Rides From the Readers: 1950 Willys Overland Jeep Station Wagon

Hagerty readers and Hagerty Drivers Club members share their cherished collector and enthusiast vehicles with us via our contact email, tips@hagerty.com. We’re showcasing some of our favorite stories among these submissions. To have your car featured, send complete photography and your story of ownership to us at the above email.

Today’s featured car is a 1950 Willys Overland Jeep Station Wagon. One of the first all-steel SUVs, the robust wagon combined plenty of passenger and cargo space with handsome styling. It slotted into a lineup of compact CJ Jeeps, the Willys Pickup, and a compact cab-over model called the FC. In 1950, Willys swapped out the Go Devil flathead four-cylinder with the 72-hp Hurricane flathead, which powers our noble road warrior of today.

This particular ’50 Jeep Station Wagon belongs to Dan and Jean Fuccella. Dan first bought it for $250 in 1977 as a project car to fill his off-hours, but despite several years of work and an engine rebuild, the Jeep was due for some more attention in 2000. By then, Dan and Jean had a definite goal: Get the Jeep ready for some cross-country treks. Beginning in 2003, the wagon proved a faithful traveller through 37 of the 50 states as of early 2019. In 2013, the Fuccellas put 10,000 miles under the wagon’s wheels on an eight-week tour of the 12 western national parks, a trip done in homage to the National Park-to-Park Highway of the 1920s. Check out the pictures below—the Jeep looks right at home out West.