Goose repurposed this grille for a coat rack. And, it’s a smart way to store jeep parts, too 🙂
Features Research Archives
Custom Odd Jeep Kalamazoo, MI $150
Odd thing.
“CHECK OUT one of a kind LiL WILLYS jeep. POOR LiL fella is desperately seeking a rear end. Without one of those,( LiL WILLY won’t go..) His LiL rear is hoping to be no wider than- 55″or 56″ and lug pattern 5×4.5″ LIL Willy wants to thank You for helping with this project”
Day 31 – Tue. May 12th: A Hard Rain’s Gonna Fall
<– Day 30 – Mon. May 11th: Three-nap Kind of Day | TRIP OVERVIEW | Day 32 – Wed. May 13th: No Raining on Murphy’s Parade –>
Our goal for Tuesday was to stay dry. It wasn’t easy to achieve, because it rained hard at times!
As planned, we began the day with Tacos at Titas Taco House in Humble. Once again, they were awesome. This time I got to watch them make the corn tortillas. Their dough station sat just behind their serving station. They were pretty much rolling and cooking them as they served them. You can’t get any fresher than that!
With breakfast finished, we headed for the Texas Prison Museum in Huntsville. Apparently, Huntsville is the prison city and for more than a half century hosted the prison rodeo. It was a big hit for the city economically and people from all over came to spectate. Even some stars arrived to participate. One of the more odd events was the Monday Grab. A bag of cash was strapped to the neck of a bull. The prisoner who could grab the money and hand it to an official won the money. We saw some video and it was a wild event! The rodeo ended in 1986.
Day 30 – Mon. May 11th: Three-nap Kind of Day
<– Day 29 – Sun. May 10th: Breaking up the Beatles?? Not again!! | TRIP OVERVIEW | Day 31 – Tue. May 12th: A Hard Rain’s Gonna Fall –>
Apparently, we needed some rest. We woke up early, checked emails, Facebook, etc, then fell back asleep for a nap. I blame the rain (seems as good excuse as any and it rained all day).
When we awoke, I was hungry. I found a place I wanted to try called Titas Taco House that had a five start YELP rating with 145 reviews. So off we went.
It was 11am when we arrived at the Humble, Texas, location to find a house converted into a small restaurant. We could see much of the dirt parking lot because it was already filled with cars. This bode well for our food adventure.
Inside the restaurant there was no list of prices and no menu. There was a series of poles and ropes, suggesting that long lines were not unusual.
However, we must have timed it right, because we walked right up to the order station. In front of us were about 20 different options for filling our tacos.
Again, no names on anything. We had to ask what was what. Ann decided on three corn tortillas filled with egg & sausage, potatoes and polish sausage, and poblanos and cheese. To make the tortillas, the server laid a thin layer of refried beans onto the tortilla and then added a small amount of filling.
Seattle Jeep Club Patch on eBay
Seth found this for sale on eBay. I tried contacting the Seattle Jeep Club, but no one has responded. It doesn’t have the ‘rump bumpers’ text, so I suspect it’s not an early version of the patch (see an example of David’s early Seattle Jeep Club patches here).
“Large 9″X6″, never used, Seattle Jeep Club embroidered patch for a jacket or shirt. This piece is in great shape. Nice and clean retaining the vibrant colors. Please ask questions before buying and thanks for looking!”
Day 29 – Sun. May 10th: Breaking up the Beatles?? Not again!!
<– Day 28 – Sat. May 9th: A Big Boat (Ship) | TRIP OVERVIEW | Day 30 – Mon. May 11th: Three-nap Kind of Day –>
We thought Sunday morning would be a good time to explore Houston, due to the lack of traffic.
Since I’d had my eye on a French bakery & Cafe just around the corner from the hotel, we didn’t drive far Sunday morning before we stopped at La Madeleine’s for a pastry. Well, one of us stopped for a pasty, because Ann can’t enjoy flour based pastries any more. So, I ran inside and ordered an apple turnover and a mini chocolate croissant (both crunchy and excellent). I also found a fresh fruit tart that Ann could eat. So, I gave it to her as a Mother’s Day surprise.
After we consumed our respective breakfasts, we drove towards the Art Car Museum. Along the way, fate intervened. As we exited the freeway near downtown, we looked off to our right and spotted three people posing in front of a Love Houston sign. Naturally, we knew that spot was made for us to photograph, so we spun around the block and found a place to park.
We arrived at the sign and met Brian Kozel, Melodie Smith, and Melodie’s mother Lauren Moore, who were just finishing up with their photos. Ann quickly volunteered to take the photo of all three, but the iPhone camera couldn’t capture the whole scene. So, Ann handed it to me. I bravely leaped (okay meekly backed) into the three lane road to get a better shot, but dodging oncoming cars racing at 55mph was a stretch for my poor camera skills. Of course, there was no way I was sending Ann into traffic. With her bum knee, she doesn’t play live Frogger so well.
It was at this point that my wise wife spared me from certain doom and volunteered to use our Nikon to take the photo and send them the resulting image via text. For some reason, they agreed to have a couple of crazy Washingtonian’s send them a text, which is how we got to know them. We also learned that Brian and Melodie are getting married, so congrats to them!
We did eventually get our own photo:
With our love for Houston documented, we jetted on down the road for our next destination.
I’m pretty sure I’d first learned about Houston’s Art Car Parades from a Smithsonian Magazine article, probably in the 1990s. The event is held annually on the second Saturday in April and has become a big deal. One of the spinoffs of the parade is the free Art Car Museum.
We pulled up to the museum. Expectedly, it was not your average building. What really surprised us was to see a vehicle parked under the front carport that we’d seen before. It took us a little while, but we finally figured out it had been on loan to the Studebaker Museum in 2013 when we stopped in there. Small world!
1955 Article About Kid-Sized Truck
May 8, 1945 Photo of VE Day
Day 28 – Sat. May 9th: A Big Boat (Ship)
<– Day 27 – Fri. May 8th: The King Ranch | TRIP OVERVIEW | Day 29 – Sun. May 10th: Breaking up the Beatles?? Not again!! –>
On Friday night in Corpus Christy I was hungry, so after searching through YELP, I finally found a place to go eat some food that was highly rated AND open after 9pm (best hidden food gem in Corpus Christi was one review). It was a small ‘Asian Street Food (my description)’ place called Z Counter. The reviews were great and the photos of the food made me feel optimistic. So, off we went.
I’ll just cut to the chase and say the reviews were right on the money. I had a simple pork bowl, yet they turned that into delicious contrast of fresh, sweet, hot, and smokey (from the charbroiled pork) that made it delightful. We also had some Spam Musubi, which was also surprisingly good. In fact, I only had one problem with the Z Counter: I was too full to order and try some of their other dishes. So, Ann and I agreed that on Friday we’d return for lunch.
On Friday morning, we tackled our biggest planned event of the day, a trip to the USS Lexington (CV-16) Museum. The USS Lexington is an Aircraft Carrier ‘parked’ just off the shore in Corpus Christi. One of the things I learned is that some folks call the Carrier a ship (I’m told that is correct Navy-speak for a vessel of that size), while other folks gleefully call them boats (I’m told that was one way certain Air Force personnel would needle Navy personnel). So, call it what you want, but for me it was my first opportunity to explore an aircraft carrier.
London’s 70th Anniversary of VE Day
James’ daughter took these photos of London’s 70th Anniversary of VE Day. She drives the family’s 1948 CJ-2A, so she knows a thing or two about jeeps.
Day 27 – Fri. May 8th: The King Ranch
<– Day 26 – Thu. May 7th: Rainbow Flight & Texas Border Towns | TRIP OVERVIEW | Day 28 – Sat. May 9th: A Big Boat (Ship) –>
We woke up early Friday morning with plans to drive north.
But, before we left South Padre, Ann wanted to walk in the surf. So, we drove to the beach. Despite the red-flag-beware-of-the-water warning, we walked into the water. I had to deliver a reminder to my wife that she shouldn’t be playing in the surf at all, because I didn’t want to have to carry her back to the car. So, despite her inner-child, she behaved.
As we left the beach we encountered the South Padre Convention Center and these large upside down head sculptures.
Wagon in Germany with Unique Fenders
1942 Photo of Jeep and Man in Drag on eBay
Steve discovered this unusual jeep-related photo.
“942- U.S. soldier, late for rehearsal at Camp Lee where he plays “Sylvia” in Clare Boothe Luce’s “The Women”, hitches a ride on passing jeep.”
Day 26 – Thu. May 7th: Rainbow Flight & Texas Border Towns
<– Day 25 – Wed. May 6th: Beyond San Antonio’s Riverwalk | TRIP OVERVIEW | Day 27 – Fri. May 8th: The King Ranch –>
Today was a long day of driving, our longest day in a month. We drove 400 miles, which isn’t that far in terms of distance. However, our need to document the trip and take photos can turn quick stops into hour-long affairs. So, we tend to need lots of time, which we had because we both woke up at 7am on Thursday wondering why we were awake (we are late risers). We quickly figured out that our early rise was in part due to the air conditioner’s inability to cool our room. So, rather than fight the air conditioner, we decided to pack and get going.
Our first stop of the morning was Lackland Air Force Base (aka new name: Joint Base San Antonio), the home to the Air Force’s Basic Military Training facility. It was there that Ann went through basic training. Apparently, she had some fond memories of her time there. Unlike other recruits, she found her experience much less stressful than growing up with her mother. Even better, she got to eat three times a day and as much as she wanted! The only downfall, besides the marching, was a set of golden arches that she’d see everyday just outside the training grounds. She yearned, but never got, a chance to eat there.
Well, today was her lucky day, but first we had to find the training ground. Having ditched Siri’s navigation, I’ve turned to Google Maps. That app took us to the main base. Of course, I didn’t know any different, but as we drove around, Ann said she didn’t recognize anything, because the Air Force ‘never let us mingle with real military people’.
It took us a while to realize that the training grounds were on the other side of the highway. So, over the highway we went. That’s when things started to look familiar to her. She pointed out the airmen dressed in their blues marching on the parade grounds. Then she pointed to some newer recruits having to go through inspections. Finally she giggled at the sight of the Rainbow Flight group, the newbies who had not been issued their military clothes, so they had to dress in their street clothes (which were a myriad of colors).
Aviation Heritage Fair Needs a Few Good Military Jeeps Sept 2015
Bob Christy forwarded this announcement. If interested in participating contact KEVIN BROSIEN: kbrosie1@kent.edu
The Kent State airport is hosting an aviation heritage day on Sept 19th and looking for WWII vehicles that want to come be a part of the day. It’s free and I assume the vehicles will be parked near the planes. They get a good crowd in for this and some great old planes.
Willys America Open House July 11, 2015
Willys America will be hosting its open house July 11, 2015. I hear it’s a great time with lots of jeeps.
Day 25 – Wed. May 6th: Beyond San Antonio’s Riverwalk
<– Day 24 – Tue. May 5th: San Antonio’s Riverwalk | TRIP OVERVIEW | Day 26 – Thu. May 7th: Rainbow Flight & Texas Border Towns –>
Yesterday we spent time in downtown San Antonio. Today we explored areas outside that central area.
First, we walked a couple blocks to Market Square, a three-block area that has been home to the city’s open market roots since the 1890s. At that time, San Antonio was Texas’ largest city. The area was a multi-cultural area due to Mexican, European, and Asian immigrants. However, these days the area has primarily a Mexican flavor.
In fact, we walked to the market specifically to taste the flavors of Mi Tierra Cafe Y Panaderia. The restaurant was first opened in 1941. It now seats up to 500 people and, according to their own marketing, “Never closes”. It’s a twenty-four hour a day, every day, restaurant. There’s a party atmosphere inside with christmas lights wound around posts, colorful Mexican banners hanging from the ceiling, and reflective pinatas hanging overhead in the lobby.
I chose to go there, not just because of its history, but because they serve a roasted goat dish, something I don’t get often enough. When it arrived, I was very pleased; plenty of goat, along with a tasty cheese enchilada, made for a good meal. The rice and beans were pretty standard tex mex.
After our lunch (we had a late start on Wednesday), we wandered Market Square. We even found a couple gifts for our mothers, though said gifts shall remain unmentioned since my mother peeks in on my trip reports from time to time.
Day 24 – Tue. May 5th: San Antonio’s Riverwalk
<– Day 23 – Mon. May 4th: Keeping Austin Weird | TRIP OVERVIEW | Day 25 – Wed. May 6th: Beyond San Antonio’s Riverwalk –>
We left Austin today bound for San Antonio. We tried detouring into the historic old town of Gruene, but found it more tourist trap than historic site, so we continued on to San Antonio.
We arrived in San Antonio so early that we had plenty of time to head down to the Alamo and play tourist. The last time Ann was in town was during her basic training. She didn’t remember the Alamo grounds as being so lush nor could she remember seeing so much tourist -based entertainment (wax museums, Ripleys, etc). I was expecting the Alamo to have a much more sacred feel, but it’s set up to run LOTS of people through it.
Seth Found this Interesting Wagon
Seth spotted this interesting wagon. If anyone can provide any insights into it, we’d find it helpful.
He writes, I found this very rough abandoned Wagon. What made it stand out was the independent front suspension and the barn doors. It looks stock but I have always been under the impression that the Wagoneer Panel Delivery was the first Jeep with IFS. It is obviously a basket case project but if it’s a prototype or something like that it may be worth the effort to restore.
Dan has posted the photos at the Old Willys Forum as well. He suggested it might be a factory special. He noted, Based on the gauges and rear rear wheels, it looks like a 1946-early 1950 Delivery that someone installed an aftermarket IFS (similar to the Mustang II) and cut out the back rear side windows. That said, it could be a factory special.
Cite de l’Automobile Celebrates Vehicles in Uniform
Hugo forwarded a link announcing Cite de l’Automobile’s July 25 & 26 Vehicles in Uniform event. The museum is in Paris, France. Even if you decide that’s a little far to travel for the weekend, poking around their website is pretty interesting. It looks like they have an amazing collection.
Day 23 – Mon. May 4th: Keeping Austin Weird
<– Day 22 – Sun. May 3rd: Buc’s, Boats, Bats & a Batmobile | TRIP OVERVIEW | Day 24 – Tue. May 5th: San Antonio’s Riverwalk –>
Our only plans this day were to explore Austin and test out some of the best BBQ Austin had to offer. We started by heading downtown to get some photos of the Texas capitol building.
That plan didn’t quite work out. Apparently, the city was memorializing police officers who died while serving. The capitol grounds were full of officers and people and there were no open parking spaces to be found. One side street was packed with motorcycles. We decided to abandon that plan and head for another option: Museum of Weird.
Austin has built a reputation from the city’s slogan, “Keep Austin Weird“. As ‘weird’ as that slogan is, it seems it was not an organic marketing effort, but rather formed and promoted by the Austin Independent Business Alliance. Whatever its beginnings, the city seems to have embraced that mentality, proudly. If imitation is the sincerest form of flattery, then Austin ought to be very flattered by Santa Cruz and Portland‘s ‘borrowing’ of the concept.
Of the weirder things in Austin is the Museum of Weird. A tribute to the time honored freak shows of yesteryear, the owner of the museum has assembled some odd items. I couldn’t say for sure if they are real or not, but the whole thing was pretty humorous. After paying our money, we walked through a couple short halls full of memorabilia, objects, and assorted freakish things. We were alone, as we usually seem to be whenever visiting museums. This part we expected.
1942 Photo of Military Police on eBay
There seem to be a couple MB Slat Grilles included in this lineup.
“1942 MILITARY Policemen on Duty at Attention Near Jeeps Press Photo”
Day 22 – Sun. May 3rd: Buc’s, Boats, Bats & a Batmobile
<– Day 21 – Sat. May 2nd: Ingram Rocks, but Kerrville Robots | TRIP OVERVIEW | Day 23 – Mon. May 4th: Keeping Austin Weird –>
We started the day driving south toward San Antonio. We did not need to follow any signs to locate the city. All we had to do was listen for the anguished moans of NBA basketball fans. Those poor fans are still sad about their team’s loss. Wow, was that a great game!
Our first stop of the day was to visit the largest Buc-ee’s (and largest convenience store) in the world. It’s located in New Braunfels. Once again, we counted the pumps. There were 120, which is 8 more than the Temple Buc-ees. The New Braunfels store is 67,000 square feet. You could fit two average sized Whole Foods stores or 11 7-11 convenience stores under Buc-ee’s roof. There are 83 bathroom stalls, 250 employees, and 1,000 parking spaces, We didn’t take any photos, because it isn’t that much bigger than the new Temple store.
Following our Buc-ee’s fix we motored northward on I-35 until we reached Texas State University’s Meadow Center, home to glass bottom boat tours at the headwaters of the San Marcos River. When Spanish explorers first found the area they thought it was the fountain of youth due to the bubbling fresh water. In some cases the water spurted out like small geysers.
In 1849, the lake was dammed. For decades the lake was known for Aquarena performances and theme park attractions. Eventually, the theme park was shuttered, but glass bottom boats still explore the crystal clear lake sharing its history and educating visitors about the unique environment. Through Groupon we got a buy-one-get-one free deal, so if you decide to go, check them out for the discount. The boat operator was full of information and we enjoyed the tour. One tip, on weekends parking is free.
After our boat ride we decided to check off another to-do item. We visited Dicks Classic Garage Car Museum. I’d decided to visit the museum, because it was one of the few car museums in Texas I could find.
Day 21 – Sat. May 2nd: Ingram Rocks, but Kerrville Robots
<– Day 20 – Fri. May 1st: Luckenbach, Texas | TRIP OVERVIEW | Day 22 – Sun. May 3rd: Buc’s, Boats, Bats & a Batmobile –>
Today was a ‘day’ off. It was supposed to be an easy, fun day. Yet, we still found ourselves at a few cool places in the otherwise semi-sleepy town of Kerrville.
We arrived at Kerrville on Friday out of sheer fate. Well, fate and careful motel hunting. Our plan was to land in Austin Friday night, but the weekend rates were pretty unfriendly for an otherwise friendly state. Fredericksburg rates were much better. So, using Priceline I found myself veering over to Kerrville; someplace called the YO Ranch was serving up some rooms at $62 for Friday and Saturday. That was a bargain for a weekend rate, so I went for it. I figured since we’d never been to Kerrville that maybe there’d be something interesting there.
It turned out that this YO Hotel place was really cool! Check out the interior and exterior shots.
On Saturday morning we awoke and went hunting for a laundromat. I normally travel with a week of clothes. I can always tell when the week is up, because the rear of the jeep smells like a gym locker. I don’t know how my wife stands it. I guess it is true love after all?
Video of Working Colombian Jeeps
Glenn forwarded this video that was posted on the CJ-2A page some years ago. It’s a report from Colombia showing how jeeps are still used. Neat video.