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“Cactus Rose” is the name of this 1942 slat grill Willys MB Jeep. I got a call one day from a friend, Tom, who said, “There is a really old jeep at the crusher that you might want to check on.” I went over to P and L Scrap Iron in Colorado Springs to see it.
It was next in line to be crushed, a pitiful yellow hulk sitting next to the crusher. It had 4 tires holding air and an engine compartment reasonably complete even including a radiator. The grill, windshield, seats and many small items were missing. It said, “Willys” on the back panel. When I saw that writing along with the age of the body, I new it was a slat grill. I ask how much he wanted for it. Three hundred dollars was the price. I had just sold some jeep parts so IÂ went to the ranch and got the trailer and the money and came back to get the jeep. My son and I went to lunch to celebrate the rescue!
We took it home and began the long process of restoring it. Three years later and much hard work it was finally ready for the Veterans Day Parade in November 2013. I had spent months tearing things apart welding, pounding, and fixing, all the while looking for missing original WWII parts. I purchased three other WWII jeeps plus traded for a WWII original canvas top. Parts were also used off of jeeps I already owned to get the jeep restored.
Two months of spare time were used welding on the frame alone. Three more months were spent welding on the body before the body work could begin. After much intensive labor it started coming together. Each piece seemed to take several hours to prepare before it became functional.
She was named “Cactus Rose” for the cholla cactus that bloomed rosie red around the jeep during restoration. Most of the restoration was done during three of the years my wife and I lived on our Lazy Tree cattle ranch.
It was a big day when it was finally driven down to the creek behind our new house, two weeks before the parade. Two transmissions were fixed and moved back and forth into the jeep three days  before the parade to make sure it would not get stuck between gears!
She was good girl and functioned flawlessly for the Parade with Veterans of the First Cavalry group marching beside and behind it. Cactus Rose is not quite finished yet. Here is Cactus Rose with a Navy Jeep that my husband helped a man restore. That is another story just waiting to be told.
This jeep is not for sale at this time. The last five thousand 42 willys slat grill had glove boxes. Good question.Very observant. Thought the answer went through a long time ago.
The paint is purchased at a Glenn’s Army Surplus in Colorado Springs. It is the WWII color that was available. 34087 is the number on the spray cans I think.
The Navy Jeep was a special mix by memory of the WWII Vet that paid other people for the restoration paint job of that jeep.
The glove box is original to the early 1942 slat grill. Looking for original latch still as the original one that was on the jeep does not have functioning latch. It is a different style than the later standard latches and the shape of the glove box is different also.
I like the work done on the Jeep
Could you please let me know the paint shades for both the jeeps?
Grey and Green!
And are they open for sale, if so, what will be the price?
Thanks
You are very lucky! But why a glove box on a so older vehicle?
There is a number 2 on the right lower cowl behind the front fender on orange paint. Wondering if anyone has any information abut that number. I will try to post a photo of it.
Thanks Amy For Getting This Information And Photos Up So Quickly. The Simpich.com website Is A Place To Find Out About More Happenings With The Simpich family.