This is generally a quiet time for the 3A/3B/DJ Page. No trail runs, gatherings or Willys Picnics this time of year. There are also less 'winter' Willys projects. Speaking for myself, I've grown far less tolerant of cold weather and cold garages.
Since it's quiet, I thought I would share the story of my first Willys Refurbishment. We didn't have a "Projects" page years ago, so I never really got a chance to tell the story.
It all started for me in 1991. My neighbor had an old jeep sitting in his yard when I moved into the neighborhood. He used it for hunting mostly, but as the years passed, I noticed that it never moved. He wasn't hunting anymore. He was getting older. I asked him a half dozen times to sell it to me. I really wanted that Jeep, but he couldn't let it go.
The years moved on. I eventually moved away. He passed away a few years ago. I don't know what happened to this Jeep, but since then, I've wanted one.
In 2010, my wife Rachel started getting a hankering for some kind of convertible. She was fixated on a Karmann Ghia. I threw up a ton of "red flags". The most common concerns were "We aren't rolling in cash." "I don't know how to fix/maintain a vehicle like that." Honestly, I had no idea how to fix or maintain any kind of vehicle. I could do the regular stuff like oil changes, filters, new batteries, etc., but that was it.
I needed to find a compromise with Rachel. Perhaps I could talk her into a Jeep? It's the ultimate convertible. It's 4 wheel drive, and I've wanted one since 1991. I suggested it, and to my surprise, she didn't scoff at the idea. In fact, she (not me) started to scan Craigslist for a Jeep. I didn't know she was looking for one. A few months had passed and I figured she had gotten beyond the desire for a convertible, but she hadn't. She showed me this...
So, the story begins...