~Story sent by Vaughn Becker
My love affair with Jeeps started just after 27th June 1950 when my father called at the local hospital to pick up my mother and I to take us home in his 1943 GPW Jeep. Dad had won a contract in 1946 from the Post Master-General’s Department to deliver mail to cattle grazing properties to the north of our home town, Taroom, in Central Queensland, Australia. Vehicles were very hard to get just after the war but he was fortunate to obtain a GPW. He used this Jeep from 1946 to October 1950 when he purchased the first 4-73 4WD Jeep truck offered for sale in Queensland. In November 1960 he replaced the 4-73 with a 6-226 truck and used it for many years. The Jeeps did a sterling job in appalling road conditions and the 6-226 went around the speedo three times, when traded it had travelled well over 300,000 miles. Not only did he use the two Jeep trucks to deliver mail and supplies, Saturday to Sunday, he then used them to deliver school kids to the school in Taroom. He built a slip on canopy for the school run and just lifted it off to do the mail run. The roads in our district were really bad up until the late 1960’s and it was necessary to use a 4 wheel drive to get the jobs done. Dad was also the local fuel agent and this time being prior to bulk fuel deliveries used to deliver 44 gallon drums of fuel to the outlying cattle properties, again a 4 wheel drive was the only way to get this done. There are 6 x 44 gallon drums (full) to the ton and the poor old 6-226 was often loaded with 9 drums, used over shocking roads and conditions but never failed to complete the job.
Naturally growing up in this Jeep environment saw me develop a great bias towards the Jeep vehicle and I purchased my first one, a CJ-2A, when I was 16. I have lost count of the Jeeps I have owned and at one stage owned 14 but due to lack of space sold most of them and now I just have a 1964 FC-170, 1954 Willys Wagon, 1956 4-73 Truck, 1957 CJ-3B, 1942 MB and a 1984 J20 truck. All have been restored with the exception of the MB and Wagon which are currently undergoing full restoration. Of course not only did I have Jeeps but my two brothers also had many over the years and at the moment there are 9 Jeeps in the family.
I have nine grandchildren and it looks like the Jeep “bug” is alive and well and will survive well into the next generation. The joy that I get just driving my Jeeps and in particular with the grandkids could only be known to other Jeep owners, there is just that special “something”.
Obtaining parts was becoming a problem for me until I discovered Kaiser Willys from South Carolina, USA and suddenly repairs and restorations became a whole new ball game. In fact up until I began using Kaiser Willys my repairs and restorations were always compromised as I could never obtain exactly what I wanted or needed, but with a good supply of correct parts, prompt and timely shipping and good professional advice the condition of my Jeeps was lifted to a whole new level. Thanks Guys and Girls at Kaiser Willys my Jeeps are now indeed my pride and joy and are in such a good condition the next generation will really appreciate them as well.
My Dad is now 92, lives just across the road from me, and still enjoys joining with me to exercise which ever Jeep takes our fancy at the time and to go for a drive.
Kaiser Willys Jeep Blog Story – Vaughn Becker
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The Army trailer in the photo is an Aussie made one it is a type three very rare today most rusted though by now.
The trailers were a copy of the US one but with different guards and no hand brakes. I have a type four trailer
Great little story! Vintage Jeeps rule! I’ve always loved Jeeps, especially the trucks/pickups. I came across a clean, straight ‘61 about 7 years ago. I did a little work on it, then life dealt me a couple of setbacks, but I’m sprucing it up now and love it. Love the wagons too, but I just have room for my pickup. I’m happy!
Great story! Amazing history. Good to see another thing in common with our Aussie mates: Jeeps and their history. Lots of lonely miles in the bush, to be sure. Enjoyed the story, and the gum trees.
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Do you know what happened to the yellow FC?
Andrew
Hello Dave
Call in any time. I just bought a FS Cherokee Sportsman from Miriam Vale, have to pick it up soon.
G`day Vaughan.
love your story mate. its great to see some old photos of life with a Willys in the bush.
my Father and Uncle had a `60 Willys 6-226 truck when I was a kid on the farm in central NSW. they used it in the timber cutting game but there are not many photos. My mate in NSW has that same truck now and uses it as a run-a-bout on his small farm.
I have a `62 6-230 truck that I am restoring at the moment.
I live at Miriam Vale over near the coast and i pass through Taroom from time to time. I wouldn`t mind calling in and having a look at some of your machines one day.
dave
Hi Ron
OK and safe from the cyclone. Looks like we will just get some moderate rain, about over Biloela now and heading south southeast.
Vaughn
HI Vaughan —- How is the cyclone affecting you ?
Is it more to the coast and you just get the heavy rain ?
Ron
Hallo Vaughn Becker,
thank you for the nice story and the photos.
I live in Townsville and have a Willys Truck.
The last 25 years it took me all over North Qld
and West Qld 50 times and never let me down.
Regards
Peter
Hello Ron
Yes, still living in Taroom and not likely to move. Vaughn
Vaughn —- Great story I dont know that part of Queensland were the photos taken, do you still live in that area ?
I am in Melbourne and have a 55 wagon and two Jeeps both 42 Willys and a Ford also a 1930 Willys Whippet sedan all running. I must try to find out how to upload photos.
RON
Great Aussie photos I can relate to. I have a 1959 pointy nose truck fully restored which I love to take out occasionally.
John Exner
Wentworth Falls,
NSW Australia
Hi Dave
I can’t find any markings on my trailer and the person I purchased if from just said he bought it at an army disposal sale. The wheels look like they came from a Chev. I think the trailer may have been from the Australian Army and from the early Fifties.
Great / fun story about the “Jeeps in the family”. I enjoyed it. I have ONLY 1….1951 4-cyl PU Truck. Always a GREAT conversation piece.
L. G. Wilson South Carolina
Vaughan,
I have only three jeeps.but I also have an ammuniton trailer, a 1952 Dunbar that came out of alaska. Who’s make is your trailer?
Dave
Wow , I thought I had a history with jeeps and my dad but you out do me by 10 times.