Found: 5 Vintage Overlanders Perfect for Hauling Holiday Gifts

What we like: Granted, this Defender is bright red, it’s also nicely equipped with a Safari Package which includes a $1,700 roof rack/rear ladder-combo, front grille guard, hood-mounted factory spare tire and four Hella Rally 3000 driving lights. Nothing is getting in your way this holiday season — nothing.
From the seller: Records show that the previous owner spent over $30k on maintenance throughout the years, including a new exhaust system, radiator, shocks and more. A new soft top, roof rack, Hella auxiliary lights and grille guard were also added. The truck is now being offered with numerous receipts from work performed by the previous owner, service records from recent maintenance, a clean Carfax and a clean Utah title.

Mileage: 129,500
Location: Eden, Utah

What we like: The work done to this Willys Overland Station Wagon is fairly comprehensive and should put most reliability worries at ease. That said, there’s not much to this classic workhorse — the busiest part of the spartan interior is the single gauge dash. The finished wood slats in the rear compartment add a nice touch to an otherwise barren but purposeful SUV.
From the seller: Work in 2011 included removing the 226ci Super Hurricane flathead inline-six, manual transmission, and transfer case and replacing all gaskets and seals. The cylinder head was machined at the same time, and a tuneup was conducted with new ignition components. Both the front and rear axles have been rebuilt, while four new shocks were fitted.

Mileage: 42,453 (rebuilt)
Location: Houston, Texas

What we like: When a classic FJ is updated in all the right ways and still maintain its vintage character, it becomes a work of art: this mint green Toyota pickup is proof of that. Super clean and well-maintained, it’s been given a second life.
From the seller: Features include recovered seats, a cable winch, 15-inch powder coated wheels and 33-inch all-terrain tires, as well as spray-coated interior floors, bed and undercarriage. Mechanical updates consist of a newer Weber carburetor, distributor, batteries, brake master cylinder and shocks, along with fresh fluids, filters, hoses, and belts.

Mileage: 1,900 (TMU)
Location: Huntingdon Valley, Pennsylvania

What we like: While the classic Jeeps that everyone is familiar with are a dime-a-dozen, the Commando is a serious find — especially one in this good of condition (only 20,223 were made between ’72-’73). This particular example even has a 5.0-liter AMC V8, the largest spec engine available at the time.
From the seller: The seller states that the white factory hardtop has never been removed, and modifications include a Warn winch and a dual exhaust system. The odometer shows 69,790 miles, and power comes from an AMC-sourced 304ci V8 paired to a 3-speed manual transmission.

Mileage: 69,790
Location: Glenmont, New York

What we like: After 30 years and three owners and this FJ60 barely looks broken in. Ignore the near 200,000 miles on the clock — a Land Cruiser in this good of condition can easily do 100,000 more if properly maintained. The biggest problem with an FJ60 of this vintage is that the seal between the engine and transmission may leak and the paint will fade. But given that it has a fresh paint job and no reported leaks, this FJ60 looks like a bulletproof buy.
From the seller: The truck has been recently refreshed with new paint and updated suspension, and the brakes were restored with a new master cylinder, rotors, pads and drums. The stock 2F inline-six is paired with a four-speed transmission and has benefited from a rebuilt alternator, new drive belt, water pump, thermostat, timing cover gasket, choke cable and more.

Mileage: 190,471
Location: Portland, Maine