After World War II, Willys, the company that designed the original Jeep, went in search of ideas to refresh their utility and commercial vehicle lineup. What they came up with was the “FC” line, based on CJ-5 mechanicals. The FC (short for Forward Control) family included a variety of different wheelbases, powertrains, and even custom “Jeep approved” coachbuilders who created vans, tow trucks, and even fire trucks off of the basic platform.

The cab-over design made the FC short overall for the length of its bed, a helpful feature for both urban commercial use, and working through tight trails. Four military models were also produced: One virtually identical to the civilian model, a four door crew cab, a van, and an ambulance.

Over the nine year production run, something like 30,000 FC’s were produced here in the US, and today they’re sought after by Jeep enthusiasts possibly more than any other model. So what we’re looking at here, a 1961 FC-150 transformed into a hot rod, is the Jeep equivalent of turning a ’63 split window Corvette into a mud bogger, at least to a purist’s eye.

We, on the other hand, absolutely love it. The build thread, found on the West Side Electric & Industrial Supply website for some reason, shows how the former service station pickup got a brand new frame slid underneath, complete with LS1 power and an airbagged Corvette suspension. A custom bed was crafted from scratch, and the entire truck got a show quality deep green paint job.

The end result is a rare vehicle made into a true one-of-a-kind ride, and we love it. Don’t miss the rest of the photos on the WSE&IS website…