The Arizona desert is great country for driving off road, with rugged trails, boulders to climbs and steep, rocky grades that test both your 4X4 and yourself. The thing is, to really get back in isolated country, you need a sturdy machine that won’t poop out or break something in the middle of nowhere.
And, of course, you want to rough it with style.
The Pick of the Day looks like just the thing, a tough 1973 Jeep Commando that has been bestowed with the power and reliability of a Chevy 350cid V8 and Turbo 400 automatic transmission.
You could refer to this as a resto-mod since it maintains the look of the longer-wheelbase Commando, although with a mild lift and 32-inch Falcon all-terrain tires on US Mag alloy wheels.
And the Jeep’s not so highly finished that you’d worry about getting a few dings or scratches (what Zonies call desert pinstripes) while bounding through the countryside. There are already a few scratches, chips and worn spots. according to the Denver, Colorado, dealer advertising the Jeep on ClassicCars.com.
The repainted Commando is most certainly presentable, though, and the interior looks to be in decent shape. The truck has 80,000 miles showing on its odometer.
Other upgrades and recent service include KYN shocks, custom steel bumpers front and rear, Equus gauges, a Rhino-lined floor, a roll bar, redone seats and a custom center console, the seller says.
Mechanically, the truck has a rebuilt Rochester 2-barrel carburetor, an HEI electronic distributor, power steering and, of course, Jeep’s signature 4-wheel-drive system.
The Commando was Jeep’s replacement for the Jeepster and by 1973 had been restyled with a conventional full-width grille, which makes it less-popular among Jeep aficionados who favor the traditional front-end look handed down through the years from the WWII military Jeeps.
No matter since this solid craft looks built for using, not collecting or investing. The price tag seems rock bottom as well, at $14,900.
Just don’t tell your friends that you’re “going Commando” since in today’s slang, that means going without underwear. And that’s nobody’s business but your own.
To view this listing on ClassicCars.com, see Pick of the Day.
"Commando" is an appropriate name cause it is "butt" ugly.
Bought a 1972 Jeep Commando back in the early 80’s. I liked the "Chevy Blazer" style grill and the angled tailgate. I found it in a local trade paper. It was listed at $500.00, with no picture. Drove 3 hrs with my friends and a trailer. As soon as I laid eyes on it, I knew it was going home with me. Didn’t even test drive it, except for loading it on the trailer. What did I get for $500. How about a AMC 401, headers with purple horny header mufflers exiting in front of the rear tires, Turbo 400 trans with a Hurst shifter, narrowed 1 ton axles with 5.38 gears and lockers, full roll cage, lifted springs or 35" tires, (later I installed 40" Super Swampers) pipe bumpers front & rear, rear seat came out of a Subaru Brat with the handles, Orange with black striping and black soft top. Only thing wrong was a broken left front axle. Which we welded back up and lasted for years that way. Best fun I ever spent money on. Stock looking maybe not so good, but the way mine was set up, totally outrageous and in your face with attitude.