If I said that was Stephanie and I out for a spin in our new toy, I’d almost believe it myself, given the similarities in looks (and her being bundled up in a scarf; she doesn’t like lots of wind in her hair). Even more so since I’ve always wanted an early Jeep; there’s something so utterly elemental about them, like the Ford Model A.
And then there’s the fact that I used to pretend to be one when we went on long walks in Innsbruck as a wee lad. Actually, in town I would be a street car, with a stick in my hand to rub along the walls of city buildings with which to get my electricity, accompanied by the authentic whine of an electric motor. But as soon as we hit the edge of town and headed up the steep slopes, I’d turn into a Jeep, and there would be lots of lip-farting engine sounds and shifting of gears. Yes, that could be me.
Gee, and I thought I was the only one who did that!
I gave it up when I was about five, though, in favor of something far better.
Since I was old enough to use it, my old man had provided me with a wagon. It started life as the typical “little red” variety… but he painted it blue, slapped on some “whitewalls” from a Toro lawnmower, cut some carpet for the floor, and attached two junkyard-found badges to the back – a “Chevrolet” block letter emblem, probably off the trunk of a seventy-something Malibu, and a “Custom” badge, with the trademark curvy caps of an eighties FWD Buick.
This was nice and all, but I discovered that I could customize it further by placing a cardboard box around it. Having done that, I could deck the box out by recreating some other ride on its four sides. With my mother’s help, I had a box for each of the family vehicles – a brown ’71 Grand Prix, a red ’77 Firebird, and a two-tone blue/white ’75 Suburban. The Prix was always my favorite… being pulled through the park while imitating the sounds of a 455. Good times 🙂
Like so many things, wish we’d taken a picture…
I’m right there with you Paul. (How often does that happen, really?) An early Jeep is a pure man + machine moment that is hard to find anywhere else (with old trucks and tractors providing a similar experience.)
This is why the CJ-5 is about as new as appeals to me, with its big old flat round speedo in the middle of a piece of sheetmetal that serves as a dashboard. The CJ-7 started the process of civilization of the Jeep that has continued unabated.
I am not enough of a Jeep-guy to ID this one. CJ-3? 2A? It certainly looks older than a 5. And that park-bench-green color (similar to that on my 63 F-100) completes the package.
CJ-2A. The 3A had vents under the windshield glass; and the 3B had the higher hood as Jeep CJ models got the new F-head (DJs kept the L-head Go-Devil engine for ten more years).
I’ve always wanted one, two…and these days, it wouldn’t matter even how beat up it was. Just buy a wreck with a title and serial tags…you can buy:
–Frame…tubular aircraft aluminum if you want to get fancy;
–Tub…steel or fiberglass;
–Running gear…it’s all available from a panoply of suppliers…axles might be tough;
–Your choice of three-pot or four-cylinder engines; gas or diesel. Best bet might be something that can mate to a transmission that can mate to a transfer case…which rules out Suburau with their T-drive, front drive internally carried. Although…if you REALLY like a challenge…
Bottom line: Like the Filipino Jeepneys, you can build something to your taste that looks JUST LIKE a CJ-3A; but with the heavy advantage of pre-manufactured aftermarket parts. No need to hammer out your own fenders…leave that to the Jeepney garages.
What?! Could be you?! That’s your hat. Those are your clothes. Those are your knobby knees. That is Stephanie. Go back and look again.
When I received last month’s SAIL magazine I was shocked to see myself on the cover but I did not recognize the boat…or the woman next to me in the shot. I had to read the inside “cover” description to determine it was not me.
So when will we get to see more of this Jeep of yours?
Interestingly, when I was 14 (1965), dreams about what I would want for my first car was a Jeep just like this one, or a 1957 Chevy!
Well, I did own two ’57 Chevys, combined into one, but sold it in boxes in 1979 – the unfinished project of my life, and we owned a 1992 Wrangler for about two years.
So, yeah, I made all the sounds you did, plus railroad sounds, ’cause I wanted my own real locomotive and originally wanted to be a railroad engineer in my early years – no fireman for me, but fire trucks are some of the coolest vehicles ever.
Oh, yeah, that could be my wife and me in that Jeep… it was for a while!
That was kinda like my Jeep…when I bought it.
Like some West Coast body-butcher craftsmen, I remade my YJ in the image of the Great CJ-7. Not as hard as it might seem…just some trimming on inner fenders and the lower corners of the CJ grille.
As a roadgoing Jeep, it was PERFECT. The advantage of a YJ; with its better suspension and handling (trust me, there is a TREMENDOUS difference) but at ten paces, only the schooled could tell it from the real thing.
But…even rust-free hobby cars develop issues; and without time to deal with them, and losing interest…I sold it. Fun for a time, though…
A cottage we go to (relative of a friend) has a 1950 Canadian Army Surplus Jeep for trail maintenance, pulling boats out of the water, etc. a job it has been doing on the property for almost 50 years.
I’ve driven it a couple of times, great fun on the trails but I think it would be a bit uncomfortable on the street.
Open top Landrover any day, Jeep yeah nar only really good in town minimal off highway ability cannot go along the side of a hill, great idea but Landrover and later Toyota did it properly.
Out of Jeep, Land Rover, and Land Cruiser, only Jeep helped win WWII. 🙂
Yes the Jeep helped but it also showed up its limitations the hillside ability being a big one here, The Wilks brothers took the good points and redesigned the bad and the series1 Landrover was born with 45 degree hillside capability with fuel tank uphill.