~ Sent to us by Louis and Kaye Brzozka
My son and I are on our second GPW. The first was a restoration and is now owned by our friend as we recently decided on a ‘Winter Project’. Our current Jeep ‘Lester’ was imported from Washington State at the end of last year. Whoever owned it used it as a leisure vehicle and had it sprayed red with cream and burgundy trim seating, oversized headlights cruelly butchered into the grill, aftermarket front bumper and huge tires.
After working on Lester for many, many hours we have now brought him back to as near as possible to how he would have looked in 1943. We have done more of a ‘conservation’ rather than a full blown restoration as we wanted to keep as much of the original as possible. We replaced the grill, changed the tires and reinstated repro seats, hood, hood bows etc… This was a mother and son’s labour of love and we intend keeping Lester for many years to come.
We are both members of a local re-enactment group called the First Wave 44 146th Engineers so we attend many events during the year with Lester. We absolutely love it and people love Lester. These photos are the before and after. There are still a few things that are needed like the serial number on the bonnet, shovel and axe etc… The sepia photo is of Louis and our first Jeep project Chester.
Greetings from across the water in Torquay, South Devon UK.
Willys Jeep Life Story – Louis and Kaye Brzozka
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Very cool. Love to see these machines get a new life. Great Job!
Very cool. Love to see these machines get a new life. Great Job!
I think this is terrific! You are a gem of a Mom. I love the names, maybe the next project will be named, Uncle Fester.
I think this is terrific! You are a gem of a Mom. I love the names, maybe the next project will be named, Uncle Fester.
I just want to respond to David Jones’ reply. Of course you are entitled to your opinion. I am happy to see people enjoy these old Jeeps in any way they wish. My wife and I just finished (if there is such a thing) restoring our M38A1. I wanted all original. The compromise is a beautiful rootbeer brown, 12 volt, electric wipers, heater, overdrive unit. She is quite pretty, a little civilized, but still a beast. A lot is original, except for the mentioned items. I see them butchered all the time and feel a pang in the heart, but the owner is enjoying it their way, so who am I to judge? I am just happy to see them being used, however that takes place.
I just want to respond to David Jones’ reply. Of course you are entitled to your opinion. I am happy to see people enjoy these old Jeeps in any way they wish. My wife and I just finished (if there is such a thing) restoring our M38A1. I wanted all original. The compromise is a beautiful rootbeer brown, 12 volt, electric wipers, heater, overdrive unit. She is quite pretty, a little civilized, but still a beast. A lot is original, except for the mentioned items. I see them butchered all the time and feel a pang in the heart, but the owner is enjoying it their way, so who am I to judge? I am just happy to see them being used, however that takes place.
Your jeep looks amazing and it’s great that a mother and son worked on it together. Congrats!
Your jeep looks amazing and it’s great that a mother and son worked on it together. Congrats!
I wonder how Louis ended up with an M1 Garand in the gun free UK?
I wonder how Louis ended up with an M1 Garand in the gun free UK?