Randy emailed me this morning with some great family pics.  Here’s a little bit about Randy and a variety of pics.  He says we can expect a few irregular reports from the Austin area as he often spots flatfenders around there.

I learned how to drive in a ’48 CJ2A when I was 12 years old and thus started my “addiction” to Willys.  I’m now 54 and still love ’em.  I moved to the Austin TX area a few years back and have a small ranch; So, of course, I knew what I needed in terms of utility vehicles.  I have a ’48 CJ2A that is all original and records for it since 1967.  The hardtop and extended bed are from a company in Houston, both are Koenig. I’ve not seen another Willys with the extended bed [ED NOTE:  Here’s some info about extended beds from the CJ-3B Page]. I use the ’48 to go to the feed store and drive around town.

My other jeep is a ’54 CJ3B which is non licensed.  It’s a bit rough, but starts and drives great.

I have attached a picture of the Eifel Tower I took a couple years ago in the Crown Room in Paris.  It’s a picture of a picture.

As I was deciding what pics to send I discovered I have MANY pics of different family members, friends, animals and more with a Willys in them.  It seems I just realized my Jeeps are indeed a part of the family. The jeeps earn their keep and are always a hit.  I’ve taught a number of young folks how to drive a standard in these, and hope in some way I have started a passion for Willys as it did for me some 42 years ago!

Here’s Randy’s pic of a pic from Paris:

Here’s Randy and his jeeps:

View more pics — click the link below —

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Jim, take it away … (thanks for sharing!)

Got a call today.  Guy says,”I hear you like willys jeeps?” Yep, that sounds like me I thought. He said,”I have one here with flat fenders, all original, hasn’t been started in a while, will probably need a battery, some tires, gas.” Sounds like my kinda deal I thought, then I asked the fatal question,”when was it last run running?” “Oh, maybe 30-35 years ago when I was a kid,” he said.

Wow, it had been sitting in the same spot in a field on a fence line for so long that the diffs were touching the ground and part of all 4 rims and tires were 6-8 inches under ground. The 8000 lb warn winch on my trailer wound up pretty damn tight for a few seconds and then the whole jeep “popped” up and out of the ground as if it had sat on a tack!

2 trash bags of old carpet, wood, leaves, clumps of moss (yes, moss) rotted tools, a rusty hunting knife, 3 hornets nest and one poor little very unhappy wet field mouse later [ed note: see last pic]  I found some very decent floor boards, perfect hat channels underneath, factory paint still on the frame, a surprisingly straight body, all stock everything and a super trashed windshield frame, but I have a spare here at the cabin.

The owner said they parked it originally cause it needed a fuel pump; so, what do you want to bet I will be driving this old rig in a few weeks? A lot of fun for an afternoon of flat fender hunting!  Cocktail time to celebrate!

PS. my sincere apologies to the owners of the carwash I spent $10 at to remove the worst of the goo; sorry bout the mess …… serial number CJ2A 211636

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