Purchased from a family friend, this CJ-3B became part of the Patton family in September 1961. It had 900 miles on the odometer and now has a little over 49,000 miles. The Jeep was my Mom’s pride and joy. She would take it out on fishing trips to her sisters gravel pit pond as well as daily grocery purchases at Mettlin’s store. The Jeep was the cornerstone of many fishing/hunting trips with family and friends. There were countless trips to the Trinity River bottom, Greens Bayou, Fitz’s lake, and the Big Thicket woods during the 1960’s and 1970’s.
The Jeep provided my brother and I transportation to Hardin High School from 1965 through 1971, many family members learned how to drive in this little Jeep. One of my favorite memories is taking the Jeep out and fishing on the sand bars of the Trinity River close to Moss Hill, Texas. The Jeep was light and in 4-wheel drive had no trouble navigating the sand. Passerby’s would see us there and drive their pickups on the sand. Over the years I must have pulled dozens of folks off that sand bar when they couldn’t manage the sand.
The black and white photo is of me and the Jeep in December 1961. Painted back to it’s original color of Island Green Metallic the Jeep is once again ready for 64 more years of good times. I’d like to thank to Kaiser Willys for helping me return this CJ-3B to a better condition than it has been in a very long time.
Kaiser Willys Jeep Life – James Patton
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James, Beautiful job I also have a 54 3B same color scheme green body ,white wheels ,black trim it’s an older resto . Again great job and story
Very, very nice restoration. I also have a green ’54 3B currently sitting under a tarp waiting for restoration once I finish the current project (a ’63 CJ-5).
Very nice job! I keep reading these to keep me enthusiastic about restoring my 1948 CJ 2A.
I think your Jeep looks Terrific !!!
I admire your work and dedication to originality.
It’s one of the nicest restorations I’ve seen.
I currently have a 1959 CJ 5 restoration in progress.
You give me inspiration to push forward to completion.
David in Oregon
👍👍👍😁
Great job you did and glad to see you,ll enjoy it.Like it was made for. Not sit in a garage and just look at. Great pictures too. Wish all of the jeep and complete pictures in black and white was not cut off. Again thank you and a job well done.
Love it . Beautiful restoration !
Thanks
I didn’t mention it but I did all the work myself. Had to replace the right rear quarter panel and a couple patch panels due to the 60+ years of use. The windshield fell over in the shop and had to replace the glass. That was the toughest job of all!
Wished you hadn’t cut the deer out of the black and white photo
I to have a cj3b that I completely rebuilt frame off. U did a very good job
Beautiful restoration- Great Job!
Love the jeep and the story! Beautiful restoration!