We take the iconic styling of the original Jeep Wagoneer for granted. But like most new cars, there were two key stages in the evolution of its design. The first one was the 1959 Malibu (top), which looks surprisingly clean and modern. This is a very timeless design that would have aged very well. But Willys management chickened out; it was obviously deemed to be too much of a break with its predecessor, the Jeep Station Wagon. The next step was the 1961 J-100 (bottom), an obvious attempt to revive the Jeep Wagon’s rather archaic design elements. In the end, the two concepts were reconciled and the final 1962 Jeep Wagoneer came out as something of a hybrid of the two. Too bad.
The Malibu shows a clean break with tradition and is very clean and reminds one of the 1960-1961 Ford Falcon wagon. What’s curious is that this horizontal slotted grille, ditched for the production ’63 Wagoneer, would quickly end up re-appearing on the 1966 version after only three short years. It very much seems like they regretted not keeping this original approach. One can see where a lot of the inspiration for the original Range Rover came from. This design could have been one for the ages.
The styling of all three versions were a collaboration between Willys’ small in-house design department headed by Jim Angers and the well-known designer Brooks Stevens. Jeep needed a replacement for their elderly Willys wagon, and the Malibu was the first shot, still sitting on a lengthened chassis of the predecessor.
There apparently was an alternative 1959 version, the Berkeley, with a different roof line. No pics, unfortunately.
The next prototype, the 1961 J-100, clearly show a change in direction, or reaction. The more conservative elements of Willys management must have thought the Malibu to be too radical. The results are a number of retro elements, most prominently an updated version of the traditional Willys wagon’s vertical grille. The J-100 also has front fender flares that mimic the fenders of the Ur-Jeep and Jeep Wagon. Somewhat curiously this prototype J-100 was a two door, unlike the four-door Malibu. Were both versions contemplated, or was the J-100 intended to be only two-door?
For what it’s worth, a two-door version of the definitive 1962 Wagoneer was offered for the first few years. There were very few takers.
Here’s a ’63 Wagoneer four door. A design that held up well, but was clearly not as forward-looking as the Malibu.
As seen here, the 1966 Wagoneer soon shed its heritage grille for a simple slotted horizontal one, quite similar to the Malibu’s. But it was stuck with the raised center section of the hood for the rest of its very long life.
Related CC Reading
Vintage Review: 1963 Jeep Wagoneer – Jeep’s I.F.S. Road To Nowhere by J. Stephenson
Ha! Prior to reading this post, my immediate thought was “Cool, a four wheel drive Falcon.”
I like the production result better, the flat hood may be more “timeless” but it sucks the character right out from it and results in the same blandness I find in the Scout and frankly Bronco.
Ironically enough it’s Falcon resemblance is enhanced by the raised hood, looking somewhat like the 62 facelift with the faux hood scoop(which I also vastly prefer to the dull 60-61 Falcon design)
Interesting observations.
Looking at the 1966 Wagoneer, clumsy bonnet and high windscreen header aside, there’s not only some (a little) Range Rover in there but also it’s possibly a very tall person’s idea of a Fiat 124 (Lada) station wagon as well?
Alternatively one might say the Range Rover has some of the Wagoneer in there, being that the latter predated it by 8? years, and predated the Fiat 124 (1966-ish iirc?) as well?
That’s how I meant it, and how it sounded in my head!
Like or dislike, the raised hood adds strength. Large flat sections of sheet metal are more susceptible to dents. Incorporating ridges or any kind of relief into the stamping die makes for a stronger part without the necessity of added reinforcements.
The Malibu looks more 1971 than 1959. Nonetheless, I can’t imagine that design becoming as iconic as the one Jeep went with; it’s attractive but a bit nondescript and undistinctive.
The two-door Wagoneer sold poorly and was soon dropped. But when Jeep revived that body style as the Cherokee, it was a hit. I think the smaller rear side window helped the styling quite a bit.
Was the raised center section of the Wagoneer hood necessary to clear the engine and radiator, or were they just too cheap to change it to a flatter design? Most of the many grille the Wagoneer wore over its 29-year lifespan (including the vertical bar design shown here) tried to de-emphasize the raised hood
I agree. The Malibu is nice but lacks the quirks and character that allowed the production version to last so long. The Malibu is too dull and would not have aged well.
I had a 2 door 1981, sold as the Cherokee (similar to the picture) – it didn’t really go away. I also had two later Grand Wagoneers, and often thought about retrofitting the earlier grill and lights.
The Malibu is pretty but too Falcony. The J-19 is clumsy but too Valianty. The final result was all Willys, and time has proved it right. Hard to argue with 29 model years of success.
I have to believe that the 2-door Wagoneer was basically a “freebie” because these were also built with no rear side windows as the Jeep Panel Delivery. So it cost Willys next to nothing to create a 2-door passenger version. Both the 2-door passenger version and the Panel Delivery appear to have left the lineup at the same time.
The front end on the Malibu design looks very homely. Reminds me of the front of the 1960-63 Ford Falcon. Even the front fenders look very much like something Ford would put out. It might be a good thing Jeep didn’t go with the Malibu.
Fun fact: take the grille, headlights and nose trim off a ’91 Grand Wagoneer, and you will find the exact same nose stamping of the ’63 — four round headlight cutouts, tall and narrow grille opening, terraced parking/signal lenses, everything. It would be trivial to backdate a ’91 to the ’63 appearance using nothing but a ’63 grille and other trim pieces.
When I look at the Wagoneer that went into production, I notice a lot of the same surface treatment reused on the (also Brook Stevens designed) ’64 Studebaker Wagonaire.
Saying so now is not the same as Willys betting the farm on that Malibu concept car, I believe history shows it would have been a hit right out of the park .
My son has a much modifies 1960 Willys 4X4 station wagon, it has the one piece windshield .
-Nate
It certainly looks a generation newer but I kind of like the narrow grille version, which looked so right on the original Gladiator, so I’m glad they went with that, its nice to have both versions.
I would have liked a compromise between the two which kept the forward leaning C pillar and eliminated the Studebaker like pressing trailing from the top of the rear wheel arch.
That forward leaning C pillar is a huge improvement.
Agree with all those who say the Malibu concept simply looks way too much like a Ford Falcon Wagoneer. The production version might be a bit too old-school, but it definitely fits more in line with the Jeep design eithos. Even when they would later bring back the Malibu’s grille for 1966, the rest of the Wagoneer (most notably retaining the hood bump) is still unmistakenly a Jeep.
The decision to go with the more upright styling was likely decided by the competition which at that time was the IH Travelall. Seems to me that they made the right choice.
That 63 Wagoneer front end reminds me of the R-R Camargue!