An Introspective Look at the Jeep FC-150

Updated on Nov 17, 2023

Written by

Tyler Coolidge

With the 2019 introduction of the JT Gladiator–Jeep’s first truck since the Comanche’s demise in 1992–came a sense of innovation that hadn’t been felt in the Jeep community for some time. As the first Wrangler-based pickup, the JT Gladiator seemingly stands in a league of its own; however, for dedicated Jeep enthusiasts, it's common knowledge that the JT isn’t Jeep’s first foray into pickups–far from it.

When the average Jeeper or auto enthusiast thinks, “Jeep truck,” they’ll likely picture the aforementioned JT Gladiator and Cherokee-based Comanche; some may even recall the rugged J-series Gladiator, the original pickup to command the namesake.

Yet, they’re missing one key piece of Jeep truck history: the oddball, cab-over FC-150. The Jeep FC-150 encapsulates the mid-century aesthetic; it possesses the same futuristic styling cues reminiscent of the kidney-shaped coffee tables, extravagant quarter panel fins, and bulbous bodylines from the 50s and 60s.

In this article, we’re revisiting the often-forgotten Jeep FC-150: an icon of the time and a model that deserves its place in Jeep’s long and storied history.

What is the FC-150?

The Jeep FC-150 is an odd, cab-over-style pickup engineered around one goal: fitting the longest bed on the shortest wheelbase.

Compared to traditional pickups, which feature a front engine design followed by a cab and a bed, the FC-150 rewrites the script. Jeep engineers utilized a bulbous, 2-passenger cab placed directly atop the drivetrain and front axles of a slightly-modified, 81-inch wheelbase, Jeep CJ-5 chassis. Without a hood, nose, or any real protrusion from the front end, the FC-150 places the driver and passenger at the very front of the chassis, allowing room for a full-sized 6-foot bed.

Jeep also produced several FC-150 cousins, including the Willys wagon-based FC-170 and the military M-676, M-677, and M-678.

What Does “FC” Stand For?

Unlike late-model Jeeps, in which the alphanumeric name is no more than a model code, the “FC” in the FC-150 and FC-170 is an abbreviation, short for “forward control.” The title relates to the FC line’s oddball cab configuration, in which the driver sits above the front axle at the forward-most position of the chassis.

What Are the FC-150’s Standout Features?

Besides the Jeep FC-150’s unique nose-less appearance, the model has some unique features that weren't commonplace on pickups of the time. For starters, being that the FC-150 shares most of its chassis with the CJ-5, the truck has an exceptionally short wheelbase. Piloting the pickup through tight parking lots and urban areas proved far easier than other pickups of the day.

The FC-150 is also four-wheel drive with solid axles front and rear, making the pickup relatively capable off-road (besides the uneven weight distribution and top-heavy design.

How Many Jeep FC-150s Were Produced?

Unfortunately, the FC-line wasn’t as popular as Kaiser/Willys had envisioned. Over the nine-year run of the FC-150, Jeep produced just over 30,000 units. Nearly 5,500 rolled off the assembly line in 1956–the pickup's first year of production–and this number dwindled annually until its discontinuation in 1965.

While the FC-150 had a relatively short production run, the model still lives on in the hearts of Jeep enthusiasts and purists worldwide.

How Valuable Is the Jeep FC-150?

The Jeep FC-150 is a relatively rare model, considering it sold only 30,000 units in its entire production run. Is it desirable? Potentially, though its ex-military counterparts–especially the crew-cab, diesel-powered M-677–tend to fetch a higher price.

Regardless, the half-ton FC-150 typically sells for around $18K in good condition, while pristine, showroom-quality models can go for $40K-plus, depending on the color, options, and restoration status.

So, next time you pull up to a car show or auto auction and spot the odd, half-van half-truck amalgamation of mid-century engineering known as the FC-150, you’ll appreciate the bulbous body and unique features. If there’s one thing to be said about the forward control, it’s that no American company has produced a pickup like it since!