The 17th Annual Midwest Willys Jeep Reunion & Swap Meet is this weekend at Jefferson City, Mo. September 16-17-18, 2011. This year they will not only feature Willys and “Jeeps”, but have also opened the Reunion to ALL MILITARY VEHICLES.
The 17th Annual Midwest Willys Jeep Reunion & Swap Meet is this weekend at Jefferson City, Mo. September 16-17-18, 2011. This year they will not only feature Willys and “Jeeps”, but have also opened the Reunion to ALL MILITARY VEHICLES.
Roberto has been restoring a ‘FrankenJeep’ CJ-3A and capturing some of it on video. Thanks for sharing these Roberto!
Here are links to all 7 videos:
Video 1:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SzjqGRRHaIc
Video 2: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Z2lAtRUUm0s
Video 3: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1gQF4vSnevk
Video 4: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xjF8O4qlENE
Video 5: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7Ht8yDDywgs
Video 6: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iiegdIb_3Kk
Video 7: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rYrG0EyiWm0
Brendan from This Old Jeep asked me to put the word out about a soccer team fundraiser that includes a teen who built a very nice Willys Truck. You can learn more about it here. The goal is to raise $300 for the club, but a side goal is to get as many classic jeeps there as possible.
The event takes place at Saturday Oct. 1st 2011. 11am-2pm perryville Outlets Center Heather Ln Perryville Md. www.perryvilleoutletcenter.com This venue is just off of I95 at exit 93 so its easy to get to for most of us east coast guys. Registration starts at 9am.
I’m still catching up on emails, so if I haven’t responded .. that’s why. We had some internet issues tonight. Unfortunately, I can no longer blame the Canadians for that.
As promised, finally, below are pics of the 1942 GPW. We were driving down a street into Friday Harbor when I felt the jeep beckon to me through the glass. Naturally, none of the driver’s behind me minded when I stomped on the brakes and veered violently to the shoulder for an emergency stop. In fact their salutes to me seemed quite friendly, but they seemed in a hurry cuz they only had time to wave with one finger …. there’s more to the story, but I’m tired so that’s it for now.
Note the windshield extension that allows the use of a CJ-3A top.
Warren forward this fun link. Click on the pic.
According to the website that holds the panorama, “This is image was taken in Circasia Quindio Colombia. Its the place where the cattle is sold every weekend. It is also a place where all the farm people go and sell vegetables and meat. The Fire Department is located there. The jeeps are the famous Willys that take people into the mountain to work their farming.”
UPDATE: Brandon visited this museum recently and files the following notes, “The museum’s collection includes Ford GP #1, Bantam BRC-40, Willys MA, GPA, slat grille MB, GPW, and M38.”
The Veteran’s Memorial Museum in Huntsville, Alabama, houses three early jeep prototypes.
From the Website, “The Museum displays more than 30 historical military vehicles from World War I to the present, as well as tableaus, artifacts, and other memorabilia dating back to the Revolutionary War. Supporting organizations include the 19th Alabama Infantry, which sponsors exhibits from 18th and 19th Century conflicts, and the 8th Air Force Historical Society, which sponsors a Bomb Group briefing room. Both of these organizations support ‘living history’ presentations at the Museum.”
There appears to be a Bantam BRC 40 in the back, a Ford GP to the far left of the photo, a Willys MA just to the left and another Ford Pygmy to the right. I haven’t found any other info that describes what the museum has. Anybody been to this museum?
Here is a closeup of the Ford Pygmy from the museum site.
In case you plan a trip to North Korea, you won’t have to leave behind your love of Willys, for the War Museum in North Korean Museum has a captured one there. http://www.travelthewholeworld.com/northkorea.html
Roberto found this jeep taking center stage in Calcdeonia, Colombia.
Other versions of the same image:
http://www.arbelaez.com/caicedonia/node/22
http://www.panoramio.com/photo/19668738
http://www.panoramio.com/photo/19668763
http://www.panoramio.com/photo/666398
http://www.retrovisiones.com/2009/11/cafe-con-aroma-de-willys/
http://www.arbelaez.com/caicedonia/node/22
http://www.arbelaez.com/caicedonia/node/23
Roberto spotted this unusual monument from the Cole Land Transportation Museum in Bangor, Me.
Here is a GPW and trailer the Museum displays. The image was shot by Gary and Audrey and posted on their blog:
Roberto alerted me to this. I was through there five years ago and didn’t see it. Anyone know anything about it?
Roberto spotted these two photos from a Pheasant hunting expedition in India in 1944 at Fotolibra.com. These appear to be GPWs.
Rudolf forwarded a rare six by six setup which looks pretty willys-ish to me. This is the second one he has discovered in Bali.
UPDATE: **SOLD** Rudolph spotted this Ford GP that is dated as a 1938 for some reason. 1941 would be the actual year. It includes a trailer.
Gordon volunteered to share images of his unusual Unimog 401, which he calls ‘Grog’. It’s a pretty cool vehicle. Gordon got it from Cold War Remarketing in Colorado; in turn, he got it from the Swiss Army
Gordon writes,”Grog is completely street legal, I had him licensed and insured for a while. Top speed with its behemoth 25HP OM636 is 35 mph. (Probably far short of that here at 6000’ elevation). I have a few other 636 engines and have toyed with the idea of trying to turbocharge one of them, but that’s pretty far down on my list. Mercedes also used the 636 in the early Ponton cars (180D).”
UPDATE: See the newest CJ-6 here.
James and Tish run Red River Offroad Tours out of Taos and Red River, New Mexico. One of their vehicles is the refurbished 1975 CJ-6 shown below.
James writes, “The 1975 CJ6 was used by the US forest service in Colorado. It has a rebuilt stock motor and transmission. The suspension was modified with a 4′ lift kit and Cooper STT 33×12.50-15 on 8″wheels with a Disk brake conversion on the front. A couple custom built bench seats above the wheel wells in the back have been added for visitors. It also has a Custom built shade/rain canopy.
We do on and off-road Jeep tours in the mountains of Northern New Mexico. Taos and Red River,NM reaching elevations of 12,689. May thru the end of October. 7 days a week. www.redriveroffroad.com”
So Check out the website to learn more. Check out their photo album. That’s a cool effect. http://www.redriveroffroad.com/album/index.html
After restoration and modifications:
Here’s a 4×4 event in Nevada, Iowa. They would especially love to get some FC owners to attend, but it looks like a variety of 4wd vehicles will be there.
The 2011 IOWA ALL BREEDS JEEP SHOW & 4X4 SWAPMEET will be held sept 24-25 at the Story County Fairgrounds in Nevada, Iowa 50201. We will be on site all day friday sept. 23 for setup and early registration.The show goes from 8am to 5pm ish each day . We expect several different 4×4 and jeep clubs to be present and including scouts , land cruisers , broncos , land rovers , jeeps , willies , kiasers , buggies , and a wide range of military vehicles . Some of the show highlights include – 800′ off road driving course.
– Slow crawl contest
– Kids power wheels course
– RTI Ramp
– Blackhawk helicopter landing sat. morning
– Old and new military vehicles on display
– The Bantam Balancer ( teeter totter )
– Swapmeet
– Winching contest ( timed vehicle righting event )
– Door prizes and drawings
– Vehicle show and shine
– Rock climbing wall
– New Equipment vendors
– Jeep trailer judging new or homebilt
– Jeep and 4×4 inventions contest
$5.00 admission , $10.00 vehicle in show and shine only , $20.00 vehicle in all games and challenges all weekend including show and shine. Swapmeet booth 10’x10′ is $25.00 for the weekend ( most have 110 electicity ) , Business vedor booth 10’x10′ is $100.00 for the weekend , Free booths for 4×4 and jeep clubs. Note; The usual safety equipment and insurance required for vehicles on cours and challenges .
SCHEDULE OF EVENTS
SATURDAY SEPT 25 , 2011 7am – 11am vehicle registration open
8am – 5pm vendors and swapmeet open for business
9am – – – on tech inspect available
10am – 11am obstacle course demonstrations
11am – 12pm course open to vendors ONLY
11am – 1pm vehicle judging , trailer and inventions judging
1pm – 5pm obstacle course open to all inspected vehicles
1pm – 4pm RTI RAMP and BANTAM BALANCER competition
1pm – 4pm slow crawl competition
SUNDAY SEPT 26 , 2011
8am – 11am 1st place winners staged
8am – 3pm obstacle course open
8am – 3pm vendors and swapmeet open
8am – 10am RTI RAMO and BANTAM BALANCER
open10am – 12pm roll over contest
3pm – 4pm awards ceremony & drawing for more info call 1-515-708-0080
More updates tomorrow morning ….
Gerald took pics of this old car they got a few years back. It has various jeeps parts attached. Gerald reports the frame was pristine, so they sold it to someone who could put it to better use.
Merlin from Hanson Mechanical emailed me today thanking me for posting his restored MB for sale. It turns out, his old Willys restoration shop has quite a story. What fun this site is to manage sometimes as unexpected stories continue to turn up, unexpectedly. Thanks for sharing Merlin! You can contact Merlin through his website if you need some work done.
I will let Merlin tell it, “A small group of graduates from the high school I used to teach at found me after I took another job and they have put an extensive amount of time into my business just to help me and to learn more about Jeep restoration. They range in age from 18 to 22 and it is wonderful knowing individuals that age are interested in learning restoration, welding, brazing and leading. They have whole rants dedicated to their hatred of Bondo :). So far they have restored and electrified a 1955 Metropolitan, restored my father’s 1956 Porsche, refurbished the Kaiser/ Willys MB, inventoried Major Barton’s workshops (read about Major John Barton here), and now are working through an endless line of MB’s and GPW’s.
One, named Vlad, from Belorus, knows all the metal details quite well now and evaluates anything we look at rescuing. He considers doing lead work on a Jeep a relaxing experience. Vlad’s girlfriend, Kelsey, is an artist who helps with anything she can and is an extraordinary individual. “Izzy”, who used to manage my school theater stage crew, is our computer and organizational whiz. My main mechanic, John Ingram, is a former music teacher who specialises in restoring Rolls Royces at the RR museum in PA. He evaluates every Jeep mechanically and is responsible for our decision to refurbish the one with the Kaiser 6 (truly an early hotrod).
They are an eclectic crew (who often play things like Swedish techno music in the background) who are dedicated to preserving our mechanical past, and doing it right. I am beyond impressed with the group of them and thankful that they are so dedicated. Anything that promotes the business brings them more work and thus makes them happy and helps pay for college. Vlad’s five year old brother told me that he dreams of working for me by age 10, and he often comes out with Vlad and finds ways to help. I hope someday there is enough business that they can run the shop for me while I keep teaching.
In the Jeep section are original archives from Aberdeen Proving Ground. The same goes for every other section as we search out original archival materials for all vehicles in my dwindling collection. We also will be republishing Major Barton’s book on Jeep tools through lulu.com, prceeds will go to his daughter’s college fund.”
Below are some random images of jeeps, the kids, and some from the history section.
Below are a couple stills from a Jeep Film.
Roberto wanted to share his cool BRC 40 drawing. He also noted there is more information about the jeep at Olive-Drab.com.
Located in El Monte, Ca, on Rosemead between 10 and 60 frwys in Los Angeles, the American Society of MIlitary History Museum is has been preserving vehicles since 1962 and is a California Non-Profit Educational Organization. The museum has 178 vehicles, including tanks, jeeps and more.
Brian shot these pics, with his father and son shown in the image below. He reports that the museum has some really cool military stuff and was a great place to visit. He also notes that the owner, Craig, could use volunteers to help restoring the vehicles. Thanks Brian!
It appears we have, from left to right, a M-151, a Mighty Mite, 2 M-38A1s, and a M-38 (thanks Chris).
Here is a MB or GPW
Here is a M-38
This appears to be some kind of military DJ-3A?
And a M-151
Sebastian was kind enough to share some pics from JeepFest 2011.
He writes, “I just came back from New Castle, it was an incredible event. More than 400 Jeeps, and just a week after the Bantam Festival in Butler (just a few miles away). It seems like Western Pennsylvania in August is the right place to be!.”
You can see more pics at his website: http://flatfenderclubofbutler.wordpress.com/
Roberto spotted this article in JP Magazine which discusses inexpensive ways to get into an old jeep. They cover Willys Wagons & Trucks, CJ-5s, Jeepster Commandos and Fullsize Jeeps. I think their price points align with what I have seen as well.
You can view the full article here
Below is part of a pic from the article. I thought it was a great pic.
The 1942 GPW for Sale has now moved to eBay Classifieds.
I stumbled upon this unusual shot, in color no less, of an MB with a custom hood from the 1977 movie Soldaat van Oranje.
http://imcdb.org/vehicle_107684-Willys-MB–Jeep-.html
According to IMDB, “This film depicts World War II through the eyes of several Dutch students. It follows them through the beginning of the war, the Nazi occupation and the liberation.”