By Simon Bruton
Edited for the Web by Michael Boyink

If you see a CJ6 in South Africa it is usually one of three different models. Two different models used by the military, the former South African Defense Force (SADF), or one model produced for the civilian market by Volkswagen South Africa.

I was hoping to compile a more interesting history of these three models (especially the military ones) but have not found many helpful people in the know. So here follows a summary of my very limited knowledge.

The one model of CJ6 used by the former SADF had the 4cylinder F head motor with a South African made rear body section. Hendrik Wessels Jeep is one of these:

The South African assembly plant made a new rear bin from the fuel filler neck area to the back. The local bin was very square with square corners and angular wheel arches. This bin was shorter so that the spare wheel and jerry can could fit on a step or rear bumper above the rear spring hangers, so as not to lengthen the vehicle further and decrease the departure angle. They therefore had no tailgate. The body looks a little out of proportion as the rear wheel arches are cut very low, giving the appearance that the rear suspension is sagging. These are quite commonly seen in South Africa.

Here is a small quote from an officer:

“In 1971 the 4 cylinder with a trailer was used for transporting the 81mm Mortars and crew.”

Elsewhere on the net the Cholewka’s Jeep is also one of these.

The seven pictures below are all of ex-SADF 4 cylinder models currently in use. The two last vehicles have had their wheel arches cut out bigger.

The second model used by the SADF had the 6 cylinder AMC 3.8 rambler motor for extra power to lug around a 106mm recoilless rifle mounted in the bed, and ammo. Below is such a vehicle in private ownership over 10 years ago. Bought sometime previously from a military surplus auction - obviously without the gun.

They can be easily distinguished from the 4 cylinder SADF Jeeps as they retained the original ‘American’ body with round corners at the back, and they had the longer bonnet and fenders to house the straight six motor.

This model also had various bins and toolboxes in the back that the civilian version does not have. The back was open with no tailgate, and it had a South African made rear step. It also has a thicker pack of leaf springs at the rear to handle the extra weight. The windscreen was removed and replaced with a large metal bracket to brace the gun during transport, and a grab handle for the front passenger.

Originally these models had the spare wheel placed on the bonnet as I guess this is the only place where it would not get in the way of the 106mm recoilless rifle. This can be seen in the two images below of the vehicles in action.

In the picture below we have the 4 cylinder in the foreground with the 6 cylinder behind. One can see the differences in the body. Note the very low cut rear wheel arch and shortness of the SA-made bin on the 4 cylinder in comparison to the American made bin on the 6 cylinder. I don’t understand the rollbar on the 6 cylinder as that would have fouled the gun - if a civilian had added it later surely they would have removed the gun brace and aerial mount etc.

Second quote from an officer:

“In 1978/79 at a little known workshop called Research & Development, we modified the said jeep to take the Malan and the 106mm. The fore-runners were delivered to Infantry School for evaluation and training. They were both successful with minor modifications and went into production.”

If the 6 cylinder went into production around 1980 they obviously had a hard and fast life in service as the previous two colour photos taken in about 1994 show that within 14 years they were already well out of service, auctioned off and standing in a private yard.  These ex-SADF 6 cylinder models are more rare as fewer were produced than the 4 cylinder model, I have only ever seen three.

Here are pictures of an ex-SADF 6 cylinder that is currently being put to good use by a fellow Jeep enthusiast in my home town! Most of the military accessories are long gone, such as: black-out lights, aeriel bracket, gun brace and passenger grab handle and the jerry can brackets from the front bumper. A windscreen has been added back on and the rear of the bin has been closed off with no tailgate. It still has the original rear step, upon which the spare is now placed with jerry cans in similar fashion to the 4 cylinder model..

The third type of CJ6 commonly seen in South Africa was assembled by Volkswagen South Africa for the private market between about 1975 and 1980. These models also had unique distinguishing features; a bracket that juts out on the drivers side (right) rear corner which appears to be a bump-stop for the swing-away spare wheel bracket. Secondly it has curved rear wheel arches but with a flat plate inserted at the top of the arch. These two details can be seen in photos from a 1975 test by a South African motoring magazine (B&W photo below) and also on two of these CJ6’s seen running around in the last year or two.

The VW assembled CJ6 had the 3.8L 6 cylinder AMC motor. They also produced a CJ5 and a CJ7. The CJ7 had the 4.1L version of the same motor. All of them were available with optional hardtop and doors. In the current photo below one can see the square bracket and the squared-off rear wheel arch under those black aftermarket wheel arch extenders. Not sure on the history of those great looking doors - do you get those in the U.S.?- they appeared to be fiberglass.

The VW-assembled Jeep below still has the spare wheel bracket bump stop, but the wheel arches have been modified over the years. Proof that a Bestop soft top fits an SA VW assembled Jeep beautifully!

Raphaels’ Belgian CJ6 also has these rear wheel arches with the squared-off top. Anybody know the purpose of this?

Below is a 1975 article about the South African assembled CJ6 by a local motoring magazine that closed its doors many years ago (click thumbnail for a larger version).