This 2015 article in the York Daily Record shares the story of York-Hoover’s construction of the two original Bantam BRC bodies in 1940.
https://www.ydr.com/story/news/history/blogs/yorkspast/2015/12/07/earliest-jeeps/76956416/
This 2015 article in the York Daily Record shares the story of York-Hoover’s construction of the two original Bantam BRC bodies in 1940.
https://www.ydr.com/story/news/history/blogs/yorkspast/2015/12/07/earliest-jeeps/76956416/
Vernon asked me about doing a Hatari related post. Now, put your coffee down before I say this … ready … I have never seen Hatari. Now that we are past that issue …
I spent some time looking for a way to watch the movie. It turns out there’s a website devoted to helping people find movies on different platforms: https://www.justwatch.com/us/movie/hatari . In the end, it appears the cheapest way for me to watch it is to rent it through Amazon or head to a local library in search of a copy. In the mean time, the trailer is available via Youtube:
To see some jeep photos, I highly recommend the CJ-3B page’s coverage of the movie. As Derek notes in his article, Jeep claimed there were 43 different jeeps used for the movie, including CJ-6s, FCs, CJ-3BS, Wagons, and Trucks and perhaps a few others?
https://www.cj3b.info/Movie/Hatari.html
The Internet Movie Car Database (https://www.imcdb.org/movie_56059-Hatari!.html) also has some still shots from the movie, including this FC Dually flatbed:
Of course, there are still plenty of Hatari items on eBay:
Hatari Posters and Memorability on eBay, like this Belgian poster:
So, while you all read this post, I’m going to locate a copy of the movie!
UPDATE: Here’s the latest link for this event: http://www.oregonpva.org/2019-raffle-vehicle.html
TJ shared the news that a modified 1946 CJ-2A will be raffled in August of 2019 to raise money for the Oregon Chapter of the Paralyzed Veterans of American. I’m not sure when the tickets will go on sale, but I’ll try to give an update when they do. (The 2018 Raffle vehicle was a 1959 Chevy Truck).
The PNW4WDA racing year is almost over. Here are a couple videos from past years. The first is a great overhead view of some the tracks, which are changed slightly for every race.
Here are a few clips from the 2017 season.
This price list came from Willys Overland Sales book. Given it mentions the Jeepster, but not a CJ-3A, my guess is that this was produced sometime in 1948.
UPDATE: Seth alert me to On The Rox Fabrication and their Facebook page. The business creates custom parts for the Roxor that make it look more jeep-like. Here’s a pic showing a Jeep and a Roxor. At a quick glance, can you spot the Roxor?
Below are some of the parts made by On the Rox. I will be interested to see Jeep’s reaction one its legal staff becomes aware of the On The Rox products.
Original Post August 7, 2018: This post covered Jeep’s Filing with the FTC against Mahindra, the creator of the Roxor.
As many of you know, the Roxor is Mahindra’s newest jeep-like vehicle. It’s a non-highway vehicle capable of a max speed of 45 mph. It’s best thought of as a hybrid jeep/atv(aka side by side). When they were first introduced, many folks wondered how Mahindra could build and sell these in the US. And, furthermore, why wasn’t FCA (Jeep’s parent company) fighting this.
It seems FCA was simply biding it’s time and thinking about how to respond, because just the other day FCA filed a complaint with the FTC regarding the sale of the Roxor in the US. The core of the complaint rests on two principles.
It’s interesting to me that Jeep didn’t file a lawsuit against Mahindra for violating the terms of its contract. So, either it doesn’t violate those terms OR starting with the FTC is a simpler, cheaper option for now.
Mahindra did offer a response, claiming its “actions, products and product distribution (including Roxor) both honor the legacy of the relationship and the terms of our agreements with FCA.” This is a pretty boilerplate response. To me, it also suggests they didn’t try to work with FCA when planning the Roxor, but instead were hoping for forgiveness or expected protection vis-a-vis it’s license. Still, I’d be surprised if there were terms that allowed Mahindra to sell jeeps or jeep-like vehicles in the US.
LINKS:
Terry bought this running late model CJ-3B for a great price, then doubled his investment in the jeep by fixing it up and adding some fun extras like rear duallies, a hardtop, and rope (just for kicks). Despite the additions, almost none of it altered the original jeep he bought. He says the changes made the jeep popular with folks and 99% of people didn’t realize it was not a military jeep.
The other day he went into a dealership and the dealer offered to buy it. Though not planning to sell the jeep, the amount offered by the dealer, double Terry’s entire investment in the jeep, was too good to refuse, so he sold the jeep. With his new found cash, he picked up a wagon that he plans to restore. Here are a few pics of the CJ-3B.
Before his changes:
UPDATE II: Here are pics of the Ford Pygmy and Ford Budd to use for comparison with the jeep in the movie. To me it looks like the film makers built a custom vehicle based on the Ford Budd, which Maury points out, in the comments section below, was in Hollywood at the time.
FORD BUDD:
Note the differences between the two above and the “jeep” below: Angle of the steering wheel, position of the front fenders vis-a-vis the hood, length of cowl at the step, the rolled edges of the body (same as Budd, Pygmy didn’t have them), short rear handle of the Pygmy (Budd had long hand), incorrect hubs .. I wonder if that is a Bantam chassis?
====================================
ORIGINAL POST … these photos were sold on eBay: Thanks to Maury for spotting these pics from the Jeep Herders movie. There are a couple Ford GPs pictured. I’m not sure what’s going on with the side of the Ford GP. Looks like it is similar to the original Pygmy GP.
“Originally by Planet Productions, 1946, re-released by Astor Pictures in 1949. Story is returning vets use Jeeps to herd cattle.”
Jennifer recently finished a book about a CJ-5 called “Of Metal and Earth”. She wrote me a short note announcing her book. “I am the co-owner of a 1964 CJ-5 and author of a new book titled Of Metal and Earth. The story follows a 1964 Jeep CJ-5 as it passes through seven owners on their way to restoration and redemption.” I ordered, but have not read the book yet. Currently, the online book is free for Kindle readers.
You can learn more about her book on Amazon.
She also include a pic of here CJ-5:
Vernon was right. The Mutant jeep named Big Willy is heading to Burning Man. Thanks to TJ for pointing it out the article.
Dave just scored a Dually adapter kit off of eBay. He’s also got a set of fenders. I really like those Free-Lock hubs, too.
Just a couple updates for Wednesday …
This article is from last year’s Wall Street Journal. Photo by Della Moyer.
https://www.wsj.com/articles/from-world-war-ii-to-today-a-veteran-and-his-restored-jeep-1507641024
Vern Parker wrote this article that was published on farmfum.net about Butch Soetenga’s CJ-3A.
Rahadian Dhian of Badung, Indonesia, shared on Facebook this custom jeep made from a GPW and a 1950’s Truck. The top really finishes it off nicely.
The Jeep Jam was this past weekend in Wilmington, Ohio. Roger Martin was there with his CJ-2A and FC backhoe and shared these photos via his girlfriend Sharon, who wrote about the event:
“Friday night, Roger Martin, had his 1947 CJ2a parked in the prime location at the Show and Shine Cruise-in. On the way down the street to park, his Jeep was one of several tagged by THE JEEP MAFIA.COM, and he was koozied with a cold drink cover that said “Nice Rig!”
The event took up 4 blocks of downtown Wilmington, from Spring Street to North South Street, and there were hundreds of jeeps and thousands of people. His Jeep was on one corner of Main and Spring Street ad Greg Houk’s Jeep FC150 was on the other corner of the street. Most other Jeeps were newer and many were showing off before the “muddy” events this weekend.
There are trail rides, obstacle courses, mud pits and many other events at the fairground and in other local locations. Also at the fairground, there is overnight camping, and there are Jeep vendors, food concessions, live music, a Show & Shine competition, and a Jeep “Museum.” Roger’s FC170 DRW with a rare Factory Mounted Ottawa Backhoe is on display in the event’s historical display along with his CJ2a.”
Gayland spotted this great example of a Safari-Kar (more Safari-Kars and brochures).
https://denver.craigslist.org/cto/d/1978-jeep/6635735291.html
“This is a 1978 DJ5. Used to be a postal service jeep that was converted in 1995 by a company named Safari-Kar. There was less than 1000 of these build. As the company was only in business for 3 years. The jeep has 5,276 miles on the complete rebuild. Inline 6, automatic transmission, 2 wheel drive. I just put 3200 dollars in it to replace or repair the following (battery, all the belts, brakes gone thru, the tires have less then 500 miles on them (and there is 5 of them), the gas tank and all the line have been cleaned (the tank was dropped cleaned and reinstalled. This is a very clean jeep at a good price.
If you want to know more about this unique jeep then google the company ( Safari-Kar ) .It will tell you more about what they have done.”
Chad reminded me that I hadn’t done a post yet on the Big Willy Mutant Jeep, a project meant to be a supersized, trail capable, jeep. The build is being documented on Facebook using both video and photos: https://www.facebook.com/BigWillyJeep/
Here are some pics:
This article in the Chanhassen Villager, out of Minnesota, highlights Steve Knigge’s rebuild of a 1947 CJ-2A.
UPDATE: **SOLD** Was on eBay.
I can’t remember seeing this ad for a Cutlas Wheel cover that included an FC-170.
“ORIGINAL RARE 1960 JEEP Cutlas Wheel Covers Fact Spec Sheet Folder Brochure, 8-1/2′ x 11″, one page”
UPDATE: Well, there was supposed to be a post above this one (hence the “mutant supersized jeep” comment), but the post scheduler did not automatically post it. That’s a tech fail!
From a mutant supersized jeep, we turn to the Mini FC. Scott reminded me that I hadn’t shared this video of Headquake’s FC-170 RC jeep. A couple years ago I featured another of HQ’s projects, the RC MB. You can see other projects (200 videos) on Headquake’s Youtube channel, including a CJ-5, a Jeep Rural, a Cherokee, and a Wagoneer,
Eight inches of rain in twenty-four hours sounds miserable!
View all the information on eBay
“This is an original press photo. Guadalcanal has two seasons, the rainy, between November and May and the wet. The only difference is that during the wet season there are no floods or as the natives put in when the rainy season comes “White men leaves the island, and the native die.
American Marine soldiers and sailors couldn’t leave the island and when the rainy season reached peak recently they were amazed at the vast quantities of water that poured continuously from the clouds. As much as eight inches of rain fall in 24 hours and river rose as high as seven feet above normal in two hours, Frantically everything was under water and most transportation was by boat. Flood Bridged – Two jeeps make their perilous way across a temporary bridge that was constructed over a low spot on Guadalcanal to prevent disruption of traffic. The swirling waters undermined this bridge before it was even completed but the floods caused such a major problems to transportation that anything above water was considered safe.
Photo measures 8.25 x 10.25 inches. Photo is dated 04-30-1944.”
Roger’s hoping to sell some of his leftover t-shirts and hats from the 2018 SouthWest Ohio Forward Control Gathering. Here’s the information. All prices INCLUDE shipping/handling.
ITEMS Available:
M, L….. $27 includes s/h
XL,XXL,XXXL……$32 includes s/h
HATS….$15 includes s/h.
(Multiple items will have a reduced rate for
shipping…total amount due will be included in the package.)
To order…email: rogerjm55@gmail.com or FB Messenger for Roger Martin.
Let Roger know:
1) What size or sizes
2) How many
3) Your email address and phone number (for
questions regarding this order)
4) Your complete mailing address: street, city, state, zip
code
Shirts will be mailed when the order is received. A pre-stamped, return addressed envelope will be included with the order for checks or a money order.
UPDATE: This 2008 post is incomplete. I will update it with the full story when I get a chance.
The 1968 issue had an article that underscores how popular jeeping had become. One event in California, the Desert Safari, organized by the Tierra Del Sol 4wd club, brought in 600 jeeps and over 2500 people. Below is the cover story’s picture.
As Merlins explains at the beginning of this video, This crazy CJ-3A truck was something he saw listed on eWillys. It proved useful into it broke down a couple years ago. In this newest episode of Throwing Wrenches, the crew gets it running again.
Not a great photo of the jeep.
View all the information on eBay
“1943 Press Photo Jeep & US Servicemen Walking in El Guettar Valley Tunisia WWII”