UPDATE: Still Available. No pics provided.

“I have a 1948 Willys Truck 4×4. Frame off, frame POR 15, Front Brake Disc conversion with Dana 30 open knuckle 3:73 gears. 4.3 ltr V6 came out of my truck that was totaled. Dana 44 rear with new hardware, shoes, wheel cylinders, drums and lines. 208 Transfer case with driveline. BandM shifter and IDIDIT steering column with advanced adapters power steering. Truck has NO transmission, but is set up for 700r4, gave the trans to my brother.

Trade, trades, barter, swap looking for an aluminum boat jon style at least 16 foot. Ideal would be a 16×48 flat bottom just boat only. I have a boat trailer to come and get the boat you will need trailer to come and get the truck. 360-628-7141 text pictures only.”

http://seattle.craigslist.org/oly/bar/4284946625.html

UPDATE: Price dropped to $2800

(11/23/2013) It runs and drives, but needs some more work.

“I am selling our 1947 Willys jeep. It is in running condition and is registered with title in hand. Please only serious inquires.
We have started restoration on it and is running
Rebuilt motor with hardened seats to accept todays unleaded fuel
Cooling system rebuilt
Fuel system Re-done
Brakes Re-done
Jeep needs transmission seal and rear end seal replaced.
Along with cosmetic restoration. But yes it does run and is registered. Please call Melanie 8five8 4four2 6ninezero5”

http://sandiego.craigslist.org/nsd/cto/4282824803.html

UPDATE: Was on eBay. **SOLD**

This is a neat brochure. It sold on Friday for $31. Learn more about Hotchkiss jeeps.

“Description: Original 1950’s French Hotchkiss Willys Jeep dealership sales brochure is in near mint condition. It measures 3 1/2″ x 5 7/8″ and folds open to 5 7/8″ x 7″ and is in French. Combine with others I am listing and ship multiple for the price of one.”

Charles shared some more photos.

The name of this road is Hell’s Highway (learn more about Highway 69 here) which was used during Operation Market Garden. Given the soldiers in the ditch, I’d say this 1944 photo captures they felt the same way:

 1944 photo of Graves Bridge, Holland, an Operation Market Garden strategic point:

This photo shows the Belgian Army in Korea:

I found this article by the New York Times, eBay’s Strategy for Taking on Amazon, which explores eBay’s efforts to challenge Amazon. This is particularly interesting to me, because in September of 2013 eBay radically altered the commissions it paid third parties (like eWillys) who send buyers to it’s website. Since many of us have bought or sold on eBay, I thought I’d explain this a little.

Prior to September, if someone clicked on a link from eWillys, visited eBay, bid on an auction (or purchased something), and won, I’d receive a commission. For me it was a good way to generate a little money and motivated me to find unusual items on eBay that I thought would interest folks. For eBay, it’s a good way to encourage niche sites to send them high quality traffic. It was a win-win.

However, in September eBay altered the formula. Instead of awarding commissions based on a time frame that might have tracked a user over a 7 day window, now eBay will only pay a commission to a 3rd party if they purchase (buy-it-now) or win an auction within a 24 hour period. As you can imagine, there was a flurry of angry discussions from eBay traffic partners who watched in stunned amazement as their earnings suddenly plummeted by 50-80% (some were earning 10s of thousands of dollars). The overriding argument for the change was that eBay was transitioning away from auctions to a buy-it-now mentality.

In fact, in the article I mentioned at the start of the post, the New York Times claims that auctions currently represent only 30% of the purchases made on eBay. Even more interesting is how eBay is using its systems to act as the technology provider for large brick-and-mortar companies, such as Home Depot and Toys “R” Us. The company is becoming more and more focused on retail buyers and stepping away from their original core utility: auctions.

http://www.nytimes.com/2013/12/22/magazine/ebays-strategy-for-taking-on-amazon.html?_r=0

Since you are reading this post, you probably already figured out that we arrived safely tonight. Among our precious cargo was a new three year old stallion. I’d tell you all about the horse, but I can’t seem to write a very coherent sentence. So, a pic will have to do (my sister is to the left and petting the horse is my niece, Holly.

Here is my very happy wife welcoming me.

What, no updates yet? Yep. Add to that list, no showers, little sleep and no decent food since . . . well, I can’t really remember. My tooth brush is feeling hurt and ignored, wondering why I bothered bringing it along. The good news is that we should reach the Tacoma, WA, early this evening.

We are just passing through northern Cali right now (Corning, CA, to be specific). I will do updates as soon as (or if) the-power-that-be see fit to provide me with both a smooth road AND connectivity. It turns out the truck’s suspension is rough enough to make updates more of a challenge they normally are on the road.

Don’t let the palm trees i this photo from Barstow, CA, confuse you. It’s not much of a ‘vacation’. But, it is nice to spend some time with my sister.

You probably noticed the website was down for a while. I would like to blame aliens or the government or anybody else for the problem. Even as I type this, which I am doing on my phone, I can still not view the site on my computer. The cause of the problem is partly self-inflicted. It was misunderstanding between me and my former web host. I’m sure by Friday this will all be taken care of.

My kids will be spending time with us for the next few days. I am thankful for that!

I’ll update posts during our drive to Seattle mid-day on today (Wednesday).

Going out in a blaze of glory, Kevin’s wagon suffered some fatal damage last week on “Spirit Trail”. He writes:

Even at the time of death she looked gracious….apart of me is gone – it represented me… plus made me feel young. I have mourned now for three days and wait for the insurance adjuster to show up…I hate to give her up. I suspect a small fuel line leak, that I had been chasing because of smell…either the distributor or plug wire ignited the gas. The fact I was headed down hill only fed the fire with more gas. One fire ext. wasn’t enough….so carry two folks!
Well, here is part of me and who I was. It’s sad to say… she even looked great on fire…but very sad. I suspect a small fuel leak that we had smelled but hadn’t found and a short from the ditributor or right side plug wire. I’ve been in mourning for three days. I will not be replacing her.

I have a few updates ready for Saturday morning. I’ll be doing some more around noon today.

Paul forwarded these pics and information about a military surplus yard that is liquidating. Looks like you’ll need an axe to get some of those trucks out of the woods.

He wrote, “The local military surplus yard (E A Patson Parts and Equipment) is closing after 60 years and everything is for sale. I spent the last three days digging thru various piles of parts searching for items I might need in the future for my Willys and I’ve had an incredible time. Their stock of Jeep parts consist of mainly running gear items but even those have been picked over pretty good. Their supply of body items were sold long ago. What’s left is stuff for Dodge M37’s, some M151 parts and parts for the larger military trucks. I was looking for a new burner can for my Southwind M978 gas heater and I had a selection of over 30 new cans to choose from. These cans were stacked in a pile outdoors between a tree and the damaged cab of a semi. The cans are stainless steel so the years of outdoor storage didn’t harm them in the least.

Lots of parts are stored in an unheated building in 55 gallon drums with the tops cut off and positioned upright. Many of these drums are full of parts (I have now idea what vehicle they’re for) and a second layer of full 55 gallon drums are stacked on top of the first layer of drums. There’s also a partial third layer of drums with parts on top of the second layer….. this place is incredible!”

Continue reading →

I’m taking the weekend off and won’t be answering emails until Sunday night. Enjoy your weekend everyone!

I got invited over to the neighbor’s house to play Dominion Saturday night, so didn’t have time for updates. I’ll have time during the Seahawk’s game, so look for some updates by halftime and continuing for a while afterwards.

No pics provided.

“Two jeeps $500.00 for all 360-401-5731”

http://seattle.craigslist.org/oly/pts/4083296165.html

Some good parts.

“Mike- 973-653-6921

Willys MB/Early CJ2A pedal assembly: $75
Large Fram Oil filter bracket: $10
Torque Reaction Spring inner shackle N.O.S(Willys MB): $20
Willys MB pully (L134): inner pully damaged(still servicable) $10
Oil breather L134: $5
(2) window brackets to frame for M-38: $20
Carter YF carberator, upper and lower halves: $10
Engine Mounts (New): $10
Willys MB Body handles, After Market: $75
M-38 Front and rear drive shafts, For T-90 Trans, splines are not missing teeth: $10 each
Bellhousing L134. EarlyWillys MB: Sold
L134 Coolant elbow(top of motor): $20
Rear drive shaft Knuckle assemby, Willys MB: $50
Stearing Column bracket: $10

Take all for $200 dollars (firm)”

http://newjersey.craigslist.org/pts/4074467709.html

It’s not one-of-a-kind, but looks in good shape.

“One of a Kind Mitsubishi Right hand drive. This Jeep was made in Japan, street legal, good shape, 4 cylinder, 3 speded transmission, runs great.
Send me a text or give me a call with any questions or offers. I am open to trades and negotiating the price.
Price: $10,000
City: Calexico
State: CA”

http://www.sellajeep.com/jss/sale/adj068/adj068.html

I just received a large shipment of books and am busy signing/preparing them for mailing. So, no updates Friday morning.

For some reason my search mechanisms aren’t working. I’m going to blame the storm that blew through an hour ago. Guess I’ll take the night off and try again Friday night.

Ann re-proofed the book over the last couple days and found a handful of minor errors. Rather than push the book with those errors, I’m uploading the new version, which will delay the launch. So, I will formally announce it next week once Createspace approves the PDF file. Thanks for your patience1

Anybody catch the latest episode of Top Gear called Worst Car in the History of the World? (Well, at least the latest one in the States). It was put out in the UK sometime in late 2012 I believe. Anyway, they entered a Mahindra CJ-5-40 into their ‘worst car in the history of the world’ contest. Of course, they tested it on pavement and in a drag race, but neglected to remind readers it was built as an Offroad vehicle. Now, I know the producers were probably just having some fun, but, still . . .

Here is a brief clip (only a preview — can’t find the full video on the net yet).

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nenQI4HrUhk#t=21

Thanks to Dennis Decklever for locating a much, much nice picture from a CJ-3B Page article about John Carroll’s ‘Beer Truck’. The folks at Top Gear called it a CJ-540 (which, to be frank, I thought they’d made up as I’d never heard of that model). Sure enough, the body and chassis is from that vehicle.  The remainder is a mix of parts.

The CJ3B Page photo was shot on the beach at Weston Super Mare in England by Derek Goard. Ros Woodham was driving.

It is Saturday night and I have a bunch of great stuff to post for Sunday morning, but I hear my wife calling me to the bedroom . . . so, goodnight!

Some posts in the morning.