it didnt necessarily appeal to the broadest audience. To solve this they tapped legendary industrial designer Brooks Stevens to shape a second model that in many ways was the first-ever crossover utility vehicle. Known as the Jeepster this unique vehicle was only sold from 1948 until 1951 and has become known for its unique design and robust drivetrain options. This 1949 Willys-Overland Jeepster is finished in Fiesta Yellow with a red interior and shows just 4 279 miles since a complete restoration was finished.Although the Jeepster was intended as a more shapely road-focused vehicle the design still has many hallmarks of the CJ Jeep. This was due in large part to the manufacturing limitations that Willys faced with its body presses unable to produce more compound curves. One look at this example and you can tell that the restoration was done quite well the Fiesta Yellow paint compliments the shape well and the chrome bumpers and grille accents shine nicely. This light Fiesta Yellow paint is accented by a chrome trim line just below the top of the cabin with a black-painted accent that rims the passenger compartment. The consignor of this Jeepster has owned it since 2002 - he purchased it with a mild restoration done before setting to work on getting the car brought up to his much higher standards. The 15-inch black steel wheels are accented with polished hub caps and beauty rings and are wrapped in Firestone whitewall tires. A rear-mounted spare features the same wheel treatment and sits wrapped in a cover that shows off the chrome hubcap. A tan convertible top sits beneath a tan canvas tonneau and is simple to install and remove.One of the restoration projects that the consignor tackled upon his purchase was the interior and the condition is quite remarkable. Both front and rear bench seats are upholstered in red vinyl with cream piping and the door cards are wrapped in matching red vinyl. The dashboard is painted to match the exterior of the car and features a centrally mounted speedometer with a volt-meter fuel level oil pressure and coolant temperature. A two-spoke steering wheel with a central horn ring is made of bakelite and a column-shifted 3-speed manual sits just behind the wheel on the right side. The Jeepster does not have roll-up windows but instead side curtains that get inserted into the doors and snap to the convertible top when it is up.Powering this Willys is a 134ci inline-4 known as the Go Devil that comes straight out of the military Jeeps of World War II. This engine utilized a flathead design and was renowned for its ease of maintenance and durability. Producing 63 horsepower this engine was then routed through a 3-speed Borg-Warner gearbox with an overdrive unit to the rear wheels. The underpinnings were shared with the Willys Station Wagon of the time meaning an independent front suspension and 4-wheel drum brakes. As this unit was restored to be quite faithful to the original vehicle it retains its 6 Volt charging system with a generator and a special 6 Volt battery tender is included with the sale.In its day the Jeepster was not the sales success that Willys had hoped for selling just 19 132 over 3 model years. That being said it is a very recognizable car with a dedicated following thanks to its legendary dependability and unique Brooks Stevens styling. As a fun top-down cruiser its hard to think of a vehicle that will get more attention and questions for a very reasonable price and the best part is you can bring your whole family with you.*Key Features* * Nicely Restored Example in Appealing Colors * Fiesta Yellow Over Red Interior * 134ci Inline 4 * 3-Speed Borg-Warner Transmission * Column Shifted * Chrome Bumpers * Chrome Wheel Trim and Whitewall Tires * Nice Condition Tan Convertible Top * Side Curtains * Centrally Mounted Gauge Cluster*Additional Information* * Shop Manual * Some Restoration Invoices and Paperwork * Extra Engine * 6-Volt Battery TenderFor more information on this 1949 Willys-Overland Jeepster or any of our 150+ High-Performance Exotic Luxury and Special Interest Cars always in stock contact one of our friendly and knowledgeable sales consultants or feel free to drop by our 40 000+ sq ft of Indoor Showrooms in Bellevue WA - Home of an Exciting Inventory of Luxury Exotic High Performance and Collectible Automobiles. With 200+ Always On Site Nobody Has What We Have!