Gordon mentioned to me that Frank Sinatra had once owned a GPW. So, I spent some time searching for Sinatra and jeeps. Here’s what I have so far:

Franks GPW went to a Sotheby’s auction in 2003 (which listed it as a 1942 GPW),

then to a Barrett Jackson auction in 2005 (which listed it as a 1944).

It now resides in the Tebo Museum (private museum approx 400 vehicles) collection (Facebook link) (Flicker Link). Here’s how the jeep is presented:

Back when Frank built his home in 1947 at Palm Springs, California, his daughter noted that the town was still small and the roads rough, so “We . . . needed our jeep to manage the dirt roads, sand dunes, and tumbleweeds,” No indication as to what jeep model this was.

Of course, Frank spent some time in jeeps while acting. For example, this still photo from a French eBay page of Sinatra in a jeep is from his 1958 film “Kings Go Forth”.

According to an April 1966 Esquire magazine article,

“At other times, aiming to please, his men will overreact to his desires: when he casually observed that his big orange desert jeep in Palm Springs seemed in need of a new painting, the word was swiftly passed down through the channels, becoming ever more urgent as it went, until finally it was a command that the jeep be painted now, immediately, yesterday. To accomplish this would require the hiring of a special crew of painters to work all night, at overtime rates; which, in turn, meant that the order had to be bucked back up the line for further approval. When it finally got back to Sinatra’s desk, he did not know what it was all about; after he had figured it out he confessed, with a tired look on his face, that he did not care when the hell they painted the jeep.”

According to the “Remarkable Cars” website, this 1941? MB was used during the filming of the dirty dozen, then purchased by Sinatra, who then gave it to Burt Reynolds. It is now located in the Star Cars Museum in Gatlinburg, Tennessee.

I’m sure there’s much more out there. I’ll add to this thread as I learn more.

I ran out of time for updates yesterday (other than the K hub above).

As I mentioned last week, we’ve been busy redoing my mother-in-law’s back yard pond area. It’s meant moving and rewiring the garden outlets, replacing water pipes and irrigation hose, ripping up old landscaping, and laying 2 tons of stone for a walk way. I spent most of yesterday laying the stone (see pics below).

On another note. Ann was walking towards the entrance of Lowest yesterday wearing her “Bomb Squad” shirt, one she got from Joe in Mesa (she loves the shirt). In the Airforce, among other things, she both armed and defused bombs. That was part of her profession, so she wears her Bomb Squad shirt proudly.

Anyway, as she’s walking into Lowes, some guy in a truck drives near her as she neared the front entrance of the store and calls out to her. She didn’t understand him, so she asked him what he said. He replied that “it was nice of your boyfriend to let you wear his shirt.”

Shit, meet fan ….

Let’s just say that it didn’t go well for that guy. Ann explained that she did not need to justify her service to the man in the truck, but she did anyway, telling him that it was her, not her husband, who was the bomb expert, that it was her profession. And, if a bomb ever needed to be defused, that she ought to be the one doing it and not her husband (I concur).

The lesson here is don’t be like that guy. There are over 200,000 of active-duty women in the military doing all kinds of work. Show’m respect.

Here are some pics of the backyard project …

this is the pond pump and plumping. The pipes needed some new sections. The wiring for the pump was never attached to a post, so I moved the wiring, sunk a post, and added a craftsman style box and cover.

This is another electrical outlet that needed a post and the craftsman box around it. I’ve added some anti-critter filler at the bottom to keep them at bay (hopefully).

New irrigation hose.

Finally ready for stone.

Let the laying of stone begin.

Continue reading →

Glenn shared this news clip of a 12-acre antique car junkyard that’s being transformed into a museum.

https://www.wabi.tv/content/news/Guilford-garage-turning-into-museum-including-more-than-500-old-cars-493900001.html

UPDATE: Still Available for $499.

This sterling silver CJ-05 was likely a sales promotion award. Thanks to Tom for spotting it.

View all the information on eBay

“You are viewing a Vtg. Tiffany & Co. Sterling Silver Willy’s Jeep Charm/Pendant. UNIQUE! WHEELS MOVE! Read below for further details…

Seller’s Notes:
I have sold and current listing some wonderful items to the great people of eBay. This is the exact item you will receive. Overall in good pre owned vintage shape with some wear- toning, some heavy hairlines and scuffs, fading, marks. I RESEARCHED THIS ITEM TO THE BEST OF MY ABILITY – I COULDN’T FIND ONE EXACTLY LIKE IT – To my knowledge, it seems to be a vintage Tiffany & Co. Willy’s Jeep charm attached to a small chain- Could be a bale for a chain or some other piece that may be missing- SEE PICS. Tiffany and Co pouch included- light wear. The wheels do move. Was lightly cleaned. See high def pics to determine condition, style, etc.

Particulars:
Total weight- 29.2 grams
See pics for measurements. Measurements in inches please convert to your specs.
See pics for hallmarks.
The wheels do move.
Pictured “as is”.
INCLUDES TIFFANY POUCH – SEE PICS
I am unsure the time period of the piece but those who know this item may know more.”

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Bernd was busy with his CJ-5 again in Austria last weekend. First, he delivered an armchair to his mother-in-law.

Then, he joined a group of vintage cars and machinery at and annual get-together https://zw-oldtimer.at/ , where Bernd acted as a mobile toolbox (and appears to have delivered a passenger tram car). He also helped lay 200m of train track and, on Sunday, acted as a conductor.

Below is the tram and some volunteers.

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Tremaine shared a photo of the updated jump at a horse event in Yelm (Yelm is minutes south of Joint Base Lewis Mccord, so the military theme makes sense). Four years ago it was the fake jeep that was a horse jump. Now, it’s a Jeep jump and an Anti-Tank gun jump.