Jeep FC Lafian Power Hoe: A Unique Twist on Forward Control Trucks
Industrial Oddity - At first glance, it might look like a cartoon creation—something you’d expect to see rumbling out of a vintage comic strip where odd proportions and wild ideas collide. That’s the magic of old-school innovation: bold, sometimes awkward, but always fascinating. This sense of daring ingenuity is exactly what makes the Jeep FC Lafian Power Hoe such a remarkable vehicle. Its story isn’t just about an eccentric truck—it’s about the wild spark of creativity that drove its existence, the minds that dared to build something different, and the long road it took to resurface decades later.
The Jeep FC Lafian Power Hoe is a multi-purpose vehicle created by John Lafian around 1956–1957, built on the Jeep FC-170 platform. (Picture from: JalopyJournal)
Back in the mid-1950s, Willys Overland was standing at a crossroads Jeep was already a name recognized for ruggedness, but its popular CJ models were still largely utilitarian and not yet the mainstream favorites that modern Wranglers have become. With that in mind, Willys took a sharp turn—both in engineering and design. Enter the Jeep Forward Control series: the FC-150 and FC-170. These weren’t just your average trucks. They were compact, boxy beasts that stacked the cab over the front axle, pushing the driver’s seat nearly above the tires. It was a smart move that allowed for a much longer cargo bed without stretching the overall length of the truck. Suddenly, you had a hard-working vehicle that was nimble, practical, and strikingly unique.
The Jeep FC Lafian Power Hoe, when showcased at the Houston Los Cochino's BurnOut event in 2012, stood out as part truck, part mechanical concept, and something entirely unique that captured the imagination of everyone who saw it. (Picture from: EWillys)
The FC-150, built on an 81-inch wheelbase from the Jeep CJ, featured a 72-horsepower F-head four-cylinder engine and rugged underpinnings like the Dana 25 and Dana 44 axles. It may have looked a little clumsy with its narrow track under a wide body, but it worked hard and made the most of its compact frame. If you needed more muscle, the FC-170 took things further. With a longer 103.5-inch wheelbase, a beefier inline-six engine pushing out 105 horsepower, and even dual-rear-wheel options, it could handle up to 9,000 pounds of gross weight. It wasn’t just quirky; it was capable.
As the Jeep FC Lafian Power Hoe built on the Jeep FC-170 platform with its longer 103.5-inch wheelbase and a beefier inline-six engine producing 105 horsepower, offered greater capability and strength for its intended multi-purpose function. (Picture from: JalopyJournal)
But while the civilian market was the primary target, a few military variants made their way into existence. Models like the M-676, M-677, and the especially rare M-678 and M-679were adapted for transport and support roles, with features like diesel engines, extra cab space, and enclosed rear compartments. Most of these never reached wide circulation, making any surviving examples today highly prized treasures for collectors.
The Jeep FC Lafian Power Hoe is believed to offer impressive maneuverability during work operations, especially when making full use of its integrated hoe attachment for handling a wide range of tasks across various job sites.(Picture from: TheFCConnection)
Now, where does the Lafian Power Hoe fit into all of this? That’s where the story gets even more unusual—and much more interesting. Around the same time the Forward Control Jeeps were being introduced, an inventive mind named John Lafian had an idea. His creation, dubbed the “Power Hoe,” was part truck, part mechanical concept, and entirely unique. It wasn’t a mass production model or a military contract winner. Instead, it was a one-off invention built around the FC-170 platform, designed with a specific utility-driven vision in mind.
The Jeep FC Lafian Power Hoe isn't just a bizarre name attached to an old Jeep, but rather a story of bold vision—perhaps a bit ahead of its time—and the perseverance of those who believed in preserving that idea.(Picture from: TheFCConnection)
The Lafian Power Hoe nearly vanished from history, only to briefly reemerge in 2009 when it surfaced on eBay. The seller claimed to have a patent on the Power Hoe concept, but the listing didn’t meet its $20,000 reserve. The truck disappeared once more into the shadows of automotive history—until Bruce Hamilton, a persistent enthusiast with a knack for digging through patents and archives, tracked it down. His research reignited curiosity around the vehicle and helped reconnect it to its long-lost origin.
The Jeep FC Lafian Power Hoe was in a unique and curious condition when it was listed for sale on eBay in 2009, sparking renewed interest in its unusual design and mysterious history.(Picture from: TheFCConnection)
The Power Hoe isn't just a bizarre name slapped onto an old Jeep. It's a story of vision—maybe a little too ahead of its time—and the perseverance of those who saw value in preserving that vision. As the vehicle went through a slow but steady restoration process, it earned its place among the rarest and most captivating examples of Forward Control ingenuity. More than just a collector’s gem, it stands as a tribute to what happens when industrial function meets unapologetic creativity. Since there’s no available footage of the vehicle itself, here’s a video of the Jeep FC-170—the platform it was built on—instead.| EiXxDK7sGvk |
In the end, the Jeep FC Lafian Power Hoe isn’t about being the fastest or the prettiest. It's about character—industrial wrapped in a body that looks like nothing else on the road. Whether you're a die-hard Jeep enthusiast or just someone who loves a good underdog story, this machine makes you stop, look twice, and maybe smile. Because sometimes, the most unforgettable vehicles aren’t the ones built to impress—they're the ones built from a dream that just wouldn’t die. Sounds about right, don’t you think? *** [EKA | FROM VARIOUS SOURCES | MOTORTREND | THEFCCONNECTION | EWILLYS | JALOPYJOURNAL ]
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Jeep FC Lafian Power Hoe: A Unique Twist on Forward Control Trucks
Back in the mid-1950s, Willys Overland was standing at a crossroads Jeep was already a name recognized for ruggedness, but its popular CJ models were still largely utilitarian and not yet the mainstream favorites that modern Wranglers have become. With that in mind, Willys took a sharp turn—both in engineering and design. Enter the Jeep Forward Control series: the FC-150 and FC-170. These weren’t just your average trucks. They were compact, boxy beasts that stacked the cab over the front axle, pushing the driver’s seat nearly above the tires. It was a smart move that allowed for a much longer cargo bed without stretching the overall length of the truck. Suddenly, you had a hard-working vehicle that was nimble, practical, and strikingly unique.
The FC-150, built on an 81-inch wheelbase from the Jeep CJ, featured a 72-horsepower F-head four-cylinder engine and rugged underpinnings like the Dana 25 and Dana 44 axles. It may have looked a little clumsy with its narrow track under a wide body, but it worked hard and made the most of its compact frame. If you needed more muscle, the FC-170 took things further. With a longer 103.5-inch wheelbase, a beefier inline-six engine pushing out 105 horsepower, and even dual-rear-wheel options, it could handle up to 9,000 pounds of gross weight. It wasn’t just quirky; it was capable.
In the end, the Jeep FC Lafian Power Hoe isn’t about being the fastest or the prettiest. It's about character—industrial wrapped in a body that looks like nothing else on the road. Whether you're a die-hard Jeep enthusiast or just someone who loves a good underdog story, this machine makes you stop, look twice, and maybe smile. Because sometimes, the most unforgettable vehicles aren’t the ones built to impress—they're the ones built from a dream that just wouldn’t die. Sounds about right, don’t you think? *** [EKA | FROM VARIOUS SOURCES | MOTORTREND | THEFCCONNECTION | EWILLYS | JALOPYJOURNAL ]
