Welcome to the Sunday Edition of Hooniverse Weekend. Kaiser introduced the world to the Wagoneer way back in 1963, designed by the renowned designer Brooks Stevens. This was a large wagon that seemed to live on forever as a Kaiser, as an AMC, and as a Chrysler. Almost every one of these Jeeps were sold with 4WD capability, with a solid front axle and leaf springs. However, there was a unique and short lived option available on the Wagoneer and the companion Gladiator pickup; 4WD AND an independent front suspension….


We only became aware of this unusual feature after stumbling across John Meister’s photos of Bruce Rice’s Washington-based 1963 Wagoneer. Now, you know how we love Wagons on this site, and to have an original Wagoneer survivor, with not only the IFS set up, but the original “Tornado 230” single overhead cam 230 CID inline six cylinder engine under the hood, we knew we had to feature it.

According to a vintage article in Motor Trend, the IFS was:

the most significant engineering advancement on the test car was the independent front suspension layout. In a way, it resembles the famous Mercedes unit. Basically, it’s a single pivot swing axle. but where Mercedes uses a pivot point several inches below the axle’s longitudinal axis, Willys’ pivots it right on the center line. Mercedes uses the low pivot to keep camber changes at the wheel to a minimum. Because the Willys unit is used at the front, it naturally contains steering knuckles at each end and in normal operation there are no camber changes at the wheel. So in effect, while it’s basically a swing axle, the steering knuckles allow it to operate just like a full independent system. The axle is the lower control arm and works with a shorter upper control arm, which is tied into a torsion bar at its inner pivot point.

The optional cost of this unique setup in 1963 was approximately $160, which wasn’t exactly chump change back then. Speaking of costs, when Motor Trend tested the 1963 Wagoneer, that base price for a stripped 2WD example was $3,525. The one they tested with 4WD, Automatic, the IFS, Power Steering, Power Brakes (all drums by the way!), radio, heater, and Electric Windshield Wipers (Yes, this was an option) was $4,479.

Take a look at Bruce Rice’s Wagoneer here, and view the original Motor Trend article here. Do you have a better way to waste a Sunday? I didn’t think so.
Image Sources: Color: John Meister; Black & White: Motor Trend