Features Research Archives

To Top

Burn Notice (TV Show) Wants a Pink Surrey for an upcoming episode

• CATEGORIES: Event, Features This site contains affiliate links for which I may be compensated.

Colin alerted to this:  Production Assistant for Burn Notice Brandy Maruschak is hoping to locate a pink Willys Surrey in South Florida for sometime between April 4 and April 12, 2012.  They only need the vehicle for two days.  The script specifically calls for a pink one. If you have a pink Willys Surrey, email me and I will forward Brandy’s information.

 
To Top

Trip Update 2

• CATEGORIES: Features This site contains affiliate links for which I may be compensated.

Ann and I arrived in Mesa, Arizona, yesterday after a night of camping at Natural Bridges National Monument and a long day of driving through the desert.  After a couple of margaritas and the ‘chuletas con chile rojo’ from Nandos last night, I was done for the day.  So, rather than updates last night, look for some  some updates in a few hours after I catch up on email.  In the mean time, enjoy a few of the pics we took on our way through Utah.

On Tuesday one our first stops of the day was at Goblin Valley State Park.  If you’ve ever seen the movie Galaxy Quest, then you’ve seen some footage of this unique park.

As Ann and I walked around the park, we spotted an opportunity for our own unique photo op.

After spending the night at Natural Bridges National Monument, we spent two hours touring the park.  We didn’t see another car or hiker the entire time.  I joked that I had rented the park for Ann for the entire morning.  At Natural Bridges we hiked down to the oldest of the three bridges, Owachomo, and shot this photo.

 

Here is an iconic shot at Monument Valley.  I always thought this was in Northern Arizona.  It turns out it is just south of Mexican Hat, Utah, and just north of the Arizona Border.

 
To Top

“Private Breger” Postcards

• CATEGORIES: Artists/Drawings, Features, Postcards This site contains affiliate links for which I may be compensated.

Here’s are three postcards with jeeps by Sgt Dave Breger at postcard collectors.

On the left the caption reads, “I would hafta deliver a message to the Colonel when his orderly is sick”.  On the right it reads, “‘Should bars! Get your lieutenant’s shoulder bars here.'”

At the bottom of this card it reads “He wants to ride in front.  He’s getting carsick back here.”

 
To Top

Retro Toy Magnet at ETSY for $6

• CATEGORIES: Features, toys • TAGS: This site contains affiliate links for which I may be compensated.

Someone created this magnet from a vintage Tonka Toy ad.  It can be purchased at ETSY.

 
To Top

Heading South to the FC Round Up

• CATEGORIES: Bantam-FordGP-WillysMA-EarlyJPs, Features • TAGS: This site contains affiliate links for which I may be compensated.

Ann and I are packing our bags and preparing for our trip down to the FC Round Up tomorrow (Monday morning).  We will be leaving Pasco around 6am and stopping in Boise to drop off some books (hopefully sell some at the coffee shop where I wrote a good portion of the book), grab some fries at the Boise Fry Company and some sourdough at the Boise COOP, and then head further south for Salt Lake where we will spend Monday night.  Tuesday we will be heading through Utah and stopping somewhere near the Grand Canyon.  We’ll be in Mesa Wednesday evening.

If you are along our path through I-84/I-15 let me know and we’ll see if we can swing by for a quick visit.

We just completed a few new t-shirts.  It’s the Bantam design I’ve been playing with for a year.  We bought some random shirts and tried the design with different colors.  The picture below is pretty crappy, so use your imagination.

 
To Top

New FC Concept Vehicle to be Unveiled at Moab

• CATEGORIES: Artists/Drawings, Event, Features This site contains affiliate links for which I may be compensated.

Mark from jeeptruck.com forwarded this press release.

“Jeep® and Mopar have teamed up once again to produce a selection of concept Jeep vehicles for the 46th annual Easter Jeep Safari in Moab, Utah. The Jeep Mighty FC concept, Jeep J-12 concept and the Jeep Wrangler Apache are three of six new vehicles that will be shown to enthusiasts in Moab, March 31 – April 8. Look for more on all of these new vehicles later this month.”

Here are pics of the FC & J-12

 
To Top

Duncan & Kim Rolls and their ‘Kids’

• CATEGORIES: Features This site contains affiliate links for which I may be compensated.

I ran across this great photo taken by Thad Allton of the Rolls’ and their Bantam BRC and Bantam BRC-60.  They were featured in the Topeka Capital-Journal article while attending the MPVA’s 2010 Annual Convention.  The article includes a funny story about how Duncan warned Kim about his obsession with jeeps, only to find out she herself had a restored M-38A1.  Clearly, it was love!

http://cjonline.com/news/local/2010-07-07/rare_world_war_ii_jeep_replicated

 
To Top

Roberto Illustrations & Roberto Himself

• CATEGORIES: Artists/Drawings, Features • TAGS: This site contains affiliate links for which I may be compensated.

We often get to see Roberto’s Illustrations, but rarely Roberto himself. It seems he likes to paint himself as much as he does his canvases :-).  Visit Roberto Flores at his website to see more.

This is a pic of me posing with another canvas in process!

The “dibujo-m38-uruguay-END.jpg” is another commissioned order drawn for an Uruguayan customer, and is a present for another fellow jeeper.

Here are two others just for fun:

 
To Top

Kissing in a Jeep

• CATEGORIES: Features, Old Images This site contains affiliate links for which I may be compensated.

I ran across a couple of kisses in/on a jeep.  So, here they are:

This image isn’t in great shape, but captures the awkwardness of kissing in a jeep.   I think this photo is from 1949?  But could be 1944.

This picture comes from a post by Ransom Rings at Mentalfloss.com.

From the G503 site comes this image:

 
To Top

Swamp Jeeps

• CATEGORIES: Features, Racing • TAGS: This site contains affiliate links for which I may be compensated.

Tim Dolan from Willysjeep.com forwarded these great videos of Swamp Racing in Florida.

Continue reading

 
To Top

Some Ford GP videos at Criticalpast.com

• CATEGORIES: Bantam-FordGP-WillysMA-EarlyJPs, Features, videos This site contains affiliate links for which I may be compensated.

Mark’s brother spotted some jeep videos at Criticalpast.com.

I’ve never seen this rollover:  http://www.criticalpast.com/video/65675030113_army-jeep_test-driving_Ford-model-jeep_jeep-flips-over

Here is another video.  I’ve seen just a small clip of this much longer version.

http://www.criticalpast.com/video/65675059288_jeep_Australian-soldier_upturned-jeep_rough-terrain_scout-car

Here’s  a good video of a Ford GP going up and down a hill:

http://www.criticalpast.com/video/65675030018_Ford-Jeep_rough-terrain_Edsel-Ford_army-officer_modified-jeep-tires

 
To Top

Nate’s Newest CJ-3A

• CATEGORIES: Builds, CJ-3A, Features • TAGS: This site contains affiliate links for which I may be compensated.

NOTE:  Nate needs NOS Amp and Temp Gauge for his new CJ-3A (or ones in good shape.  If you have them, you can email him at bolducn20 [at] aol.com).

You might remember Nate’s last two rebuilds.  Well, he managed to find a stock, solid CJ-3A in the Northeast.  Kudos to him for that find.  It looks great.

Nate’s Custom suspension Build
Nate’s Ideas
Nate’s Stock Build

(See all three of his jeeps in the bottom picture)

Nate writes, “Anyways, the one I picked up a month or so ago is truly a rare jeep for the northeast and one that I have been searching for. The body has very little rot, all the original wiring is intact and every thing works, lights, brake light, horn, and vacuum wiper. It runs great also. I had to do a little tinkering with it to get it running good, just as good as my ’53. It also has decent breaks now too. It was missing some parts that I located like a passenger hand wiper, battery hold down, matching ’49 license plates, one seat pan and a spare tire/carrier. I added the dualmatics.

Only things I need for it are two original gauges and it is back to 100% original. The ones I need are an amp and temp gauge. If anyone has both, please let me know.

We think it came from Tennesee. On the tailgate, very faintly it says “DAVIS HOLLOW SECURITY PATROL”. We researched that and there is a seasonal campground in Tennessee by that name. There were other places too, all down south. Someone at one time painted the entire thing, and I mean everything (even the grease) with the red primer. The original color was Luzon red which can be seen in many places. Makes me want to remove the primer to bring out the original paint. Even the frame is still black in a few places!”

 
To Top

John Barton’s Fleamarket Guide To MB and GPW Tools . . . by John Barton

• CATEGORIES: Books, Features This site contains affiliate links for which I may be compensated.

John Barton’s book “John Barton’s Fleamarket Guide To MB and GPW Tools And Accesories” is now for sale at Lulu.com.  The price of the book is $25.  Proceeds from the book are going to John’s daughter’s college fund.   If you have any questions about it, you can contact Merlin at merlin [at] HANSONMECHANICAL.COM.

Merlin writes, “This book was first written by John Barton in 2006. It is a review of all tools carried on the WW2 Jeeps and their varieties. This should be a great help while hunting for the correct tools for your WW2 MB or GPW.”

http://www.lulu.com/shop/john-barton/john-bartons-fleamarket-guide-to-mb-and-gpw-tools-and-accesories/paperback/product-20007467.html#productDetails

 
To Top

Old Images

• CATEGORIES: Features, Old Images This site contains affiliate links for which I may be compensated.

Buz forwarded a couple different images the other day.

This one is from the Los Angeles Times (pic #8) and shows a jeep among the auto train towards the internment camps in 1942.  The caption to this picture indicates the trucks were stopped in the Mojave Desert on the way to the Manzanar Camp.

Driving this jeep is Earle Stanley Gardner, who was the writer of 80 Perry Mason Novels.  Learn more about him here in this biography written by Jeff Marks.

 
To Top

Ann and I Visit the WAAAM at Hood River, Or

• CATEGORIES: Advertising & Brochures, Artists/Drawings, Features, Museums • TAGS: This site contains affiliate links for which I may be compensated.

While driving to Vancouver on Monday, Ann and I decided to visit the five year old Western Antique Aeroplane and Automobile Museum (WAAAM).   So, about noon we pulled off I-84 and drove into downtown Hood River expecting to locate the museum quickly.  However, it turns out the museum is located a few miles away from town near the airport.  As soon as we realized we didn’t know where we were going, we cranked up the GPS and that guided us up the hill and over a dale or two.  We even passed a FC-170 off to our right.  Finally, we arrived at Air Museum Road.

Since it was Monday at noon, there wasn’t a flood of visitors, which worked out great for us because the staff could take the time to explain and answer all of our questions.  In fact, everyone was noticeably friendly and knowledgeable.

The first thing we learned is that WAAAM has one of the largest collection of working antique planes and vehicles in the country.  All the different planes, tractors, jeeps, automobiles, trucks, motorcycles are housed in two giant hangars with multiple exits.  In fact, some of the planes and vehicles are privately owned, but stored free of charge at the museum.  Owners can come in most any time and take their property out to fly or drive them.

Every month the museum holds a “Second Saturday” event.  That’s when volunteers arrive to give rides and show off the vehicles.  In May of 2012, a special Military Day will be held on the Second Saturday. That date is May 12th and I’ve been invited to talk a little about jeeps and sign books (and maybe ride in a jeep or two???).  It should be fun!

Here’s an introduction to the museum:

httpv://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HCSFuoSiEzo

While I had fun looking at all the cars and planes, it was the jeeps I was there to see.  We saw the following jeeps:

1941 MB Slat Grille

Undated MB

Close up of the Poster:

Continue reading

 
To Top

Roberto’s Newest Illustration

• CATEGORIES: Artists/Drawings, Features • TAGS: This site contains affiliate links for which I may be compensated.

Roberto forwarded his latest illustration.  He writes, “This was offered as a birthday´s present, for a friend of mine. He actually owns the WW2 Willys MB jeep which appears drawn with him. I found it casually some years ago at French-Basque country and he bought it. After some resto (mainly at paint or canvas), he decored it markings of famous WW2 2nd Armored Division “Leclerc”, a legendary unit of Free French army, which liberated Paris at August 1944 with the support of the US 4th Infantry Division. In fact, he´s dressed as an officer of this Free French unit. It is 16.4″ x  11.6″

He also showed how he created it: http://smg.photobucket.com/albums/v82/Roberto67/Division%20Leclerc%20Willys%20MB%20jeep%20caricature/?albumview=slideshow

Robert also still has CJ-3B  t-shirts available

 
To Top

Red River Offroad Tour’s Newest CJ-6

• CATEGORIES: Builds, CJ-6, Features This site contains affiliate links for which I may be compensated.

James and Tish run Red River Offroad Tours in New Mexico.  You might remember the post I did about their CJ-6s here.   They are now on Facebook, too.

James emailed me recently about his recently completed Recovery CJ-6.  The CJ6 is set up to be used as a ATV/UTV/Jeep Recovery vehicle in the mountains of Red River and Taos, New Mexico.

It’s a 1973 CJ-6 with a stock 304 3-speed and a D20 with Terra Low.  It has a 4’lift 35’s.  The bed winch is a Ramsey 10,000 pounder.  On the bumper is a Smitty Built 10,000# winch mounted on the ARB bumper.

 
To Top

2 Women standing in front of a Ford GP

• CATEGORIES: Bantam-FordGP-WillysMA-EarlyJPs, Features, Old Images, Women & Jeeps This site contains affiliate links for which I may be compensated.

UPDATE:  John decided to take on the challenge of restoring this photo.  He did a fabulous job.

I found this on the Genealogy Guys Podcast site.  I can almost, but not quite, make out the serial number on the hood.

Here is the Before Pic:

http://genealogyguys.com/the-genealogy-guys-podcast-215-2011-january-25

Here is the After Pic: https://picasaweb.google.com/104219391648738472802/ILovePhotoShop#5722193307032376162

 
To Top

Moonshiner’s Swapmeet Pics

• CATEGORIES: Event, Features This site contains affiliate links for which I may be compensated.

I was a little delayed in posting these pics from the swapmeet a week and a half ago, so I will push the pics of the WAAAM visit off until tomorrow.  At the swapmeet there were a few pics of jeeps and racers I wanted to include in this post.  But, I couldn’t leave the booth because the two times I did leave readers dropped by to say “hi”.  My faithful photographer did make it out to snap some pictures, getting wet in the process, but couldn’t quite read my mind as to which pictures I wanted;  Of course, my mind, like the rest of me, was cold that day, so I doubt there was much going on inside my mind for Ann to read.

As you can see, the booth design was compact, but efficient.  Herm was nice enough to give me some front space.  In exchange I even managed to sell something for him while he and his kids were off purchasing all kinds of deals (and he found a couple of astonishing deals on parts).  I have books, tshirts, signage and, most importantly, warm liquids.

In this picture you can see Herm wheeling and dealing on the phone, with his son Richard to his right, and their friend Dan to Richard’s right.

Here is a good example of the type of trailers that are brought in by sellers.  Trailers are piled with as many parts and pieces as they can put on them.  The building in the background is full of sellers and is only one of several buildings.  Many more sellers were outside.

 
To Top

Dan Routh’s Photos of a CJ-2A & it’s Owner

• CATEGORIES: Artists/Drawings, Features This site contains affiliate links for which I may be compensated.

Here are some great photos taken by Dan Routh.  You can see the other two photos at his website: http://danrouthphotography.blogspot.com/2009/06/willys-jeep.html

MORE WILLYS PHOTOS BY DAN:

Here is  1952 Willys Truck: http://danrouthphotography.blogspot.com/2011/03/52-willys.html

Here is a 1948 Truck: http://danrouthphotography.blogspot.com/2010/08/1948-willys-pickup.html

 
To Top

Jeep Comics

• CATEGORIES: Artists/Drawings, Comics, Features This site contains affiliate links for which I may be compensated.

Here are the first three issues of Jeep Comics from 1944.  As far as I can tell, only three issues were created with jeeps on the front (at least, I can’t find any others).  You can these covers here: http://superitch.com/?p=14130

Jeep Comics Issue 1

Jeep Comics Issue 2

 
To Top

CJ-2A in the Desert with a Cactus

• CATEGORIES: CJ-2A, Features, Postcards This site contains affiliate links for which I may be compensated.

From the postcardcollectors website comes this car.

According to the website, “This card is about the Giant Ocotillo Cactus that “grow profusely in the Southern California and Arizona Deserts.” It is a “Union Pacific Railroad Color Photo” but doesn’t seem to be a Union Pacific card.”

 
To Top

Kids Race at the 2006 Autoshow

• CATEGORIES: Features, toys • TAGS: This site contains affiliate links for which I may be compensated.

I never thought of an Autoshow as a good place for kids, but apparently in 2006 DaimlerChrysler was all prepared for them.

http://www.chicagoautoshow.com/show_history/default.aspx?d=2000&y=2006

“Kids had the opportunity to drive battery-powered mini Jeep Wranglers around a circular track on the show floor, situated next to the full-size vehicle driving courses in the DaimlerChrysler exhibit.”

 
To Top

Tonka Toy Jeep Tempe, Az eBay

• CATEGORIES: Features, toys This site contains affiliate links for which I may be compensated.

I had one of these that towed with a string all over the place.

“This is a vintage Tonka DUNE BUGGY WILLY’S CJ-2 style JEEP. This is a nicely engineered rig that has been lifted and has the large Tonka off road tires added.

Please review the photos as this is the exact item that will be shipped.

Excellent overall original condition; no cracks in the plastic exterior/exterior or wheels/rims; Paint is in excellent condition with minor wear and NO rust. Decals are nice but do show slight wear.

Measures 11″ long pressed tin;

Please let me know if you have any questions. Thanks for looking!”

View all the pics and info on eBay

 
To Top

Bunny from Bunnyland Riding in a CJ-2A on eBay

• CATEGORIES: Features, Old Images This site contains affiliate links for which I may be compensated.

There are two of these image for sale on eBay.

Black & White glossy is about  8″X10″.  Easter Bunny from 1948 in Pennsylvania at Lazarus Department store in a Willys Jeep”

View the pic and info on eBay