Jeep · 1955–1984

Jeep DJ

The Jeep DJ (also known as the Dispatcher) is a two-wheel drive variant of the four-wheel drive CJ series. Production started in 1955 by Willys, which was renamed Kaiser Jeep in 1963. In 1970, American Motors Corporation (AMC) purchased Kaiser's money-losing Jeep operations and established AM General, a wholly owned subsidiary that built the DJ through 1984.

Text from Wikipedia (CC BY-SA 4.0).

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DJ-3A

The DJ-3A was introduced in 1955 for the 1956 model year. It was inexpensive because it used Jeep's existing tooling and technology. At the time, it was the lowest-priced production car offered in the United States, with a 1956 base price of US$1,284 (equivalent to $15,200 in 2025). It used the body style of the older CJ-3A, along with the L-134 engine. Unlike the CJ-3A, it came with either a steering column or a floor-mounted shifter for the three-speed Borg-Warner T-96 manual transmission. The vehicle was offered with many different body options, including a soft top, metal top, and a full van body with sliding doors. The marketing focused on it being "perfect for economical deliveries" and "for carefree business and pleasure transportation." One model was a postal delivery vehicle with the driver's position on the right side for roadside mailbox delivery. In early 1959, Willys introduced the Jeep Gala to the export markets and users desiring the nimble size and open bodywork, but not needing a four-wheel drive system. This model gained popularity as a "fun car" at resorts in Hawaii, Mexico, and islands in the Caribbean. It was available in pink, green, or blue paint and trimmed with a striped fabric top in white and colors that matched the body, as well as a decorative white fringe. In fall 1959, a similar model called the Jeep Surrey was introduced in the US market. The primary target markets were resort hotels and vacation centers. It also served as a low-cost rental vehicle for their guests. The Surrey came with a standard striped fabric top, as well as a matching fabric cover for what was advertised as a "Continental tire mount."

DJ-5 and DJ-6

The DJ-3A was replaced by the right hand drive DJ-5 Dispatcher 100 in 1965. It was based on the CJ-5 and used the Hurricane and Dauntless engines. A 20-inch (508 mm) longer wheelbase DJ-6 model was built from 1965 through 1973 alongside the CJ-6.

DJ-5A through DJ-5M

The United States Postal Service used 1953 Willys Jeeps, Cushman Mailmasters, and sit-stand trucks to motorize more than half of the suburban residential routes by 1969. The Postal Service held a competition in 1968 to select a light delivery vehicle, evaluating the Ford Bronco, International Scout, and the Jeep Dispatcher 100 (DJ-5). The USPS selected the Jeep Dispatcher. The first units were delivered in the northern U.S., replacing the three-wheeled Mailsters that were too small and weak to maneuver through winter's snow and ice. The Jeeps became widely used by the USPS during the 1970s and 1980s. The DJ-5 models built for the United States Post Office were rudimentary vehicles for mail carrier needs with an automatic transmission, an enclosed metal cabin with sliding doors, a sorting table that carriers used to help process mail along the route, and a right-hand drive for quickly reaching mailboxes without leaving the vehicle's seat. The right-hand drive Postal Service DJs came without power steering and were built with a lighter, less durable design than the standard Jeep. These changes included the use of C-channel frame rails (as opposed to the box rails of the CJ-5), and while the hood was the exact dimensions as (and interchangeable with) the CJ, it did not have the reinforced design of the original. The standard configuration had only a driver's seat and a letter tray installed. This decreased curb weight, combined with different leaf springs than other models, allowed carrying more cargo weight behind the driver. The metal side doors were designed to slide open and closed. They could also be locked open while driving. They were supported by ball bearings, which ran in a channel just under the rain gutter, and a plastic retainer ran in a small channel along th

Model numbers

DJ-3A (1955–1965): 134 cu in (2.2 L) Willys Go Devil straight-4 L-head engine, three-speed manual DJ-5 (1965–1967): 134 cu in (2.2 L) Willys Hurricane straight-4 F-head engine, three-speed manual DJ-5A (1968–1970): 153 cu in (2.5 L) Chevy Nova straight-4, two-speed Powerglide automatic DJ-5B (1970–1972): 232 cu in (3.8 L) AMC Straight-6 engine, BorgWarner T-35 three-speed automatic DJ-5C (1973–1974): 232 cu in (3.8 L) AMC Straight-6 engine, T-35 or M-11 automatic DJ-5D (1975–1976): 232 cu in (3.8 L) AMC Straight-6 engine, 727 TorqueFlite automatic DJ-5E (1976): Electruck Electric DJ-5F (1977–1978): 232 cu in (3.8 L) or 258 cu in (4.2 L) AMC Straight-6 engine, 727 TorqueFlite automatic DJ-5G (1979): AMC (Audi) 121 cu in (2.0 L) straight-4, 904 TorqueFlite automatic or 232 cu in (3.8 L) or 258 cu in (4.2 L) AMC Straight-6 engine, 727 TorqueFlite automatic DJ-5L (1982): GM Iron Duke engine 151 cu in (2.5 L) straight-4, Chrysler 904 transmission DJ-5M (1983–1984): 150 cu in (2.5 L) AMC straight-4 engine, Chrysler 904 transmission DJ-5F Diesel (1978 never went into production) Perkins 2.7 L 4.165 Two DJ-5 Jeeps were brought over from AMC in the United States to the Perkins factory in England to see if it was economical to install a 2.7 Diesel engine. This was as an official conversion. It was found that this endeavour was uneconomical. One DJ5 was returned to the United States and subsequently destroyed. The other remained at the Perkins factory in England running errands around the site. In 2008 it was fully restored from the ground up with many imported parts from the USA at cost then of £8000. At present this DJ5 F is in private ownership, still road worthy and is the only official diesel variant of its kind remaining in existence.

Sections adapted from Wikipedia (CC BY-SA 4.0); text is shortened. Read the full article for the complete history and citations.

Specifications

name

Jeep DJ

aka

Mail Jeep

Manufacturer

Willys Motors (1955–1963), Kaiser Jeep (1963–1970), American Motors Corporation (1970–1971), AM General (1971–1984)

Production

1955–1984

Assembly

United States: Toledo, Ohio (Toledo Complex), United States: Mishawaka, Indiana (AM General)

Class

Truck

Body style

Three-door commercial vehicle

Layout

FR layout

Platform

Jeep CJ

Engine

Various

Transmission

Various manual and automatic

Wheelbase

80 in (Most)

Kerb weight

3400 lb

Related

Jeep CJ

Successor

Grumman LLV, Wrangler Unlimited, KurbWatt

Specification summary from Wikipedia (CC BY-SA 4.0). Measured facts from Wikidata (CC0). Check the linked sources for citations.

More photos

Sources

• Wikidata — https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q1422736CC0 1.0 · retrieved 2026-10-01
• Wikipedia — https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jeep_DJCC BY-SA 4.0 · Text © Wikipedia contributors; revision 1376582929 · retrieved 2026-10-01
• Wikimedia Commons — https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Jeep-dj5.jpgPublic domain · Photo: Sixthstar at English Wikipedia · retrieved 2026-10-01
• Car Model Index — https://models.autoculturesociety.com/Compiled record. Sources that do not permit reuse are not copied; this index is credited instead.

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