(Our series “CC Kids” didn’t ever officially end; we just ran out of submissions. This one is from our old friend Kip. If you have childhood pictures of yourself with a car, send it to us via the Submissions form or to curbsideclassic(at)gmail.com)
I was seven when these picture were taken. I think my mom had just sold the Jeep station wagon and gotten the Jeepster.
It was fun to ride in, especially with the top down, but it was strange compared to other people’s cars and a little embarrassing. It had thin doors and plastic side curtains that lifted off instead of windows that rolled down. For winter, there was a heater on the passenger side under the dashboard. There was a space behind the rear seat that was big enough to lie down in but it never got warm back there. In third gear, it shifted again (into overdrive) if you took your foot off the pedal.
I learned to drive in the Jeepster in our driveway when I was about twelve. It developed engine problems, so my mom sold it and got a Ford station wagon, second-hand; three seats, a normal car, finally. Before long, though, I felt nostalgic about the Jeepster. When I see one now, which is hardly ever, I love it.
This was shot two years earlier, with the Jeep Wagon and my younger brother and sister.
Ohhhhh – Jeepsters are so cooooooool! Of course, at that age, what is cool is almost always what your parents DO NOT have. I have always had a thing for Jeepsters, but have never owned one (and likely never will). Not many people got to share this experience with you.
BTW, what year was the Ford wagon? That one would be good to see pictures of too.
Now there’s a car to give NHTSA and IIHS fits – no side or rollover protection whatever. Those were the days. I loved the Jeepsters when I was a kid though they were pretty rare in the midwest back in the day; the wagons were a bit more common. You still see a Jeepster now and then in SoCal, especially at car shows, often painted yellow with a white top. I love your pics – five whitewalls! And a spotlight?
Thanks for the story and photos. Very easy to forget people did happily buy independent brands/unconventional styles from the particular hindsight promoted by popular culture. Congratulations, you have your mission: Jeepster by Christmas!
Cool rides. Cool pictures.
My folks had a Jeepster. They bought it used. I liked the side curtains until the sun turned them opaque, but as far as I remember, they never once put the top down. It was also really cold in the winter. I have no idea why they bought it.
My Step Mother Martha bought one of these Jeepsters new in 1946 when she was in College , she loved it and never forgot it so after she married my Pops , he bought her a brandy new one in 1969 when AMC re released them again , this time as a 4X4 (the original ’46 & ’47 Jeepsters were only 2 wheel drive) , a Dauntless (Buick) V-6 powered it and it was O.K. ,, they lived in Rochester , NY at the time so it was a decent daily driver for her .
The car was given to me as junk in 1977 , I was freshly married and couldn’t afford it’s 12 MPG so I tuned and sold it ASAP .
The originals were Willy’s attempt at a youthful sporty looking economy car and although they never sold many and dropped it soon , they were actually good little cars , especially when equipped with overdrive , very few were .
I like seeing them in two tone paint , red/black mostly there days .
-Nate
Great photos–quite atmospheric.