This Jeep was purchased by my father Lewis Dale Cannon in 1969 as a used Jeep. He lived in Torrey Utah, Wayne County just outside of Capital Reef National Park. Dad made his living as a Trapper, and he used this Jeep to check his trap lines, he ran 178 traps in his line. Trapping for Mountain Lions, Bobcats, Foxes and Coyotes and he would sell the hides. When he passed away in 1987 the Jeep became the property of my sister and her 4 sons who lived in Washington Utah.
The boys had used it well and began several restorations, but mostly it sat and began to slid into the realm of not safe or useable. My wife Patty noticed it in my nephews back yard rusting away, and mentioned that if anyone was ever going to restore my Dad’s Jeep it was probably me. I said are you giving me permission to do another vehicle? She said I don’t think that is what I said, I said well, that’s exactly what I heard. I mentioned to my nephew a short time later in 2010 that if he ever wanted to sell it to let me know.
He called a couple of years later and that was when this project began, I initially removed and replaced all of the rusted metal. I had the original 225 Dauntless V6 rebuilt and balanced with new cam, Aluminum Offenhauser 4 barrel intake with an Edelbrock carburetor, added power steering, disc brakes front and rear, full roll-bar, Vintage Air A/C. We cut into the rear fenders to allow the seats more room for adjustment. All of the engine brackets along with brake, clutch, throttle and shifter were all custom made and then chromed. From start to finish it took me 7 years to complete and as you might say as I went along it took on a life of its own. I removed the original 3 speed transmission and replace it with a 4 speed along with a different rearend.
Had it not been my father’s I would have never taken this project on and surely wouldn’t have spent the time or resources to create what I hope will be a treasure in our family for years to come.
Kaiser Willys Jeep Blog Story – Allen Cannon
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Well its a nice looking Jeep,,but where is the memory of Dad. From what I gather–everything but the color? Or has that been changed to?
Well its a nice looking Jeep,,but where is the memory of Dad. From what I gather–everything but the color? Or has that been changed to?
Beautiful job! I too am restoring Dads 52 M38A1 but not near the detail you have put into this.
Beautiful job! I too am restoring Dads 52 M38A1 but not near the detail you have put into this.
Para los amantes del Jeep, lo importante es la originalidad. Un vehículo al que se le colocan accesorios y máquina diferentes, solo le queda de original el chasis. Por lo tanto, para mi gusto, ya no se puede hablar de un verdadero Jeep.
Para los amantes del Jeep, lo importante es la originalidad. Un vehículo al que se le colocan accesorios y máquina diferentes, solo le queda de original el chasis. Por lo tanto, para mi gusto, ya no se puede hablar de un verdadero Jeep.