1963 Jeep Wagoneer Custom - Backward Glances - Four Wheeler Network
When the Wagoneer debuted in November 1962 as a ’63 model, it could truly be credited as moving Jeep to the head of the class in the passenger 4x4 utility world. What set the Wagoneer apart in those early days was car-like comfort combined with off-highway ability. The ’63 Wagoneer sat on a 110-inch wheelbase and was offered in both two- and four-door styles and in two- or four-wheel drive. Trim levels varied from a base model suitable for the go-to-work types, to the Custom level that turned it into the equivalent of a middle-trim-level station wagon. In 1965, the Wagoneer would burst forth into the luxury realm, and with the intro of the Super Wagoneer, it would become the world’s first high-end luxury 4x4. What helped sell the Wagoneer with the mainstream public was its low stance and... Though a V-8 was on the company’s mind, Jeep didn’t have one readily available, and the Wagoneer debuted with a six-cylinder: the 230ci OHC Tornado. It was the first production overhead cam engine in an American light truck or SUV and one of the first OHC engines offered by an American manufacturer. Source: www.fourwheeler.com
