Features Research Archives

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Welcome R&P 4WD

March 30, 2012 • CATEGORIES: Features This site contains affiliate links for which I may be compensated.
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R&P4WD has now joined as a sponsor, so many thanks to them!

They’ve been in the Jeep business since 1989,  the core of what they do consists of 11″ drum brake parts and  conversion kits, Front and rear bolt on disc brake conversions, and custom built jeep axles front and rear (wide track, narrow track, WIllys truck/wagon Dana 44’s and 60’s in high or low pinion) Full floating axle conversions, (Warn spent alot of time in their shop working the bugs out of Warn’s full float kits), high steer components  (knuckles, arms ect), HD DOM tie rods and drag links,  t18 conversions (to GM, buick, and AMC).

You can locate them on Facebook at https://www.facebook.com/#!/RP4WD or visit their website at http://www.r-p4wd.com.

 
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Anyone Recognize This Vehicle?

March 29, 2012 • CATEGORIES: Features, Unusual This site contains affiliate links for which I may be compensated.
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I found this picture of Henry J Kaiser sitting in this jeep, but I can’t tell what kind of jeep it is.  It looks like a cross between a flatfender (front) and M151 (rear).  I am wondering if it was a prototype of some sort.  Anyone recognize it? Note the four bolt rims.

 
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FC Roundup March 30-31, April 1 2012 Phoenix, Az

March 29, 2012 • CATEGORIES: Event, FC150-FC170-M677, Features • TAGS: . This site contains affiliate links for which I may be compensated.
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UPDATE:  We are all ready for tomorrow.  Can’t wait to meet everyone!

FC and FleetVan Owners,
Once again I am reminding everyone that this is your invitation, to an event dedicated to the rescue and recreation of Jeep Forward Control and FleetVan vehicles and their owners. Your attendance, as Owners, is the most important part of our event. We have added the invitation to FJ3 – FJ6, Jeep Fleet Vans, these are Forward driven as well. There is no charge to this event and we have a raffle of donated FC related parts and products. Please Donate what you can to the free raffle, if you have something that you think someone might want for there FC or FleetVan, then we need it here. All donated FC-Related items are appreciated for the Saturday raffle.
2012 event T-shirts, the embroidered logo, pocket shirts and hats are again coming back and are always available.
Hot dogs, chips, beans on Saturday and anytime refreshments will be free anytime. Also on display that are available will be some new FC products. Your FC-vehicles, in what ever stage of completion they are in: authentic show total restoration, original unrestored, farm, snow plow, tractor, dune buggy, street rod, restored daily driver, repowered, not running, chassis, rusted, wrecked, good, bad or ugly, all FCs, literature, photos, parts of FCs, will be welcome. This is a large gathering of only FC and FleetVan Jeeps, these vehicles are on display, but without judging or awards.

Nearby Hotels are filling fast see the websites
http://www.comfortinn.com/hotel-phoenix-arizona-AZ824
http://www.daysinn.com/DaysInn/control/Booking/property_info?propertyId=06311&as_srp=SP2&cid=carat_search-Days_Inn&variant=

Here are a few last minute details:
We will be driving as a group in FCs to breakfast every morning and also to Dinner some of the nights.
Parking on my property is for FCs / FleetVans only, no exceptions.
Absolutely no smoking near the vehicles, the vehicles on display have vented gas caps.
A smoking area will be provided away from Vehicles.
I love all Children and Dogs, but this event is about FCs, at my house, I will (I have had to) ask people to leave, if you come here with any animal that is not on a leash at your side, Small Children must also be near there parents at all times.
All vehicles on display have owners, please have respect of other peoples property, do not open any doors or sit in anyone’s vehicle, without the owner being present.
It is unfortunate that the fuel prices continue to increase and causing some grief to all of us. I am very grateful to all of you, that are bringing vehicles from far away. I am also grateful to know about all the continued efforts, that some of you have done, that will be bringing new vehicles this year.

Thank You

http://www.thefcconnection.com/2012_fc_roundup_information.htm

 
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2012 Bantam Festival Update

March 29, 2012 • CATEGORIES: Event, Features This site contains affiliate links for which I may be compensated.
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Burn Notice (TV Show) Wants a Pink Surrey for an upcoming episode

March 29, 2012 • CATEGORIES: Event, Features This site contains affiliate links for which I may be compensated.
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Colin alerted to this:  Production Assistant for Burn Notice Brandy Maruschak is hoping to locate a pink Willys Surrey in South Florida for sometime between April 4 and April 12, 2012.  They only need the vehicle for two days.  The script specifically calls for a pink one. If you have a pink Willys Surrey, email me and I will forward Brandy’s information.

 
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Trip Update 2

March 29, 2012 • CATEGORIES: Features This site contains affiliate links for which I may be compensated.
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Ann and I arrived in Mesa, Arizona, yesterday after a night of camping at Natural Bridges National Monument and a long day of driving through the desert.  After a couple of margaritas and the ‘chuletas con chile rojo’ from Nandos last night, I was done for the day.  So, rather than updates last night, look for some  some updates in a few hours after I catch up on email.  In the mean time, enjoy a few of the pics we took on our way through Utah.

On Tuesday one our first stops of the day was at Goblin Valley State Park.  If you’ve ever seen the movie Galaxy Quest, then you’ve seen some footage of this unique park.

As Ann and I walked around the park, we spotted an opportunity for our own unique photo op.

After spending the night at Natural Bridges National Monument, we spent two hours touring the park.  We didn’t see another car or hiker the entire time.  I joked that I had rented the park for Ann for the entire morning.  At Natural Bridges we hiked down to the oldest of the three bridges, Owachomo, and shot this photo.

 

Here is an iconic shot at Monument Valley.  I always thought this was in Northern Arizona.  It turns out it is just south of Mexican Hat, Utah, and just north of the Arizona Border.

 
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“Private Breger” Postcards

March 27, 2012 • CATEGORIES: Artists/Drawings, Features, Postcards This site contains affiliate links for which I may be compensated.
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Here’s are three postcards with jeeps by Sgt Dave Breger at postcard collectors.

On the left the caption reads, “I would hafta deliver a message to the Colonel when his orderly is sick”.  On the right it reads, “‘Should bars! Get your lieutenant’s shoulder bars here.'”

At the bottom of this card it reads “He wants to ride in front.  He’s getting carsick back here.”

 
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Retro Toy Magnet at ETSY for $6

March 27, 2012 • CATEGORIES: Features, toys • TAGS: . This site contains affiliate links for which I may be compensated.
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Someone created this magnet from a vintage Tonka Toy ad.  It can be purchased at ETSY.

 
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Heading South to the FC Round Up

March 25, 2012 • CATEGORIES: Bantam-FordGP-WillysMA-EarlyJPs, Features • TAGS: . This site contains affiliate links for which I may be compensated.
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Ann and I are packing our bags and preparing for our trip down to the FC Round Up tomorrow (Monday morning).  We will be leaving Pasco around 6am and stopping in Boise to drop off some books (hopefully sell some at the coffee shop where I wrote a good portion of the book), grab some fries at the Boise Fry Company and some sourdough at the Boise COOP, and then head further south for Salt Lake where we will spend Monday night.  Tuesday we will be heading through Utah and stopping somewhere near the Grand Canyon.  We’ll be in Mesa Wednesday evening.

If you are along our path through I-84/I-15 let me know and we’ll see if we can swing by for a quick visit.

We just completed a few new t-shirts.  It’s the Bantam design I’ve been playing with for a year.  We bought some random shirts and tried the design with different colors.  The picture below is pretty crappy, so use your imagination.

 
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New FC Concept Vehicle to be Unveiled at Moab

March 25, 2012 • CATEGORIES: Artists/Drawings, Event, Features This site contains affiliate links for which I may be compensated.
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Mark from jeeptruck.com forwarded this press release.

“Jeep® and Mopar have teamed up once again to produce a selection of concept Jeep vehicles for the 46th annual Easter Jeep Safari in Moab, Utah. The Jeep Mighty FC concept, Jeep J-12 concept and the Jeep Wrangler Apache are three of six new vehicles that will be shown to enthusiasts in Moab, March 31 – April 8. Look for more on all of these new vehicles later this month.”

Here are pics of the FC & J-12

 
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Duncan & Kim Rolls and their ‘Kids’

March 24, 2012 • CATEGORIES: Features This site contains affiliate links for which I may be compensated.
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I ran across this great photo taken by Thad Allton of the Rolls’ and their Bantam BRC and Bantam BRC-60.  They were featured in the Topeka Capital-Journal article while attending the MPVA’s 2010 Annual Convention.  The article includes a funny story about how Duncan warned Kim about his obsession with jeeps, only to find out she herself had a restored M-38A1.  Clearly, it was love!

http://cjonline.com/news/local/2010-07-07/rare_world_war_ii_jeep_replicated

 
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Roberto Illustrations & Roberto Himself

March 24, 2012 • CATEGORIES: Artists/Drawings, Features • TAGS: . This site contains affiliate links for which I may be compensated.
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We often get to see Roberto’s Illustrations, but rarely Roberto himself. It seems he likes to paint himself as much as he does his canvases :-).  Visit Roberto Flores at his website to see more.

This is a pic of me posing with another canvas in process!

The “dibujo-m38-uruguay-END.jpg” is another commissioned order drawn for an Uruguayan customer, and is a present for another fellow jeeper.

Here are two others just for fun:

 
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Kissing in a Jeep

March 24, 2012 • CATEGORIES: Features, Old Images This site contains affiliate links for which I may be compensated.
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I ran across a couple of kisses in/on a jeep.  So, here they are:

This image isn’t in great shape, but captures the awkwardness of kissing in a jeep.   I think this photo is from 1949?  But could be 1944.

This picture comes from a post by Ransom Rings at Mentalfloss.com.

From the G503 site comes this image:

 
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Swamp Jeeps

March 23, 2012 • CATEGORIES: Features, Racing • TAGS: . This site contains affiliate links for which I may be compensated.
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Tim Dolan from Willysjeep.com forwarded these great videos of Swamp Racing in Florida.

Continue reading →

 
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Some Ford GP videos at Criticalpast.com

March 23, 2012 • CATEGORIES: Bantam-FordGP-WillysMA-EarlyJPs, Features, videos This site contains affiliate links for which I may be compensated.
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Mark’s brother spotted some jeep videos at Criticalpast.com.

I’ve never seen this rollover:  http://www.criticalpast.com/video/65675030113_army-jeep_test-driving_Ford-model-jeep_jeep-flips-over

Here is another video.  I’ve seen just a small clip of this much longer version.

http://www.criticalpast.com/video/65675059288_jeep_Australian-soldier_upturned-jeep_rough-terrain_scout-car

Here’s  a good video of a Ford GP going up and down a hill:

http://www.criticalpast.com/video/65675030018_Ford-Jeep_rough-terrain_Edsel-Ford_army-officer_modified-jeep-tires

 
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Nate’s Newest CJ-3A

March 22, 2012 • CATEGORIES: Builds, CJ-3A, Features • TAGS: . This site contains affiliate links for which I may be compensated.
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NOTE:  Nate needs NOS Amp and Temp Gauge for his new CJ-3A (or ones in good shape.  If you have them, you can email him at bolducn20 [at] aol.com).

You might remember Nate’s last two rebuilds.  Well, he managed to find a stock, solid CJ-3A in the Northeast.  Kudos to him for that find.  It looks great.

Nate’s Custom suspension Build
Nate’s Ideas
Nate’s Stock Build

(See all three of his jeeps in the bottom picture)

Nate writes, “Anyways, the one I picked up a month or so ago is truly a rare jeep for the northeast and one that I have been searching for. The body has very little rot, all the original wiring is intact and every thing works, lights, brake light, horn, and vacuum wiper. It runs great also. I had to do a little tinkering with it to get it running good, just as good as my ’53. It also has decent breaks now too. It was missing some parts that I located like a passenger hand wiper, battery hold down, matching ’49 license plates, one seat pan and a spare tire/carrier. I added the dualmatics.

Only things I need for it are two original gauges and it is back to 100% original. The ones I need are an amp and temp gauge. If anyone has both, please let me know.

We think it came from Tennesee. On the tailgate, very faintly it says “DAVIS HOLLOW SECURITY PATROL”. We researched that and there is a seasonal campground in Tennessee by that name. There were other places too, all down south. Someone at one time painted the entire thing, and I mean everything (even the grease) with the red primer. The original color was Luzon red which can be seen in many places. Makes me want to remove the primer to bring out the original paint. Even the frame is still black in a few places!”

 
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John Barton’s Fleamarket Guide To MB and GPW Tools . . . by John Barton

March 22, 2012 • CATEGORIES: Books, Features This site contains affiliate links for which I may be compensated.
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John Barton’s book “John Barton’s Fleamarket Guide To MB and GPW Tools And Accesories” is now for sale at Lulu.com.  The price of the book is $25.  Proceeds from the book are going to John’s daughter’s college fund.   If you have any questions about it, you can contact Merlin at merlin [at] HANSONMECHANICAL.COM.

Merlin writes, “This book was first written by John Barton in 2006. It is a review of all tools carried on the WW2 Jeeps and their varieties. This should be a great help while hunting for the correct tools for your WW2 MB or GPW.”

http://www.lulu.com/shop/john-barton/john-bartons-fleamarket-guide-to-mb-and-gpw-tools-and-accesories/paperback/product-20007467.html#productDetails

 
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Old Images

March 22, 2012 • CATEGORIES: Features, Old Images This site contains affiliate links for which I may be compensated.
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Buz forwarded a couple different images the other day.

This one is from the Los Angeles Times (pic #8) and shows a jeep among the auto train towards the internment camps in 1942.  The caption to this picture indicates the trucks were stopped in the Mojave Desert on the way to the Manzanar Camp.

Driving this jeep is Earle Stanley Gardner, who was the writer of 80 Perry Mason Novels.  Learn more about him here in this biography written by Jeff Marks.

 
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Ann and I Visit the WAAAM at Hood River, Or

March 22, 2012 • CATEGORIES: Advertising & Brochures, Artists/Drawings, Features, Museums • TAGS: . This site contains affiliate links for which I may be compensated.
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While driving to Vancouver on Monday, Ann and I decided to visit the five year old Western Antique Aeroplane and Automobile Museum (WAAAM).   So, about noon we pulled off I-84 and drove into downtown Hood River expecting to locate the museum quickly.  However, it turns out the museum is located a few miles away from town near the airport.  As soon as we realized we didn’t know where we were going, we cranked up the GPS and that guided us up the hill and over a dale or two.  We even passed a FC-170 off to our right.  Finally, we arrived at Air Museum Road.

Since it was Monday at noon, there wasn’t a flood of visitors, which worked out great for us because the staff could take the time to explain and answer all of our questions.  In fact, everyone was noticeably friendly and knowledgeable.

The first thing we learned is that WAAAM has one of the largest collection of working antique planes and vehicles in the country.  All the different planes, tractors, jeeps, automobiles, trucks, motorcycles are housed in two giant hangars with multiple exits.  In fact, some of the planes and vehicles are privately owned, but stored free of charge at the museum.  Owners can come in most any time and take their property out to fly or drive them.

Every month the museum holds a “Second Saturday” event.  That’s when volunteers arrive to give rides and show off the vehicles.  In May of 2012, a special Military Day will be held on the Second Saturday. That date is May 12th and I’ve been invited to talk a little about jeeps and sign books (and maybe ride in a jeep or two???).  It should be fun!

Here’s an introduction to the museum:

httpv://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HCSFuoSiEzo

While I had fun looking at all the cars and planes, it was the jeeps I was there to see.  We saw the following jeeps:

1941 MB Slat Grille

Undated MB

Close up of the Poster:

Continue reading →

 
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Roberto’s Newest Illustration

March 21, 2012 • CATEGORIES: Artists/Drawings, Features • TAGS: . This site contains affiliate links for which I may be compensated.
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Roberto forwarded his latest illustration.  He writes, “This was offered as a birthday´s present, for a friend of mine. He actually owns the WW2 Willys MB jeep which appears drawn with him. I found it casually some years ago at French-Basque country and he bought it. After some resto (mainly at paint or canvas), he decored it markings of famous WW2 2nd Armored Division “Leclerc”, a legendary unit of Free French army, which liberated Paris at August 1944 with the support of the US 4th Infantry Division. In fact, he´s dressed as an officer of this Free French unit. It is 16.4″ x  11.6″

He also showed how he created it: http://smg.photobucket.com/albums/v82/Roberto67/Division%20Leclerc%20Willys%20MB%20jeep%20caricature/?albumview=slideshow

Robert also still has CJ-3B  t-shirts available

 
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Red River Offroad Tour’s Newest CJ-6

March 21, 2012 • CATEGORIES: Builds, CJ-6, Features This site contains affiliate links for which I may be compensated.
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James and Tish run Red River Offroad Tours in New Mexico.  You might remember the post I did about their CJ-6s here.   They are now on Facebook, too.

James emailed me recently about his recently completed Recovery CJ-6.  The CJ6 is set up to be used as a ATV/UTV/Jeep Recovery vehicle in the mountains of Red River and Taos, New Mexico.

It’s a 1973 CJ-6 with a stock 304 3-speed and a D20 with Terra Low.  It has a 4’lift 35’s.  The bed winch is a Ramsey 10,000 pounder.  On the bumper is a Smitty Built 10,000# winch mounted on the ARB bumper.

 
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2 Women standing in front of a Ford GP

March 21, 2012 • CATEGORIES: Bantam-FordGP-WillysMA-EarlyJPs, Features, Old Images, Women & Jeeps This site contains affiliate links for which I may be compensated.
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UPDATE:  John decided to take on the challenge of restoring this photo.  He did a fabulous job.

I found this on the Genealogy Guys Podcast site.  I can almost, but not quite, make out the serial number on the hood.

Here is the Before Pic:

http://genealogyguys.com/the-genealogy-guys-podcast-215-2011-january-25

Here is the After Pic: https://picasaweb.google.com/104219391648738472802/ILovePhotoShop#5722193307032376162

 
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Moonshiner’s Swapmeet Pics

March 21, 2012 • CATEGORIES: Event, Features This site contains affiliate links for which I may be compensated.
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I was a little delayed in posting these pics from the swapmeet a week and a half ago, so I will push the pics of the WAAAM visit off until tomorrow.  At the swapmeet there were a few pics of jeeps and racers I wanted to include in this post.  But, I couldn’t leave the booth because the two times I did leave readers dropped by to say “hi”.  My faithful photographer did make it out to snap some pictures, getting wet in the process, but couldn’t quite read my mind as to which pictures I wanted;  Of course, my mind, like the rest of me, was cold that day, so I doubt there was much going on inside my mind for Ann to read.

As you can see, the booth design was compact, but efficient.  Herm was nice enough to give me some front space.  In exchange I even managed to sell something for him while he and his kids were off purchasing all kinds of deals (and he found a couple of astonishing deals on parts).  I have books, tshirts, signage and, most importantly, warm liquids.

In this picture you can see Herm wheeling and dealing on the phone, with his son Richard to his right, and their friend Dan to Richard’s right.

Here is a good example of the type of trailers that are brought in by sellers.  Trailers are piled with as many parts and pieces as they can put on them.  The building in the background is full of sellers and is only one of several buildings.  Many more sellers were outside.

 
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Dan Routh’s Photos of a CJ-2A & it’s Owner

March 21, 2012 • CATEGORIES: Artists/Drawings, Features This site contains affiliate links for which I may be compensated.
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Here are some great photos taken by Dan Routh.  You can see the other two photos at his website: http://danrouthphotography.blogspot.com/2009/06/willys-jeep.html

MORE WILLYS PHOTOS BY DAN:

Here is  1952 Willys Truck: http://danrouthphotography.blogspot.com/2011/03/52-willys.html

Here is a 1948 Truck: http://danrouthphotography.blogspot.com/2010/08/1948-willys-pickup.html

 
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Jeep Comics

March 21, 2012 • CATEGORIES: Artists/Drawings, Comics, Features This site contains affiliate links for which I may be compensated.
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Here are the first three issues of Jeep Comics from 1944.  As far as I can tell, only three issues were created with jeeps on the front (at least, I can’t find any others).  You can these covers here: http://superitch.com/?p=14130

Jeep Comics Issue 1

Jeep Comics Issue 2