My Willys 3A and 3B Community

How To Join => Once You've Joined => Topic started by: RobT on February 18, 2014, 07:10:19 PM

Title: Hello from LI NY...
Post by: RobT on February 18, 2014, 07:10:19 PM: Hello All,
ï¿½ ï¿½ï¿½ I recently purchased a '53 cj3a (pictured below) from the estate of Ward Canaday.ï¿½ ï¿½Was never really into Jeeps but always loved and drove 4x4'sï¿½ Have been driving them since HS.
ï¿½ ï¿½ï¿½ A few years ago I picked up a '79 IH Scout and I love it!!! Its great for taking the family on the beach, has dana 44's front and rear and looks greatï¿½ My brother recently started looking for something and having a YJ, he began looking at Willys.
ï¿½ ï¿½ï¿½ After showing me the Canaday Jeep on Craigslist, he chose not to get it soooooo, I pounced and dragged him out to Toledo to pick it upï¿½ BIG MISTAKE on his part! A really nice 3A and WAS from the Canaday estate! Now I'm hooked :) It's gonna be a great project for my son and I.ï¿½ Wife seems to love it too (bonus).ï¿½ ï¿½:)
Title: Re: Hello from LI NY...
Post by: Matto on February 18, 2014, 08:00:32 PM: Welcome to the forum. That's a nice looking 3A. It looks like I can see the original drain hole in the tub and a passenger step too? Whereabouts on Long Island are you located? My wife and I are heading to Montauk this weekend to check out the old radar installation at Camp Hero.
Matt
Title: Re: Hello from LI NY...
Post by: F Bill on February 18, 2014, 08:30:02 PM: That is a piece of history right there....I'd be tempted to err on the side of preservation instead of a full restoration...Was the estate the actual last owner or has it already gone thru another owner since.??
It's only original once! And being owned previously by man known as the father of the jeep......priceless!

Here's a generic blurb about Mr. Canaday:

Ward Murphey Canaday, often known as the "father of the Jeep," was a longtime member of the Toledo community and a benefactor for the University of Toledo. Canaday, who was educated at Harvard University, began his career revolutionizing the kitchen cabinet industry, and created payment plans for cabinet purchases that he would later model his automobile credit plans after.

Canaday began his Willys Overland Company career in 1916, assuming the position of Advertising Director for the young, up- and-coming automobile company. Canaday would spend most of the next half century with Willys, helping the company establish the first automobile credit company and, later, rising to become Chairman of the Board and President of the company, in addition to resurrecting Willys Overland from bankruptcy in the early 1930's. One of the most important successes of Canadayï¿½s reign at Willys was the creation of the Willys MB, the vehicle that would later gain the moniker of Jeep. Canaday and Willys did their part in the World War II effort, designing and manufacturing the vehicle that would be called "America's greatest contribution to modern warfare" by General George C. Marshall.
Title: Re: Hello from LI NY...
Post by: garage gnome on February 18, 2014, 10:18:45 PM: Welcome! That jeep is pretty solid looking!
Title: Re: Hello from LI NY...
Post by: 1955CJ-5 on February 18, 2014, 11:17:40 PM: I like it! You can't spray that color from a paint gun!
Title: Re: Hello from LI NY...
Post by: Quebec Jeep on February 19, 2014, 08:16:31 AM: Welcome! Nice jeep. I would keep it like it.
Title: Re: Hello from LI NY...
Post by: RobT on February 19, 2014, 09:01:39 AM: Matt,
ï¿½ ï¿½ï¿½ I live in East Moriches (exit 61 on Sunrise Hwy).ï¿½ Enjoy Montauk! I love it there.ï¿½
ï¿½ ï¿½ï¿½ Thank for the input everyone.ï¿½ Ive been struggling with the decision to restore or preserve and if I chose preservation, how much do I preserve or do I just leave it as is?ï¿½ Not planning on doing anything anytime soon except work on the mechanics.ï¿½ However, I have been working on documentation and collecting other material to flesh out a binder proving its provenance.ï¿½

P.S Matt, if your in Montauk, you have to go to ENE (East by Northeast) for dinner! Fantastic sunsets and food!!!
Title: Re: Hello from LI NY...
Post by: BMIC on February 19, 2014, 12:31:12 PM: A Jeep and a Scout! Instant envy.....
FBill is correct, preserve what you have.
Title: Re: Hello from LI NY...
Post by: Kirkski on February 19, 2014, 05:05:26 PM: Welcome!
Title: Re: Hello from LI NY...
Post by: RobT on February 19, 2014, 06:38:39 PM: To F Bill,
ï¿½ ï¿½ï¿½ The Jeep had been stored on the estate in an out building and was last registered in 1980.ï¿½ Unfortunately, no paperwork to accompany the Jeep.ï¿½ Property was sold to another family who held it briefly and never touched the CJ.ï¿½ Then the property was sold again to the gentleman I bought it from. He never did anything with it either except have a mechanic get it working and sell it to meï¿½ï¿½ He did however give me a notarized letter of its history and I confirmed it with Canaday's grandson via email.ï¿½
Title: Re: Hello from LI NY...
Post by: SteveW on February 19, 2014, 08:36:16 PM: Neat history.