– This Veterans Day, we would like to honor this Veteran and his Willys Jeep project. Michael Watson won a spot on the 2016 Calendar this year and we wanted to congratulate and thank him for his service to our country.
This CJ-2A to an MB conversion is 2 years in the making. Got the original jeep for fathers day and have been manually rebuilding it ever since. This is a cash as I go kind of project but a lot of time, energy, blood, sweat, and no tears went into it so far. I’m ready to dress out the motor this fall and still need the all important MB tub kit. I have always wanted an MB since I was a kid but in those days I could only get my hands on a 1/35th scale version. I went from building the model to now building a full sized replica. This jeep is my passion and when complete will be handed down to all future generations of my family. I have a lot of respect for this machine and I will do all that I can to preserve it. I’m a Desert Storm vet and I deal with PTSD issues, and this jeep has been my therapy. With a life beyond serving our farmers in its hay day, she continues to serve me.
If you would like to share your Willys Jeep Story please send us a line. We ‘d love to meet your Jeep.
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Good job so far, Mike!
Same story here, I’ve always wanted a MB since I was a kid too. I’m a 22 year navy retiree and bought a ’47 CJ2A after retirement and converted it to an MB clone. Its great fun attending shows, events and driving older veterans in parades…..the best part is seeing their smiles as they remember the few good times as they ride in the back with people cheering!
Thanks for your service and good luck!
Would like to to say thank you for mentioning me I am completely humbled. Thanks everybody for your kind words. Hopefully one day I will be able to post a picture of my completed MB project
Hi Mike,
Early this year I bought a 1945 CJ-2A in good running condition. Few week ago I just bought another CJ-2A, a 1948, a restoration where the owner quit with a bad body. I get it for the parts. Now I am thinking maybe to rebuild this CJ2A into an MB. My kid will prefer this and keep the CJ-2A the 45 one as a farm JEEP and fix this one only when he need and with used parts, to keep it in a maximal original form. Could you made a list of what you need to do a such conversion?
Mike …From one vet to another.. great job on your jeep…I too restored a cj3a 1950.. to a military version as much as possible…Air Force Blue color with all appropiate numbers and lettering…It came out quite nice took me 3 year’s to complete….we had these jeeps in Okinawa when I was there in 55, 56, 57….Again Mike good job looks really nice… W. Driver USAF ret. PS I really like your shop…!!
Mike, I am a Vietnam Veteran. I have had a M38A1 for 10 years that I have kept original. I have used it in events such as military appreciation day at the Class A ball park and driven it in a number of July 4th parades and other events to honor veterans. I wish I had your machine shop. Good luck with your restoration projects.
E.Phillips, LTC, Ret.