This is a one owner Commando that has a lot of personalization and was in the middle of being rewired when the owner passed away. Here is the story of the Commando, details of what you get, and the things you will need to get it back on the trails. THE STORY: This 1970 Jeep Jeepster Commando was purchased new by the late owner from Dick Steele Chrysler-Jeep in Reseda, CA on 8/29/1970. The Commando was his pride and joy, always keeping it garaged, serviced, and built for survival. It originally came with the factory V6, which was due for a rebuild in 1992, but opted to swap in a '68 Buick 350 and fresh automatic TH-400 transmission for more power and reliability. The owner worked at the GM plant in Van Nuys where they built Camaros, Firebirds, and Buick Skylarks. He consulted with the Buick and Chevy engineers about which motor would be best for his Commando. They determined the Buick V8 fit the best with the least amount of modifications.

WHAT YOU GET: The '68 Buick 350 was rebuilt by Skercevic Automotive Machine in Ventura, CA in 1992 and barely driven since. The TH-400 transmission was rebuilt by A-1 Transmission with lower gear ratios on 1st gear (-21%) and 2nd gear (-6%). Both axles were serviced prior to being parked, according to the son of the owner. The front axle is the factory Dana 27A with open differential and the rear is a Dana 44 with with Trac-Loc, both with 3.31:1 gear ratio. Suspension is handled by locally built leaf springs with a 2" lift and Rancho 5000 shocks at all four corners. Poly bushings and Confer shackles in the rear round it out. The Warn winch has never been used and still has the factory tag on it. It is the highly desirable W8274 model and it worth about $2,000.

The Commando underwent a cosmetic refresh between 2002 and 2007, where the rust free body was removed from the frame. The rust free frame was sandblasted and painted black. The body was sanded and resprayed the current shade of blue with all exterior badges removed. The top was in excellent condition, but received preventive maintenance by filling in the seam that is known to rust and resprayed white. The floors were rust free and did not require any metal work, and were painted black.

The interior consists of aftermarket Recaro seats, custom dash, complete with Stewart Warner gauges. A Cobra CB radio is mounted below the dash, complemented with a Pyramid Phase III Antenna Matcher. The rear seat was replaced with a storage box, containing a full size spare tire on a matching wheel, large storage area behind the front seats, and first aid kits. An onboard air compressor is mounted in the rear of the cargo area. Details about the bumpers and their contents. You always feel more secure knowing there is an RPG storage tube that is the perfect size for toilet paper rolls.

WHAT YOU NEED: The Commando was in the middle of being rewired, so it will need all of the dash gauges, additional fuses, overhead console, and some accessories connected. The wiring has midway blocks so that the connections are more secure and do not come loose when off-roading. This was a trick the owner learned in WWII. The son reports that the Jeep was running great prior to and during the re-wiring project, so the ignition switch and related starting components are hooked up. The engine starts on a dime and idles perfectly. It has been tested running directly from a fuel can. The fuel tank should be checked for residue from sitting. The passenger and driver seats need to be mounted. The tires need to be replaced as they are unsafe to drive on due to age.

CA clean title and registered as Non-op, ready for transfer.