Went to the car show today

[4.3LXJ]

Every year they have a car show in the park within walking distance from my house. Of course there are street rods there, but every year Jeeps are represented. But this year, gone were the FC150 from two doors down from the park and the 42 MB in original condition, purchased in one of those now famous government 500 Jeep sales, with trailer I might add. But there were some interesting Jeeps represented. First was this CJ2A



Not only was it too shiny and too tall to wheel, but was sporting D60s. Not many people know this, but Willys was another small car company prior to WWII. Car production was shut down during the war. So when the war was over, Ford who had also made the GPW (MB) Jeep went back to what they knew best, making cars. Willys on the other hand decided to get into markets they had not been in. So the Civilian Jeep 2A was born. Essentially a WWII Jeep with an updated grill, windshield, tailgate and a D44 rear end. It also had capability from the factory to be a farm vehicle. The off road industry had not really been born yet. The little Jeeps were competing with Dodge and their Power Wagon in this area. You could get the Jeep with a plow, side cutter for hay, post hole digger etc. It was available with not one, but two PTOs available on the transfer case. It also had a heavy duty rear end, get this a Dana 51. And here we are with our D35s

They also ventured into another area, the sports car. After the war, America's love affair with the convertible top had not been born yet. In prior years, a convertible top meant you had bad weather inside as well as out because the majority of them did not have side windows. So the Jeepster was born, a sporty convertible with roll up side windows in a Jeep tradition and a convertible top. Here is a 47 that was immaculately restored. Here you go Wayne.





Another area Willys entered into was the station wagon. The Jeep Station Wagon was born. It came in both 2 and 4WD models, the 4WD being just a grown up CJ2A with the same running gear, only wider and longer. Here is a 2WD model that was nicely done for the show.







Here is the 4WD model



These models were available until Willys sold the Jeep brand to Kaiser and the full size Wagoneer was born. From there it is history for us, as the XJ and then the ZJ were evolved from these early models.

[cantab27]

wow love that there jeepster soft top,,, see me in that ,,,they see me rollin i am jeepster.... nice pics steve ,,
cheers mate

[alwaysxj]

I want that 44, and it is stil a jeep. I must have one. thanks for sharing.