The 2019 Toledo Jeep Fest will be a three-day event this year, August 9th – August 11th. You can see a schedule of events here: https://toledojeepfest.com/plan-your-weekend/schedule-of-events/. We can’t make it this year, but maybe we can get to the next one.
Features Research Archives
Stratton Lift Phoenicia, NY eBay
UPDATE: **SOLD** Was on eBay.
Andy’s auctioning this rare Stratton Lift. It’s missing the arms. More info on the lift. Also, Andy’s selling the rusty CJ-5 that was carrying the lift (see bottom pic). 
Bryce’s 1953 Truck
Last winter I was standing in my driveway when a guy I didn’t recognize pulled up and asked if I was the guy who ran eWillys. My mind jumped to three things, was he a reader? Was he a stalker? Or was he someone angry at something posted? Before I was done thinking it through, my mouth was answering, “Yep, that’s me!”
Fortunately, he was a reader. His name was Bryce and it turned out he lived just a few houses down and owned a 1953 truck. I told him I’d like to see his truck sometime. Yesterday, ‘sometime’ finally arrived.
Bryce has owned this truck since the early 2000s after his mother spotted it for him. Recently, it’s needed some restoration, especially in the cab area. He’s redone the upholstery and switched the non-stock bench seat for more comfy bucket seats. He’s got a few things to finish up before it’s road ready again, but when that time comes, he said he’d come by and show it off. So more pics to come!
Chuck’s “new” 1951 CJ-3A Hits the Trails
Chuck bought this CJ-3A just over a week ago and already got it on the trails. He shared a couple great pics of it.
He writes, “The new Willys was in its element this weekend blazing the trail – first ones in cutting and winching downed tress across the trail. I went with two Rubi TJs and kept up no problem. The Willys doing what it was meant to do and doing it exceptionally well!”
“That said, the 51 Willys wasn’t without issues. The front pumpkin was milkshake and rusty. Had to take it apart /clean. Transmission was a little milky. I just changed every single fluid in everything. It also has electrical gremlins. The battery blew up and I spent the night in a auto parts parking lot. New battery, changed the alternator from a three wire to a one wire, did some rewiring and was back on the road with just hand tools. Can’t do that with a new JK or JL! Anyway, put over 300 miles on the Jeep in three days. It was a great adventure. The Jeep did fantastic but I’ll be happy when I get a chance to rip out all the wiring and start over – it really needs it for me to feel it’s a dependable rig.”
These two pics are way above Bass Lake back by Clover Meadow / Granite Creek area called Jackass Meadows in California:
This pic is on the Bald Mountain trail above Shaver Lake. (It’s a listed Jeep trail):

1943 Photo of Camp Croft Submersible Jeep on eBay
The Camp Croft mechanics explored creating a submersible jeep.
View all the information on eBay
“1943 Press Photo Army Mechanics at Camp Croft Make Army Jeep Submersible. This is an original press photo. The Army Jeep is a “submarine.” Army mechanics at Camp Croft, South Carolina, waterproof the motor and other vital parts and then traveled along the bottom of a shallow lake. The tube in front is an elongated exhaust pipe. Photo measures 9 x 8.25 inches. Photo is dated 07-03-1943.”
Spotted in Fortaleza, Brazil
This guy provides rides along the beach in Fortaleza, Brazil. Maybe’ he’s a jeep lover? Thanks to Tom for sharing this cool pic.
1943 Tunisia Pics From the Saturday Evening Post
These two pics featuring multiple jeeps in Tunisia appeared in the May 29, 1943, issue of the Saturday Evening Post, pages 20-21.

1943 Ad for Wilsonite Sunglasses w/ Ford GP
This Wilsonite sun glasses ad included an illustrated Ford GP. It was published in the October 02, 1943, issue of the Saturday Evening Post.
Puget Sound Boondockers 4WD Club Patch
I was able to purchase this old jeep club jacket patch. The Boondockers was a club based out of the south sound area, mostly Auburn (minutes from where I grew up). As of 1972 they had 11 members, most of whom had CJ-5s. I can’t remember ever seeing the club logo ever, but the group is documented in the PNW4WDA Region 1 book from 1972.

I now have jacket patches from several PNW clubs. I hope to secure some more.
Video of Steven Ward & His MB Readying for France
UPDATE: (if the video below is incorrect, here’s the original story with video)
This news video shares the story of Steven Ward and his MB getting ready for the trip to France. There were a quite a few jeep community folks who were there, including Ron Fitzgerald and Scott Schiller, both of whom did a variety of videos on Facebook like this one.













