Well, I completely blew it.  I’m ashamed, embarrassed.  Truly, I wasn’t thinking clearly.  Too much stuff was clogging my brain tunnels to put the pieces together.  Here’s the sad, brief tale …

Late yesterday afternoon the ‘staff’ (also known as Brett) at the Utah Bureau of eWillys spotted a great deal:  A 1948 flattie for only $1000.  It appeared almost completely stock, with no obvious rust, though there was plenty of paint oxidation.

It had unusual bezels, a CJ-3Aish windshield, a cutout for a breather on the passenger side of the hood and hooks on the front.  It was an odd combo of a M-38, a CJ-3A and titled with a year of 1948. Also, strangely, it had no willys script on the hood that I could see.

My gut said go get it.  My practical side said no, so I put it out of my head.  I should have listened to my gut, because after thinking about, I now realize it was  CJV-35U that was running, extremely stock (except for the installation of the bench seat), and in great shape.

OHHH THE PAINNN!!!!  How did I not put those clues together?  Unfortunately, only an hour or so after I made my decision not to get it, it disappeared from the KSL classified list.  So, the decision was made for me and I put it out of my mind.  It wasn’t until this morning that I realized how big my mistake had been.

Alas, this too shall pass, slowly, painfully, like a kidney stone.

Here’s a perfect example of what it looked like (I didn’t get the chance to download the pics of it).  Imagine this, unrestored, without the breathers for the intake and exhaust … and with a hardtop: http://www.cj3a.info/sibling/cjv35u/photos/p158.html (or click on the above link)