The story behind my Jeep is a time-old classic one. I’m a fifteen year old boy, and this is my first vehicle, a milestone in my life. My Jeep is a 1966 CJ-5 that has 36,000 original miles that came with an original snow plow. All my life I’ve grown up hearing stories from my father, my grandfather, and my uncle recall their first vehicle when nothing else mattered but having a full tank of gas and a pretty girl to ride shotgun. When other people look at my Jeep, they see a beat up old clunker on wheels. But when I look at it, I see future rides with my friends and the countless troubles we will get in. I see the hours my dad and I will put into fixing it; we’ve already purchased new tires, a transmission, and a new glove box. I see the hours of sweat I’ve put in picking up extra jobs to buy the new parts so one day, it will be fully restored. I see myself one day in twenty years recalling with a misty eyed fondness to my own children about all the memories I will make in this Jeep.
Kaiser Willys Jeep Blog Story – Ronald Rhode
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Loved your story, matter or fact it reminds me alot of myself. I just turned fifteen and last month i drove 8 hours away to kennesaw GA to buy my very first ’74 cj5 with a 304 v8. had to put new camshaft gear that meats distri butor and carb but i dont regret a bit of it. Love it do death and plan on having most of my life. Maybe i can write a story on it for future jeepers! stay safe!
Cole Porter
South Alabama
Thanks everyone for the positive reinforcement I do plan on keeping it for years to come especially thanks to your comments
Good Luck Everyone
My 1st Jeep was a 66 CJ5. The only thing I have ever regretted about it was letting my wife talk me into selling it. Enjoy it all the work will be well worth it.
Ron,
I can also relate to your story. When I was a teenager, I had a widowed neighbor who couldn’t drive. She had a ’57 CJ5 with a fiberglass top that belonged to her late husband. She would have me use the CJ5 to run errands for her. I was also allowed to run around in it if I wanted, which I never abused.
Thanks for bringing back the memories. I now have a ’45 CJ2A that’s been with me for 22 years. It’s a hoot to drive & enjoy.
Happy Trails!
Ron, your CJ looks a lot like mine. Metal cab , red color and plow. I could ditto your comments.
Would like to compare notes. Shawn
Ronald,
I really enjoyed reading your article. Congratulations on your new ride! I for one wish I would have put my new ride in the garage and kept it for later in life. I now have a 1973 CJ5that my wife loves to drive and I have my 1956 Willys Pickup (lifelong dream) at the painters. I hope to put my Truck on here when I finally finish her, hopefully this fall. Keep on Jeeping and be safe with your ride, Allen Klark,
Ronald,
You mentioned a new glove box for your beloved CJ-5. Someone used to make them out of plastic that screwed right in. For one I had we laid out the dimensions on a galvanized piece of sheet meal- about 20 gage. Folded it and and pop riveted it together. Brother glued some felt to the inside, and it worked so well I transferred it to a utility wagon I owned at a later date. With this way of constructing a glove box you can also make it bigger or wider than original and install it by loosening the dashboard and pivoting it forward. The original boxes were only cardboard of some type and this would be much stronger. My first Jeep was a CJ-2A and I liked it as much as you do yours.
Dave Jones
Ron,
I can relate I was also 15 when I got a 1965 CJ5 worked on it until I tuned 16 registered it and was earning mony plowing driveways and parking lot. When I read this it brought back great memories. I just bought a 1961 CJ5 last summer and have been enjoying the ride.
Thank you for putting a smile on my face today
All The Best