1969 Jeepster

[Dan 48 kaiser special]

I have a 1969 Jeepster It has been sitting for 20 years. We are getting ready to put our house up for sale after 36 years. I was looking it over deciding what to do with it. When I noticed a tag on the firewall that said manufactured by Kaiser Jeep corp. The V.I.N. is 8705F1757745 My question, is this thing worth anything for parts or should I scrap it. It has V6 standard trans. 4x4 I drove it in where it's parked but the body is very rusted. I would welcome any input or offers. danshanfleck@hotmail.com

[damagedduck]

Depends on where your at? I see some dirt cheap on different C/List.............Then here they can be untouchable  (Colorado)

[HJ-ETEX]

Yes, it is a Kaiser. That's what the title on my 68 says as well. You may be surprised to know that the 225 V6 is a Kaiser engine. GM sold the tooling to Kaiser who had used the engine in a few CJ5/6s previously and it became the optional engine in the Commando/Jeepster for a few years. Then when AMC bought Kaiser Jeep, they decided they would rather use their inline 6 than the V6 so the tooling was unused for 2 years until the head of GM personally drove up to Kenosha and negotiated the repurchase of the tooling and rights.  GM updated the engine to become the well known Buick 231/3800 V6.
All though the ranks are diminishing, people with CJ5s and earlier CJs valued Commando/Jeepsters for parts, especially the steering boxes.

[kaiserfrazerlibrary]

The Jeepster under Kaiser-Jeep production was a stand-alone model rolled out in 1967; entertainer Danny Thomas appeared in many early Jeepster ads as Toledo's favorite son.  In 1968 or 1969 model year, the open type vehicle became part of the Commando Line which included the Jeepster, an pick-up truck with 2-seat cab and an enclosed utility vehicle.

[HJ-ETEX]

The vehicle we are referring to went by several names. Commando, Jeepster, C101 (from the wheelbase). Several different top combinations were available. But to be specific the Jeepster was a particular soft top/boot combination as shown in the ads Jack posted (specifically the ones with Danny Thomas). Most of these vehicles you are going to see would be properly termed Commando. 
Some years back, I was at a wrecking yard and I could have bought a Commando with a V6/TH400 (yes there were such things) or a 1959 Studebaker 4WD truck. I bought the Studebaker (turns out it was 1 of 15) as a favor for a Studebaker Club buddy. It took 6 years before I found the Commando I have now which is a V6/3spd. 

[joefrazer]

Speaking of Commandos....here's a project car for sale. The Vega bumpers almost look like they belong on it.

http://cleveland.craigslist.org/cto/5008481253.html

[HJ-ETEX]

Sniff! It's better than my Commando!
BTW, the alternator is a 10SI GM unit that didn't appear until 1971. The 10SI is a favorite choice for fixing charging problems on a lot of collectible vehicles.
Judging from the pump pulley, some one bought a PS setup from a later GM car with a Buick V6. The big problem is whether the PS steering box will fit on the frame - Commandos did use Saginaw (GM) steering boxes.