Today, we’re all about getting a little mud on the tires with some help from the best four-wheel drive systems on the planet. But we weren’t always this way. Take a look at the 1948-1951 Jeepster to catch our drift. Designed to be a sports car competitor, the Jeepster delivered open-air driving with side curtains to keep out the rain instead of roll-up windows.

Hey, it was a simpler time.

Originally, buyers could only get their Jeepster with a “Go-Devil” four-cylinder engine, but eventually the convertible was offered with a more powerful, smooth-running “Hurricane” inline six-cylinder. While it’s hard for us to think of a Jeep® brand vehicle that was never available with four-wheel drive, the Jeepster was only sold as a rear-wheel drive machine. By the time production ceased, the two-door was the last phaeton-style car built by an American manufacturer.

Unfortunately, the Jeepster never sold in huge numbers, but they’re a big collector’s item today. We’ll be showing off more of our history in the near future, so keep your browser pointed our direction.