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A Jeep Wagoneer + a Ferrari = Jerrari • Top Speed: 140mph

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

UPDATE: This is a very old post (which likely needs updating), but Mauri added a nice addition to it, a video of Jay Leno driving this rig.

 

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Originally posted April 28, 2011: The National Automobile Museum (the Harrah Collection) in Reno, Nevada, opened in 1989.  Most of the collection is based on Bill Harrah’s (gaming pioneer and avid collector) automobile collection.  Following Bill’s death in 1978, the Holiday Corporation bought Harrah’s Hotels/Casinos and more, including the collection.  Then Holiday announced they were going to sell the cars.  This ticked off Nevadans, so the governor stepped in and helped negotiate a donation of the cars by Holiday to a special non profit organization established for the purposes of a museum.

The museum was named among the top ten museums by Car Collector magazine, has been ranked as one of the best 16 car museums in the world by Autoweek, and has been selected the best Museum in Northern Nevada in Nevada Magazines’ Annual Readers Poll.

The collection appears to have only two jeeps.  One is a slightly modded CJ-5; the other is a Wagoneer that was outfitted with a Ferrari engine and called a Jerrari.

Here is the Jerrari as photographed by RenoDesertFox from Flickr.  Note the color of the first image is the correct color and the remaining images have had the colors tweaked by the photographer, but still show a good deal of detail.

1. Front view of the Jerrari (link to original)

2. Color has been tweaked. (link to original)

3. The Ferarri engine. (link to original)

4. Click on the image to more easily read the history. (link to original)

1. Here is the one image I have, again via RenoDesertFox, of the 1972 CJ-5 on display. (link to original)

 
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Video of MD Juan Parts Production

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

Bill shared this video from FRAME of MD Juan’s parts production line.

 
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Swamp Buggy Racing Video

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

Steve shared this swamp buggy racing video. At the 3:17 mark are some flat fenders, but they are quite a bit slower than those specially built buggies.

 
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Short Cut: The Concept Compact Jeep

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

This video covers Short Cut, a concept compact throwback jeep that lacks a top and doors shared by Bill. The video also describes this jeep as “cheap”, but I suspect the price-point on one of these would still be substantial. If this ever went to production, I expect buyers would be looking for top options at some point. More info: https://www.caranddriver.com/news/a15349161/prime-cut-jeep-shortcut-concept-is-a-wrangler-trimmed-to-cj-5-size/

 
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History of VIASA

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

JW added a comment to one of the VIASA posts, which led me to do some googling. I landed on this YouTube video that appears to do a good job sketching the history of VIASA and the vehicles.

 
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VIDEO: Jamie Builds Flatfender From Scratch

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

I’ve been busy building 2 sets of corn hole boards, while also getting a good parking spot built for the motorhome. We have a family event in two weeks, so I’m also busy cleaning up the shop (much to do). So, I’ve not done much on the tour jeep in several weeks.

In the video below, Jamie wanted a vintage jeep, but found affordable vintage jeeps either too expensive or in poor shape. So, he decided to build one from scratch. Here’s his story captured by TrailWalker on Youtube:

 
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Cascade Odyssey Park 2

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

In case you missed it, here’s the first part.

View Episode 1 here
View Episode 2 here (above)

 
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Cascade Odyssey Part I

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

A group of vintage jeeps spent several days exploring and camping in the Cascade mountains. I first ran some of these trails (Naches in particular) back in 1966 on my mother’s lap. Years of rigs running these trails, more than a few bigger than old jeeps, have made some of these trails much easier, but there are still some great, challenging trails that can only be done with upgraded equipment like lockers. Kudos to these guys for doing this the old way.

View Episode 1 here (above)
View Episode 2 here

 
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FJ-6A Drag Jeep

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

You don’t see an FJ-6A go this fast very often!

 
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Video 2022 Namibia Flatfender Adventure

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

You may remember that in early 2020, just before the first Covid surge, I’d been invited to join Claus and several of his friends on a flat fender trip through the southwestern African country of Namibia. I missed out on that opportunity, not only due to Covid, but also a whole range of family health issues made any type of extended journey impossible.

In 2022, Claus and his friends completed a tour of Namibia, with an excellent videographer in tow. The resulting montage from that trip has been wound into an excellent video. It looks like quite an adventure over some amazing scenery! Thanks for sharing Claus!

The video is blocked from being viewed remotely, so click on the image to go to YouTube. The video is 36 minutes long: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=p9D2ZFnWOBQ

2022-namibia-video-trip

 

 
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VIDEO: Driving a 1945 MB Through LA

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

Steve shared this video of a couple guys driving through the LA area. Good luck to them!

 
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Old Time Swamp Buggy Racing

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

Steve shared these two videos showing swamp buggy racing from the 1950s and swamp buggy racing today. I remember seeing similar videos on the Wide World of Sports back in the late 1970s.

This first video highlights some crazy looking buggies (and no helmeted-drivers):

This video shows some vintage looking jeeps and how slow they go in the swamp (9:46 mark).

 
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1958 Jeep Race Video from Europe (Belgium)

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

UPDATE II: Am busy, so thought I’d rerun this video. All brackets finished for the eBrake and fuel pump. More wires wired. Solenoids purchased and ready to be installed with new wiring plan. Ann *should* be less busy this week, which will give me more time. Hard to believe we are at the half-way point for 2024!!!

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UPDATE from Dec 12, 2020: According to Jordi, this Spanish language news film describes a jeep race in Belgium.

No helmets, no safety equipment … craziness! This video from Europe shows some gutsy folks running WWII jeeps hard through the mud. (if the video embed doesn’t work, go here).

Rodes i fang 1958 from Peter G Mozzone on Vimeo.

 
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Wiring Video for Beginners

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

I was looking for an answer to a question when this “HotRod | Race Car | Drift Car Wiring for Beginners” video popped up. It seems like a real useful video and it is making me consider adopting a couple of ideas.

For example, currently there is no solenoid within the electrical system (I was just going to redo what was already there). But, the solenoid makes sense (and maybe two make sense), but now I have to figure out where to put the solenoid(s). My current plan would be to put them on the passenger side of the rear inside the dog house. That would be close to the battery and the starter, so I wouldn’t have to run the starter cables such a long distance. Anyway, still thinking through that ….

Also, in the current electrical design, there was no safety switch (meaning to force the FC to only start in Park or Neutral). This seems like a pretty good idea to have. But, my shifter (late 1960s Dodge A100 shifter) doesn’t have one installed. Nor was there anything installed on the TH350 transmission. However, Lokar makes a solution that can be adapted to a TH350 (and other trannys). The limitation of the Lokar is that you can choose to have a safety switch or a reverse light switch, but not both. That got me on a tangent of wondering if I could also add a backup light switch to that setup.

Another idea I had was to build a custom bracket and install a Chev brake light switch on it that would fit in the front of the shifter. So, when the shifter was in Park, the switch would be pushed in, allowing the ignition voltage to pass through. But, it would only be setup to start in Park (maybe that isn’t a big deal). Then, I’d use the Lokar at the transmission to control the reverse lights.

Anyway, check out the video. I thought it was good. (note that the wire he has going from the alternator to the fuse box via a diode goes, on my set up, to the tach … so I don’t think the feedback he experienced would be an issue??).

 
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Willys Custom Tracked Jeep

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

Bill shared this video of what I think is a customized tracked vehicle with a vintage jeep body and an inline six possibly from a jeep. I don’t know enough about these to comment on it.

 
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Article on MD Juan

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

Bill shared this article on MD Juan and some of the recent updates to their product line, along with some infrastructure updates. I know folks mock MD Juan at times, but their ability to manufacture inexpensive bodies means the company can’t invest heavily in additional equipment (chicken and egg situation). Nice to see the company continuing to support the vintage jeep community.

https://www.autoevolution.com/news/inside-the-jeep-factory-that-is-trapped-in-time-workers-still-build-cars-by-hand-233079.html

 
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Willys-Overland Universal Jeep 1945 Videos

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

UPDATE: This was first published October 14, 2019. The videos were dated as 1948, but Bill noted that the actual date of release was 1945.

Brendan, who used to run This-old-jeep, posted this 3-part video back in 2010. The video was produced by Willys-Overland to help sell the new CJ-2A. I don’t think I’ve ever seen them.

Part I:

Part II:

Part III:

 
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16 Minute 1943 MB Rebuild Video

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

Blaine shared this MB rebuild video by Al’s Garage. There are a few deviations from stock, but still it’s clear a lot of time was put into saving this old MB. Kudos for documenting this as getting the light and other details correct while focusing on rebuilding is a tedious task!

To view the video, you’ll need to go to Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=p5XbCjy4nW4

als-garage-1943-mb-rebuild

 
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Fall Willys Reunion Interview

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

The Jeepsterman shared this video of the McCollum’s recently bought CJ-2A from last year’s Fall Willys Reunion.

https://thejeepsterman.com/blogs/walk-arounds/the-mccollums-1948-cj2a-jeep

 
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Keith Buckley and Bob Westerman Narrates Cutaway Jeep Video

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

UPDATE: My apologies for leaving out Bob’s name from this post! Thanks Barry.

Keith Buckley (aka Joe Friday) and Bob Westerman (aka Bob W.) narrate a video for Klairmont Kollections Automotive Museum showing off the museum’s cutaway jeep. It’s pretty neat setup. The museum is located in Chicago, Illinois.

 
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The Airstream-Jeep Rabbit Hole

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

Some of you may have seen an image of a CJ-2A setup to pull an Airstream trailer that has gone around Facebook. Unfortunately, there was no history attached to that image. So, that’ got me hunting for more information. Below is my quick education on the Airstream history. I’m sure some of. you folks know more, so correct me if need be.

I was able to find a few more images of that CJ-2A and trailer, which has led me to believe that Airstream founder Wally Byam used that jeep, probably purchased in Europe, to pull his trailer around Europe during Wally’s first trip in 1948, which he used to scout various countries for future caravans. However, I have so far been unable to find anyone explicitly saying that Wally did that. But, the jeep is a CJ-2A, so the timeline fits. The top looks similar to other European tops of the late 1940s, and in Europe I suspect there weren’t many vehicle options at that time. Here are the pics I found, the first being the one circulating on Facebook:

wally-byam-airstream-cj2a

Wally Byam sitting in one of his early trailers. A Cj-2A with a European style top appears to be the pull-rig. I believe this would be 1948.

This photo, clearly in Europe, was posted on this site taken in Turkey, from the 1948 trip:

wally-byam-airstream-cj2a3

And this photo posted on this site. I assume this is in Europe, but cannot confirm it:

wally-byam-airstream-cj2a2

As the Airstream trailer business grew, Wally began encouraging traveling, leading some international caravans himself.

In 1951, he led a trip into Mexico and Central America, using what looks to be an early Jeep Wagon.

wally-byam-airstream-wagon2

I found this example of a wagon pulling a trailer, but can’t determine when or where this occurred.

wally-byam-airstream-wagon1

Eventually, Wally assembled the first around-the-world Airstream caravan that travelled over the course of 1963-1964 30,000 miles through thirty countries with 104 people in 40 Airstream trailers. Here’s a video about one family’s take on the event.

According to the video’s summary, Journalist Mac Smith was hired to document the trip and brought along his wife Jackie and their three children, Lorie, Judy, and Scott. Mac would go on to write an account of the Around the World Caravan in his 1966 book, Thank You, Marco Polo: The Story of the First Around-the-World Trailer Caravan [which appears to be out of print].”

So, as you can see, I kind of fell down a rabbit hole of Airstream history.

 
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1964 Jeep News Volume 10 Number 6

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

Te eight-page 1964 Jeep News Volume 10 Number 6 begins with a record retail sales announcement. These revenue numbers were primarily driven by the three models shown at the bottom of page one, including the Tux Park CJ-5, the Wagonneer, and the Gladiator. Increasing numbers of dealers also helped. Page two mentioned how the golf partnership was already providing beneficial, with inquiries numbering in the hundreds arriving at dealers. Page three shows three of the new KJC-approved “ad mats” available for dealers to place in local newspapers.

Page four highlights a dealer in Ohio that tries to sell a Meyer plow with every jeep sale, claiming it isn’t that hard to do. Page five provides the results of a dealer contest. Page six shares the news of the National Search and Rescue group and their recent election. Page eight turns international, with pics and captions from around the world. On page eight you’ll find the results of Boulder, Colorado’s, 4th annual Jeep-O-Rama. The winner of a brand new CJ-5 was Donnie Beyer, whose father owned a jeep dealership. Pretty good for a 17-year-old kid! Lower on the page is a DJ-3A with an unusual door and top setup. Finally, on the lower right, is a fairly well-know pic of Barb Eden (right) and Shelley Fabares with a DJ-3A Surrey from the movie “Ride the Wild Surf” (see trailer at bottom).

1964-jeep-news-vol10-no6-1 1964-jeep-news-vol10-no6-2 1964-jeep-news-vol10-no6-3 1964-jeep-news-vol10-no6-4 1964-jeep-news-vol10-no6-5

(yes, a Surrey makes a quick appearance in this trailer):

 
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“Wanna See Something Cool” Video of FC-170 Camper

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

Thanks to Geoff for pointing this out to us: Kits Great Western Outdoor Adventure Tours. Now, how do I get ahold of one of those brochures? That’s a great bit of history and would make a great Dispatcher Magazine article.

kits-circle-o-adventure-trip-brochure2 kits-circle-o-adventure-trip-brochure3

 
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“Enter the Baby Buggy” Video

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

Just a few updates today’s , as we spent the day in Seattle and returned to find one of our dogs having locked herself in our garage (for who knows how long) … she was a bit traumatized …

This British “Baby Buggy Video” is an edited version of the Ford video that introduces the Ford GPs to the world, so much of the video may look familiar:

 
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1959 Jeep Commercial

• CATEGORIES: Advertising & Brochures, Features, videos This site contains affiliate links for which I may be compensated.

I can’t find where I have published this 1959 commercial, so here it is.