My story

really cool story...keep us posted on your progress.

Great story that brought back some fond memories.  Back in 1962, when I was 16 years old, I discovered a 1946, Harvard Red, CJ2A sitting among the repossessions behind the Citizens Bank of Aztec, New Mexico.  Much excited, I reported my finding to my uncle, who was raising me at the time.  He wondered out loud what the hell I needed an old Jeep for and asked me if I really thought I had enough money to buy it from the bank.  Ascertaining that I had $250.00 he said nothing more.

I checked on that Jeep everyday. About a week later, I was crestfallen when I discovered it was gone.  The bank manager would only tell me that somebody bought it, but he wouldn't say who.  When I went down to my uncle's shop after school, it was sitting in the bay.  The title laying in the seat had my name on it.  My uncle would never show me the bill of sale, but he said  he paid exactly $250.00.

During the next two years, I took that beautiful Jeep and proceeded to commit all the atrocities for which I now curse GD previous owners.  I threw away the oil bath air cleaner and put a breather with a paper element on the carb, I drilled holes and mounted spotlights, I had the local machinist turn the 16x4.5 rims into 14x7 rims. I pulled out one Go Devil and put another in because it "might" be newer.  I rolled it. tore off the the fenders and broke the outer windshield frame.   Then, I welded it all back together.  Then I painted it black and sold it for $450.00 because I wanted a '55 Chevy, 2 door hard top to take to college. 

My recent restoration of CJ2A #75863 was a feeble attempt to atone for my sins. Good luck with your project.  Restore it, treat it with tender loving care, and hold on to it.  Sounds like you have a swell dad.  Someday you can pass your granfather's Jeep on to your son.

I was 12 when the flatfender bug bit me. My dad had taken me to an auction and there was an old 46 2a there with a full metal hard top. This was around 1980, Dad said if that thing goes for more than $100 it's more than its worth. I think it went for around $263, needless to say it went with someone else. They took it home took the hard top off and thru it in the scrap pile. I remember seeing the jeep sitting there too with weeds grown up around it from not being used. Twenty years later, I find another Willys, my current 48, I had a full size Bronco with a bad transmission and the guy with the Willys wanted to trade. Needless to say I've got alot more than $100 in it. I had to wait twenty years for mine, but you've got all those years ahead of you, good luck with your jeep and have fun with it.

well since everyone else wants to relay their story...

I think I first saw my first flatfender when I was 10 or 11 and the guy had painted "watch for flying parts" on the tailgate.  That's when I first started playing with the idea of having a jeep.  unfortunately my parents weren't as supportive of my dreams and ambitions as some others might be.

I got to drive my first 2a when i was dating this lil redhead girl.  we went  to a family event of hers and her uncle fired something up in the shed out back.  From the smell I thought it was an old tractor, but when he backed out I about lost it. I was grinning from ear to ear and the gf at the time couldn't turn my attention.  Well, he drove the little green machine around for a little bit but got out complaining that the clutch was too tight.  I was eyeing it and he caught me.  Long story going to short I ended up carting all the kids in her family around  all afternoon in that jeep.

wanted one ever since and finally got one 4 years and couple gfs later.

Now she's apart, and I work without a garage in my spare time between school and work.

This one is for fun so I'm going with the buick 225 v6 swap in and the nightmare of extra's that entails

I'll restore one later

My story
Luke

oh yeah the new gf loves the old beast


Edited by russnj

Drifter  When you stated the "watch out for flying parts" it reminded me of a car last year at a shop.  The Kid , proud that he bought a car for 100.00, had that bumper sticker on the back of his car.  Just done repairing it himself,  He decided to drive it home.  Well  he started it and punched the acclerator a little and took off smiling.  Then there was a BANG.  I watched the drive shaft the transmission boot then the yoke and misc. parts falling off from under the car bouncing on the pavement as he rolled to a stop.  Just like on a cartoon.

Well i'm another youngin' with a CJ2A... I bought mine when I was 20 (now 21 whoopty doo) for $500 off a ranch that it had been on since the 60's. Luckily I got there to save it because the guy sold the ranch and already had the poor lil Willys on a flatbed headed for the scrap yard with the title rubber banded to the shift lever! Ofcourse the guts were pulled out of it and just sitting in the bed but amazingly everything was there... I just started putting everything together and amazingly the thing started after a couple hours of tinkering with the engine. I have had several classics before and still own a '71 TR6 but the Jeep has been the most fun by far. It still looks like I just pulled it outta the scrap yard but it's still fun to play with... it smokes and knocks a lil but it's got me and my friends through some serious stuff and when I can afford it i'm going to give it the frame up restoration it deserves. For right now i'm just happy that it was compressed into a cube!

 

It sure would help if they could talk to us though! lol... so far I know it came from Colorado originally then came to Texas where it found me.  

 

I also know that it's that burgundy "Luzon Red" color AND it's one of those rare 1949's too... talk about luck eh? Speaking of lucky... when I got the Jeep i noticed it had a huge hole cut in the hood... F head... but someone blew that motor up so I got the original style with it... i'll post the serial numbers later... maybe someone can tell me if it's the original.

 

Thanks for reading!

 

Chris Salisbury... '49 CJ2A aka "Ol' Scrappy"