1950 Willy's-Overland Jeepster Concourse Restoration (Phaeton/Convertible)

19500000 Willys VJ-473 Jeepster

We found this rare 1950 Willy's-Overland Jeepster VJ-473 being stored in a heated barn in North Dakota for many years bought it for nearly$10000 and had it shipped to Michigan. We put $5700 into it to get it "driveable". Having had so much fun driving it and knowing what an important part of history this was we decided toinvest in making it concourse ready. We shipped it to Florida and put nearly $39000 into it where no expense was spared ...and it is beautiful! Since that time wehave only driven it 126 miles and it has been stored in our heated garage in. After World War II Jeep trademark owner Willys believed that the market for the military-type Jeep would be limited to farmers and foresters therefore they began producing the "CJ" (or Civilian Jeep) to fill this growing segment. Willys then began producing the new Jeep Wagon in 1946 and then the Jeep Truck in 1947. Realizing a gap in their product lineup Willys developed the Jeepster to crossover from their "utilitarian" type truck vehicles to the passenger automobile market. In the process the automaker developed the Jeepster "one of America's most daring postwar automobile designs." Willys-Overland lacked the machinery to form deep-drawn fenders or complicated shapes so the vehicle had to use a simple and slab-sided design. Industrial designer Brooks Stevens styled a line of postwar vehicles for Willys using a common platform that included the Jeep pickup and station wagon as well as a sporty two-door open car that he envisioned as a sports car for veterans of World War II. The 1950 model year saw the first styling revisions that included a redesigned front end featuring a V-shaped grille with horizontal chrome trim and a new dashboard. New engines and designations dependent on what part of the year it was. Early 1950s four-cylinder Jeepsters were VJ-3 463 and the straight-six Jeepsters were VJ-3 663. The later-year Jeepsters were VJ-473 and VJ-673 respectively.Total 1950 Jeepster production was 5845 units of which 4066 were four-cylinder models and 1779 were sixes.This is the last phaeton made my a major automotive manufacturer.Here is a list of work completed during the restoration: Body and Paint ($9500) Under coating ($950) Floor pans and rockers Chassi restoration ($3000) Engine work ($1200) Trans and rear end Complete New Chrome ($5400) Steering wheel restoration New wiring ($950) (2) seat belts New Interior and carpet (Tan/Tan) ($2100) New top New Side Curtains New parts ($4200) New tire and hub caps and rings ($2400) All new glass and rubber All new interior panels Drive shaft repair Steering box repair New turn signals Gauge restoration Chrome steering column ($1200) Dash trim Replace Shifter box New Visors Floor pans rust repair both sides New Clutch 12 Volt Voltage Reg Gauge Restoration Rail Switch Water pump Steering wheel restoration Plugs and Wires Head light bulbs / 12 volt 12V-6V Convertor Heater Heater Switch Heater Value hoses and clamps New wood top bow rear tack strip for top Install top / Boot Wiper motor rebuild Balance Paid for Restoration: $38908.25