The 1963 Jeep Wagoneer was a giant step in the development of the contemporary SUV.

It can’t be said that the ’63 Jeep Wagoneer was the first heavy-duty station wagon. Willys, the predecessor of Kaiser Jeep Corporation, had been building those since 1946. Nor can it be claimed that the Wagoneer pioneered the four-wheel drive wagon. For Willys, Marmon-Herrington, NAPCO, and others, that was old news. What the Wagoneer did was to combine all the necessary properties in a practical, attractive package so that consumers could see the possibilities. And there, in a nutshell, was the beginning of the Sport Utility Vehicle movement.

By 1959, WIllys was at work on the development of a larger, more civilized version of its classic all-steel station wagon, with noted industrial designer Brooks Stevens commissioned to sort out the styling. (See our feature on the 1959 Willys Malibu prototype here.) To drive home the Jeep brand message, a large CJ-style grille opening was added to the front end, then toned down a bit to provide a more conventional look. By 1961 the clay model (above), then known as the J-100, was pretty close to the eventual production Wagoneer.

When the ’63 Wagoneer was launched in November of 1962, it was available in both 2WD and 4WD versions and in two-door and four-door body styles. (Pickups, panel deliveries, and military vehicles also shared the SJ platform.) While the wagon was built on a truck-style ladder frame with a 110-in wheelbase, the Dana transfer case and running gear were carefully packaged to give the truck/wagon hybrid an almost car-like ride height. Borg-Warner supplied the three-speed manual and automatic transmisions.

At the front, a novel swing-axle system designed in-house by A.C. Sampietro provided independent suspension and 4WD, and he was also responsible for the new engine, an unusual overhead-cam six with 230 cubic inches and 140 hp. (See our feature on the Tornado Six here.) Along with the new platform, these were major investments for a tiny automaker like Willys Motors, and as part of its transformation the company was renamed the Kaiser Jeep Corporation.

The steady evolution of the Wagoneer began almost from the start. Air conditioning became available in 1964, and in 1965 the quirky swing-axle front suspension was eliminated and the Tornado Six was replaced by American Motors sixes and V8s. A 1966 styling update saw the introduction of a full-width grille and the launch of a premium model with passenger-car features, the Super Wagoneer.

As American Motors and then Chrysler acquired the Jeep brand, luxury features were continually added, until by the mid-’80s and the major automakers had joined the movement, the Wagoneer was the reigning queen of the SUV market. In its final form as the Grand Wagoneer (below), the vehicle remained in production until 1991—a full 29 model years in the same basic package. Today, SUVs outsell traditional sedans and wagons by a mile.