Going Commando – This 1967 Jeepster Commando is a Cool Curiosity in the Vintage Truck World
It started simple enough. Joe Guillaume had always wanted to have an older truck of some sort that he and his wife, Melinda, could putt around in on the weekends or an evening cruise. Something a little different that would be fun and provide a vintage driving experience.
“I finally got to a point in life to purchase an old truck. I came across the Jeepster on the side of the road in Irondale, Alabama, for sale,” Joe explains. “It was rough with a lot of dents, rust, and fluid leaks. It was also difficult to start, steer, and even stop. But I bought it.”
The 1967 Jeepster Commando was actually in better shape than when the previous owner bought it. He found it in Jasper, Alabama, with a tree growing through the engine compartment and with plywood seats. He fiddled around with it for a few years, got it running and sort of stopping, and had gathered a few original parts before deciding to let it go – and Joe was ready to finally have his own old pickup.
Joe had a few mechanical items repaired or replaced to get the Jeepster more reliable for the road and eventually decided to see about getting some bodywork done along with a few more repairs to make it more reliable on the road. A recommendation landed him at Dynamic Speed and Custom in Gadsden, Alabama, talking to Kyle Kirkman, Jeff Pierce, and Barry Alford.
“It was in pretty sad shape,” Kyle says. “We felt it would be more important to first work on the safety and mechanical side of the Jeep before any bodywork. We walked Joe through the process and details involved in quality repairs and restoration and surprisingly, he said ‘let’s do it’.”
The Jeepster was quickly stripped down to the bare frame with notes being taken about what parts could be restored, what was missing, and where things could be improved. Joe wanted to retain the unique Jeepster Commando appearance with only a few upgrades in the name of drivability and safety, such as power front disc brakes, a five-speed transmission, and a Jeepsterman 2-inch lift complemented with 15×6-inch steel wheels and 30-inch Open Country A/T Toyo tires.
The odd-fire 225c.i. Dauntless V6 – essentially a Buick Nailhead V8 with two missing cylinders – was sent to Michael Runyans at M&H Performance for a complete rebuild. Michael had trouble finding a replacement cam but was lucky to score an NOS shaft that even came in the original box! The heads were machined and received hardened seats and guides, and a Pertronix Ignitor was installed in the factory distributor to provide a clean trigger signal for the Holley two-barrel Sniper EFI system. An adapter from Novak Conversions allowed for the AX15 five-speed trans to be installed along with the original transfer case.
The drivetrain and chassis rebuild were pretty straightforward, but the body proved to be more challenging due to the lack of available reproduction panels. “We fabricated pretty much everything,” Kyle says when talking about the sheet metal work. At one point, the body consisted of the firewall and front floor section sitting on a cart!
The Dynamic team modified the bed floor into a one-piece unit (factory was several pieces), incorporated Ford wheel housings, and added a spare tire holder. A rear bumper filler pan was created, while the front one was modified. The front fenders were modified to accommodate hood latches and to not contact the hood. Filler panels were also added to the engine compartment before the rig was sprayed in a BASF Glasurit Glacier White finish.
The interior was sparse when new, which is exactly how Joe wanted it finished. To retain the factory feel, the Dynamic team extended the dash down a little to accommodate the Vintage Air controls and 3D-printed vents. The factory radio was updated by Muscle Car Radios, the gauges by Bob’s Speedometer, and the factory column and steering wheel were rebuilt and restored. Note the custom-built shifter, console, center fold-down arm, and storage compartments behind the factory bucket seats, which were stitched in Moore and Giles leather by Michael Hunt.
The project only took about 18 months and, in the end, Joe could not be happier. “I really had no idea what I was getting into,” Joe says. “I am very fortunate to have found and worked with Kyle, Jeff, and Barry at Dynamic. Without them, this could have been a miserable experience, but instead it was a pleasure being a part of this project and working with craftsman that I could trust! The Jeepster is nicer than I ever thought it could be.”
After debuting at the Goodguys LMC Truck Southeastern Nationals, it’s time for Joe and Melinda to enjoy their old, and definitely unique, pickup!
Photos: Steven Bunker
