Reunited with my Willys CJ-2A After 34 Years

While living in Bucks County Pennsylvania I was out for a drive one day and happened to see a red 1948 Willys Jeep CJ-2A. My interest was instantly tweaked so I stopped and discovered that it ran! Since my son and I were involved in the Boy Scouts and took many camping trips, I thought I’d found the perfect vehicle for our scouting functions as well as a vehicle to have some fun with. So on that sunny day in 1967, I paid $800.00 and became the proud owner of my first Jeep. In 1981 I’d decided to downsize and sold the Willys to a friend who lived in rural upstate Pennsylvania. He didn’t do any work to it and ran it until 1986 at which time he parked it. There it sat for 26 years in the coal region of Pennsylvania. In 2012 my son contacted the Buyer from 1981 and offered to buy the Willys back sight unseen. My son drove to upstate Pennsylvania to find the Willys sitting uncovered in a pole barn, having been exposed for 26 years to the elements. He found all 4 tires (which were the Firestone Mud & Snow Studded tires that I put on it in 1967) flat which meant that it had to be winched onto a flatbed trailer. It then took a 20 hour ride to Jacksonville, Florida. I had no idea what my son was up to, so you can imagine how I felt seeing my Willys pull into my driveway after so many years. My son got out of the truck and said, “Happy Birthday, Dad!” As soon as I recovered from the initial surprise, I began thinking of “restoration”. This restoration began with a frame off, complete running gear inspection and replacement where parts were necessary. Every professional car show that my Willys has been entered in we have taken home a trophy or citation. This is my “new old” or “old new” 1948 Willys Jeep CJ-2A.

Willys Jeep Life Story – Albert Wagner Jr.