2 identical Jeepsters, completely different?

So I have 2 67 Jeepsters here. identical setups. VIN tags show only a difference of one having the smog engine. Both V6, 3spd, halfcabs.....
But, one has a long front driveshaft while the other has a 2 piece front shaft.
One has a clutch cable to the clutch fork, while the other has a cable to a bellcrank and a rod to the clutch fork.
Any ideas why two different setups?

 

no
but to my knowledge there are 3 different clutch cable/linkage set-ups possible for early Commandos

 

The two piece is original, the one piece is probably one somebody had made up because they couldn't get the hanger bearing. Once that goes you're pretty much screwed, not replaceable without a lot of work and that's only if you could find something that would fit.
Yup, about three different clutch cables. Best are the one piece that attach directly to the fork and use a bracket attached to the transfer case. The one piece are generally Jeep replacements to eliminate clutck chatter. Somewhere amongst all my junk I have a bulletin about that.

 

I had always assumed the 2 piece front shaft was for the auto trans application; I see in the book it's not.
anybody know why they changed that design ?

 

I've never heard why it was they did that. 72/73 are one piece no matter which transmission.

 

I think all of the V6 Jeepsters had 2 pc driveshafts to clear the exhaust crossover. The front output on the Dana 20 is shorter that the 18.... or at least it seems so as the front shaft from a 5 is too short for the jeepster.

I've never seen a 2 pc shaft on a F4 Jeepster.

Disclaimer: The above is loosely based on conjecture and some things a lady in a glass ball said.