UPDATE: **Status Unknown** Was on eBay
I’m pretty sure the truck bed has been recently painted from black to green, which helps this look better. It’s too bad the color doesn’t match the rest exactly (given the price).
“Jeep is the original American 4×4, and even decades ago, you can see that Willys was serious about going off-road. This ultra-nice 1961 Willys Jeep pickup an awesome do-anything machine, the Swiss Army knife of off-roaders, and a darned good-looking truck to boot!
Go ahead and try to find another one of these, let alone one this nice. Wait, let me make it easy for you—you won’t. Someone spent the long dollar to bring this one up to show standards, then filled it with comfort and convenience items to create a kind of resto-mod Jeep pickup. The angular sheetmetal, complete with that instantly-recognizable Jeep front end, is completely stock. Whatever this truck’s previous life might have been, it’s now in near show condition with panels that fit together better than new, paint that sparkles like the stuff you find on a new Lexus, and still carrying a big dose of practicality. The medium green paint works especially well with the reproduction Sinclair Gasoline decals on the doors (go ask your grandfather about it), and adds a sense of functionality. The surprisingly big bed has been covered in color-matched bedliner material, so it’s still up for the rough stuff, there are tubular bumpers fore and aft, and just enough chrome to remind you that this truck was built for civilians.
Originally, the interior in a Jeep like this was little more than a lightly upholstered bench and some basic controls, but during the restoration it got a full makeover. Today it offers a trick pleated look that’s totally custom but still looks right in the upright cab. Matching door panels were added to soften the interior a bit, and there are now carpets on the floor, not rubber mats. The original dash is painted to match the body, and the factory-issue gauges are still in the center, but they’re now flanked by a set of Auto Meter Phantom gauges, including a clock, and surprisingly, they look exactly right. There’s also an AM/FM/CD stereo hidden in the glove box with speakers neatly hidden, so you won’t even know it’s there until you hear it.
The engine is still a correct 226 inline-six, the powerplant of choice when reliability matters. Rebuilt and neatly detailed in original olive green, it starts quickly with a pleasant grumble, and idles smoother than you’d expect from a workhorse. Underneath, the chassis was completely restored and with only 98 miles on the restoration, it’s as clean as it’ll ever be. The transmission, transfer case, and both axles have been freshened, and all the lines and hoses are new, so you won’t have to worry about heading off the pavement. And simply nothing looks better on one of these old rigs than the original steel wheels with skinny 7.00-16 off-road tires.”
Is this truck still for sale, and how much?
Hi Bryan,
I haven’t seen this listed in a while. It might or might not have sold. If it appears, I’ll alert you.
– Dave