Marc forwarded these photos.
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1945 French Postcard w/Jeep on eBay
Day 26 – Apr. 14th: Gorditas Make Me Sleepy
<– Day 25 – Apr. 13th: Port Why-Knee-Me | OVERVIEW | Day 27 – Apr. 15th: Strolling Monterey –>
Today’s goal was to drive Highway 1 north to Monterey, California.
We started off this morning with a quick visit to Pismo Beach to say we’d been there and done that. One thing we didn’t do was give into the temptation for some pastries from Old West Cinnamon Rolls, though my mouth sure watered as we passed their store front.
After a short walk on the Pismo Beach pier, we drove north to Paso Robles to visit the highly recommended Pioneer Museum. When we arrived, I discovered that I hadn’t read the fine print; it was only opened Thursday through Sunday. Still, there were a few exhibits outside, so we entertained ourselves for a little while.
Day 25 – Apr. 13th: Port Why-Knee-Me
<– Day 24 – Apr. 12th: Dan’s FCs and The Lost Romanian | OVERVIEW | Day 26 – Apr. 14th: Gorditas Make Me Sleepy –>
Our first objective on Sunday was to grab a bagel at the Old New York Deli & Bakery Company in Newberry Park, California. I’d spotted the bagelry when it delivered some bagels for an event at the Hampton Inn where we stayed Saturday night. They looked so good, that I made the bagel place a must stop. Thankfully, the bagels didn’t disappoint. They were chewy and tasty. If you are in the area, give them a try.
From Newberry Park, we drove to Port Hueneme to visit the new Seabees museum. If are like me, you are unsure how to pronounce the name of that Port. I learned it is pronounced Port Why-Knee-Me, named for a local tribe. Again, Hueneme = Why-Knee-Me
On the way to the museum we encountered this terrible fire. Ann determined it had been a medical building (we pulled up to a gas station to fill up while watching the action).
We put the fire behind us and soon arrived at the new Seabee museum. Unlike the old location (which is the only address we had), the new address does not require access to the Naval Base, making it less of a hassle for non-military visitors to visit the museum. It’s very easy to spot the museum by the large “Seabee” out front:
The beautiful new building apparently replaced some leaky, smaller buildings. The entrance sure looked welcoming:
Inside the building is a spacious lobby where a change in exhibits was in progress:
This was a creative use of landing grates:
There were several rooms that shared the history of the Navy’s civil engineering program. One question we had was how did the Seabee’s originate and get their name? The answer involved the problem of civil engineers fighting in a war.
Newberry Park’s Jungle Land
FC-Camper Transformed by ROAM
UPDATE: Tom from ROAM reported (see comments) that this camper FC was a custom installation. He noted that the camper was unsalvageable, so they felt it was a good candidate for something unique. Tom plans to do a post about the camper in the future.
Here’s what it looked like when they bought it:
Here’s the completed project:
Follow the whole build here: http://roamauto.com/1960-willys-jeep-forward-control-fc170-build/
Refurbished Hamilton Pedal Jeep **SOLD**
Day 24 – Apr. 12th: Dan’s FCs and The Lost Romanian
<– Day 23 – Apr. 11th: Vintage Cars and Campers | OVERVIEW | Day 25 – Apr. 13th: Port Why-Knee-Me –>
Our home for Friday and Saturday night was the Thousand Oaks Hampton Inn. Thousand Oaks was great in part because they had some good food stores. The local Whole Foods had some sliced bison meat they sold in a warming bag (kind of like they do with chicken). Since Ann avoids beef most days (beef protein sensitivity) having some Bison was a treat for both of us! Not only do they have food, but this small community seems to have more shopping per square foot than most. There are shops everywhere, but not many houses (that we can see) to support them all.
On Saturday, after sleeping in late (due to being awakened by someone walking very heavy in the room above us at 4:30am), our first adventure was a meeting with Dan Horenburger, who has collected an amazing collection of Forward Controls. It was a unique treat to have him share their history with us.
Dan explained that he was brought home in an FC after being born. Clearly he caught the Willys Sickness within just a few days of his birth, the poor guy. By his mid-teens he purchased and rebuilt his first FC. By then there was no turning back, so instead of medication or therapy, he embraced it. Since then he’s spent many years searching for unique vehicles. Fortunately, his professional (carousel restoration) allowed him to travel far and wide to search for them. As you will see he’s been successful.
Here are some of the Fire FCs he owns:
He also has this rare Mobile Driller attachment on the back of an FC-170:
Day 22 – Apr. 10th: Balboa Island and Pier
<– Day 21 – Apr. 9th: Day 2 at Disneyland | OVERVIEW | Day 23 – Apr. 11th: Vintage Cars and Campers –>
On Thursday we drove down to meet a friend of my mothers and her husband on Balboa Island.
They took us out to Ruby’s on Balboa pier:
We gorged ourselves on hamburgers, fries and chocolate shakes. The best part of the day was getting some of the down low information on my mother from her longtime friend. And, as Mom reads that previous sentence, she is wondering just what Karen told me . . . lol 🙂
<– Day 21 – Apr. 9th: Day 2 at Disneyland | OVERVIEW | Day 23 – Apr. 11th: Vintage Cars and Campers –>
Alex’s 1974 Ebro Diesel Rebuild
Alex just completed a rebuild and modification of this Ebro Diesel. It’s now his daily driver. He added a couple features to allow his daughter (pictured here) to carry her surf boards.
http://tahiti-pacifique.com/hobbies/CJ3A/DIESEL/1974%20diesel%20jeep.html
Orange County Jeep Works
Mike Lacovelli,owns Orange County Jeep Works in Middletown, Orange County, New York. He bills the company as “A unique Jeep shop where we build your dream vehicle. If we can’t fix it, it can’t be fixed! Call 845 649 1182”
Learn more:
https://www.facebook.com/OrangeCountyJeepWorks
http://www.recordonline.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20130318/LIFE02/303180303
Here’s one of Mike’s unique builds:
1943 Photo of BRC-40 on eBay
March 1945 Photo of Custom Wrecker on eBay
Here’s a pure utility custom wrecker from WWII.
“1945- U.S. troops sit in the “jeep wrecker” they created and with which they tow in jeeps that have run into trouble on the Western Front.”
Day 21 – Apr. 9th: Day 2 at Disneyland
<– Day 20 – Apr. 8th: California Adventure w/ Mrs. Soggy Bottom | OVERVIEW | Day 22 – Apr. 10th: Balboa Island and Pier –>
Most of this week Ann and I stayed with Josh and his wife Quinn. Josh is a long time friend of mine that I haven’t seen in nearly four years (and had yet to meet Quinn and their new son Jacob). So, we spent a couple evenings having a few drinks and catching up (yes, probably more important than even eWillys!). I even got a chance to do some cooking: poached salmon in a mushroom stock with rice pilaf for dinner and some eggs benedict with hollandaise made, in part, from a vinegar/shallot reduction (best hollandaise I think I’ve ever made from scratch — sorry, no pics).
On Wednesday April 9th Ann and I made it back to Anaheim for day two of our Disney adventure, this time on the Disneyland side. It was a good day and we stayed until the very end to watch the water show and fireworks. I can’t imagine the coldest of hearts doesn’t feel their inner child peak out as disney music booms from the speakers while the water shows, dancing, and fireworks fire up the imagination. Here are a few pics:
After a thorough exploration of the park, I concluded there are no jeeps on the premises. However, during the Jungle ride, I am pretty sure I spotted an upside down Mighty Mite. Though I couldn’t positively prove this was the case, after Googling it, I discovered there are pics of a Mighty Mite from the Disney World Jungle Cruise on the G503 site. I guess I’ll just have to go back and investigate more . . .
<– Day 20 – Apr. 8th: California Adventure w/ Mrs. Soggy Bottom | OVERVIEW | Day 22 – Apr. 10th: Balboa Island and Pier –>
Rebuild of a 1973 Racing Jeepster
Sandy Cone and John Ulfeldt built a racing Jeepster back in the 1970s that was highly successful. Now the Jeepster is being rebuilt back to its original specs. Learn more about this unique rebuild at the racejeepster site: http://racejeepster.com/Race_Jeepster/Welcome.html
Pitt County, North Carolina, M-38
Buz forwarded this photo from the East Carolina University archives. The photo is dated June 09, 1962, and shows National Guard vehicles from Pitt County, NC.
Couple SAS Photos from Charles
1943 Ad for Jeep’s Toughness on eBay
1946 Photo of Jeeps in Tokyo on eBay
Looks cold.
“You are bidding on an original 7 x 9 press photo of Tokyo Japan Army Jeeps at 5th Air Force HQ, covered in snow as the heaviest snow in more than 20 years blanketed Tokyo. Photographer Tom Shafer. Dated 2/12/1946.”
Get to Know your Jerry Cans
Marc discovered these two technical manuals that discuss Jerry Cans.
Day 20 – Apr. 8th: California Adventure w/ Mrs. Soggy Bottom
<– Day 19 – Apr. 7th: From McDonald’s to Ruby’s | OVERVIEW | Day 21 – Apr. 9th: Day 2 at Disneyland –>
Our goal for today was simple: Go to Disneyland’s California Adventure Park. This was made possible by the kind donation of a reader who wishes to remain anonymous coupled with Disney’s active military only three-day $129 park hopper pass. That pass allowed us to do one park yesterday (California Adventure) and one park today (Disneyland). (how is she still active military you wonder? The Air Force refuses to release her fully from duty because of what she did with them).
Even better, because Ann can’t stand for long periods of time, Disney’s handicap system provides us a way to avoid standing in lines for the ‘fast pass’ tickets. I won’t go into explaining how the Disney Fast Pass vs the standard waiting line vs the single line vs the handicap line all differ from one another, because it does get a little confusing. But, I do have to thank Disney for making the experience possible for Ann (and others).
Now, why am I calling her Mrs. Soggy Bottom? Because we made the mistake of riding the Grizzly Water Ride as our second ride. She got his with a lot of water, causing her shorts to get wet. It was she who called herself Mrs. Soggy Bottom 🙂
The “Cars” ride was by far our favorite. It starts as a typical ride, but then turns into a road race. Pretty fun! What I found most amazing about this ride was the rock wall over and behind it. The rock looks so real and is enormous (see second pic — huge!!). I’m sure it is fiberglass/plastic/cement . . . but the paint, and look, down to the dirt at the bottom of one of the faux mesas’s, was incredible.
Some other pics:
Tomorrow go back for a second day. This time we will go later and stay late to see the evening water show.
<– Day 19 – Apr. 7th: From McDonald’s to Ruby’s | OVERVIEW | Day 21 – Apr. 9th: Day 2 at Disneyland –>
Anyone know the “6” Nose Piece History?
Several people have asked about the history of the “6” nose piece. Anyone know how many and the time frames they were produced?
Poor Cherokee Jeep
Tim shared this small bit of news from beachtreenews.com
“Around 4:19pm on Wednesday afternoon a vehicle went through Lindsey’s Market on Hwy 79. Michael L. Hutchison (DOB 3/1/81) of Oak Ridge Road, claims that a van stopped in front of him and he could not stop, so he left the road, went through the parking lot, and into the building. Hutchison is lodged in the Butler County Jail and charged with operating a vehicle on a suspended/revoked, operating a motor vehicle under the influence of Alcohol/Drugs, .08, first offense, and possession of marijuana.”
Day 19 – Apr. 7th: From McDonald’s to Ruby’s
<– Day 18 – Apr. 6th: Wurlitzer to Wigwam | OVERVIEW | Day 20 – Apr. 8th: California Adventure w/ Mrs. Soggy Bottom –>
On Monday we and my ‘squaw’ awoke in our ‘teepee’ to a beautiful morning. The $70 we paid for a night at the Wigwam was a splurge for us, but we slept well and enjoyed the uniqueness of the experience.
Our first task of the day was to visit San Bernardino’s contribution to the world: The very first McDonalds in 1948. It turns out the ‘birth’ story of McDonald’s are actually two stories, the official McDonald corp stance and the actual truth. Thankfully, the founder of the Pollo Loco restaurants in Southern California has saved this original history (despite McDonald corp efforts to tell a different story). Even better, he’s made the museum free. Now, I wouldn’t drive hours out of my way to visit this, but if you are near San Bernardino, it is worth a short detour in my opinion.
According to the McDonald corp, the first McDonald’s was started by Ray Kroc in Des Plaines, IL. It turns out that, yes, the Des Plaines location was the first McDonald’s Kroc started. But he launched that one as a franchisee of the McDonald brothers. It wasn’t until 1955 that Kroc bought out the McDonald Brothers and gained control of the business. Here’s some fast-food info:
Paul’s Maverick
Paul just purchased this early Maverick. Note the emblems on the side. He believes it was blue and white. Though the red paint isn’t the best, he says everything else looks real good.