Many Jeep enthusiasts find their Jeep, my Jeep found me. I was leaving my office one sunny Saturday afternoon mid March 2012 in Golden, Colorado, two months before closing the sale of my business and 3 years before retiring. As I locked the door, I looked into the street and saw my dream machine. My next-door neighbor owns a detail shop. The owner of the Jeep 4×4 wagon was getting it detailed to put on eBay. I walked over, introduced myself to the owner, Jerry, and asked if he would not mind if I took a look at his rig. He walked around with me as I opened and shut doors and cubbies, he said, “you know a lot about these vehicles”. Yep, I grew up with them; a 1954 Wagon was the first vehicle I drove at the age of 15 in Wyoming. My dad and I would work on it through the winter so we could go fishing and hunting the next summer and fall. I went on to explain, I had assisted my dad in overhauling engines, repairing axles, transmissions and clutches in the Wagon and an earlier flat fender with a V-60 Ford flat head. We added a fresh air heater and a 2nd heater on the driver’s side, an engine heater and locking hubs to the wagon. I took the Jeep for a quick drive and fell in love; all those childhood memories came flooding back as each gear clicked into its slot. Jerry and I exchanged contact information and went our way. On Sunday, I broached the idea of purchasing the Jeep with my wife, Denise; was not so keen on the idea. On Monday, I called Jerry to see if he would take a small deposit to hold it while I convinced my wife. I was surprised at his response. NOPE! He went on to tell me he had put it on eBay and had over 50 calls already; somebody wanted to send him cash if he would do this, another person wanted him to do that. He was, frankly, “fit to be tied”; He just wanted to sell it. “If you want it, you bring the cash by this afternoon and it is yours.” I quickly discussing it further with Denise, she finally relented and we made the purchase.
This was my first project vehicle. I quickly realized it had to be restored not a rebuild. My goal was to keep it as original at possible. The Jeep was rust free, but everything mechanical needed attention. The determining factor was when I removed the rear differential cover and black goop almost came out. Then I removed the front differential cover and brown muddy-oil slowly slithered into the drain pan. As I disassembled, cleaned, photographed, marked, bagged and boxed parts, I made notes on the hours I worked and the parts that would need replaced; thus creating a diary and budget as I went. I have to say the internet made this project possible. Kaiser Willys was a great resource. I have over 1,900 hours over 29 months invested in the full body off nut and bolt restoration. I was fortunate enough to have Jim Mullen, a former Honda master technician and Mike Galindo, a phenomenal painter and body man, to coach me though the repairs I needed assistance with. I was able to make all the repairs on the engine, drive train, suspension, steering, body prep and interior. I was not able to do the engine machine work, rebuild the water pump, O.E. alternator, painting the body, install the front and rear glass, headliner and tint the windows. I highly suggest if you take on a project like this you find a couple of special people; a good sand blaster that has worked on old cars for the body and frame, (invest in your own sand blaster for small parts), a good machine shop and glass person that has worked with rubber weather seals. When you pick an upholster, make sure they have installed several headliners. It took Mel Pacheco, my upholsterer, 6 hours of hard work to complete the installation of the headliner. One of the hardest people to find was someone to repair the original vintage AM radio. This was originally a U.S. Department of Reclamation vehicle here in Colorado, and thus I kept the original color as close as possible, although I added the white accent. It is equipped with a 6-230 overhead cam engine, two barrel holly carb, bell crank steering, O.E. “Powr-Lok” differential, 40 amp Prestolite alternator, factory windshield washers, a dealer installed Ramsey PTO wench, Warren automatic locking hubs, emergency flashers and massive fuel tank skid plate. I have added Cutlass wheel covers, AM Jeep radio and Warren overdrive to help it move down the highway a little easier.
Jeep Start Up Video
When I purchased the Jeep, the odometer read 17,023. I immediately thought it must be 117,023. However, as I disassembled the engine I found the original part number on the main bearings, which were in great shape. I soon realized because of other wear points that it indeed only had 17,023 original miles. In addition, I found paperwork in different compartments, which allowed me to track the four previous owners starting in August 1981, which reflected an odometer reading of 12,800 miles. In 1999, the odometer read 15,993 and 2012 was 17,023. What happened between 1964 and 1981 is anyone’s guess. It must have been a good life, maybe government storage. In September 2014, Denise and I took our first cruise to Breckenridge, Colorado; some 75 miles away, to view the fall color and test the 4×4 capability. That is when my wonderful wife of 42 years finally recognized what a special piece of history we owned. She said it was worth it; “I feel very special cruising around in Eugene”. As if, we were the only family to name our Jeep “Eugene”. She went on to say she noticed when people look at our Jeep they smiled a lot. I hope your project gives back to you as mine has to me. I have met some great people who have shared their Jeep stories and helped me sometimes in the minutest way.
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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Very nice Willy’s wagon -my dad had one when I was a kid only his was 2 wheel drive.I just recently watch some old 8mm movies and got to see it again.You put in a lot of hard work and money now enjoy it!
Very nice Willy’s wagon -my dad had one when I was a kid only his was 2 wheel drive.I just recently watch some old 8mm movies and got to see it again.You put in a lot of hard work and money now enjoy it!
Nice story and great pictures! Glad you convinced your wife in time!!!!!!!!!!
Nice story and great pictures! Glad you convinced your wife in time!!!!!!!!!!
Beautiful job. I have a M38A1. It is impossible to look at an old jeep and not smile–particularly with, but not limited to, old soldiers. I also have a Eugene the Jeep sticker on my dash: “jeep, jeep.”
Beautiful job. I have a M38A1. It is impossible to look at an old jeep and not smile–particularly with, but not limited to, old soldiers. I also have a Eugene the Jeep sticker on my dash: “jeep, jeep.”
Very nice work!! Glad it all worked out, there’s just something about old wagons that stirs the heart. I also have a 54 wagon, its in customer photos. Have a great time, enjoy every minute. Bill
Very nice work!! Glad it all worked out, there’s just something about old wagons that stirs the heart. I also have a 54 wagon, its in customer photos. Have a great time, enjoy every minute. Bill
Hey, I have a 52 CJ and my son is rebuilding it, and also lives in Golden!! That’s interesting??
Hey, I have a 52 CJ and my son is rebuilding it, and also lives in Golden!! That’s interesting??
You did a great job on that wagon.
You did a great job on that wagon.
Great story and restoration job! As a kid on Long Island NY my mom and dad bought a Jeep Wagon. Jeep green and he went to work to build it out as a camping, cross country beach buggy. He added a roof storage box, took out the back seat and built two bed/storage boxes, rod holders and chuck wagon kitchen box in the rear. I sent many a cold night fishing all over Long Island beaches from Fire Island to Montague Point. We made 6 cross country trips from NY to San Diego taking every side trip and back road imaginable. A lot of great memories! So glad to hear that you got to relive yours!
I currently have a CJ-2A that I did a frame off restoration on 30 years ago and desperately needs another one. Oh well…one day, there just never seems to be enough time! Best of luck to you and your wife…happy trails!
Great story and restoration job! As a kid on Long Island NY my mom and dad bought a Jeep Wagon. Jeep green and he went to work to build it out as a camping, cross country beach buggy. He added a roof storage box, took out the back seat and built two bed/storage boxes, rod holders and chuck wagon kitchen box in the rear. I sent many a cold night fishing all over Long Island beaches from Fire Island to Montague Point. We made 6 cross country trips from NY to San Diego taking every side trip and back road imaginable. A lot of great memories! So glad to hear that you got to relive yours!
I currently have a CJ-2A that I did a frame off restoration on 30 years ago and desperately needs another one. Oh well…one day, there just never seems to be enough time! Best of luck to you and your wife…happy trails!
I have a ’62 wagon that I got from a friends friend in Boulder. I live in Garland, Texas. What a trip to get mine. Original 6-230, 4spd, 4wd, an Ironworks winch on front and PTO. It has the side heater behind driver. I have let it sit a little too long and need to redo carb. Started on rebuild brake lines but got distracted. I also have a ’59 wagon that was modified but I rebuilt or restored most of it. Ran great till the engine cracked. Have a Buick 350 to install. How did you install an overdrive on Eugene? What brand? Thanks, Paul
I have a ’62 wagon that I got from a friends friend in Boulder. I live in Garland, Texas. What a trip to get mine. Original 6-230, 4spd, 4wd, an Ironworks winch on front and PTO. It has the side heater behind driver. I have let it sit a little too long and need to redo carb. Started on rebuild brake lines but got distracted. I also have a ’59 wagon that was modified but I rebuilt or restored most of it. Ran great till the engine cracked. Have a Buick 350 to install. How did you install an overdrive on Eugene? What brand? Thanks, Paul
Beautiful old Jeep wagon! When I graduated from college in 1960, my Dad gave me his Willys wagon, white over red, 2WD, no overdrive, flat-head six engine. I drove it from SC to VA to begin my teaching career, and burned a valve near Richmond. I got that fixed, and drove it several months longer; I traded it for a VW Karmann-Ghia, which I drove to Fort Benning and to Fort Carson CO. After about six years, I decided to return to SC and teaching. I went through three old Jags (51 XK-120, 55 Mark VII, and 57 XK-140), an MGA, an Alfa-Romeo, a Ford Pinto, and many other cars, including 3 VW vans, in the years that followed. Today, retired and about three weeks from 77, I took delivery of a 1952 M38A1, not running but close. My goal is to have it in the Richburg SC Christmas parade on 12 Dec! Love those Jeeps!!
Jim Sanders
Beautiful old Jeep wagon! When I graduated from college in 1960, my Dad gave me his Willys wagon, white over red, 2WD, no overdrive, flat-head six engine. I drove it from SC to VA to begin my teaching career, and burned a valve near Richmond. I got that fixed, and drove it several months longer; I traded it for a VW Karmann-Ghia, which I drove to Fort Benning and to Fort Carson CO. After about six years, I decided to return to SC and teaching. I went through three old Jags (51 XK-120, 55 Mark VII, and 57 XK-140), an MGA, an Alfa-Romeo, a Ford Pinto, and many other cars, including 3 VW vans, in the years that followed. Today, retired and about three weeks from 77, I took delivery of a 1952 M38A1, not running but close. My goal is to have it in the Richburg SC Christmas parade on 12 Dec! Love those Jeeps!!
Jim Sanders
Very nice! Your project is encouraging and removes doubt about restoring the 1961 Willys 4×4 wagon that I recently bought. Waiting on parts from Kaiser Willys at the moment. Hopefully, late this summer I’ll have some pictures to post. She is red and white and we are going to keep her pretty much stock, with disc brakes and electronic ignition for the L-226. Fortunately my wife of 40 years likes the Willys!
Very nice! Your project is encouraging and removes doubt about restoring the 1961 Willys 4×4 wagon that I recently bought. Waiting on parts from Kaiser Willys at the moment. Hopefully, late this summer I’ll have some pictures to post. She is red and white and we are going to keep her pretty much stock, with disc brakes and electronic ignition for the L-226. Fortunately my wife of 40 years likes the Willys!
Looks great! Very similar accessories to my ’54 I grew up with and now use for my business. Might be fun to meet for lunch sometime as I’m just in Longmont.
Looks great! Very similar accessories to my ’54 I grew up with and now use for my business. Might be fun to meet for lunch sometime as I’m just in Longmont.
Thanks for all the kind words;
Darrell, would love to meet for lunch,
Paul M., Herm The Over Drive Guy, has an adapter that allows the PTO to be installed after the overdrive. The “in-out” lever is a little tricky. You need to modify the right front area just under the driver seat.
Thanks Again
Dan
Thanks for all the kind words;
Darrell, would love to meet for lunch,
Paul M., Herm The Over Drive Guy, has an adapter that allows the PTO to be installed after the overdrive. The “in-out” lever is a little tricky. You need to modify the right front area just under the driver seat.
Thanks Again
Dan
What a beautifull Story, Beautifull Humans and Great Willys
What a beautifull Story, Beautifull Humans and Great Willys
VERY nice job. Glad to hear your wife came around. In the 1990’s I had chance to buy a 46 cj2a while himing and hawing over it my wife said go for it. I laugh about it now because it was a big $300, and that turned out to be the cheapest part of it. I haven’t done as good of a job as you but we drive it every day. 50 miles at a time isn’t anything for us now. We are toying with idea of trucking it to Colorado and driving some of the trails there. I enjoy reading and seeing pictures of rebuilds like yours. Everyone should have a Willys Jeep to run around in. Again great job.
VERY nice job. Glad to hear your wife came around. In the 1990’s I had chance to buy a 46 cj2a while himing and hawing over it my wife said go for it. I laugh about it now because it was a big $300, and that turned out to be the cheapest part of it. I haven’t done as good of a job as you but we drive it every day. 50 miles at a time isn’t anything for us now. We are toying with idea of trucking it to Colorado and driving some of the trails there. I enjoy reading and seeing pictures of rebuilds like yours. Everyone should have a Willys Jeep to run around in. Again great job.
What a great story,,,have to love these old guys,,,Have way to many and just in the process of finishing my F head 53 Willys Pickup frame up restoration ,,,have 48 all original , jeepster and some 2A’s,,,need to thin them out,,,just love the old trucks.. Learned to drive when I was 12 on a 2A,,,lived out in the country and drove all over in it…Mom used to say no no no…by by,,,
You have done on outstanding job,,,so nice to know other people love these older guys like I do…When life was great and easy,,,are the memories they bring back to me.
Doug
What a great story,,,have to love these old guys,,,Have way to many and just in the process of finishing my F head 53 Willys Pickup frame up restoration ,,,have 48 all original , jeepster and some 2A’s,,,need to thin them out,,,just love the old trucks.. Learned to drive when I was 12 on a 2A,,,lived out in the country and drove all over in it…Mom used to say no no no…by by,,,
You have done on outstanding job,,,so nice to know other people love these older guys like I do…When life was great and easy,,,are the memories they bring back to me.
Doug
i am a parts customer
they are purchased from you and shipped to me in mexico, through a shipping company at border.
i would like to know how to forward this story about this jeep wagon and its restoration.
i am the holder of an original 1955 willys pickup purchased in Oaxaca, mexico in 1955, by my wife’s father who owned a coffee ranch. it is pretty much original but obviously has been maintained and kept up. i have put a considerable amount of money in to it just to keep it in Good enough shape to drive one or two times a week for maybe an hour each time.
MY QUESTION IS: CAN YOU HELP ME AND SAY HOW TO FORWARD THIS STORY OF THIS WILLYS JEEP WAGON RESTORATION. I WOULD LIKE TO SEND IT TO MY SONS. THANKS.MAYBE WE CAN MAKE A FAMILY PROJECT OF THE RESTORATION SHOWN IN THE EXCELLENT ESSAY. I LIKED THE FOTOS AND I LIKED THE STORY.
i am a parts customer
they are purchased from you and shipped to me in mexico, through a shipping company at border.
i would like to know how to forward this story about this jeep wagon and its restoration.
i am the holder of an original 1955 willys pickup purchased in Oaxaca, mexico in 1955, by my wife’s father who owned a coffee ranch. it is pretty much original but obviously has been maintained and kept up. i have put a considerable amount of money in to it just to keep it in Good enough shape to drive one or two times a week for maybe an hour each time.
MY QUESTION IS: CAN YOU HELP ME AND SAY HOW TO FORWARD THIS STORY OF THIS WILLYS JEEP WAGON RESTORATION. I WOULD LIKE TO SEND IT TO MY SONS. THANKS.MAYBE WE CAN MAKE A FAMILY PROJECT OF THE RESTORATION SHOWN IN THE EXCELLENT ESSAY. I LIKED THE FOTOS AND I LIKED THE STORY.
love the hubcaps what year cutlass did they come off of very nice job on wagon
love the hubcaps what year cutlass did they come off of very nice job on wagon
Nice Job, I bought my 62 out of a junkyard and did my body overhaul -have not worked on running gear as yet .The flathead 6 purrs like a kitten and everything works.Hopefully mine will be as nice as yours….
Nice Job, I bought my 62 out of a junkyard and did my body overhaul -have not worked on running gear as yet .The flathead 6 purrs like a kitten and everything works.Hopefully mine will be as nice as yours….
Dan,
I have had the opportunity to own a couple of utility wagons myself, and a V-6 CJ-2A with warn overdrive mercury brakes and hudson steering.I have had the opportunity to see the premier 4 wheeling opportunities in Colorado. Red cone mountain mount evans black bear road corkscew gulch and many others. I envy you the opportunity to live in such a state. If you want to keep seeing the country be sure to buy the trails sticker from, I think it is colorado parks or some similar branch to allow the forestry to keep the passes open, as every road in a national forest must be maintained to a certain extent. They can also do a rights of way assertion, I believe it is called RS2477 to reopen existing closed roads for our enjoyment. happy trails to you. Dave
Dan,
I have had the opportunity to own a couple of utility wagons myself, and a V-6 CJ-2A with warn overdrive mercury brakes and hudson steering.I have had the opportunity to see the premier 4 wheeling opportunities in Colorado. Red cone mountain mount evans black bear road corkscew gulch and many others. I envy you the opportunity to live in such a state. If you want to keep seeing the country be sure to buy the trails sticker from, I think it is colorado parks or some similar branch to allow the forestry to keep the passes open, as every road in a national forest must be maintained to a certain extent. They can also do a rights of way assertion, I believe it is called RS2477 to reopen existing closed roads for our enjoyment. happy trails to you. Dave
Fantastic Dan, way to go. Nice write up, lots of dicipline and negotiating skills demonstrated with your wife. I’m sure you saved the Jeep and Eugene will now be around for the next 100 years. Hope to see it one day at a Jeep Rally. Join the clubs and keep it in use. Best to you, Eugene and your wife. Captain Scott
Fantastic Dan, way to go. Nice write up, lots of dicipline and negotiating skills demonstrated with your wife. I’m sure you saved the Jeep and Eugene will now be around for the next 100 years. Hope to see it one day at a Jeep Rally. Join the clubs and keep it in use. Best to you, Eugene and your wife. Captain Scott
In 1963 my Dad myself and my younger brother purchased a 1951 Willys wagon like this one , we installed a Ford flat head v8 from a Mercury car 100+hp ,,put knooby tires on it painted it Light Blue and had a really decent runner , kinda miss the old girl !
In 1963 my Dad myself and my younger brother purchased a 1951 Willys wagon like this one , we installed a Ford flat head v8 from a Mercury car 100+hp ,,put knooby tires on it painted it Light Blue and had a really decent runner , kinda miss the old girl !
Hi very nice job and story!!! Im restoring one in Argentina. I really like the color you painted yours. Do you have a code for that color? Can you share it eith me. My email is s.martignone@gmail.com thank you very much
Hi very nice job and story!!! Im restoring one in Argentina. I really like the color you painted yours. Do you have a code for that color? Can you share it eith me. My email is s.martignone@gmail.com thank you very much