Jeepster was produced from 1948 to 1950. PHOTO GALLERY

Now here’s something you don't see very often: a 1967 Jeep Jeepster Commando Convertible that has been listed for sale on eBay. But how about a little history before we see what the "deal" with this eBay find is?

Willys-Overland Motors introduced the Jeepster nameplate after the end of WWII as the company attempted to create a vehicle that would bridge the gap between trucks and passenger vehicles. The original Jeepster was produced from 1948 to 1950.

After Kaiser absorbed Willys-Overland Motors in the mid-1950s, the company re-introduced the nameplate in 1966 with the new Jeepster Commando that proved to be more successful than the original model. It was eventually offered in three body styles including pickup truck, convertible and wagon.

The Jeepster remained in production even after Kaiser's acquisition by American Motors Corporation (AMC) in 1970, though the latter shortened its name to Commando from 1972 to 1973 when it was replaced by the full size Cherokee.

This particular Jeepster Commando is a 1967 convertible model from the Kaiser era. It combines the optional 225-cubic inch “Dauntless V6" producing 160HP instead of the base "Hurricane" inline-four that generated a measly 75-ponies, with an all-wheel drive system.

According to the seller, the vehicle features matching chassis and engine numbers and has been fully restored to its original condition including the Teal and White Exterior paint over a Teal interior. It also comes with the original folding top with glass rear window as well as the optional “Continental” spare tire with cover, and hubcaps.

The buy it now price on eBay motors is US$16,880.

Story References: eBay Motors/Catsexotics

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1974 Toyota Celica GT, Now a Faux Ferrari

The first generation if the Toyota Celica is somewhat of a cult hero here in Australia. Affordable, sporty-looking and well equipped at the time of its launch in the early 1970s, it proved a popular alternative to the heavier, thirstier American and Australian built offerings of the time.

Let’s put that aside for one moment and focus on our eBay entrant for today. It’s a 1974 Celica GT model that’s been the victim of one of the shoddier-looking Ferrari conversions featured on this site. It’s supposed to look like a 308 GTB, though at best it looks like a 400 that’s been severely shortened.

So, let’s see what the seller has to say about this thing, eh? Firstly, there’s this: “This is one of the first and original ferrinos. Not many around. Was built in Queensland and the body was supplied from Adelaide by creative body's. I have all paper work on the build and photos. Anything In the paper or magazines on the ferrino is also in the folder”. The latter scarily implies that someone at one of the major magazines or newspapers wasted perfectly good ink and paper writing about it.

Then there’s the usual, “Everyone will notice you but not for the reason’s you’re probably thinking off” stick that we’ve heard a hundred times before: “This is a rare chance to own a ferrari [sic] replica. If you want attention while you drive this is the car for you! Turns heads like nothing I've even driven”.

Unfortunately for all you would-be buyers (all six or seven of you, I suspect), this particular car has already been sold for the you-can’t-be-serious price of AU$4,050 (about the same in USD or €3,002).

Yes, someone actually paid money for the Celicarrari. You can check out our full gallery below and leave a comment if you wish.

By Tristan Hankins

Story sources: eBay

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It Came from eBay Hell: Porsche 959 Speedster Replica

In 1986, the Porsche 959 was the world’s fastest street legal product car. Some 337 of these road-going monsters were built but not one of them was a factory-finished convertible. Regardless of what you may have heard or seen on forums, such a vehicle was never sanctioned by Porsche. There was a one-off “Speedster” built by Auto-Becker for the 1989 Frankfurt Motor Show but that’s about it.

So is this done and dusted? Of course not; this is the internet we’re talking about. 959 Speedsters are sighted by Porsche enthusiasts as much as Elvis Presley or the Loch Ness monster. If you believe what you’ve read, these things are everywhere. And I do mean everywhere, even in New Zealand.

So our seller throws in the usual platitudes we’ve come to expect from this sort of posting like, “This is one very rare and special car,” and that it was “professionally built”.

The conversion was completed in 2002, “in the USA” and the 959 Speedster features a fibreglass body, 1.8 L twin turbo and is right-hand-drive. It comes with a beige soft top and two tonneau covers in black and beige. The latter, “appears to fit but is not domed [sic]”, whatever that means.

And that’s about it, really. There’s documentation that comes with the car, but honestly we have no idea what it was before it became...this. And it can be all yours on eBay for the low, low price of US$33,000. Feel free to check our gallery and leave your piece in the comments section below.

By Tristan Hankins

PHOTO GALLERY