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Kempner Power Wagon Museum

April 25, 2012 • CATEGORIES: Features, Museums • TAGS: . This site contains affiliate links for which I may be compensated.
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Originally posted June 15, 2009 (See, there is even a Power Wagon Museum!)

At some point early in his driving life, my dad owned a red Dodge Power Wagon.  I’ve never ridden in one myself, however I found a place where I can explore several different models: The Kempner Power Wagon Museum.

The Kempner Museum is an owner-owned museum, with the owner displaying vehicles and other items he has collected over the years.  Recently, the owner, with his wife’s blessing he notes, built a building to house the trucks and other related materials.

This museum does not take a ‘hands off’ approach, rather people can climb into these vehicles, touch and explore them.

The museum is located in Kempner, Texas (museum info), which is roughly 150 miles south of Dallas.  I’m adding to my list of places to visit soon.

 
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Roberto’s M-38 Caricature

April 24, 2012 • CATEGORIES: Artists/Drawings, Features • TAGS: . This site contains affiliate links for which I may be compensated.
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Roberto just completed this caricature of a M-38.  You can see his progress from start-to-finish here:

http://smg.photobucket.com/albums/v82/Roberto67/Caricature%20Willys%20M38%20jeep/?albumview=slideshow

 
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Kool Nights in Redding, Ca

April 24, 2012 • CATEGORIES: Event, FC150-FC170-M677, Features This site contains affiliate links for which I may be compensated.
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Steve forwarded some images from a Kool Nights event in Redding.

He writes, “Today wraps up the final day of the week long event, Kool April Nites in Redding, Ca.  Over 1800 vehicles came from hundreds of miles around to attend the 23rd annual event.  Here are some photos of the “Jeeps of Kool April Nites”.  I didn’t get away from my working my car club’s booth, so I didn’t get very good pictures this year.  I also needed a better camera to take evening photos of the Friday Night Cruise.

Below is Steve’s Jeepster

Continue reading →

 
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Image from New Jersey State Police Museum

April 23, 2012 • CATEGORIES: Features, Fire/Police/Industry Vehicles, Museums, Old Images This site contains affiliate links for which I may be compensated.
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Steve discovered this image in the New Jersey State Police Museum archives.  The museum was kind enough to allow us to publish it.

Steve rights, “I did some research with our museum staff and found this picture from 1951 of a state trooper driving a WW II Willys MB that had been converted for police use. Looks like it may have been used in rural areas as a sorta fire jeep. See the large fire extinguisher on the left fender skirt …. Coincidentally, one of our troopers (Trooper Joseph C. Walter Jr. #685) was killed in the line of duty in a motor vehicle accident on 9-7-52, I believe in that very same jeep.”

 

 
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Allis Chalmers M7 Snow Tractor at the Wright Museum

April 23, 2012 • CATEGORIES: Features, Museums This site contains affiliate links for which I may be compensated.
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Glenn forwarded this unusual and rare Snow Tractor from the early 1940s located at the Wright Museum in New Hampshire.

The M7 was conceived as an Army Air Force rescue/utility vehicle. It was found that most plane crashes occurred on the climb out of or approach to an airport. With the large number of northern bases in remote locations, getting to these aircraft was difficult at best – impossible at worse. Shown above with M19 Trailer.

Manufacturer: Allis-Chalmers
M7 Snow Tractor (SNOCAT)
Crew: 2
Engine: Willys MB, 4cyl. (134.2 c.i.)
Horsepower: 63
Date Manufactured: 1944
Number Produced: 291
Weight: 2, 620 lbs
Range: 160 miles

 
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A Jeep helps out a Peplum Movie

April 22, 2012 • CATEGORIES: Features, Old Images This site contains affiliate links for which I may be compensated.
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From the “you learn something new every day” department, I just learned that a Peplum Movie is a genre of Italian films known as ‘Sword and Sandal’, perhaps better called Greek period films.  Peplum is the Greek word for ‘tunic’.  I stumbled upon the picture below, along with the topic of peplum, when searching for “Lucille Ball” and “jeep”.  I surely do not know how that search string is related to a male actor in a tunic exiting a jeep, but if Google says they are related, I guess I must yield to its genius.

Anyhooo, this is Steve Reeves stepping from a MB/GPW during the filming of “Hercules” in 1958 from the website http://www.peplum.ca.

 
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Blaine Tests Out the CJ-3B Mower

April 20, 2012 • CATEGORIES: Features This site contains affiliate links for which I may be compensated.
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Blaine was attending the Portland Swap Meet when he spotted the CJ-3B Mower/GoKart featured for sale a few days ago.  So, he got a picture of him sitting on it with his FC shirt.  I asked if it actually mowed.

Blaine responded, “That is this first one (only?) he built which didn’t have a deck in the first place but it could be added.  The builder wasn’t there at the  time. I said to his friend that if you could mow with it that it would be a big plus.”

 
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1941 Ford GP Clackamas, Or **SOLD**

April 20, 2012 • CATEGORIES: Bantam-FordGP-WillysMA-EarlyJPs, Features This site contains affiliate links for which I may be compensated.
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UPDATE:  Was available at $15,000.

(03/25/2012) This needs some work to get return to its original glory.  That driver’s side has been hacked a bit.

“1941 ford gp pre war prototype for willys jeep…It is in good condition and runs ( all though not at the moment) It has a 9n tractor engine in it now… The orignal engine block goes with it and appeares to be in good condition…”

 
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Risqué Photo of Woman on a Jeep

April 19, 2012 • CATEGORIES: Features, Women & Jeeps This site contains affiliate links for which I may be compensated.
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UPDATE:  I had the wrong link associated with the pic.  It is fixed now.

Mike forwarded me a drawing of women in bikinis on a jeep from Stag magazine.  I remember the drawing as I had stumbled upon it a few years ago myself. That got me thinking, so I did a quick search of bikini’s and jeeps.  I was surprised to find the following image.  I had made it family friendly.  You can see the original along with a few others at the “relevant married guy” website in a post called ‘Jeep girls … it’s a Jeep thing?‘.

 
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Hiking to the M*A*S*H Set in Southern California

April 18, 2012 • CATEGORIES: Features, videos This site contains affiliate links for which I may be compensated.
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Glenn alerted me to this.  If you are a fan of M*A*S*H, then you might be interested in hiking to the mountain set of the TV Series.  The are is located in Malibu Creek State Park just north of Malibu, California.  There’s a few old vehicles still there, including an earlyish CJ-2A.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=N8Q9-ixBCIE&feature=related

 
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Willys Overland Panel Delivery Van (Going to Jesse’s)

April 18, 2012 • CATEGORIES: Advertising & Brochures, Features, Fire/Police/Industry Vehicles, FJ • TAGS: . This site contains affiliate links for which I may be compensated.
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UPDATE II:  See the latest — The Van is headed West.

From August, 2011:  Glenn recognized the Willys Van for sale.  Even more impressive, he found a brochure for one!  Well done! He bought the Sales Folder off eBay about a year and a half ago. Mfg. by Plaza Motors, Inc. Englewood, NJ and was Willys-Overland Factory Approved.

Based on the emails between Colin and Glenn, there were at least three groups of Willys-Overland Delivery Trucks produced:

1) One group was produced during or just prior to WWII (as seen below)

Here is a 1942 Panel Delivery Truck:

2) One group was produced during post WWII and pre 1950, which appears to include the Willys Van owned by Mike. The brochure provided by Glenn also appears to be related to this second group.

3) One group was produced between 1951 and 1953, based on these serial numbers.

The numbers below are for post 1950 FJs. This one appears to be a pre-1950 FJ. We are still awaiting a serial number.
1951 FJ 451 GC1 10001— none
1953 FJ 452 GC2 10001—10065 65 built
1954 FJ454 GC2 10001—10012 12 built

 
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Lucy’s Strange CJ-5

April 17, 2012 • CATEGORIES: Features, Unusual This site contains affiliate links for which I may be compensated.
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Bob forwarded a picture from the IMCDB.org of what appears to be a CJ-5 on an episode of The Lucy Show.  Both he and I tried to find additional photos, without luck.  Note both the odd headlights and the use of alternative fenders.

http://www.imcdb.org/vehicle_467022-Jeep-CJ-5.html

 
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Searching for a 1948 CJ-2A Named “Whiplash” in Silverdale, Wa

April 15, 2012 • CATEGORIES: Builds, Features This site contains affiliate links for which I may be compensated.
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Jeri Norris contacted me today wondering if I could help her track down a jeep she and her husband sold in the early 1990s.

She writes, “I’m looking for a jeep we sold over 20 yrs ago. It’s a 1948 Willys flat finder. At the time it was sold it was blue with white top. On the driver’s side we had the name Bill and on the passenger side the name Jeri.  We called it Whiplash. It was powered by a V-8.  I believe she was sold to someone in silverdale WA. I’ve been trying to find her for over 15 yrs. Any help would be great. Thanks.”

So, if anyone recognizes any of this info, let me know.  Jeri and Bill jeeped in California as part of the Kangaroo 4wd Club.  They moved up to the Puget Sound area, bringing the jeep with them,  and then sold the jeep.

Here is one picture:

 
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Press Photo of Tuxedo Park CJ-5 eBay

April 15, 2012 • CATEGORIES: Advertising & Brochures, CJ5, Features, Old Images This site contains affiliate links for which I may be compensated.
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I thought this was an odd photo due to the passenger seeming to pretend to be holding a steering wheel.   This photo is being auctioned on eBay.

View the eBay Auction here

 
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Ford GP Photo eBay

April 15, 2012 • CATEGORIES: Bantam-FordGP-WillysMA-EarlyJPs, Features This site contains affiliate links for which I may be compensated.
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Here’s a nice photo of a GP chained down, possibly for transit?

View the eBay auction here

 
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Alaskan WWII Hardtops

April 14, 2012 • CATEGORIES: Features, Old Images, Wood bodies • TAGS: , . This site contains affiliate links for which I may be compensated.
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Here are four different custom hardtops built during WWII and used in Alaska:

1. From “Attu WWII Photos” comes this unusually designed hardtop.  I don’t think I’ve featured this previously (at least, if I did, I couldn’t find it).  (It turns out this and some other photos are at the CJ-3B ATTU Hardtop Page)

http://www.hlswilliwaw.com/aleutians/attu/html/attu-wwii-pg3.htm

2. From Flickr and www.throughtheireyes2.co.uk comes this odd hardtop.  The author of the throughtheireyes website collects photo albums from soldiers and publishes the photos.  He has some very good photos there.

3. Here’s one more hardtop from a 1944 expedition.

4.  Jimmy Stephens and his jeep with hardtop in Adak, Alaska.

http://stanstark.blogspot.com/2011/08/war-in-alaska-pieces-of-puzzle-fit.html

 
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S. H. Hunter’s SeaBee Scrapbook

April 13, 2012 • CATEGORIES: Features, Old Images This site contains affiliate links for which I may be compensated.
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The grandson of Samuel Hunter created an online scrapbook of his adventures during World War II in the Pacific.  Interestingly, Sam was 44 when he joined the Navy.  Perhaps due to his age, he understood the uniqueness of this experience and kept a scrapbook.  From the scrapbook comes the entire story along with this picture, one of many images.  It is a fascinating story.

http://robroy.dyndns.info/seabee_scrapbook/index.php

 
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1977 Ice Cream Truck Phoenix, Az $5900

April 13, 2012 • CATEGORIES: Features, Other 4x4s • TAGS: . This site contains affiliate links for which I may be compensated.
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Mama’s Sweet Treats?  That made me laugh.

“1977 Jeep Ice Cream truck 4WD w/lockg hubs,has window a/c unit,has platform for generator,360 CID eng,std. trans.,needs a little wiring work….ran when parked last year,just what you need for a business …….asking $5,900.00 OBO………….better hurry ….SUMMER IS ALMOST HERE……..(602)214-3123”

http://phoenix.craigslist.org/cph/cto/2940873512.html

 
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1957 Willys Bicycle Orange County, CA **SOLD**

April 13, 2012 • CATEGORIES: Features This site contains affiliate links for which I may be compensated.
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UPDATE: **SOLD** Was $1590.

I know this isn’t a Willys Overland bicycle, but it is a Willys.  That and the fact it is so odd made it worthy of posting.  lol.

“Completely restored, sandblasted & powder coated. 7 speed Shimano gears. Has storage under seat. Must see & ride to appreciate.”

 

 
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1946 CJ-2A Fire Jeep from Polo, Illinois

April 12, 2012 • CATEGORIES: Features, Fire/Police/Industry Vehicles • TAGS: , . This site contains affiliate links for which I may be compensated.
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The Polo Fire Department’s Website has nice shots of their Fire Jeep online.  According to the website, this is a “1946 Willys Jeep with front mount pump an pull behind water tank. This vehicle is used for small fires at the park and to try to hold ground until Polo Fire arrives on scene from some 6 miles away. They also use it to clean shelters and other structures in the spring.”

Here’s the website

 
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Posters of CJ-2A with Wooden Top on eBay

April 11, 2012 • CATEGORIES: Features, Unusual, Wood bodies • TAGS: , . This site contains affiliate links for which I may be compensated.
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Each of these posters is purchased separately from three separate eBay ads.  This unique top is not something I remember seeing.  Anyone know anything about it?

Poster 1 Side view ebay link

Poster 2 Front view ebay link

Poster 3 Rear view ebay link

 
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Ypsilanti Machine and Tool Company Hand Crank Heater

April 11, 2012 • CATEGORIES: Features • TAGS: . This site contains affiliate links for which I may be compensated.
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UPDATE: Since this model was on ebay, I contacted the museum’s curator to see if the museum was interested. The curator let me know they already had an original (brand new) version of this heater along with the original box at the Ypsilanti Museum.  

Josh spotted this ebay ad for an unusual hand crank heater.  It is similar to the Stewart Warner Hand Crank Heater, but made by the Ypsilanti Machine and Tool Company.  That is the same company that Preston Tucker owned.

“UP FOR AUCTION IS THIS HAND CRANK MILITARY HEATER.. I DONT KNOW FOR SURE BUT THIS MAY BE A STEWART AND WARNER HEATER.THIS MUST HAVE BEEN USED BY THE US AIR FORCE BECAUSE THE TAG ON IT SAYS PROPERTY OF U.S.A.F. I’AM NOT SURE WHAT THIS IS USED FOR..I’VE HEARD MANY DIFFERENT USES FOR IT I JUST CANT SAY FOR SURE WHAT IT WAS USED FOR. IT IS A HAND CRANK HEATER.. THE CRANK STILL CRANKS OVER AND THE GAS TANK HAS NO REAL RUST AND TANK LOOKS ALMOST NEW INSIDE.. I TRIED TO TAKE A PICTURE OF INSIDE OF THE TANK FOR YOU TO SEE. IT DOES BLOW AIR OUT WHEN YOU WIND THE HANDLE. I HAVENT EVER SEEN ANYTHING LIKE THIS.. I DON’T KNOW IF ITS WWI OR WWII OR LATER..IM SURE SOMEONE ON HERE WILL SEE AND KNOW WHAT IT WAS USED FOR.”

 
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My New (Old) Hand Slicer

April 11, 2012 • CATEGORIES: Features This site contains affiliate links for which I may be compensated.
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(This has nothing to do with jeeps, but everything to do with food)

Last fall when Ann and I were visiting with Bob and Mindy in Ohio Bob happened to pull out a hand slicer he used to slice meat.  I thought it was really cool and told him so.  A couple months ago he was at an auction, spotted one, and called me to ask if he should bid on it.  Sure I said.  He got a good price on it and shipped it out west to me. I finally got a chance to boil, clean and reassemble it.

The best thing is that it is all steel and tough and can be taken apart and cleaned; almost no plastic!  It’s called a General 100 Meat Slicer.  I still need some two more footings, but it works great.  Pretty good for a 45 year-old machine.  Even cooler is that someone inscribed their name and a date — June of 1967.  Thanks again Bob!

Here’s is are a variety of them on Etsy for sale.  Here are others on eBay.  Below is a picture of mine with some freshly sliced ham.

 
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Gordon’s Backseat Idea

April 10, 2012 • CATEGORIES: Builds, Features This site contains affiliate links for which I may be compensated.
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Gordon built this foldup/folddown back seat in his CJ.  If someone is interested he will provide plans for $20.

 
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Jeeper Vineyards and Champagne

April 9, 2012 • CATEGORIES: Features, Website This site contains affiliate links for which I may be compensated.
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Gerald forwarded this story of the Jeeper Vineyards, the full text of which is on Autoblog.  The story is from spring 2011.

“To help commemorate the 60th anniversary of Jeep, vineyard Jeeper has teamed up with Delta 4×4, a company well-known in Europe for aftermarket wheels, tires and other offroad accessories, to produce a limited-edition champagne.”

Visit the Jeeper Champagne website here.