Pronounced “Jay-Go”, the Jago Geep was brought to my attention by Robert, who had never seen one either. So, I warmed up my googler this weekend to learn more about them.
According to this Sandero website, British Business Partners Geoff Jago and Richard Park launched the Jago Geep Kit car in 1971, making it one of the first kit cars in the UK. In the same way a dune buggy kit was sold in the US to be placed atop a VW Chassis, the Jago Geep Kit was initially intended to be place onto a Ford Anglia 105E and then later atop the Ford Escort MK1. There were five general variants of the Geep kit produced, but because they are all kits, it is doubtful that any are exactly alike once assembled and individual builder details were added.
In the 1980s, due to illness, Park sold the remainder of the company to Jago. In 1985, 25 specially manufactured kits were produced to celebrate the 25th anniversary of the Geep. Sometime in the 1990s, the company changed from the Geep model to the Sandero model, but I haven’t learned why. Most recently, and in the post below, a Series II Land Rover was used as the chassis. You can learn more at the Jago Owners Club.
From the 1984 through 1990 Jago produced a kit car called the Samuri, a four seat utility vehicle designed to fit atop the Ford Escort.
Here’s the nicest looking Jago Geep I’ve seen (so far):
Here’s a Jago Kit used as a drag jeep:
httpv://www.youtube.com/watch?v=395G0NXB1zo
See Dave’s Kit Car Here:
Here’s an image of the Jago Samuri:
Hi I used to own an early jago sandero with the indicators in the grill it was black with white chassis reg number was Q25PDE it had a ford 1.5 gt engine it was very rapid . I’ve been wondering about building a new one as I had a lot of fun in the old one which I sold many years ago . So where do I get the bits from now and who makes them .… many thanks
Good question. I don’t know the answer, but I can try to look that up when I have more time later in the trip.
– Dave
Actually the Early Jago Geep kit car later called Sandero , also used Morris Minor as well as Ford 105e Anglia parts then Ford Escort Mk1 and Escort Mk2 parts it could also use engines from most of the early Ford range ie: Anglia, Cortina, 1.2 1.5 Pre Crosslow and Escort ( Kent ) Crossflow, 1,3 and 1.6 and Twin cam engines, the Pinto 1.8, 2.0 engines and Cortina, and Capri range up to the V6 also type 1 and type 2 (slightly taller 4″in ) optional fibreglass hard tops as well as the soft top hood, It was rear wheel drive only, although some owners have converted them to 4 wheel drive using ancillaries from other samiliar type vehicles . More information can be found on the Jago web site
Thanks for those notes Colin!
– Dave
Hope you gained owners permission before posting their cars and number plates all over the internet. No didnt think so.
Hi jago owner not sure if you had read my earlier message but I used to own said jago it was black with a 1.5 cortina gt engine with a 4 speed out of a mk2 escort so if the new owner reads this or anyone knows the owner I’d love to meet them and the jago if it’s still running as I thought this would be the best place to start looking for it
Hi we owned the silver Jago above in the pics for a while but sold it to a chap in France who managed to get it registered there.
We have had about 21 Jagos over the years and still have one which is Ninja green with big wheels. Great fun to drive and basic mechanically
Not sure how to post pics here
Hi Mike,
If you email the pics to me I can add them to the post. d@deilers.com. Thanks for the comment!
– Dave
can anyone tell me how to contact the Jago /Sanders manufacturers?
The Jago Geep actually can use the Ford type 9 5 speed gearbox instead of the original 4 speed Rocket type gearbox. The 5 speed type 9 gearbox was fitted to earlier Ford Sierra, Granada and Ford Transits and bolts straight to the Escort Mk1 & MK 2 etc ohv x/flow engines using the same bellhousing. There were 2 versions of the long & short shaft gearboxes depending on the model it was fitted to, short shaft usually to Ford Sierra’s and long shaft usually fitted to Transits and Granada’s. I have the 1600cc ohv x/flow engine with the 5 speed gearbox. The rear drums can be changed to disc brakes too there are still complete kits available for this