Elle Decor Magazine, to which I’m sure most of you subscribe, featured Ralph Lauren and his “#1 obsession” a “1951 Willys Jeep”. The ad appeared on page 98. I hate to quibble with a fashionista magazine like Elle, but I’m pretty sure that man is sporting a CJ-2A and not a 1951 jeep of any kind. (See link here http://www.elledecor.com/celebrity-style/shortlist/ralph-lauren?click=main_sr#slide-1 the ’51 comment is mentioned on slide 2)

We are heading out for a few more days of camping. This time we are heading into eastern Oregon. I don’t know if we will have broadband access or not, so I’ve got posts arrange to appear through Sunday. However, if there is no broadband, I won’t be answering emails.

UPDATE: **SOLD** Was $1500.

Great price!

“For sale is my 1947 Willy’s CJ-2A. Routinely maintained by myself for almost 20 years. Newer wiring harness. Solex carb needs tweaking. Brake system needs some attention. Transmission slips out of gear occasionally. Runs well and fun to drive. 4WD works. Forever plates. Includes older soft top and soft doors. Tires in great shape. Cash deal. No trades. Sold as is-where is.”

No updates today. Updates resume Tuesday. Happy Labor Day!

I’ve been oscillating between chills and a fever all day. So, no updates to the site AND I haven’t checked Tuesday’s emails. I’m improved tonight, so there’s hope for feeling better tomorrow.

UPDATE: Was $3250. **SOLD**

(02/16/2014) Runs, but needs work.

“1948Willys Jeep for sale, this is a running driving project, the jeep runs great and can be driven offroad but needs brake work and a few other odds and ends, the body is rusted and i’m not sure if it’s salvagable but it can be used the way it is, 4×4 works well, transmission works well, it is driven about once a month, call or text with any questions asking $3250 obo. I do not need help selling this.”

UPDATE: **SOLD** Was $4200.

Nothing like a wench-equipped jeep.

“Nice old army jeep with wench, top, new seat covers, and rebuilt engine. Has been sitting for a few years but only has a few hundred miles on rebuilt engine. Great for hunters or farm use. Pictures show a spraying system on front which has since been removed. Has been stored in a barn out of the weather.”

UPDATE: Was $1200. **SOLD**

It’s a project that’s listed as a 1951, but looks more like a CJ-2A.

“1951 Willys jeep project.
I have the body
Front grill
seats
fenders
windshield frame
T model frame
Hood
Disc brake rearend
Straight axle front end
A good head start for a rat rod”

No pics provided.

“I have a 1947 willys for sale. the motor turns over and I had it running briefly. Trans shifts as well as the transfer. This jeep is very very rough. Lots of rust. Excellent for parts! still has all 4 16in rims, oil bath air cleaner,grille is in very nice shape.I do have the vin tag on the frame of the jeep and I have the title in hand!! I do not need any help selling my vehicle. Thank you”

http://akroncanton.craigslist.org/cto/4594165073.html

UPDATE: Still Available

(09/02/2013) “To the best of my knowledge this is the correct information. {I am this for a family member}1962 6cyl/ automatic with plow. My family member said he had it started a year or so ago. I may be able to find the book that goes with it. Buy it as it is—no other info regarding this vehicle is available. 
am willing to work on a solid offer.

PLEASE NOTE:THIS WOULD NOT LET ME GO TO
PAGE WITHOUT PUTTING IN PARTS/SALVAGE/CLEAN
ETC.—–I am not saying this is clean—this is an old vehicle—
it is what it is. old.”

http://binghamton.craigslist.org/cto/4580607874.html

I’m taking Sunday off to work on Biscuit. I installed the new springs Saturday night (photos forthcoming) and will begin the engine installation Sunday.

Meanwhile, later this week my boys arrive. We’ll have a short time together, so there will be some reruns of old posts later this week. Next week Ann, her mother, and I will be camping up by Deception Pass. I don’t expect to be doing much but relaxing, so I will have mobile updates from there.

The Tri City Military Vehicle Club was out playing in the dunes with their jeeps this past weekend. These dunes are just a few minutes from our place in Pasco, Washington. I’m hoping to get Biscuit there at some point.

Next updates Monday morning.

I’m in Seattle working late on the jeep. Making progress (yeah!). So, no updates Monday.

Only the one update (above) today. Since it is my birthday, I’m taking the day off.

On another note, four readers have emailed me saying that eWillys appears offline to them (and has for several days). Three of the four are from outside the country. My web host made some firewall changes and that might be the root cause. If you know of anyone his having troubles, have them email me. We are trying to determine just how many people are affected.

Interestingly, Pascal noted that he tried to use Google from Canada to locate the site and eWillys didn’t appear in his results. So, something strange, but limited, seems to be happening.

UPDATE: **SOLD** Was $1100

It runs.

“I have a 1975 jeep dj5 postal jeep for sale it has a good running 6 cylinder engine and transmission. It is right hand drive with sliding doors.”

I’m going to take the weekend off. Next update will be Monday morning.

Today I spent some time doing some housekeeping on the site, including updating the WordPress backbone to the latest version along with all the plugins. Phone users (and everyone) can now search a little more easily using the ADV search link at the top of the page. So, if something doesn’t quite work right, that’s probably why.

Here’s how our Spruce Goose photo is supposed to look:

On another note, Colin shared an email with me that I altered into the story below. I don’t know about you all, but I warned Ann when we first started dating to tell me before she cut or colored her hair. I said I’d never notice. She’ll even point it out and I still can’t tell, but I can sure spot a jeep with just a glance.

A husband went to the police station to file a “missing person” report for his missing wife:

Husband : I lost my wife, she went shopping & hasn’t come back.
Inspector : What is her height ?
Husband: I never checked.
Inspector : Slim or healthy ?.
Husband: Not slim, can be healthy.
Inspector : Color of eyes ?
Husband : Never noticed.
Inspector : Color of hair ?
Husband : Changes according to season.
Inspector : What was she wearing?
Husband : I think it was red, but not sure whether it was a dress or a suit.
Inspector : Was she driving?
Husband : Yes.

Inspector : Tell me the make, model & color of the vehicle . . . . .
Husband : She was driving a harvest tan CJ-3A with a Buick V6 that generates 250 horsepower powering a Ford Toploader 4 Speed. It has a full cage colored a faux shade of aluminum. The winch on the front is a classic pre-Warn belleview winch held up by an ARB bumper that I customized. There’s a small scratch on the hood and a dent on rear quarter panel …..

The husband halted, then started crying…

Inspector: Don’t worry sir, ……. We will find your jeep.

No pics provided. Listed as a 1940.

“Just used for hunting does run but need thing done first Main thing is gas tank but can be an easy convert to a boat gas tank next on the list will be breaks Price will be negotiable but not by much motor runs great transmission is on the better side of great clutch is good would have to mess with it one with just need gas tank and breaks and the will to hunt or restore will send pictures when asked for them and does have the original hub caps thank you”

http://houston.craigslist.org/cto/4398388162.html

This looks like a good price, despite the odd body.

“1942 Ford GPW WWII Jeep #109046. The original body has been cut, and though sound, is not restorable. Has good MB engine, rebuilt trans and transfer case, new steering parts, 5 new NDT tires, new brake parts, etc. The Jeep runs and drives excellent. A fun Jeep as is or, with a new body kit, would make a nice classic. $3,000.”

http://spokane.craigslist.org/cto/4371331104.html

Yes, you read that correctly. A couple days ago the Westchester firehouse caught fire. Lost in the fire was their 1943 jeep 🙁

http://nypost.com/2014/02/25/inferno-roars-through-westchester-firehouse/

You can just see the back of the jeep to the right. I found this pic on their Facebook page. https://www.facebook.com/WestchesterFireWire/photos/a.503907639717921.1073741862.387124101396276/503956493046369/?type=1&theater

UPDATE: WAs $875. Status Unknown.

There’s value here.

“I bought this jeep for a hobby when I retired,but I have to many projects,and I just know I not ever going to have the time, I bought it about 15 years ago for 875.00 and that what I want for it.”

Jesse asked me to post this information about the FC-Roundup 2014, March 28th-30th in Phoenix, Arizona. Ann and I look forward to seeing everyone there! You can learn more information here.

Photo from the FC-Roundup 2012

It is that time for me to bring up a few important things to know about the FC Roundup, because as usual we will have some new people that will be coming, I wish to prevent any confusion and misunderstanding.

Lately there has been some postings about other Jeep events held in other parts of the country. At these events a few FCs are gathering. At Jeep events, this is really great. I think it is wonderful that more attention is given to the FCs. For new people, sometimes all the pictures in the world can not explain what a difference it makes to be able to be looking at a real FC mechanical assembly and how it looks like on a running FC. So, more events are needed.

I want anyone that does not yet understand, the Jeep Forward Control event in Phoenix is not just another Jeep event. Instead this event and the NW FC Gathering are the only events that are limited for displaying only FC-Vehicles and FJ Van vehicles. The word only means is restricted it is not for any or all other model Jeeps. Non FC vehicles will not be allowed to be parked on my property. No exceptions. There is adequate street parking for all others.

Please read everything carefully:

HOTELS: The nearest hotel is the Camelback Sahara, 7th Ave and Camelback. They only have 10 rooms left. They are changing the name to Hotel 502 in March and both names will be on the buildings to avoid confusion. So there is some minor remodeling being done that the owner has told me will be done by the time of the event. It is preferred only because it is walking distance close to the light rail and a few blocks to the event. Additionally, it has been the most preferred hotel, because it is the only hotel near here that has a large rear parking lot that allows for big trucks and large vehicle trailers and they do have security.

Continue reading →

No pics provided. It includes a Sears Top.

“Two 1948 Willys Jeep projects. Enough to make one complete Jeep with lots of spare parts. Motor and drive train in one Jeep, no motor or tranny in the other. Original Sears metal top coversion on one also. Price firm. No titles. Take all or none, as is, this is the way I bought them for alot more. Will take a 8 x 20 flat bed over tires trailer, duel axle, do not need a heavy duty type trailer.”

http://charlotte.craigslist.org/cto/4312221978.html

I guess I should acknowledge the obvious: there’s a football game today that involves the Seahawks. Here’s my Seahawks story.

In 1976 the Seahawks arrived in Seattle. I was 11. It was a big deal for me. I guess Dad must have sensed that, because in 1978 (I think) he announced he’d bought season tickets for the both of us.

That was also a big deal, because the two of us never went to sporting events. We didn’t even watch sports on TV together or talk about it that much. Neither of us are particularly opinionated about them. He tended to spend more time listening to them on the radio while working in the garage. I had a much harder time listening to sports on the radio; I definitely preferred watching them on TV.

In those early Seahawk days they played in downtown Seattle at the Kingdome. On game day we’d jump into his baby blue Ford Pinto and drive down to the dome, find a cheap parking spot, and hoof it for several blocks, joining the crowds arriving for the 1pm games.

Our Kingdome seats to watch the Seahawks in 1978 were farther up, and more to the right. But, the view was about the same.

The seats Dad purchased were on the first level, about halfway up the section at one of the corners of the field. The ‘seats’ were metal bleachers with numbers under them. They weren’t particularly comfortable. A few numbers down from us was another father and son. They were noisy, always complaining about the players or the refs. The kid was a couple years younger than me and seemed more interested in spewing nonsense and vile than studying the actual game.

Half the games were fun, because they’d happen in our part of the field. The other half were way down at the other side of the dome. I might as well have watched it on TV. Speaking of TV, the commercial breaks were a little bewildering, meaning there were no commercials to watch. All I could do was watch the players or cheerleaders as the the endless TV-timeouts broke up the action. One study suggests there is only 11 minutes of actual game time action and 75 minutes of commercials in the average football game. That was never more apparent to me then when I was sitting next to Dad waiting for the action to commence. Since we really didn’t talk a whole lot, we’d look around or read the game brochure.

The most memorable part of the games for me were the endings, especially the close ones. They were memorable not so much because they were exciting, but because we watched them on the TVs as we descended the Kingdome’s ramps. You see, Dad liked to leave early to beat the crowds and the traffic. So, while I watched the game, Dad watched the game and the crowd to gauge when the best time to leave would be. As soon as Dad gave the word, we were gone, leaving the cheering (or booing) crowds behind as the last minute events unfolded.

But, at least we avoided traffic home.

When the next season rolled around, Dad asked if I wanted him to get season tickets again. I thought about it. I felt that he only went to the games as a favor to me; similarly, I would only be attending the games as a favor to him. So, I told him that I’d just rather watch it on TV. He seemed perfectly happy with that answer. To Dad’s credit he tried, but it just wasn’t our thing. I guess we never were rabid fans.

Still, I have to say, Go Hawks!