Interesting discussion on the 3B page about the "Jeep Universal"

One other thing about the Jeep, it is the only true Roadster made in America after 1936. It came with a fold down windshield, a fold down top and was a two seater.

 

All very interesting. I want a CJ3B........

 

To me the term "Universal" should have stopped being of any use once the dana 18 was gone. This is the major thing that made the jeep useable in most of the areas that would make it universal, the pto port on the transfercase made it suitable for a multitude of things that the dana 20 equipped models could never do. Pto winch, tiller, bush hog, hydraulic pump, air compressor, saw mill, OD, belly mower and so on.

 

I do realize, that but they were not marketed that way, the equipment was no longer available and the PTO units are exceptionally rare.

 

Ok I'll agree thats what I said, now can they use a Warn overdrive?
They also cause you to lose ground clearance.
Wasn't the dana 20 pto marketed for the pickups and commandos?
Never seen a stock cj from 72 -75 that had one that wasn't swapped.
Only seen one of them!

 

Not sure if these things truely are universal. I mean they don't fly or swim very well now do they. R)

J/K I think Universal was just a marketing thing Jeep did. Kinda like the trail rated badges DCX put out, just with the ability to more or less back it up.

 

I still want a 3B.........

 

I always thought "universal" meant that it was not model year specific.

 

something for nearly everybodyatriot:

 

Mmm... I recall that in the early-mid 70s the term Jeep Universal was still in wide use, and meant the vehicle with direct lineage to the WWII models. The CJ-5 was clearly an evolution and upgrade of the 2A, effectively the same vehicle. The market was changing though, with much more emphasis on recreation other than the hunters and fisherman that had been the mainstay of the non-work sales. Seems to have fallen into disuse as CJs became more highway friendly in the late 70s.

 

I have a CJ3B!!!

 

I know, and I am jealous!

 

X2

 

x3

 

Not really, i have a 60 3 B .

 

The "Universal Series" always meant to me to be only those vehicles made by Willys, Kaiser, or AMC having many utilitarian uses. We have all seen examples of CJs set up for plows, trenchers, hole diggers, etc. The Jeepster obviously shared many of the same parts as the CJs but it wasn't promoted for utility. The Jeepster always seemed to me to be the upscale version of the CJ for more comfortable road use but still having the capability to go off-road if necessary. I still remember very well how CJs were sold during the late 60s near where I lived in suburban Detroit. The showroom was probably not much larger than a 7-Eleven and only the implements or attachments were shown inside. All of the CJs were stored outside without tops and clear plastic covering the only seat on the drivers side. Back then very few people bought CJs strictly for transportation. It was rare to see one on the road except with a snow plow during the winter.