[Cj-6er]

Hi friends,

Hoping an aficionado can help me with the history of how CJ jeeps got to Thailand.

I have a 1968 CJ-6. It is a right-hand drive. Seems like it started out life that way. I bought it in Chiang Mai, Northern Thailand. Says Kaiser on the plate under the hood.

I thought maybe it was a base or MP jeep when the US was in Thailand during the Vietnam war.

But that's just a wild guess.

Any help or information would be great, thank you!

 

[JoonHoss]

That's not an American market 68 CJ6. Grill, fenders, tub, doors and tailgate are all different.

It looks more like a Mahindra built CJ, or ssanyong, or mitsubishi even? , what does the title or data plate say?

Hoss

 

[cmotsvt]

Said its a kaiser. Hard to imagine anything military would be rhd. Pic of said mfg plate?

 

[Cj-6er]

Here's the plate. Says Toledo, Ohio.

 

[Cj-6er]

It could have been Franken-jeeped. Just wonder what it started life out as.

 

[cmotsvt]

Decoding Jeep CJ VIN Numbers 1955-1971 Jeep CJ-5 CJ-6 Commando | jeepfan.com

The Vehicle Identification Number, or VIN is important for many reasons. Decoding those numbers can be a mystery. 1955-1971 Jeep CJ-5 CJ-6 Commando

www.jeepfan.com

 

[JoonHoss]

Also, just noticed 6 lug axles.... not cj either.

What motor, trans and diffs?

Hoss

 

[JoonHoss]

Aaaaaaaand taking a closer look, the front fenders are attached to the tub and not seperate units, the dash is decidedly unjeep in its entirety, as is the windshield frame.

Hoss

 

[Goodoldjeep]

Right hand drive, probably from India via Britain

 

[Cj-6er]

All the guts are Nissan and it's now a diesel. I just wondered how it might have gotten to Thailand (at least the part still attached to the data plate, haha).

 

[Cj-6er]

Right hand drive, probably from India via Britain

So, there were jeeps being shipped to India from Ohio then? I had no idea. I wonder why/how it got here. There aren't super close ties with India here in Thailand, but, stranger things have happened!

 

[Cj-6er]

So, there were jeeps being shipped to India from Ohio then? I had no idea. I wonder why/how it got here. There aren't super close ties with India here in Thailand, but, stranger things have happened!

Rather, to India from Britain.

 

[Goodoldjeep]

Jeeps went all over the world, with some licensing agreements in other countries. For instance the Philippines built them for years, then continued stamping bodies for the aftermarket abroad as well as to keep the Jeepneys supplied with body parts. India had some sort of contract with Kaiser too and is a former British colony which also had their share of Jeeps.

 

[Cj-6er]

Jeeps went all over the world, with some licensing agreements in other countries. For instance the Philippines built them for years, then continued stamping bodies for the aftermarket abroad as well as to keep the Jeepneys supplied with body parts. India had some sort of contract with Kaiser too and is a former British colony which also had their share of Jeeps.

Sounds like India is the most plausible route then. Thanks for coloring in some ideas for origin!

 

[JoonHoss]

Proportionally, it actually looks closer to an M-170....

Hoss

 

[Cj-6er]

I thought so too! I was actually thinking of making it an "ambulance" or a "radio Jeep" project.

 

[HAZCAT]

It probably was a cj6 when it was built. CJ6 models were built as utility vehicles more designed for commercial applications and sold as such.
Utility companies used them to run the right-of-way paths to check lines. Sheriff and military, UNICEF ambulances, small tow trucks, half cab trucks. Game hunting in Africa (John Wayne movie Hitari)...
And like the CJ5, foreign ones were built right hand drive if required.
But what that is now is completely custom and if the frame isn't an open c channel 1968 CJ6 frame, what is still Kaiser?
The grill looks like it has the old style canvas seal, but the CJ was not a one peice body, the seats and roll bar are far newer. They don't have molded in flares, the gas tank is under the driver's seat and filler is just outside the door not far back like that and the door is not from a CJ6 and the opening is far larger than a 6. The M-170 military doesn't look like that either. Even though it has a pintle style hitch.
I have a 1970 Kaiser CJ6 with a full metal top and doors like the ambulances were built.

 

[Cj-6er]

It probably was a cj6 when it was built. CJ6 models were built as utility vehicles more designed for commercial applications and sold as such.
Utility companies used them to run the right-of-way paths to check lines. Sheriff and military, UNICEF ambulances, small tow trucks, half cab trucks. Game hunting in Africa (John Wayne movie Hitari)...
And like the CJ5, foreign ones were built right hand drive if required.
But what that is now is completely custom and if the frame isn't an open c channel 1968 CJ6 frame, what is still Kaiser?
The grill looks like it has the old style canvas seal, but the CJ was not a one peice body, the seats and roll bar are far newer. They don't have molded in flares, the gas tank is under the driver's seat and filler is just outside the door not far back like that and the door is not from a CJ6 and the opening is far larger than a 6. The M-170 military doesn't look like that either. Even though it has a pintle style hitch.
I have a 1970 Kaiser CJ6 with a full metal top and doors like the ambulances were built.

Thank you for that insight as well. Sounds like it started life in the states and then jumped the pond and got totally bastardized! But, it's all part of its story I guess. Like tattoos or something.

 

[HAZCAT]

I don't know why I didn't think about this before...it has a lot of '68 Jeep Cammando look. The molded-in flares, body, front. Different rear and windshield. So a custom combo of the two or possibly that is what cj6 models were built like for that country.
Just like yj models in places with fold down side seats in the rear like fj40 land cruisers. They were longer like an LJ as well. Never built or sold here.
Brazil had a cj7 in the 80s that was completely different from the cj here. They were factory and they were weird. That is the exact body that they used in the 90s in the US for the Wrangler Renegade. With the big molded flares and fog light in the fender. I think square as well and this was before 1987 and the Wrangler from cj change over.
68 Cammando pictured

 

[JoonHoss]

As one who has owned a couple commandos, including a '68; can assure you NONE of that is from a commando.

Hoss