~ Sent to us by Alan Christenson
I bought the vehicle from a rancher in California in 2004. It hadn’t been running in many years, so I had to tow it home. In 2005, we moved to Chino Valley, AZ, where I continued the project. After removing the rusted / bondo tub, I was able to find numerous Ford F-stamps on the frame and shock mounts, etc. The engine was an original produced by Willys in 1942. I had the engine & trans rebuilt by a professional machine shop in Lompoc, CA. The brakes, new tub assembly, paint and everything else I did myself. To get it running and tuned up, I trailered it to a mechanic in Phoenix, AZ who specializes in military vehicles. The stencils are of an actual Army National Guard unit that was formed and served in Europe during WWII. When I drive it around, people frequently stop me to ask about the vehicle and tell me their own “jeep” stories. People have made me various offers to buy the vehicle but I am never going to sell it.
- Alan Christenson Kaiser Willys Jeep Blog Story – 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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Greetings and bravo on your accomplishment! I am so glad to see you retained the original engine and kept the vehicle stock. I’m 81 and was with my parents when they bought our 1946 CJ-2A and I am still driving it.
My Papa was a country doctor in south Missouri and in the 40’s they didn’t even gravel the roads, much less pave them, and he badly needed a four wheel drive vehicle. My Mama taught me to drive in Jeep and I taught my son. I have kept Jeep absolutely stock with being 6 Volts and such. Again, it is so great you brought a legend back to life! Joe Stokes, Idaho Falls, Idaho
Alan, military jeeps didn’t and don’t have free wheeling hubs. They had lifting shackles not toe hooks. And the MP’s had a red light and siren on the fender. They also had the MP-48 Antenna Base and Whip Antenna.
Not picking on you, just making a few observations. Thanks for saving Jeep. Too many people just want to play and beat the hell out of a vital piece of history. They played a big part in winning WW2.
Beautiful piece of ART! I was planning on buying an old 1942-45 to work on in my retirement. I have a 1956 Willy’s pickup and a 1973 CJ5 that I drive daily. My plans changed when I was disabled as a Police Officer at the age of 55. I wanted one of those jeeps so bad since my father drove one in WWII in a recon Unit. I had a bunch of pictures of him in various vehicles but that JEEP was my favorite . Congratulations on your project and I hope I can get mine going before I hit 65.