FINAL UPDATE: I dropped by the auction today. It was plenty busy; with no parking lot, cars filled the side of the road for along ways both directions. A large number of items were being auctioned, so I chose not to stay and wait the hours it was going to take to get to the jeep. I never did receive any emails in response to the ones I sent about the jeep.
I spent some time looking closely at the jeep. According to the title, the jeep had been located in Prineville, Oregon. It appeared to have an older inline 6 cyl engine, maybe a Super Hurricane. The round front cross-member was partly cut and flattened on top with the radiator moved forward and installed on top of it. The engine compartment was wired with care. The floor panel looked so good, I think it might have been a replacement. It used to have a heater (heater button on dash), but that was missing. The paint looked as good in person as it did in the pics. The body is very straight. Overall it appeared to be in excellent condition.
UPDATE 2: No responses to any of the emails I’ve sent so far. However, I just discovered the Korean War National Museum. It’s a going to be a “a world-class museum to ensure that the historical significance of the Korean War is recognized by future generations”. It’s set to open in 2009 in Springfield, Illinois. They’ve got a great video at the Museum’s website. So visit and learn more about what they are doing. In the meantime, I’m awaiting a response from the Executive Director — Might as well start at the top 🙂
UPDATE: As I mentioned in the comments attached to this post, CHOSIN FEW is a group that supports those individuals who participated in the Battle of Chosin at Chosin Reservoir during the winter of Nov/Dec 1950. The symbol on the hood is the logo of the group. The 40 below and 70 miles to go apparently represents how cold it was and how far they had to go to escape the waves of Chinese. You can read about one Chosin survivor here (the Chosin battle starts about halfway down the article). I feel that this is such a special paint job that I’ve emailed a variety of Chosin contacts I’ve located on the web in the hopes that someone who understands the meaning of it will purchase it.
This appears to be a very nicely restored CJ-3A that’s being auctioned as part of an estate sale/bankruptcy. There is no description, but it appears that the restoration is close to stock. I can’t tell what type of engine is in it. Though not a stock paint job, it looks very good, smooth and glossy.
You can view all the pics at the bottom of this page: http://www.corbettauctions.com/auctions/08/1206.shtml
There has to be a story behind this jeep……..
No doubt you are right. Part of the explanation might be this … From a CHOSIN FEW website:
” If you served in any allied service in, above or around the Chosin (Changjin) Reservoir in North Korea November – December 1950 you belong to a very exclusive fraternity of honor. We invite your company in “The Chosin Few” which is dedicated to reuniting the survivors of that campaign for life into one body for sharing. Also providing companionship and everlasting remembrance of those 297,389 who did not survive that frozen long-ago.” http://home.hawaii.rr.com/chosin/
Based on the license plates and the info painted on the jeep, this belonged to a Disabled Korean War Vet who served at or near the Chosin Reservoir in the winter of 50/51. The jeep would might mean a lot to another Korean Vet.
Hmm… if I had known about the car auction.. I would have gone.. just to see the different cars…