Jeep Commando (C104)
For 1972 AMC dropped the Jeepster name and stretched the nose to fit its own sixes and 304 V8, giving the Commando a 104-inch wheelbase and a plain full-width grille that looked more like a Chevrolet Blazer than a Jeep. The update also brought a wider track, a stronger frame and axles, bigger drum brakes, and a larger fuel tank, and the bigger engines made air conditioning and power assists practical. The new face has been called the least Jeep-like styling of its time, sales stayed weak, and AMC dropped the Commando after 1973 in favour of the larger two-door Cherokee.
Engines
| Engine | Power | Torque | Fuel | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.8 L (232 cu in) AMC I6 Net rating; standard engine. |
100 hp (75 kW) | 185 lb-ft (251 N·m) | Gasoline | 1972 to 1973 |
| 4.2 L (258 cu in) AMC I6 Net rating (JeepTech CJ figure for the same engine). |
110 hp (82 kW) | 195 lb-ft (264 N·m) | Gasoline | 1972 to 1973 |
| 5.0 L (304 cu in) AMC V8 Net rating. |
150 hp (112 kW) | 245 lb-ft (332 N·m) | Gasoline | 1972 to 1973 |
Transmissions
- Warner T-14 (six) and T-15 (V8) 3-speed manuals (1972 to 1973)
- GM Turbo Hydra-Matic 400 3-speed automatic (1972 to 1973)
Sizes and weights
| Measure | Size |
|---|---|
| Wheelbase | 104 in2,642 mm |
| Fuel tank | 16.5 US gal62 L |
A range covers the body styles and trims of this generation.
Worth knowing
- The full-width grille is often called the least Jeep-like styling of its day.
- 20,223 built over two model years.
Year by year, newest first
- Larger tires made standard; otherwise little changed.
- 9,538 built; dropped after this year.
- Renamed Commando as the Jeepster name was dropped.
- 104-inch wheelbase and full-width grille to fit AMC's 232 and 258 sixes and 304 V8.
- Wider track, stronger frame and axles, larger drum brakes, and a tank holding about 5 gallons more; 10,685 built.
Notes
1973 output is 9,538 per Wikipedia but 9,583 per Sports Car Market, which also lists 9,837 wagons for 1972. RealTruck calls C104 output just under 20,000. Body styles for the C104 follow Sports Car Market (wagon, pickup, and roadster); sources disagree on whether a convertible was still offered. Fuel tank: Wikipedia says capacity rose from 11.5 to 16.5 US gal. Manual transmission models are from JeepTech; whether a four-speed was offered was not confirmed. Spain's VIASA built a Jeep-Ebro Commando under licence.
Sources
- en.wikipedia.org /wiki/Jeepster_Commando
- sportscarmarket.com /?p=768320
- realtruck.com /blog/going-commando-a-look-at-the-kaiser-jeepster/
- terryhowe.github.io /JeepTech/models/jeepster/
- terryhowe.github.io /JeepTech/engine/factory/amc232
- terryhowe.github.io /JeepTech/engine/factory/amc258
- terryhowe.github.io /JeepTech/engine/factory/amc304