shot and posted by JM Solberg
If one didn’t know better—and probably many don’t—it would be very easy to assume that this is one of those 25+ year-old Japanese imports that are washing over our shores out here. But of course it’s not; it’s a Jeep FC-150, and at 147.5 inches, it’s the shortest production pickup sold here ever except for the Crosley (137″). The wheelbase is 81″ long, the same as the original Jeep CJ, for obvious reasons: this is a CJ with a cab-over-engine body and a pickup bed.
Is that cute or what? Looks like it could be from East Germany or Poland too. Power was provided by a 75 hp F-head four. I met a guy in the Rockies in 1973 that lengthened the frame rails some and swapped in a Chevy 265 V8. It was a hoot to ride in, if you felt immortal bucking around the rough trails up there.
I’ve had a soft spot for one ever since. I’m trying to remember just how hard its ride is; I was a lot younger then.
Here’s a few CC posts on the FC:
CC Outtake: 1957 Jeep FC-150 Forward Control
Cohort Classic: Jeep FC-170 – Jeep’s Unconventional Truck Is Still At Work Hauling Gravel
1958 Jeep FC-150 Mini-Van Color Photos Discovered
In the late 1950s my family would gather around the big B&W console TV in the living room on Sunday nights and watch “Bonanza”. This show was sponsored by Jeep and the ads showed the FC series Jeeps going up, down, and around (well mostly up) incredible obstacles.
I was fascinated by these little trucks and could never understand why I never saw any on the roads.
Jeep? I remember it sponsored by Chevrolet. Which is why it was the second most mandatory thing in the week after Sunday morning mass.
The only reason I bothered with Bonanza as a kid was the faint hope of seeing a commercial with a Corvette in it.
Willys sponsored Maverick which may be what you are remembering. There was even a Willy’s “Maverick Special” vehicle produced as a tie-in – a Jeep Station Wagon.
I do wonder if the Chevy “Bonanza” edition Squarebody pickups had anything to do with Chevy’s sponsorship of the show.
One of those vehicles that couldn’t possibly be produced today. Nothing like using your knees as crash protection.
Think of the old VW vans. No protection at all.
Toyota recently ended production of its Hiace van a vehicle very like the VW with the steering box right behind the front bumper it was never your knees at risk in a Volkswagen van it was your chest.
Somewhat like the old Ford Econo vans…very little protection.
I have my own love affair with these:
https://www.curbsideclassic.com/blog/miniatures-toys/childhood-classics-corgi-jeep-fc-150-and-lotus-climax-safety-third/
The FC I mention in the article is still sitting out in the same place, seven years later. I’m sure the rust is still terminal, but what a great snowplow it would make if I had a bigger driveway. 🙂 I would not, however, want to drive one in traffic too often.
I grew up in Northeast Wisconsin in the 1960’s/1970’s and these were common and desired as plow trucks for gas stations back then because they were so maneuverable.
Like everyone else here, I cannot remember the last one of these I saw. This was one that got much wider distribution via the toy aisle than it ever did from Jeep dealers.
Complete with the “bachelor’s lean” to the left. The layout of the early 4WD Jeep drivetrain created a weight bias to the left side of the vehicle. Even without a driver, who, if traveling solo, would make the lean more pronounced, a “proper” old Jeep has the lean, as this one appears to have.
Landrovers had extra leaves on driver side springs probably to prevent that.
Neighbor’s dad ran a local Shell garage and had a forward control tow truck with a plow. Looked a lot like this one except it was orange. He’d sometimes take my friend & I with him when plowing.
Even at relatively modest plowing speeds any conversation in the close quarters of the cab required repeated shouting. I can still recall the cacophony of sounds. Chains on all 4 wheels, the little F-head winding out, the plow blade biting pavement & gravel, the anemic defroster blower on high, Echos of everything throughout the uninsulated cab. . .
Besides the noise, the ride was punishing. Crowding into the single passenger seat was an uncomfortable squeeze even for small kids. It had to be the worst ride ever. As kids, we loved every second!
How rough is the ride? Go find a CJ3 and ask the owner to give you a ride, but you have to sit on the hood!
A van version of these would have been really cute.
Like this? https://www.curbsideclassic.com/blog/news-flash-1958-jeep-fc-150-mini-van-color-photos-discovered/
I’ve seen four Forward Control Jeeps in my life and had a chance to buy one of them. If I had had a place to keep it at the time I would have. Damn!
Always liked the Bulldog look of the Jeep FC. Sadly I’ve never seen one here in Minnesota even at car shows. The FC design could be revived in the form of a BEV by pushing the dashboard back a couple feet and putting in one of those frunk windows like the Canoo has.
Sweet .
I briefly worked for a jeep dealer in the 1970’s and one of my parts Customers was a nursery that used several of these in the large back area where they grew the plants .
-Nate
I used to salivate over several FCs in Longbarn near the family cabin 7-10 years ago, and just a few weeks ago spotted another one here locally in Boise. Would love to make one my first post-retirement project vehicle, if that ever happens.
@ MrBZ :
Retirement is a mixed bag, I’m loving mine and have never been busier between naps….
-Nate
A store in Lambertville NJ uses the cab from one as a storefront prop, it’s pretty cool!
Neighbor had one when I was a kid, he even used it to plow up his garden.