This is a great story form the Winston-Salem Journal about a teenager named Ben Zenger who began rebuilding an M-38A1 named Lil’ Joe at age eleven. Learn more here:
Features Research Archives
Hop Town Pizza is Opening A Restaurant
In 2014, Ann ran into two women who operated a mobile wood fired pizza truck called Hoptown Pizza. The two, Carrie Wright and Lori Roy, didn’t know much about their funky little truck, so Ann explained to them that it was an FC-150 and that there was a whole network of folks who owned FCs.
In 2015, Mark Smith published an article about them: http://jeeptruckstories.blogspot.com/2015/02/hopping-along-in-fc-dream.html
This winter, the pair plan to open up a rustic wood fired restaurant about a 50 minute drive west of us near Yakima, Washington. As part of their efforts, they are running a kick starter campaign. You can learn more and watch their video https://www.kickstarter.com/projects/308695668/help-us-grow-from-food-truck-to-rustic-wood-fired or visit their website here: http://www.hoptownpizza.com. We plan to contribute and visit their place as soon as it opens. Go Hoptown!
Need to Remove a Rusty Bolt? Try a Candle and a Lighter
Colin shared this video that demonstrates how to use a candle and a lighter to loosen lug nuts. I have never tried it.
Brian Hainer’s Restoration of Vince’s CJ-3A
Brian Hainer will be restoring Vince’s CJ-3A. In this video he is beginning the restoration. Tires are removed from their rims and a stubborn steering wheel is removed.
Standard Oil Modified CJ-2A for Aviation Refills
Blaine spotted this unique CJ-2A that was retrofitted to delivery aviation fuel to planes. This sold on eBay.
“U.S. Flying Service Standard Oil Co. Willys Jeep aviation fuel truck, at St. Petersburg, FL.”
1960ish MItsubishi Jeep Mailer on ebay
Here’s an unusual mailer for the Mitsubishi jeeps.
“Original part color folder , 8.5 x 4 folded , 8.5 x 12 unfolded , has many pieces of tape at tears at folds , has some small tears at the edges , has a rub mark with paper loss on the cover in an area about 1 x 1 inch.”
1960 RCA 501 Cross Sell Ad with Willys Motors on eBay
V-8 Jeeps & The Sidewinder Cruise
In September of 1961, Hot Rod Magazine published this article about the Saleea Al Jemel jeep club’s Sidewinder Cruise (first documented jeep club, formed in 1946) in Southern California. The article covers various V8 upgrades installed in flat fender jeeps, with a focus on Brian Chuchua’s Plymouth V8 install.
DJ-5 on Display at the Harrisburg, Pennsylvania Post Office
1976 CJ-5 w/ Auger Boston, MA **SOLD**
UPDATE: **SOLD** Was $1000.
Glenn spotted this unusual CJ-5. He tried to contact the seller, but had no luck getting a response. On the back of this is a Marsmith Auguer. Glenn and I couldn’t find out much about it. It appears to have roots in Phoenix, where a company called Dirtrix/Marsmith was located. I’ve included a few extra photos of other CJ-5s that have mar smith augers.
“jeep cj5 with marsmith augor machine. rebuitl motor. amc 6cylinder. everything works. runs great. work horse. have 1 auger. 1000 or best offer”
Other photos of jeeps with Marsmith augers. I don’t know if these are exactly the same or slight variations of the auger that’s on the CJ-5 above.dipos
1963 Sidewinder Jeep Cruise Photo
This photo and caption appeared in the May 1963 issue of Desert Magazine. Note the camping modifications on the CJ-6 in the foreground. Looks like a pretty interesting rig.
Another APU Photo
St. Augustine Jeep Train
1964 CJ-5 Tuxedo Park Brochure
This June 1964 brochure shows off both the standard CJ-5 and the Tux Park. I thought the wide array of tops and colors available was interesting.
3 Wheel APU Photo
This photo that Dan spotted shows an l-head powered 3-wheeled APU. I can’t remember seeing a bracket over the grille like that on other APUs.
CJ-5 “Action” Photos From 1955 Brochure
These photos came from a 1955 jeep family brochure introducing the CJ-5. What’s curious is that several photos show the shackles on the front springs located at the front (see the “mail carrier” photo). As most know, the earliest CJ-5s had shackles in the rear. So, I’m wondering if the CJ-5s in these photos were bodies put on CJ-3B chassis or whether they were prototype chassis.
Odd Vehicle
East Bay Times Article on 1942 GPW
The San Francisco area’s East Bay Times reported on Scott Steven’s 1942 GPW. Read all about it here: http://www.eastbaytimes.com/2016/12/05/me-my-car-42-jeep-as-spartan-as-they-come/
1960 DJ-3A Surrey Auctioned for $46,750
UPDATE: Sold for $46,750.
This 1960 DJ-3A Surrey will be auctioned in January of 2017 by Sotheby’s. The jeep is described as a “beautifully presented flawless restoration”. That statement is followed by a series of inaccurate statements regarding the history of DJ-3A, such as the DJ-3A was introduced in 1955 (nope 1956). You can see all the pics and information here:
As Colin pointed out to Sotheby’s, despite some great work on this, there are actually numerous flaws with this restoration:
- Front bumper is from a 1948-49 Willys Jeepster, way too wide for a DJ3A Surrey.
- Valance panel behind the front bumper is too long, as it has to cover the Willys Jeepster front bumper brackets.
- Air filter is from a 1945-1949 Willys CJ2A 4WD Jeep and is made by Oakes. The correct air filter should be either a small 7 inch dry air filter attached to the carburetor alone or a Donaldson oil bath air filter that attaches in the same position as the Oakes filter on this Jeep.
- The Fram oil filter is of the larger heavy duty unit, not the smaller one used by the civilian 4 cylinder Jeeps from 1946-1964.
- The windshield straps are incorrect, using webbed belts instead of vinyl with center buckle and three grommets, no additional adjusters on the straps at all.
- Windshield grab handles were chrome on Surreys, as were the side mirrors.
- The rear bumper is 1948-49 Willys Jeepster, has Willys Overland stamped into the center of the bumper and is too wide for a Surrey. Surrey chrome bumpers were plain, without the Willys Overland script. Willys dropped the Overland part of the scripting for the 1950 models, but kept the Willys script on the 1950-51 Jeepsters and station wagon rear bumpers from 1950 through 1963 when the last of the old square bodies were used and the new Wagoneer station wagon debuted.
- The speedometer reads in kilometers, rather than miles per hour. Surreys and all DJ3A Jeep speedometers read in miles per hour and calibrated from 0 through 9 after 1958. 0-8 for 1956- early 1958. Kilometers were used on export Jeeps.
CJ-5 Cufflinks/Tie Clip/Money Clip on eBay
Great set of items.
“Vintage Jeep CJ 5 or CJ 2A. Money clip, tie tack, and cufflinks. You get all of them in this auction.
They are in great condition.
Comes from a smoke free environment.”
Ron Day’s Photo from the Evergreen Aviation Museum
Ron shot this photo during a recent trip to Oregon’s Evergreen Aviation & Space Museum. As you can see, since Ann’s and my visit two years ago, the jeep now has a trailer. Ron reports the museum has sold the B-17. So, if you want to see it there, you’d better hurry.
Jim Allen’s Look at the M-Series FCs
This is the third of three article Jim produced from his visit to Dan’s Military FC gathering. In it he takes a look at the M-Series jeeps.
http://www.fourwheeler.com/features/1611-forward-control-101-the-m-series/
CJ-3B & Camel Cigarette Sign Westerville, OH $50
Looks like a cool old sign featuring a CJ-3B (okay, so it is in the background, but I still think of it as being the featured item).
2017 Holy Toledo Calendars Are Available
Norris-Banonis is excited to announce the 2017 Holy Toledo!™ calendar. The 12-month wall calendar has full-color photos of original and restored “7-slot grille” vehicles. Each month features a different and unique classic jeep along with a special U-Auto-Know™ informative pictorial artifact feature about the vehicle. Significant historical dates, with icons, are also noted throughout the calendar, along with a 2-page “The CJ-5” photo essay at the end of the calendar.
Get yours today in time for Christmas: http://norris-banonis.com/calendars.html
Willys Overland Service Postcard
Here’s a neat postcard image that John shared with me. Unfortunately, there’s nothing to indicate the year. Based on the comment that tops are available in canvas, plastic, and wood, this is likely a late ’40s postcard.