Kaiser Willys Jeep of the Week: 144

144: Nelson Smith’s 1952 Willys CJ-3A

I bought this Jeep 43 years ago with the owners manual included. It had been used by a rural mail carrier to deliver the mail. He had moved the controls to the right side for delivering mail. He used a chain and sprockets to steer from the right side. The controls were later moved back for left hand driving. After that it was used as a way to get to a fishing cabin on the Skunk River. I had the motor rebuilt and now use it to “haul the dogs” and as an all around utility vehicle on the farm, pulling wagons, augers, fixing fence and ‘get around’ vehicle. The top was built by the Blue Mfg. Co. Wichita, Kansas. The doors are removed during the warmer times of the year. It is a working vehicle, not a “trailer queen” I have recently purchased another 1952 CJ-3A within 20 miles that was headed for the scrap yard. It is 36 units difference in serial numbers from the first CJ-3A.

– Nelson Smith