Topless Usmc Fc

This video from 1961 is pretty interesting. Mighty Mites and a topless FC.

https://digital.tcl.sc.edu/digital/collection/MarineCorps/id/4075/rec/5

These are screen shots from a video.

 

I can't imagine the cab had much structural integrity missing the top.

 

Not needed, back when vehicles had frames.

 

Disagree. Yes, a frame makes things stronger than a unibody without a roof, but that front grill would fold back and pin the passengers in even the most minor frontal impact with no doors and no roof structure. But things were different back then, my FC had no seatbelts when I got it.

 

Not even on the radar back then. As a kid I routinely rode in the front seat of cars with steel dashboards and no seatbelts. An absolute non-issue regarding that FC. Don't you think it would be at least as safe as a stock early CJ5, no belts or roll bar?

And consider - they were shown hauling ammunition, a howitzer, and what looks like a 155mm anti-tank rifle, as if their way to combat on the frontline. Nothing about it intended to be 'safe' in the first place.

 

I bought an FC150 that came with the top cut off, but was included in the bed of the truck. It came from western Nebraska, and a friend towed it to the Outer Banks for me. I rejoined the roof because the rest of the truck was very solid/rust free.
The center tunnel braced the front panel pretty well, but when I welded in the front windshield pillars, it was very strong.
I have seen an FC “convertible” (maybe in Arizona?) with a cut top and no doors, but still had the windshield in place. I wish I had taken a photo of it as it looked really fun. It may have been used as a tour vehicle as it had 2 or 3 rows of bench seats behind the cab.
-Donny

 

There are a few around. Jason Monday owns one, Craig Brockhaus owns another, and David Eilers now owns the one that Jesse Ybarra rebuilt. Jesse lives in Phoenix, but all 3 have been there for the FC Roundup that Jesse used to host in Phoenix, so it could have been any of the 3 that you saw. They were used as tour Jeeps originally by San Juan Scenic Jeep tours in Colorado.

 

I remember seeing those in the San Juans in the early 70's.

 

I want to be where I can say, "What was that?"

 

Hey, no sweat. The driver has a windscreen.

 

Unless that vehicle is disabled, I can drive a helluva lot faster than I can run. I'm stayin in it and stayin in it most likely. Seeing as how no FC that I'm aware of ever saw actual combat duty, it's probably moot. But.. I can see your point about bailing if I really want to get out of a rig and hide. I'd certainly be able to do that faster with no seatbelt or doors. But on the flip side, I'm wondering if I can even tell where the shooting is coming from to make sure I hide on a shielded side of the rig. I suppose I'm a sitting duck most likely in either situation.