Restored FC-150 Willys Is In Pristine Condition
In the world of auto racing, there are stock cars, formula cars, and dragsters, but it’s hard to find a funny car. In farm country, there are Silverados, Rams, and F-150s, but it’s hard to find an FC-150. At Earl Pamperin’s place in Juneau, Wis., both funny and FC-150 can be found embodied in one vehicle – a fully restored 1957 Jeep FC-150.
Whatever adjective one might use to describe Pamperin’s blue ribbon masterpiece, some call it cute, unique, or interesting (Pamperin calls it beautiful ugly), no one can deny it’s a head-turner.
The vehicle was built by the Willys company, which began in 1908 and rose to fame and admiration because of the iconic WWII Jeep. After the Korean War, the company struggled to find new footing. One of its products, built to gain a foothold in the 4x4 market, was the forward cab FC-150. The cab sat over the engine, allowing for a shorter profile while still providing a 78-in. box with better than half-ton hauling capacity.
In 1957, less than 6,000 were made. Pamperin has one of the few survivors. “I credit my school shop classes for a good introduction to wood, metals, and welding,” Pamperin says. “I added more knowledge and skills at a technical college and working on military airframes while serving in the Navy.”
After the Navy, he completed an apprenticeship while working at a precision sheet metal company. At that point, he had the skills needed to beat auto panels into submission. Pamperin’s interest in restoration started with the barn discovery of a 1937 Willys sedan. After 8 years of hard work, he had a museum-quality car. He then found a ‘39 Ford Cab Over needing his expertise. That one only took 10 years, but it got him ready for the FC-150 challenge, which combined his interest in Jeeps and cab overs.
After a long search, Pamperin located an FC-150 in Montana and hauled it back to Wisconsin. The Jeep was rusty, had parts missing, and was battered from an accident. It didn’t need TLC. It needed tough love, and over the next seven years, Pamperin brought it back, doing most of the work himself. “I’m not a renovation purist,” says Pamperin. “I restore based on what I like and what makes sense.”
He says the original interior was utilitarian and boring. Inspired by a previous owner, Pamperin found a jazzy and colorful plaid interior, which adds to the quirkiness of the Jeep and brings smiles to those who see it.
Pamperin says the FC-150 never caught on with the public. It had some attributes like the ability to climb most hills, and with its solid axles, the ability to detect even the smallest defect on a road. Hitting a bump at 40 mph could rearrange kidneys. The vehicle faded away after a few years, so only a lucky few ever see one. Fewer still see one as good as this one.
What’s next for Pamperin? Well, there’s no rust growing on his rocker panel. He’s already found his next restoration in boxes of parts, which one day will become a 1952 Willys M38A1 Military Jeep. It won’t be funny or a cab over, but it will be amazing. Stay tuned.
Contact: FARM SHOW Followup, Earl Pamperin, Juneau, Wis.
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Restored FC-150 Willys Is In Pristine Condition TRACTORS Antiques In the world of auto racing there are stock cars formula cars and dragsters but it’s hard to find a funny car In farm country there are Silverados Rams and F-150s but it’s hard to find an FC-150 At Earl Pamperin’s place in Juneau Wis both funny and FC-150 can be found embodied in one vehicle – a fully restored 1957 Jeep FC-150 Whatever adjective one might use to describe Pamperin’s blue ribbon masterpiece some call it cute unique or interesting Pamperin calls it beautiful ugly no one can deny it’s a head-turner The vehicle was built by the Willys company which began in 1908 and rose to fame and admiration because of the iconic WWII Jeep After the Korean War the company struggled to find new footing One of its products built to gain a foothold in the 4x4 market was the forward cab FC-150 The cab sat over the engine allowing for a shorter profile while still providing a 78-in box with better than half-ton hauling capacity In 1957 less than 6 000 were made Pamperin has one of the few survivors “I credit my school shop classes for a good introduction to wood metals and welding ” Pamperin says “I added more knowledge and skills at a technical college and working on military airframes while serving in the Navy ” After the Navy he completed an apprenticeship while working at a precision sheet metal company At that point he had the skills needed to beat auto panels into submission Pamperin’s interest in restoration started with the barn discovery of a 1937 Willys sedan After 8 years of hard work he had a museum-quality car He then found a ‘39 Ford Cab Over needing his expertise That one only took 10 years but it got him ready for the FC-150 challenge which combined his interest in Jeeps and cab overs After a long search Pamperin located an FC-150 in Montana and hauled it back to Wisconsin The Jeep was rusty had parts missing and was battered from an accident It didn’t need TLC It needed tough love and over the next seven years Pamperin brought it back doing most of the work himself “I’m not a renovation purist ” says Pamperin “I restore based on what I like and what makes sense ” He says the original interior was utilitarian and boring Inspired by a previous owner Pamperin found a jazzy and colorful plaid interior which adds to the quirkiness of the Jeep and brings smiles to those who see it Pamperin says the FC-150 never caught on with the public It had some attributes like the ability to climb most hills and with its solid axles the ability to detect even the smallest defect on a road Hitting a bump at 40 mph could rearrange kidneys The vehicle faded away after a few years so only a lucky few ever see one Fewer still see one as good as this one What’s next for Pamperin? Well there’s no rust growing on his rocker panel He’s already found his next restoration in boxes of parts which one day will become a 1952 Willys M38A1 Military Jeep It won’t be funny or a cab over but it will be amazing Stay tuned Contact: FARM SHOW Followup Earl Pamperin Juneau Wis
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