Glenn forwarded this article from 1956 and featured in “Willys News”.
Features Research Archives
1955 CJ-5 Davison, Mi . . .Priceless
This just made my day. It will run, too!
“According to the internet, “The Jeep was the most reliable and favorite vehicle of the armed forces.” This one won’t be any of that, but here’s a brief ‘Ratrospective’ on this creation. We took a stunning, low mileage and rust free Willys Jeep, tore it off the frame and cut it into several pieces (settle down, we’re just kidding).
This salute to our armed services started life as a 1955 Willys Jeep. We pulled the body off the frame, lengthened it twenty inches and narrowed the back half of it eleven inches. We then channeled the body over a 1984 Chevy S-Blazer 4×4 frame that had a small-block Chevy transplant. We added the dual quad intake and a couple of old Holley carbs. We fabbed our own zoomies, took some Army-issue backpack frames and direct mounted them to the floor for back rests. Seats are U.S. issue blankets torn in pieces. Some of the flooring and the seatbelts are courtesy of a wrecked Michigan State Police cruiser. We’ve got 4 Jerry cans out back for a fuel tank and a canteen over-flow tank for the radiator. Air Cleaners are drilled helmet liners and zoomie covers are olive drab soup cans wired together (we kept losing them when we fired it up). If you plan on ever driving this, there’s a pick and shovel mounted so you can dig your own grave. Battery box is U.S. Army issue tool box. It’s got a pre-historic Mallory coil and distributor for fire power. Zip ties hold the tilt front end closed (for now) but you’ll need a better solution. We don’t quite have the shift linkage figured out so you’ll have to come up with something. Right now the shifter is out in front of the windshield.
The Rat does run but we haven’t had the guts (stupidity) to drive it. We will be selling this vehicle as ‘PARTS ONLY’! It does come titled as a 1955 Willys. Miles are not actual. Buyer will have to pay a document fee of $190 or 5% of the sale price (whichever is less). Plus 6% Michigan sales tax and a title transfer of $15. Sorry, but we all have to pay taxes.
You’re gonna need a trailer (Rat trap) to pick this up. We will help you push it on board, but you’ll have to handle everything else. Any questions? We check email once a day. You can also call Fergy at(810)653-4111.
There is no reserve on this auction but we think it’s worth millions.
This will make a great project, art study or urinal for the discerning buyer.”
http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=130631739087+&viewitem=
Anderson Township’s Fire Volunteers’ Jeeps
Roy sent this Jeeps News’ page. The caption is self explanatory. You can see the jeeps much better if you click on the image below. I think Anderson Township is in Ohio.
MB from Flickr in Utah
Here’s a beautiful shot from what appears to be southern Utah.
http://www.flickr.com/photos/tdhirschi/3899283306/sizes/z/in/photostream/
CJ-3Bs out of India on Flickr
I spotted these Mahindra 3Bs on Flickr: http://www.flickr.com/photos/nirvo/5701286862/sizes/z/in/photostream/
MB from Europe, France Maybe?
Here’s a cool picture. http://www.flickr.com/photos/_pec_/5760936022/sizes/z/in/photostream/
Jeepers Jamboree article from 1981
Navy jeeps from WWII
Gussying up the MB at Hemmings.com
Dan put together a great article with a few pics I hadn’t seen about restyling the MB in the field. Very cool stuff. Thanks to Roy for forwarding it.
http://blog.hemmings.com/index.php/2011/12/19/gussying-up-the-mb-jeep/
GPW at Auction Today
Bob took this photo and reports, “I shot this today in waynesburg, Ohio. It’s a 1945 GPW that went up for auction. It was good looking from 25 feet but had some bad floor repairs, a bit if painted over rust, wrong motor, wrong seats, etc. went for $4700. There were a lot of little parts to be had also but nothing special.”
Jeeping Outside Tucson in a CJ-5
Today, Jim sent me some pictures of his CJ-5 and a recent trip along the outskirts of Tucson. Thanks for sharing Jim!
Jim wrote, “A few pictures of me and my wife running around in the Rincon Mountains east of Tucson,AZ. There are a lot of forest service access roads around the area. Some are easy, and quite a few are challenging. Our Willys is mostly stock. The only thing not stock and original is the engine and a Warn overdrive. It is a Ford 289 donated from a totaled Mustang. The rims and tires are from a 74 CJ-5 that I sold a while back. I still have the old rims and tires for it in my garage. There is no lift kit on it. The tires on it now are too big, but we like the look. Just have to be cafefull to keep the fenders off of the rubber LOL!!”
Jeep Playground Toy from Flickr
Wartime Jeep Comes Home
Roberto’s MB Cup
Early Slat Grille MB in Southern California
Just a few updates tonight . . . I might be wrong, but looking at the slope of the driver’s entrance, it almost looks like a Willys MA curve. The frame and front clip appear MBish though. The photo was taken in the Santa Rita Hills of Southern California in May of 2008 by “ManDog”.
http://www.flickr.com/photos/29812201@N00/2473955140/in/photostream/
Compare it to this shot of a MA from the WillysMA website.
Photo of a FC-170 from Curtis Joe Walker
Craig spotted this photo on Flickr by Curtis Joe Walker.
http://www.flickr.com/photos/curtisjoewalker/1350810361/in/faves-46060235@N02/
Toddler Bed
LeGrand spotted this unusual toddler bed (at least I haven’t seen one).
“Military Jeep Toddler Bed
Excellent Condition, looks like new.
Standard size crib mattress fits inside ( crib mattress is not included).
The Bed measures 29 x 53 inches. The entrance is 12 – 13 inches above the floor.
I bought this bed for $300, I am only asking $100.
Comes from a clean and smoke free home.
Hand crafted from laminated Baltic birch and other solid woods.”
http://www.ksl.com/index.php?nid=218&ad=18399848&cat=&lpid=3&search=jeep
Rendered Jeeps
I did a search for “willys jeep autodesk”. A variety of images were returned, too many to list here. So, here are a few. The remainder can be seen here.
From Roger Emanuel’s blog come these two pictures. See the rest of them here:
Here are a few from Autodesk:
M-677 from the Lone-Rover Website
Here’s a nice shot of a M-677 from Lone Rover Photos.
Pinewood Derby Flatfender Jeep
Want to build a Pinewood Derby jeep? Check out this ‘how-to’ article from Scrollsawer.com. A pattern is also available there too.
Steve forwarded a picture of the Pinewood Derby jeep his stepson Larry made when he was fourteen. Steve notes that Larry probably got the idea from looking at Steve’s Jeepster.
Anyone else have a Derby Jeep?
Part III of the Ford Jeepster
UPDATE: Bob reports the vehicle arrived safely in Ohio. He verified that the frame is a Ford and the body is well-built.
He reports, “The thing looks pretty solid and seems to be made out of thick steel and very well made. I just can’t imagine some guy in his garage making this thing, but I could be wrong. Someone updated the running gear with a mustang straight 6, auto trans and the mustang differential. You can clearly see where it was column shift originally, and the frame is definitely a 46 ford.”
Steve’s Jeeps
Steve dropped me a note and shared some pictures of his jeeps. Both the flattie and the CJ-7 look great! If you need any help driving them, just let me know 🙂
He writes, “The blue one is a 1978 CJ7 and the Willys is a 1948 CJ2A. I’ve had the CJ7 for 27 years and got the Willys from my dad last year. The Willys has been in the family for 50 years, most of it spent with my late Grandfather in California. When I got the Willys from my dad, it was in rough shape, and I spent about a year fixing it up. I really enjoy driving both, and the Willys gets a lot of attention.”
Lego Jeep
Speaking of Lego Jeeps, here is a custom one I found on Flickr.
Photo of MB by EtienneSA on Flickr
This is a photo of an MB from England with an unusual exposure.
Pictures of the CJ-3B In Development
Drop by willysjeep.com and check out the larger versions of these great pics of the CJ-3B in development.