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.
Features Research Archives
Raise Garden #2 Completed
The big spring project, operation Raised Garden #2, has finally concluded. The auto irrigation system is ready to go. Now, Ann just needs to finish planting and I need to put away the tools leaning against the shop (and paint the fencing around the propane tank).
Since first buying the place we’ve struggled with what to do with this dead zone between the shop and the guest house. Ann’s idea for 2nd garden area there looks like it will be a good idea. Here’s a before and after photo:
On Sunday, I returned to working on the FC. I finished a cover plate for the Wilwood hole (formerly the original shifter hole), and I built a bracket for the oil-cooler/electric fan setup (no pics just yet). Though I need to catch up on other projects waylaid as a result of the garden, I should have more time to work on the FC again.
Article on MD Juan
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.
Three Ecuadorian Jeep Mailers on eBay
Here are three Willys Overland Export Corporation mailers in Spanish distributed in Ecuador. The look to be printed around 1960 given the blue ‘Jeep’ dot and the single-pane willys wagon. These are priced at $18.00 and are pretty rare.
- View all the information on eBay (8.5″x11″)

- View all the information on eBay (11″x8.5″):

- View all the information on eBay (8.5″x11″):

- View all the information on eBay (11″x8.5″):

Four New Jeep Watches
Bill also shared this article regarding some new jeep-branded watches by Marathon. Maybe it will interest someone?
I haven’t worn a watch since about 2001 (by then I had a portable phone and computer as constant companions). I found over the years I didn’t like wearing watches, jewelry, bracelets or anything on my fingers. I don’t even wear my wedding ring often (thankfully I have a patient wife). I recently discovered my aunt has had a life-long aversion to wearing items on her fingers and wrist, so maybe a DNA thing?
1956 Willys Truck Rebuild Thread
This thread of a 1956 truck rebuild was shared by Bill. It looks like this has become a non-stock rebuild.
Willys-Overland Universal Jeep 1945 Videos
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:
Jeepster Pen Stand on eBay
I can’t tell if this was a limited production item or a one-off creation. Anyone seen others like this? Currently priced at $199.99 or Make Offer.
View all the information on eBay
“Here is a rare vintage, Willys Overland Jeep Jeepster pen and pen stand. The pen and pen stand are in very good condition. The pen does not write. It stands about 10 3/4 inches tall. The base measures about 3 7/16 inches wide, 2 inches deep, and about 2 1/16 inches tall. I am not sure what the base is made of, it is fairly heavy.
FC Tour Jeep Update – Driver’s Seat
It continues to be a busy month. Yesterday felt like a 2-step-forward, 1-step-back kind of day. The new raised garden is about done, as seen below. Still some details to complete, such as adding some plastic sheets at each corner of the raised beds, because, as it turns out, the corrugated sides create gaps at the corners, which allows dirt to fall onto the ground. So, we will need to dig up each corner and add some plastic sheets to stop that. Once we get all the plants in and gravel laid, I’ll take some final pics.
Yesterday morning I spent some time working on the FC. My goal had been to create the cover plate for the mini-gauges and power switch that will sit on the angled area of the dog house.
I cut a raw piece of 14 gauge steel, rounded the edges (not shown), then, to test the size and look, placed the plate on the dog house. That’s when I noticed the plate didn’t lay flat. After testing some flat edges, I eventually concluded that there’s a slight twist in the dog house at the very spot I want to put the gauges. It’s not undoable, but I’d rather the plate sat flat (passenger side is flat).
This pic shows the angle. You can see the slope increase as the angled portion moves to the front.
That problem led to me removing the driver’s seat (for the first time) so I could better evaluate my options.

I eventually concluded that it will take some clamps and braces to straighten it (if even possible). Since i didn’t feel like tackling that project right now, I turned to the driver’s seat.
First, I installed an original driver’s seat just to see how it fits vis-a-vis the steering wheel, which proved to be a comfortable angle (whew).

I removed the seat, then pondered the areas where the seat originally mounted. It was immediately clear that the original driver’s side seat mount areas had been patched and welded. My guess is that the area had been fatigued over the years. In addition, a portion of one seat mount bolt remained in it’s original hole, while the other mount area holes had been filled entirely. Continue reading
Jeepney Strike in Philippines
Bill shared an updated article on the Jeepney situation in the Philippines. The push to eliminate Jeepney’s isn’t popular, which isn’t surprising given the cultural significance of them.
https://www.theguardian.com/world/2024/apr/29/jeepney-strike-philippines









