Willys Motors constantly searched for new ways to leverage and repackage its popular Jeep platform. Here’s one of the more intriguing examples, the FC series of 1957-1965.
Willys-Overland of Toledo—later Willys Motors, later still Kaiser Jeep—found its long-term future when it landed the U.S. military contract to build the Jeep, a vehicle that became famous in World War II for its ruggedness and utility. Wisely trademarking the Jeep brand, after the war the company expanded the concept into a broad range of pickups, panel trucks, station wagons, and even a quasi-sports car called the Jeepster. And in December of 1956, the company rolled out yet another variation on the familiar Jeep theme: the Forward Control or FC series.
The FC line was offered in two basic models: the short-wheelbase FC-150 and the longer FC-170. With a wheelbase of 81 inches, the FC-150 was essentially a cab-over-engine version of the standard CJ-5 civilian Jeep, with the driver perched roughly where the hood would be. This forward-control layout provided a full 6.5-ft. cargo bed with an overall vehicle length of only 147 inches—shorter than a Nash Metropolitan. For 1958, the track width was widened from the original 49 inches (the standard Jeep dimension) to 57 inches, producing a significant improvement in lateral stability.
A cute Jeep-faced cab module—reportedly but not officially designed by Brooks Stevens—provided all-weather protection, while the chassis offered Jeep’s proven 4WD system and Hurricane four-cylinder engine. With its stubby wheelbase and ideal seating position, the FC-150 was particularly adept at commercial snow removal. For shopping center parking lots, it was a thing of beauty and perfection.
The FC-170 model offered a somewhat longer wheelbase of 103 inches, a 6-cylinder engine, and an 8-ft cargo bed, and there was also a FC-170 DRW version with a dual rear axle for the heavy-duty upfitter market. (Even longer FC-180 and FC-190 models powered by the Ford Y-Block V8 were proposed, but were never produced in volume, it appears.) Numerous military variants of the Jeep FC were commissioned, including ambulances and reconnaissance vehicles, and the design was also licensed to VIASA in Spain and to Mahindra in India, where production continued into recent years (below). We’d know that face anywhere.
There was an enthusiastic market for the Jeep FC in America, but it turned out to be a small one. Business was brisk in 1957, the first model year, with more than 9,500 units sold, but once the initial demand was satisfied, the volume fell dramatically to a few thousand per year.
For his part, Stevens explored the concept of an executive passenger van on the FC chassis and built three prototypes (read our story about the Willys Commuter here) but the project never went anywhere. Kaiser Jeep Corporation discontinued the FC series in MY 1965 with around 30,000 vehicles built in total. Like all Jeeps, the FC was subject to extreme, unforgiving use (not to mention rust) and the quirky cabovers are a rare sight today.
This is an interesting little blog for a Saturday morning. I recall a pair of these FC units sat in a 2 story brick former carriage factory built in the immediate post Civil War era in a little town of Red Oak, Iowa. Memory fails but they may have been a similar design made by Ford Motor Company during the same era. They were in basically good condition and I should have acquired and restored them. The old Lane carriage factory was demolished and the two vehicles disappeared. Time waits for no one and moves inexorably onward.
Always liked the looks of those, but have never seen one in person, only in pics. From the low production numbers, now I know why.
As a Jeep nut I know would say,,, Jeep jeep jeep jeep jeep!!!!
I suspect they would need a kidney belt to drive, even a normal 50s Jeep does. Forward control would have been a small market but if they could build them quick and cheap it still should have been profitable, even later on.
Was it these that came with a posthole borer as an option? 8ft would have been ideal for that job as most posts are 8 foot or less. Bore a dozen holes then plant a dozen posts etc etc.