When you’re the Commodore and you can buy any new car you
want, what do you choose? It’s a weighty
decision. After all, as Commodore, you
set the standard. That means you can’t just
buy a mass-produced idea of style and form.
You must create your own; an expression of automotive craftsmanship fine
enough to park beside the finest hand built yachts. You commission a motorcar as others
commission a new kitchen.
It’s a hard choice, but someone has to make it. American or foreign? You’ve got both, and for this car, it’s going
to be American. They build some
beautiful yachts in Europe but our native craftsmen are very fine too.
Sedan or utility?
That’s an easy question. This
vehicle’s job is to travel to the waterfront, and there may be a need to carry
rigging, guests, live bait or giant fish.
An open utility is the only answer.
Open car or closed?
It’s summer on the oceanfront, folks! The only way to ride is under and
open top. How else will you move the
fishing poles, and how will parade guests stand and wave? Open tourer it is.
Now we’re getting down to it. Who makes such a vehicle? Not Cadillac. Not Lincoln. Not Chrysler. International Scout? Too boxy. One of the best loved open top sport
utilities in the postwar period is the Willys Jeepster. That, folks, is the Commodore’s Choice. Isn’t this a magnificent example?
The common Jeepster had an economy level of finish, with
inexpensive vinyl seats and basic, simple trim.
But even simple can be interpreted with beauty. Basic lacquer can be replaced with the finest
Glausurit urethane finishes. Basic vinyl
seating can be replaced with the finest leathers. Wilton wool can pad the floor better than tar
paper.
This is the famous Go-Devil motor, the engine that
earned a reputation as “the motor that won World War II” in
the original Jeep.
Here's how it began . . .
And he she is today . . .
Here's how it began . . .
And he she is today . . .
1948 Jeepster engine bay with Go Devil engine |
You won’t win any drag races in this old Jeepster, and you won’t be running the
fast lane on the Interstate, but in a car like this you will have something
truly unique. Like a fine wooden boat,
this is a car to treasure for a lifetime.
There’s restoration, and then there’s Restoration.
We started with what was optimistically called "a well restored example."
In the image above expert body man Al Keinath looks at what we're facing. Three different shades of burgundy on the nose alone. A full quarter-inch of plastic filler in some spots. Rust holes covered in household caulk. A cardboard firewall that's painted car color to hide the crumbling. Chips, bangs, and nothing fits. It takes two hands to shut the door, and a good kick to get it open. The bottom of the hood has a layer of black goo to hide the imperfections. And the condition of the undercarriage . . .
But we will make it new again! Better than new, in fact. We'll be finishing this with the level of craftsmanship you find in a fine wood boat. No corners cut in this job . .
We started with what was optimistically called "a well restored example."
In the image above expert body man Al Keinath looks at what we're facing. Three different shades of burgundy on the nose alone. A full quarter-inch of plastic filler in some spots. Rust holes covered in household caulk. A cardboard firewall that's painted car color to hide the crumbling. Chips, bangs, and nothing fits. It takes two hands to shut the door, and a good kick to get it open. The bottom of the hood has a layer of black goo to hide the imperfections. And the condition of the undercarriage . . .
But we will make it new again! Better than new, in fact. We'll be finishing this with the level of craftsmanship you find in a fine wood boat. No corners cut in this job . .
Reshaping the rear contours |
The body work is done on a stand |
A thousand little parts to refinish or rebuild |
Almost ready for paint |
Lots of metal work |
The burgundy paint is on! |
Painting the gloss black two-tone |
Some final welding on the body |
The convertible top attachments are handmade wood |
Inner panels get painted first, in Glausurit |
Fitting the frame for the convertible top |
Fitting up the interior |
The finished body |
Rebuilt engine and transmission ready to install. |
The Go-Devil engine goes back in place |
Installing new vintage wiring |
Summer has arrived, and this 1948 Jeepster is once again . . King of the road . . .
At Robison Service, we started out restoring European classics, many years ago. We were lucky to find patrons who appreciated our work and commissioned more and more. As we grew, people asked for higher and higher standards of workmanship. I wasn't surprised - after all, we worked on some of the finest cars in the world. Mercedes-Benz, Bentley, and Rolls Royce. Then people said, "Can you do that level of work on my father's old Willys?" And of course we can. And we did. These are the cars America grew up with and loved, interpreted in a whole new way. You may have seen Jeepsters, but I guarantee you've never seen one like this!
The greatest thing about these projects is that each one is totally unique. I'm proud to call them expressions of the auto restorer's art; translating our client's visions into drivable pieces of sculpture..
John Elder Robison is the general manager of J E Robison Service Company, independent restoration and Bosch Authorized Car Service specialists in Springfield, Massachusetts. John is a longtime technical consultant to the Land Rover, Porsche, and Rolls Royce Owner's Clubs, and he’s owned and restored many of these fine vehicles. Find him online at www.robisonservice.com or in the real world at 413-785-1665
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