Jeep Forward Control

Jeep Forward Control
Overview
Manufacturer	Jeep
Production	1956–1965
Designer	Brooks Stevens
Layout	Front engine, four-wheel drive
Powertrain
Engine	2.2 litres (134 cu in) Hurricane F4-134 I4 (FC-150, FC-160) 3.7 litres (226 cu in) Super Hurricane I6 (FC-170, FC-170 DRW, FC-180) 4.5 litres (272 cu in) Y-block V8 (FC-180, FC-190)
Transmission	3-speed Borg-Warner T-90 manual 4-speed Borg-Warner T-98 manual (from 1958) 3-speed Cruise-O-Matic automatic (FC-180, FC-190)
Dimensions
Wheelbase	81 in (2,057 mm) FC-150[1][2] 93 in (2,362 mm) FC-160 103 in (2,616 mm) FC-170, FC-170 DRW 120 in (3,048 mm) FC-180 150 in (3,810 mm) FC-190
Length	147.5 in (3,746 mm) (FC-150)[3] 181.5 in (4,610 mm) (FC-170, FC-170 DRW)

The Jeep Forward Control is a truck that was produced by Willys and then Kaiser Jeep from 1956 to 1965. It was also assembled in other international markets. The layout featured a cab over (forward control) design.

Design

Willys produced utility vehicles that remained almost unchanged since 1947. As the marketplace grew more competitive in the 1950s, management developed a new range of modern cab and body trucks. Designer Brooks Stevens used styling cues from full-size cab-over-engine trucks. Engineering was based on existing CJ-5. Power came from the Hurricane F-head and L-head 4-cylinder engines.

The Forward Control models were primarily marketed as work vehicles for corporate, municipal, military, as well as civilian use. Regular pickup box beds were standard, but customers were offered a large number of "Jeep approved" specialized bodies from outside suppliers. These ranged from simple flatbeds to complete tow trucks, dump trucks, and fire trucks.

Proposals included a "Forward Control Commuter" design that may have been among the earliest minivan-type vehicles. Three operational concept cars were built by Reutter in Stuttgart, West Germany. Brooks Stevens was also involved in the transformation of this truck platform into a passenger vehicle.^[4]

FC-150

Introduced in 1956, FC-150 models were based on the CJ-5 (81 in (210 cm) wheelbase) with a 78 in (200 cm) bed. In 1958, the FC-150 received a new, wider chassis. Its track was widened from 48 in (120 cm) to 57 in (140 cm). A 1958 FC-150 concept featured an 83.5 in (210 cm) wheelbase, a widened track (which made production), and the new T-98 4-speed manual transmission. This model had a gross weight of 5,000 lb (2,300 kg).^[5]

1957 Jeep model FC-170 with pickup cargo bed

Fire engine van body Forward Control

FC-170

Introduced in 1957, FC-170 models had a 103 in (260 cm) wheelbase with a 108 in (270 cm) bed. This was achieved by the forward-control layout. A 1958 concept version of the FC-170 featured a 108 in (270 cm) wheelbase. This was required to accommodate a new 272 ci V8 engine (based on the Ford Y-block) with a new transfer case. A new 3-speed automatic transmission (based on the Ford Cruise-O-Matic) was only available with the inline-6 due to possible driveshaft angle issues. A T-98 4-speed manual was available with both engines. This model had a gross weight of 7,000 lb (3,200 kg).^[5]

FC-170 DRW

This is a 1 short ton (0.91 t) dual-wheeled rear axle (dually) model with a 120 in (300 cm) load bed. These models have gross weights of 8,000 lb (3,600 kg) or 9,000 lb (4,100 kg).

FC-180

The FC-180 was shown in concept form on paper in a 1957 Willys company brochure titled "1958 Projects - Product Engineering". It was essentially a lengthened FC-170 DRW (wheelbase increased from 103 in to 120 in). Features included a 150 in flatbed, the 226 ci Super Hurricane inline-6 or the 272 ci V8 as available engines, and the T-98 4-speed manual or 3-speed automatic as available transmissions. This model had a gross weight of 10,000 lb (4,500 kg).^[5]

FC-190

The FC-190 was also shown in concept form in 1957. It featured a 150 in (380 cm) wheelbase, a 202 in (510 cm) flat bed and tandem dually axles. The T-98 manual transmission was standard with the automatic as an option. No six-cylinder option was offered; only the V8 was available. The FC-190 would use components from the FC-170 and FC-180 to keep costs down. This model had a gross weight of 16,000 lb (7,300 kg).^[5]

Production

The FC Jeeps were exhibited to Jeep dealers in a closed-circuit telecast on November 29, 1956, and were on display for the public at the December 1956 National Automobile Show in New York City. The FC-150 went on sale at dealer showrooms on December 12, 1956. The initial response to the four-wheel drive FC Jeeps was favorable. Their best sales year came in 1957, when 9,738 trucks were sold. After the introduction of the FC-170 in 1957, FC-150 sales dropped to 1,546 units in 1959, before rebounding to 4,925 in 1960. Neither model became the big seller that Willys had hoped. Total production in nine years was just over 30,000 units. The FC line was discontinued in 1964.^[6]

Military variations

Aside from Forward Control Jeeps being built for civilian use, there were also four models manufactured for the military.

• M676 - Basically a civilian FC with minor modifications
• M677 - A four-door crew cab with a canopy over the bed
• M678 - An FC with a van body
• M679 - An M678 refitted as an ambulance

Non-USA models

c.1970s domestic market in India cowl & chassis FC-160

Numerous versions of FC models (most not available in the domestic market) were manufactured in many other nations under collaboration agreements with successive owners of Jeep: Willys-Overland, Kaiser Jeep, and American Motors (AMC).

India

Mahindra & Mahindra Limited in Bombay (Mumbai), India began its vehicle business in 1947 by assembling complete knock down (CKD) Jeeps.^[7] It started FC-150 production in India in 1965 and later expanded the model range for the domestic market to include the FC-170, as well as its own intermediate sized FC-160.

Mahindra FJ-470 or 460 with a mini bus body

The FC-160 (and later FJ-160) uses a 93 in (240 cm) wheelbase. The pick-up box was by Mahindra and other bodies were available. The "cowl and chassis only" FC-160 model was popular during the 1970 s for conversion into mini-buses, ambulances, and other vehicles. Most have the basic front face of the FC. Manufacture of the Mahindra FC-160 pickup truck ended in the summer of 1999.

The FC-260 Diesel light truck was introduced in 1975. Currently, Mahindra's four-wheel drive FJ-460 (introduced in 1983) and two-wheel drive FJ-470 van or mini-bus vehicles retain the grille arrangement of the original Forward Control. These vehicles can accommodate from 11 to 15 passengers plus the driver.^[8]

Spain

The Jeep "SV" line of Forward Control vans made in Spain. Note the panel version of the van and the crew cab of the pickup.

In the 1960s, Kaiser-Willys licensed Vehículos Industriales y Agrícolas (VIASA) of Zaragoza in Aragon to build Jeeps in Spain.^[9] The "SV" line of commercial trucks were built using the Commando 4x4 Jeep chassis, just like the FC models in the United States.^[10] However, the Iberian models were unlike any Jeeps produced anywhere else.^[11] The SV line included the Campeador (one-ton pickup), Duplex (double cab pickup), Furgon (one-ton van), and the Toledo (9-seat luxury passenger van).^[10] Two engines were available: the Super Hurricane in-line six petrol and a Perkins 4-cylinder diesel.^[10]

During the late 1970s, VIASA was absorbed by Ebro trucks (a division of Motor Iberica). Production ended in 1983 in favour of the modern Jeep models that VIASA are still assembling today with new updated American mechanicals.

References

Inline

General

• Auto Editors of Consumer Guide (2007-12-27). "1956 Kaiser-Jeep FC-150". howstuffworks.com. Retrieved 2010-05-01. 
• Foster, Patrick R. (June 2007). "S1957-65 Jeep Forward Control Trucks: Too Far Forward?". Collectible Automobile. 24 (1): 42–63. 

External links

Wikimedia Commons has media related to Jeep Forward Control.

• The FC Connection, retrieved on September 14, 2010.