How did it all start with you?

Sounds like Carl and I are the old-timers here. I was born in 1940 and as he mentioned, during and right after WWII, Jeeps were like an icon. And Jeep toys (and other military things) were pretty popular. When I was about 7, a neighbor on my parents street had a little wood shed, and in the shed was a bandsaw - which I thought was the most amazing tool. One day, he asked if I wanted him to make me something and I said "a Jeep!" So, he picked up a piece of 2"x4" (which then was really two inches by four inches) and in about 20 seconds cut out a Jeep from it. I was amazed. I've loved them ever since. A few weeks back, my 3-year old grandson was with us and he wanted to make something with me in the shop. He wanted a Jeep. So, like the one my neighbor made me 65 years ago, I made him one from a 2" x 4". When I drew the wheels on it (right) he said "those aren't wheels, Popop, they don't turn." So I made him another with wheels that turn (left). Aside from bringing a tear to my eye, I think I planted in my grandson's mind what my neighbor planted in mine. ... R 

Edited by JeepRoger - 15 Apr. 2012 at 6:00am

Growing up in Arizona, I remember dad would pile us kids into his '56 CJ-5 and head to the desert just about every weekend. We explored countless trails, old mining camps, ghost towns, and that jeep never failed us. I was always amazed at how effortlessly that cj would tackle the rough stuff.

Hey Damar2yxr

It all started for me at the Jeep races in Lisbon, Ohio. I fell in love with the "Little Red Racer"," a CJ3b painted red. The owner was very cool and let me drive his tractor around the race grounds and mow some grass with it. I also read "The year of the Jeep," why have they never made a movie? Anyway, flash forward many, many years and I found my 3b as a plow vehicle at a body shop. Bought it, spent 2 years plus restoring it. The results can be seen on the front of the current 4WD hardware vintage catalog, and in the 2013 "7 slot classics" jeep calendar!

In my story, I'm older than many of you when I caught the bug.  An old guy that lived next door to me in 1990 had an old Jeep he would use for hunting.  It almost never moved from its parking spot. I really like it.  I asked him to sell it to me numerous times.  He always refused.  I liked that Jeep...but he loved it.

HOW DOES IT START> i want to know how to stop it .drug a 48 illys truck home today . Thats 8 in the yard now. truck has 25800 miles on it  . 4wd  column shift . last driven in 1980 then parked until today when I brought it home . L front wheel locked op  but motor is free

It started with TV for me-first, "Nellybelle" on 'Roy Rogers', and then the 'Rat Patrol'. I just always wanted a Jeep since then.

X2!!!!!!
Boy, did I wear out a bunch of knees in jeans shoving my toy Jeep around watching those shows!

In my earliest memories my dads everyday vehicle was a jeep.  We lived in Brownsville, Tx. and spent nearly every weekend in the summers staying in a beach house behind the dunes on Boca Chica beach near the mouth of the Rio Grande river.  The jeep was the only way to get to the house.  Somewhere in old photos there is a pic of me when I was about 6 years old, sitting behind the wheel of that jeep parked on the side of a sand dune.  When I was 12 that house burned down and about the same time dad got an old scout, but we still had beach trips. 

Then when I was in high school he bought another jeep from the Civil Air Patrol.  An M-38.  It needed work so he bought another M-38 for parts.  I made a project of moving the good body on one to the good engine/frame on the other.  40 years later I still have that jeep. 

As teenagers my siblings and I spent many hours playing on the beach with that jeep.  I'm amazed that it didn't rust down into a lump, although we used to spray the underside with used engine oil as an undercoating.  Maybe that helped?  Maybe the thick layers of paint on it has helped too?  I know I've put at least 4 layers of paint on it myself over the years.  Nothing real pretty.  One of those was left over epoxy paint from painting dads chevron service station.  It is a more appropriate color now. 

I didn't ever really get into the history of the jeeps and restoring them until about 3 years ago when my brother got his jeep and we began restoring it.  Since then I've learned a lot, mostly from these forums.  I now have another jeep.  A 52 M38A1 that I have torn down to the frame and I'm restoring it.  When I finish it I plan on taking my old faithful jeep apart and restoring it. 

Mechanically it has been very solid all these years.  I have had to do normal maintenance on it though.  Water pump, steering knuckles, u-joints.  Stuff like that.  I'm sure that I'll find more holes than I want to under all that paint.  I know the floor of the tool box is getting some holes in it.   There are some small holes around the rear corners and on the sides too.  Nothing too serious yet, though.  I'd really like to get it fixed up before it gets too serious.  I'm having to replace floors on the A1 I'm working on and I don't want to let Old Faithful get that bad.