New to the forum and I just picked up a 1950 CJ-3A from a local. Its rough but I think restorable and I'm excited about it as a project. It has a running Chevy 283 V8 small block in it (but I think I may take it back to a Go-Devil if I can). I've only begun to clean it out and start to take it apart but I've already found some interesting odds and ends that will be part of its final story. The plates on it haven't been updated since 88 and are vintage WA state TRK plate from 63. I know the vehicle was "converted" or road registered/titled and given a vin for road usage in 1973 (so assuming farm/agrijeep before this? as i don't think vin's existed in 1950... but it has a CJ-3A serial number on the firewall) and spent the first half of it's life in Yakima Washington.
The steering column and gear box (mounted on the bumper) are out of a pontiac
as are the seats (which are already going to the dump). The original seat frames have had the backs cut off but are mounted to the bottom of the installed pontiac seats.
No breaks, no electrical wiring - but the drive train is all in great shape as far as I can tell. Rust is surface level and mostly superficial, frame is straight and it rolls smoothly.
I'm pretty sure the original color was Luzon red, but it's been painted yellow, and possibly cream as well and the interior has all spray in bed-liner (which I actually appreciate and will likely do again).
I haven't played with a Jeep in a long time - getting a project Jeep has been on my christmas list for years now. But as a kid in Oklahoma I used to have a 71 Jeepster Commando (which I loved and hated at the same time... so many stories... so many breakdowns). Needless to say, it was time and this one made its way to my garage so easily, I think it was meant to be.
Here's some pics of it at the start of it's new life.
