A descendant of the WWII Jeep, and ancestor of today’s Jeep Cherokee, the Jeep Commando ushered in an era of rugged vehicles that combined off-road prowess with elements of refinement and comfort. The Commando was originally designed to compete with the likes of Toyota Land Cruiser, the International Scout, and the Ford Bronco. Little did Jeep know at the time that they were creating not just a new vehicle, but an entire class of vehicles we would come to know as the SUV.

The Commando was marketed as a vehicle built for youthful adventures and trips to the beach. Its rugged heritage ensured you could go trek anywhere, and its cabin comforts helped you do it in style. An abundance of glass on all sides invites driver and passengers alike to take in the sights during any drive, enhancing the vehicle’s position as the perfect vehicle for adventures in the great outdoors.

On-trend upholstery (for the era) and sparse but stylish dash controls set the tone for the intersection of sport + utility. Seeing the vehicle and it’s not hard to imagine packing up for friends and your towels and heading to the seashore.

With four-wheel drive and 245 ft.-lbs. of torque, the Commando was made to go off-road. Rear wheels are permanently engaged, and the front wheels are engaged manually when conditions call for the extra traction.

With just a brief, two-year run before being replaced by the full-sized Jeep Cherokee, the Commando is both rare and iconic. It can be argued that no vehicle did more to usher in the sport-ute category than this off-road legend.