Jeep · 1956-1965
FC Series
The Jeep Forward Control (1956-1965) was a cab-over, four-wheel-drive work truck styled by Brooks Stevens, built on CJ-5 mechanicals. The FC-150 packed a six-foot bed into a body shorter than a Nash Metropolitan.
- Years
- 1956-1965
- Drivetrain
- 4WD
- Engines
- Hurricane F4-134 · Super Hurricane · Y-block V8
- Sold in
- US · Export · India
Spec sheet
- Production
- 1956–1965
Production years
- Assembly
- Toledo, OHMumbai, India (Mahindra, 1965-1999)Zaragoza, Spain (VIASA, 1970-1985)
- Sold in
- USExportIndiaSpain
- Codes
- FC-150FC-160FC-170FC-170 DRWFC-180FC-190
- Body styles
- Forward-control (cab-over) pickupSpecialty bodies: tow truck, dump, fire
- Bed lengths
- FC-150: 74¼ in (6 ft 2¼ in) box; over 92 in with tailgate downFC-170: 109¾ in bed; 126¾ in stake bed on the dual-rear-wheel FC-170
- Drivetrains
- 4WD
- Transmissions
- 3-speed Borg-Warner T-90 manual4-speed Borg-Warner T-98 manual (optional; already listed in the original FC-150 brochure)3-speed Cruise-O-Matic automatic (FC-180/190)
- Trims
- FC-150FC-160FC-170FC-170 DRWFC-180FC-190
- Wheelbase
- 81 / 103.6 in
- Curb weight
- 3,017 lb (FC-150) / 3,060 lb (FC-170), cab and chassis, 1961
- Payload
- GVW 5,000 lb (FC-150), 7,000 lb (FC-170), 8,000-9,000 lb (FC-170 dual rear wheels), 1961; SAE: ~1:1 curb weight to payload ratio on 1958 FC-150/170
Engines
- Displacement
- 2.2 L (134 cu in)
- Config
- I4
- HP
- 72 hp
- Torque
- 114 lb-ft @ 2,000 rpm
- Notes
- FC-150/160; 134.2 cu in F-head; 72 hp @ 4,000 in the 1961 spec table (the original FC-150 brochure quotes 75 hp)
- Displacement
- 3.7 L (226 cu in)
- Config
- I6
- HP
- 105 hp
- Torque
- 190 lb-ft @ 1,400 rpm
- Notes
- FC-170/180; 226.2 cu in L-head six (1961)
- Displacement
- 4.5 L (272 cu in)
- Config
- V8
- Notes
- FC-180/190
Highlights
- 01
- Designed by Brooks Stevens; "helicopter look" cab
- 02
- FC-150 was 2 inches shorter than a Nash Metropolitan yet had a six-foot bed
- 03
- Claimed 60% grade climbing; based on CJ-5 engineering
- 04
- Licensed production in India and Spain
Photos
Jeep FC Series 1956-1965, image 1 of 2
Jeep FC Series 1956-1965, image 2 of 2
Related
Overview
Willys wanted a modern commercial truck to replace its near-unchanged 1947 utility lineup and hired designer Brooks Stevens, who gave the new Forward Control a futuristic "helicopter look" with the cab over the engine and a center grille panel imitating Jeep's seven-slot design.
The FC-150 (1956) used the CJ-5's 81-inch wheelbase with a 74¼-inch cargo box, and the FC-170 (1957) stretched to a 103⅝-inch wheelbase with a 109¾-inch bed. Power came from Hurricane four-cylinders, a Super Hurricane six and, on later models, a Ford Y-block V8. By 1958 engineers had hit a goal of a 1:1 payload-to-curb-weight ratio.
The unusual layout wowed specialty buyers such as airports and tow-truck operators but not mainstream customers. Production ended in 1965 in the US, but licensed FCs were built in India until 1999 and in Spain until 1985.