Crew Cab Forward-Control: 1964 Jeep M677






















One of the most anticipated reveals that has everyone hanging on the edge of their seats is the upcoming Jeep Wrangler pickup truck. It's been roughly 30 years since the last Jeep pickup was produced new, and a Wrangler pickup truck would be a nice competitor to the Chevrolet Colorado and Toyota Tacoma. The truck I'd rather Jeep bring back however is Jeep's Forward Control; this 1964 model is a M677 crew cab model, and looks fairly solid. Find it here on eBay in Fullerton, California, with 13 bids and a little over a day left to bid.





















Introduced in 1964 as part of Jeep's military lineup, the M677 was the crew-cab version of the civilian FC170 pickup. Intended for the Army, Navy and Marines, the M677 was used to haul soldiers and gear around rough terrain. All told, only 50 M-Series Forward Control Jeeps are believed to have survive from the Forward Control Jeep's 600-700 production total. This M677 is a 1964 model, and though a bit patina'd, looks fairly solid. Resplendent in a two-tone yellow and white reminiscent of a 1950s International-Harvester pickup truck, the two-tone paint scheme does not suit the overall burliness of this M677. I would repaint the truck in Military Green, swap the aftermarket wheels for a set of stock wheels and knobby tires, and source a winch to fit to the front-mounted bumper.





















Though originally powered by a two-stroke Cerlist three-cylinder diesel, a Ford 302 currently resides under this Jeep. Backed by a three-speed manual transmission (I'm guessing the stock Borg-Warner), power should increase by at least double. The truck does drive under its own power, but all components of the drivetrain (mechanical, electrical, and safety-equipment) should be inspected and replaced as necessary. I would build up the 302 a bit, keeping a fairly close to stock look, or dress it up to look OEM Jeep.























For a second, I did a double take because the interior of this M677 looks almost identical to the interior of a 1965 M679 I wrote about. Inside, the interior of this M677 looks fairly solid and complete, with only minor surface rust. There are a bit of wires that need to be tucked away, but otherwise, the interior looks fairly nice. The column-mounted overdrive is cool, and I dig the spartan, military vibe. Overall, this M677 is a great project, and once returned to its military roots will be a welcome sight at any car show. What are your thoughts on this crew-cab Jeep M677?

Comments

Popular posts from this blog

Ghost in the Machine: 1996 Callaway Supernatural 450 C9 Impala SS

T-Topped G-Body: 1981 Pontiac Grand Prix

Mint Baja: 1991 Chevrolet S10 4X4