Forward Control

When I was growing up, every Labor Day we'd attend the Goshen Fair, the nearest thing to a county fair in our part of Connecticut. Among the cows and sheep, not far from the midway of games and rides and exhibits of prize vegetables were a number of tractor dealers from whom I'd always collect some literature. At the 1957 fair, the local Jeep dealer was showing his crop of new Forward Control Jeeps, a model I had not seen before.

The FCs were another clever idea from Brooks Stevens, who had been responsible for the original Jeep station wagon and the later Jeepster. They were basically Universal Jeeps with a cab set forward for maximum use of the short wheelbase. The FC150 sat on an 81-inch wheelbase and had a 5,000-pound gross vehicle weight rating; the FC170 was a longer (103-inch wheelbase) version rated at 7,000 pounds GVW. The FC150 had the familiar 134 cid Hurricane F-head four, the FC170 was a six with Kaiser's old (née Continental) 226 cid L-head engine. FC150s had a low pickup box, while FC170's was longer and deeper. The FC170 could also be had with a factory rack body. Visibility was unparalleled, due to the cab location, although having the steering wheel ahead of the wheels caused a sensation familiar to drivers of VW Microbuses.

I have seen very few Jeep FCs since that time, so it was with much nostalgia that I received some issues of the Shoreline-Area Auto Events Calendar published by my friend Steve Mierz in southern Connecticut. He had received some FC pix from contributor Greg Mattesen, and thus began a four-issue series of FC features, some of which, with their permission, I share with you here.

In 1972, Greg's father rescued an FC150 from a nearby backyard, towing it home with his grandfather's '57 Chevy pickup. Suitably rejuvenated, it gave good service plowing snow. The vaunted engine accessibility seems to have been exaggerated; to really get at the powerplant you have to nestle right up to it. I've heard it said, too, that the forward cab and engine caused the trucks to be overly light in the rear. Greg's Uncle Billy also had an FC150, often used on fishing trips into the wilderness.

Steve Mierz, meanwhile, had been checking out several FCs lurking in the central part of our Nutmeg State. At Larry's Auto Repair in Middletown was a red FC150, with plow attached, keeping company with a 1953 Ford. It appears to have a non-standard flatbed, but aside from generous surface rust seems basically complete.

A few miles away in Middlefield, Steve found this FC150 pickup, incarcerated by trees and much the worse for wear. Greg, too, had been on the lookout and reported on this FC belonging to a foundation company in Farmington.

It turns out that not all FCs are derelict. Doug Davis, up in Scotia, New York, has this FC150, named "Stubby." Restored by a previous owner, it has been driven just 18,000 miles, and spent its entire life in Scotia. Now assigned to show duty, Stubby boasts a matching set of Scotch coolers. When was the last time you saw any of those?

As it happens, last autumn I happened upon an FC150in the car show at Hershey. They're out there, both restored and unrestored; you've just got to keep your eyes open.