~ Sent to us by Chuck Fest
I’m 82 years old and bought my first Jeep, a 42 Military, in 1964 after getting out of the 82nd Airborne Division at Bragg and starting school at Trenton State College. I taught elementary Health and Physical Education after graduation until 2003. I’ve had Jeeps ever since. MB, CJ-2A, CJ-5 (several), CJ-7 and my CJ-3B.
Unfortunately for Jeep purists I could never keep them totally stock. But many of them were pretty close as shown by the enclosed picture of my 1953 CJ-3B which ran the Stock 4 class in the East Coast Four Wheel Drive Association off road events back in the day. It was campaigned, very successfully, by my good friends Leon and Jean Hart from Delaware. It was named “Hartburn”
I was racing, unsuccessfully, I might add, a ‘70 CJ-5. I purchased “Hartburn “, the CJ-3B in 2001. I run it on my own property and the adjacent woods. The engine had been balanced and blue printed back in 1970 and has run great ever since. I’ve been taking liberties with it for the last 10 years. I made modifications specifically designed for attacking the mud trails and stream banks that I have to navigate. I’ve extended the wheelbase and designed and built my own 4 link suspension. I’ve installed a Jeep JK power steering box and will be taking delivery of a double grove pulley from Kaiser Willys (of course), to drive the GM pump I’m installing. I welded up the rear spiders, I think they call that a “Lincoln Locker” and put a Detroit Locker in the front. I’m finishing up the project shortly and can’t wait to try it on the muddy trails and stream crossings.
Again apologies to the purist among us but it really is fun to fabricate stuff. Especially if it works! I’m looking forward to finding a stock CJ-2A again for on road and car show duty and keeping it that way I promise.
- Chuck Fest 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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Chuck, I was present on that DZ when the M151 landed without benifit of an open chute. When it hit, the spare tire bounced back up so high it looked like it was going back to the C130!
Chuck, I was present on that DZ when the M151 landed without benifit of an open chute. When it hit, the spare tire bounced back up so high it looked like it was going back to the C130!
Awesome Post!
I hope you continue your adventurous life for a long time.
Awesome Post!
I hope you continue your adventurous life for a long time.
Acho que do que mais gosto, são as histórias mesmo!
Acho que do que mais gosto, são as histórias mesmo!
I love it.
I love it.
Love all the photos, I learned to drive when I was 12, and learned on a 2A, use to go every where in it, lived out on a lake and not many troopers around, Spent a tour in Viet Nam and now restore 2A’s and pickups, have to many Willys , should thin out the stock. lol Sure be nice to chat sometime .
Stony
Love all the photos, I learned to drive when I was 12, and learned on a 2A, use to go every where in it, lived out on a lake and not many troopers around, Spent a tour in Viet Nam and now restore 2A’s and pickups, have to many Willys , should thin out the stock. lol Sure be nice to chat sometime .
Stony
Rick
I’m glad you confirmed this story. After 60 years I was afraid I may have embellished the story.
But photos don’t lie. We had a guy named Robinson in our company. Newbury, SC boy. Weapons platoon 2/501 Echo Company. ‘61-‘63.
He jumped packing his cities. Then got lost for two weeks! Gee, what a coincidence!
I jumped the Platoon radio , PRC10, and was first in the door on that jump. Even I knew we were on the wrong drop zone. And I’m always lost.
Thanks for your service.
I got out in ‘64, whew, that was close.
Rick
I’m glad you confirmed this story. After 60 years I was afraid I may have embellished the story.
But photos don’t lie. We had a guy named Robinson in our company. Newbury, SC boy. Weapons platoon 2/501 Echo Company. ‘61-‘63.
He jumped packing his cities. Then got lost for two weeks! Gee, what a coincidence!
I jumped the Platoon radio , PRC10, and was first in the door on that jump. Even I knew we were on the wrong drop zone. And I’m always lost.
Thanks for your service.
I got out in ‘64, whew, that was close.
I’ve been in love with Jeeps since 1967 when I first saw ” Uncle Charlie’s” jeep at camp.
I currently have a 1994 Wrangler and a 1949 CJ2A along with parts of MBs and GPWs.