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Editor's Note: This is part of a series at KSL.com featuring some of Utah's coolest cars. If you own a customized vehicle — from sports cars to semi trucks — email fjolley@ksl.com with a photo of the vehicle and a brief description for consideration.LAYTON — The 1949 Willys-Overland Jeepster is not the typical modern car you see driving down the road, and Joe Kent’s Jeepster is no exception.
Kent has owned multiple Jeeps, starting with his first at the ripe old age of 12. He and his father spent two years building it; and from that first rebuild in 1958, the Jeep brand would be a part of his family for the rest of his life.
In 1963, Kent and his father modified his current 1949 Willys-Overland Jeepster.
Under the hood, the Jeepster came with one of two engine options from the factory. A 63 horsepower four-cylinder or the six-cylinder option with a whopping 72 horsepower. For 1949, those horsepower numbers were not abnormal, but even by 1963 standards, Kent knew the engine needed to be upgraded.
The first rebuild of the Jeepster happened in 1963 with Kent and his father using parts from a 1953 Jeep station wagon, a 1951 Ford flathead, and another donor 1949 Jeepster. While this rebuild only took them three weeks to complete, the Jeepster would end up going through many stages of restoration.
By the time 2013 rolled around, the Jeepster had a 283 cubic-inch V-8 under the hood that was mated to a TH400 three-speed automatic transmission. While this engine combination was a large improvement from the 63- and 72-horsepower factory options, it was still in need of a more modern power plant.
With help from his son, Chad, the two started a frame off restoration of the Jeepster in 2013. The 283 V-8 was swapped out for a newer, more powerful Chevy 350 V-8 engine from a Corvette. The TH400 transmission was also traded out for a 700R4 four-speed automatic; the biggest difference being that the new transmission had an overdrive gear, helping with highway driving.
Because of the new power plant under the hood, the factory drum brakes on all four corners were in dire need of an upgrade. Kent swapped over to a much more modern set of disc brakes and a power booster to add braking power, and to also keep the pedal from feeling stiff.
“Now it stops as good as it goes,” Kent said.
The last touch needed was a new rollbar that Kent designed himself, and it finished off the restoration of the '49 Jeepster in 2014.
Only about 3,000 Jeepsters were made in 1949, and over the years many have been crashed, thrown away or maybe just forgotten. So if you see Kent’s Jeepster at a car show or cruising down the road make sure to give it a good second look, because you're not likely to see another car like it again.
