Hi all,
I'm a petrolhead from the Netherlands with a love for old cars especially Jeeps and Alfa's. Though i only bought my first Jeep 3 years ago, for the last 20 years i have owned a 1969 Alfa Romeo GT1300 Junior Stepnose. At the moment it is in resto mode. In between i have owned several modern cars ranging from a little Fiat Uno, several Alfa Romeo 75's, or Milano's in the US. A Citroen a Mitsubishi Evo 8 and a 1999 Wrangler TJ 4.0
Now i only have the old Alfa Junior and 2 Jeeps left, a 2001 XJ and i sold the TJ and bought a 1952 CJ3a
Since the Alfa is in resto mode i really missed driving a classic car, attending classic car events and the smell of petrol mixed with oil. All the little quirks, the looks, the simple designs and engineering and that basic feel of driving, 4 Wheels, an engine, a gearbox and a steering wheel, no modern comforts just pure driving joy.
I'm an active member with the Dutch Jeep Club volunteering at events and guiding people with little to no experience with driving offroad during Jeep club events. People with brand new Jeeps straight from the dealership or people who have just bought an older model Jeep and want to find out what it can do.
I had a lot of fun with the TJ, it had a 5inch lift, lockers front and rear, 3 link rear axle, 33 muds not many places i could not get to. Although it was a Jeep, it was just a car, drive it, have fun, park and repair and forget, just not my cup of tea. Since i was a kid i have been in love with the Willys and always said i would own one some day. Well, now i do, i got a good offer on my TJ at exactly the right time since i spotted a nice little CJ3a that i just had to have.
So the same day i sold my TJ i went to look at it. I will admit i'n not the most rational wen i go and buy a car, i have bought the occasional bag of bolts blinded by the desire to own it
have'nt we all!?
Well this time i was able to control myself and first have a decent look at it. Engine was cold when i got there, was able to poke around for any hidden rust with a pocketknife, feel the wheels for play, steering, suspension. The engine fired right up, half pull on the choke two taps on the gaspedal and fired up on the second stroke.
Went for a ride with the owner while he told me about the Jeep, how he had used it and how he restored it with his father back in 1989. Half way through the ride we shook hands and went to the postoffice to register the car to my name and transfer the money
That was about a 2 mile trip
I went there with a friend without a trailer and i had so much confidence in the CJ3a i drove it home a good 150 miles (my friend calling me a nutcase for driving a 63 year old car i just bought, knew barely anything about home over such a distance )
It was the best ride of my life so far. Stayed to the backroads and the little CJ3 never let me down once. Brakes were fine (well at least for the things they put under there to pass as brakes
) no play in the steering, no dreaded shimming, no pulling to either side under braking. Only thing that came up, mind you for the last 20 years it had not driven more ten 15 miles in a day, was the clutch made a whinning noise sometimes when shifting and it would not go into gear. releasing the clutch and the sound dissapeared immediatly and it shifted very well and supple again.
The other thing is the exhaust manifol cracked, i suspect it already had a small crack and the long and hot ride home (It was around 35 degrees that day) made it crack further. Got hit by a torrential rainstorm, could not see the end of the hood, but the little CJ3 went on like a champ. There is no better way to get to know your car during a long drive. I was wet through and through but a big smile never left my face the entire trip home
It was great.
The former owner had used the CJ3a on his farm, for small trips inspecting his crops, some fence work or to get some hay for the horses. AL this time he took very good care of it and kept it clean and rustfree. It could not have wished for a better owner all that time.
So a bit of background on the Jeep before the pics. It is one of a few CJ3a's purchased by the Dutch army in the 1950's. It was customized to be used as a snowplough for airfields. They put a Ford V8 in the back, put the driveshaft stright through the windshield frame right next to the driver to power the plough. They also fitted an extra low gear that could be engaged in 4x2 on the back wheels or atop of the standard low gear. This was used in heavy snow to allow the plough enough time to spinup and throw the snow. It really moves at a snails pace when put into that low-low gear. Afterwards it was used by the Dutch government Department for roads before it was sold to a military vehicle wholesale company. The person i bought it from purchased it there in 1970, used it untill he restored it in 1989 and kept on using it on his farm. So I am now the second private owner
quite unique i think.
I have already taken of the manifolds and ordered NOS ones, same for the clutch assembly. I will replace everything i can when the clutch is out. Seal, bearing, carrier, pressureplate, clutchdisc etc.
So long story, now what you have all been waiting for:
lol ran out of characters
