Jeepster's don't have a model year embedded in the serial number (see http://www.specialtyparts.com/vins/65yr71c101vin.htm ) but based on the serial number portion it would appear that you've got a 1971 (at least the way I read serial numbers and add up the yearly builds.)

Cheers

Mike

67 Jeepster Convertable (to restore)
68 Jeepster Convertable (for fun)
225 / Turbo 400 - both

 

ok was told it was a 1966 but if 1971 that ok. anyway to be sure? are parts interchangable? runs good, some rust. needs some work. will try to get picture on soon.

 

If it is a '71, it should have side marker lights above the front wheels, not sure when they were added, but they were there by '71. While AMC purchased Jeep in 1970, they did practically nothing with the Jeepsters before '71, so you still have the joy of a very limited source of parts.


Cheers

Mike

67 Jeepster Convertable (to restore)
68 Jeepster Convertable (for fun)
225 / Turbo 400 - both

 

well there are no side marker lights on it. just front and rear lights. has 3 speed trans, v-6, and spare tire carrier on pass side. just got it so am starting to rebuilt it.

 

So I would suppose one of the following:

1) I'm wrong about the side markers (possible)
2) I can't read serial numbers (probable)
3) The serial number web page is wrong (not likely)
4) The front clip has been replace (30+ year old Jeep - likely)

All you really need is a clean title, the parts don't vary much year to year, more by the whim of Kaiser.


Cheers

Mike

67 Jeepster Convertable (to restore)
68 Jeepster Convertable (for fun)
225 / Turbo 400 - both

 

sounds like someone put a rear end in it that came from a Jeep with quadratrac

Drayson

 

well the rear end swap makes sense since theres a coil spring on drivers side along with the leaf springs. so p.o. did some chopping. also the name plate says kaiser on it.

 

We need a picture of that!

Another way of determining part vintage is by casting information.For instance, a t-400 will have a code cast into it that will tell the year,month, day, and shift that it was built on.Cast parts and molded parts are the ones you will find this on.BUT-this will only tell you when the part was built and not if it was used on that year model.A `67 manufactored part may have been assembled on a `68 vehicle.If they are 68 cast codes, then it would have at least a 68 model vehicle UNLESS the previous owner replaced those components.All that really matters is you have a Kaiser era jeepster.Welcome to the nut house.

The coil springs are probably added on helper coils.
Drayson

 

A '66 does not have a dash light mounted over the switch pannel. You might have a off-set rear end from a CJ that had a #18 x-fer case.

AJC founder and president

 

I may be wrong (nah, only happened once!), but my '68 doesn't have a light over the switches either. When did they "add" this feature?

Caver Dave
'68 Jeepster SW
225 & 3spd
Vintage Jeeps(ters) have Character,
new Jeeps just have payments.

 

My70 had a dash light. The 70-71 years alos have a funky front shackle and 2" wide front leaf springs. Another way of telling vintage is by looking at the ring gear o one of the axles, the date stamped there will be within a year of being correct. Also Jeepsters tend to collect .25" of dust on top of the heater box for every year it is old, so break out the calipers and fish around up under the dash. Just be careful, lots of hot hanging wires.

John
48 CJ-2A, 49 Willys truck, 70 Jeepster Commando, 89 Wrangler, 98 4x4 Tacoma

 

My first 68 did not have a light over the dash switches. My second one did. I think the dash light was a "deluxe" option. My current Jeepster has a lot of the deluxe options such as the plastic panels on the doors, plastic liner in the back (sorry, it was in such bad shape I tore it out and tossed it)sliding rear window and chrome window trim.

 

No dash switch light on either of my 67 or 68, so maybe the light was a '69 addition. I saw one on the junkster at the yard the other day, I'll get the serial number off it and try to figure out what year it was.


Cheers

Mike

67 Jeepster Convertable (to restore)
68 Jeepster Convertable (for fun)
225 / Turbo 400 - both

 

Gaelic:

For sure they were available in 68 (see my post above) maybe they were optional in the early years and became standard in later years. Boy, wouldn't it be great to find some guy that actually worked on the assembly line building these beasts? I would pay money just to pick his brain.

 

I had a deluxe '68 that I bought for parts and it had the dash switch light. My driver, a standard model'68, didn't have it, but I swapped it over.

Chris

 

Early model Cj's had an offset rear diff with the D18 transfer case. I dont know what years for sure used the offset diff but I know a guy that has a 1971 cj5 that has the offset.

 

Anybody got any ideas of how to find somebody who DID work on the line from say '67>'73. Sure would be great to invite him/her to a Raid or other event as a guest and do a little brain pickin' and make any personal recollection available maybe on vidoe or audio tape (for achival purposes) Could be fun and invaluable. Just a wild idea?

Dan
'67 8701 Deluxe
JEEPSTERS and their Owners - Friends for Life.

 

I did some looking and yes there is a light above the switches. also theres a plate under the hood that says this vehicle conforms to all standards of year 1966. below that there is a plate with paint 226,trim 308 and top 517
the vin plate say kiaser jeep corp.
rear axle has coil spring on driver side only on top of the axle tube and leaf spring under axle left side just has leaf spring. front shackles look normal (just rusty)still trying to get a hold of digital camera for pics

 

Re: Finding a former Jeepster assembly guy......Maybe run an add in the classifieds in the area where Jeepsters were built (Detroit?). United Auto Workers may also have a means of locating members that worked at specific plants. I guess knowing where Jeepsters were assembled would help. If we ever did find someone who remembers putting them together he would definitely be in high demand on this BB.

 

DETROIT!!??? Try Toledo, Ohio.

Chris in Texas

 

Holy Toledo! I forgot about that Danny Thomas advertisement for Jeepsters. Think I'm getting Halfhymers!