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The Package Delivery Van Starts its Journey

June 4, 2012 • CATEGORIES: Features • TAGS: . This site contains affiliate links for which I may be compensated.
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You might remember that we spotted this rare 1948 Willys Overland Package Delivery van a while back.  The buyer decided he had to let it go, so Jesse volunteered to take on the project of restoring it.   To get to Phoenix, the van has made its first stop in Missouri at Craig’s place.

Craig writes, “The 1948 Willys Overland Urban Package Delivery is 430 miles closer to it’s new home in Phoenix, Arizona.  It’s resting at my place in Defiance, Missouri right now before I make the pilgrimage out there to Phoenix and back in a few weeks.  Since the ’48 got its start on eWillys I thought it could use an update there as well.  The pictures were taken just a stones throw south of Roxanna, Ohio where Roger Martin (pictured with me) brought it from its home in Lake Geneva, Ohio.  It looks a little better with some rubber on the wheels! Craig @ thefcconnection”

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The Story of the Jeepy Pedal Car

June 3, 2012 • CATEGORIES: Features, International, toys This site contains affiliate links for which I may be compensated.
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Even contacted me from Norway with a nice bit of history about the Jeepy Pedal Car.  Thanks Even!

He writes, “As world war 2 came to a close a Norwegian engineer name Sigurd W. Ødegaard was looking for products he could produce in his mecanical workshop.  One day during the summer of 1945 he was watching a military parade with a lot of jeeps when he got the idea to produce a small version of a jeep as a pedal car. A year later he produced his first pedal car, manufacturing them from 1946 until 1952.  During this time his company made about 3000 units of this popular car .  I was told they cost almost 100$ back then.

These small Jeeps are popular among collectors here in Norway and since Sigurd made them very solid there are still some around.  The car is 1/3 scale from the GPW and  are all steel with air filled wheels.

I have also heard that Sigurd W. Ødegaard was educated in the US  and worked for Mack International Motor Company. At some point he travelled to the US to start production of this pedalcar over there, but returned to Norway after failing to get production going because the Korean War made it complicated to get enough steel for the pedal cars.”

Continue reading →

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Conner Supermarket Willys Wagon

June 1, 2012 • CATEGORIES: Features, Willys Wagons • TAGS: , . This site contains affiliate links for which I may be compensated.
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UPDATE:  Buz shot this picture while visiting Ocracoke Island in South Carolina last year.  This year he discovered the history behind the wagon.  Thanks Buz!  I like the way you vacation 🙂

Read about the station wagon,, John Conner, Sr., and the history of the super market here:

http://www.connerssupermarket.com/index_files/Page426.htm

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2012 Great Willys Picnic in Kempton, Pa June 10th

June 1, 2012 • CATEGORIES: Event, Features This site contains affiliate links for which I may be compensated.
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The Great Willys Picnic Show and Swap Meet:  learn more here http://www.cj3a.info/picnic/

June 10, 2012 from 9 am – 4 pm at the Wanamaker, Kempton & Southern Railroad, located in Kempton, Pennsylvania

It’s time to plan for the 13th annual Great Willys Picnic, Car Show and Swap Meet. All vehicles are welcome: stock, modified, projects, CJs, Wagons, Trucks, Jeepsters, Military, Cars and even GPWs! Every pre-1970 Willys vehicle is eligible to win door prizes. This show has grown into the largest Northeast Willys event. Over 45 vehicles and hundreds of enthusiasts were present at last year’s picnic. There is plenty of space for selling your spare parts in the swap meet area. Bring your Willys memorabilia and interesting parts for show and tell. Be sure to arrive early because at 3:00 PM the door prize winners are announced and awarded. Bring your own picnic lunch or purchase food at the refreshment stand.

The Picnic will be held on the grounds of the Wanamaker, Kempton & Southern Railroad located in the scenic village of Kempton, Pennsylvania. This is a great setting to display our classic Willys vehicles, as well as entertainment for the entire family. Also on-site is the Schuykill & Lehigh Model Railroad Club’s HO model train display.

As always the Willys Picnic, Show and Swap is free. Plan to take the optional train ride for a very reasonable fee.

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June 16th Estate Auction in Arlington, Oh … CJ-2As & CJ-3As and More

May 31, 2012 • CATEGORIES: Auctions, CJ-2A, CJ-3A, Features, Unusual, Willys Wagons This site contains affiliate links for which I may be compensated.
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Rob forwarded me the jeep below.  It’s an odd melding of a CJ-2A and a Wagon.  I’d love to get a closer look to see how various problems were solved.

This jeep is one of several jeeps in different conditions being auctioned, though nothing is in amazing condition.  Tools and other vehicles will also be auctioned, including a deuce and a half that looks to me (not being an expert) in very good condition.

The auction takes place on June 16th, 2012, at a place tbd.  You can learn more about the auction by Fenbert Auction Services and see the other vehicles at here.

Here’s the oddball CJ-2A/Panel Wagon hybrid:

A few other jeeps at the auction.  A couple CJ-2As:

A couple CJ-3As:

Other Stuff:

 

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Tennessee Flat Fender Club

May 30, 2012 • CATEGORIES: Builds, Features, Women & Jeeps This site contains affiliate links for which I may be compensated.
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William, the President of the Tennessee Flat Fender Club, recently contacted me with some kind notes about my book.  I told him I had been planning to do a post about the club, so he provided me some information.

The Tennessee Flat Fender Club is an unofficial association with no dues, no rules, no mandatory meetings or rites of passage. You don’t even need to own a flat fender ‘jeep’ to call yourself a member. Only need to have an interest in these classic vehicles.
The Club is an affiliate of the International Flat Fender Club.  There is a club for most states and the ones where there isn’t a club they are looking for people to lead one.
You can learn more about the club at these websites:
If you are curious about William’s build, you can read all about it at the CJ-2A page.  The very first picture is an image of the engine sitting in the house next to an open tool box.  This picture underscores the support of Wiliam’s family; so, it only seems natural that his mother, wife, and grandmother should have their pictures taken in front of it (shown below).
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Pima Air and Space Museum MBs in Tucson, Az

May 29, 2012 • CATEGORIES: Features, MB, Museums • TAGS: , . This site contains affiliate links for which I may be compensated.
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Jim forwarded me the following images he took of the MBs at the Pima Air and Space Museum in Tucson, Az.

Jim writes, “The 390th Bomb Group Museum has a B-17 flying fortress on display, a long with a MB that has been restored and donated to the museum. It needs a fuel tank flush, new radiator hoses, and I bet a carb rebuild. I hope to assist them on this the next time I make it home. There is also a MB on display in another hanger that is part of a display dedicated to the Red Tails fighter group. I am sending a few pics of them. They have one of the largest aircraft display’s around!”

Here’s the 390th Bomb Group MB:

And this is the Red Tails fighter group MB:

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James Breaks the Oil Line Fitting — Could use some suggestions . . .

May 29, 2012 • CATEGORIES: Builds, Features, How To This site contains affiliate links for which I may be compensated.
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Well, we all eventually arrive at one of these places where the unexpected happens, inevitably followed by the ‘what do I do now’ question.  That’s where James is at and he needs a few suggestions.  You might remember James from when I visited his father and him in Denver back in October.

“I was replacing the old inlet oil line into the engine (below the fuel pump). I was loosening the oil line that went into the 90 degree brass fitting oil line bracket (Walck4wd part number 384569) and accidently torqued the bracket. The fuel line came off, but the thread from the 90 degree brass fitting oil line bracket broke off inside the engine in the oil inlet. Great.. So, I bought an extractor from Sears and have been trying to extract the remaining thread left inside the oil inlet (below the fuel pump) with no luck. There is hardly any room to hammer the extractor into the block. So now here I am, stuck. Any idea how to remove the remaining thread? Thanks, James DeBartolomeis”

Here’s a pic:

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