Steve forwarded this request for help in locating a Jeepster.
My name is Tami. My dad was Howard F. Post, “Bud” as his friends and all called him. I am very interested in tracking down his ’48 or ’49 Willys-Overland Jeepster. It had a Caddy engine and a Buick automatic transmission(??) as far as we could remember. Attached are the pix of his Jeepster showing the License plate (Calif.: DYH 159) and the modified dash. The “pull lever” was the shifter. My sis always said that no one could steal it because it was too hard to figure out. :))
We were teenagers and in our early 20’s when he sold it. At that time we didn’t wonder or ask why or who. My mom passed away and they sold the house about ‘69-‘72 and that was approx. when he sold the Jeepster and his Willys Jeep. He and 3 buddies painted all of his Jeeps to match. All I remember, everyone in town knew the car well, and it was his baby. My dad raced motorcycles, midgets, and more. My Mom asked him to quit when my sis and I were born.
I joined the Willys Overland Jeepster Club about 3-4 years ago. They published an article about my dad’s Jeepster but no answers. My dad helped start up the Jeep Jamboree in the Rubicon Canyon and I had some pix of the early days–as I recall he went up several weeks ahead of time, and I thought he told us they poured a concrete pad for dancing and to set up camp. I got a bunch of pix together and didn’t go much further with it. I had pix and not a lot of info. The W-O Jeepster club has lots of Jeepster and a lot of them for sale.
My dad was a fabulous guy (of course:), but I know he was a great mechanic. His dad was a tool and die maker, and my dad was his understudy and a great mathematician. He worked for Ford when he was 17 ‘till WW2 and was in the Navy with 3 Ford dealers, and worked for each of them from Washington State. to So. Cal. and then settled in Vallejo for good.
OK, thank you for your consideration and for any info you can help me to find my dad’s Jeepster.
Sincerely, Tami
I remember several years ago when Tami sent this to the Jeepster Club and I wish she had gotten some responses then. A Caddy powered Jeepster would have been unique back in the 50s and 60s when these photos were taken and one would think that car might have survived. The speedo cluster is definitely different, out of a 1950-51 Plymouth. The shifter is unusual to say the least. 1955 Ford hubcaps, 1950-later Willys steering wheel.
With a Caddy engine and a Buick Dynaflow, I would bet the engine and trans came out of a 1953 Caddy that came equipped with the Dynaflow after the GM Hydramatic plant burned in early 53. Cadillac and Olds had to use the Buick transmission until the plant was rebuilt. That puts a date of later than 1953-54 on the modifications to the Jeepster. Bet that 2500 lb Jeepster ran good with that motor.
Maybe some one from the old group who set up the Rubicon Trail and reads this, might remember her dad and his Jeeps and Jeepster. There might even be some old photos of all. Good Luck, Tami!
Colin, I was wondering what that speedometer came out of…
Just look that poor front end with that heavy engine. It looks like it was taken with a fish-eye lens.
**Steve E.**
I think the speedometer came out of a 1949 Cadillac.
I think Buz is correct. I googled 1949 Cadillac dash and the one in the Jeepster looks just like the 49 Caddy dash. I learn something every day. The 52 Plymouth does have a similar shape, but not like the Caddy. Good eyes Buz!