Body and Interior
The first thing we noticed was the cutouts in the hood. They aren't functional because they don't vent any air, but Kelley was messing around and decided the cutouts in the dash needed to match something, so he sunk some tubes into the hood and welded it up. From there, he went on to build front tube fenders that would work with the Jeepster grille. There is also a set of half-doors, made out of stock Jeepster doors, that provide better visibility and airflow through the cab.
The Jeepster lost its tailgate and top, but then got a tire carrier that bolted to the rollcage. Due to the acute angle of the back of the Jeepster body, the cage was flanged and sleeved to preserve easy removal. Behind the rear seat and under the spare is the location of the air tank, tool chest, and some spare parts. Meanwhile, behind the front Honda Prelude seats with Wet Okole covers are spare front and rear driveshafts.
Up front, the stock radio and ashtray locations were covered with an aluminum plate and filled with four Autometer Sport Comp 251/48-inch gauges. The stock speedometer is where you'd expect it, but the somewhat odd heater control/headlight dimmer switch was killed because it was in the way of the cage. On the passenger side, the glovebox was similarly vetoed, and an aluminum plate was mounted in its place adjacent to the 3-inch diameter cutout for the cage (done to maximize legroom). A Grant GT steering wheel tops off the Jeepster column, and a Rock knob sits atop the SM420 stick.
Good, Bad, & What's it For
Kelley has been wheeling this Jeepster for years now in its current form. Since he didn't have a final goal in mind, aside from wheeling with his friends, there wasn't a fixed build style to stick to; the engine is just about the only thing he is looking to change. With a V-6 and 38s, it just doesn't have the power to tear it up in the dunes, mud, or just general driving. And, while he would like more power, it works so well for him in the rocks now, he just isn't sure it's worth all the work and money to put the V-8 in.
Why I Featured ItI've got a thing for Jeepsters-VJ, C-101, C-104, it doesn't matter. So when I laid eyes on Kelley's '67, I just had to get a closer look.
The custom cutouts on the hood, the one-off half-doors with rock rash, and I was intrigued. It had the right stance, the way the dash was cleanly cut around the rollcage was cool, and once I looked under the rear and saw the suspension setup, I knew I had to talk to this guy.
Talking to him only sealed the deal. He wheels it anywhere he wants, has a tally off the top of his head how many times its been on its side or top, and it's underpowered for such a big Jeepster (but he doesn't let that phase him).
Also, Kelley is full of anecdotes and stories about his Jeepster, such as his quick purchase story: "I originally found the Jeep behind a buddy's shop and purchased it from the current owner. The Jeep had the wrong VIN tag, so I did some research to find the owner before the guy I got it from. I came to find out a different guy bought it from a dentist in Providence, Utah, back in 1982 to take into Mexico and use as a drug-running vehicle, so the VIN didn't matter."-Pete Trasborg