The Official Voting Booth on the CJ-3B Bulletin Board selected Entry 14 "Yard Truck" as the most "Pathetic, Dilapidated CJ-3B" in our photo contest. Winner Tom Sando received a Willys shoulder patch, and his Jeep was featured on the 2008 April Fools Day cover of CJ3B.info.
Eric Thompson in Hollis Center, Maine admits his grandfather's 1953 CJ-3B is "Not very dilapidated, but figured I would submit it anyway."
OK, sure; there's more than one thing that can make a Jeep look pathetic, and we're happy to have that funky wooden roof included here with the other very interesting tops on some of our entries. See also the interior view (140K JPEG).
Eric mentions that, "My Dad (Gene) and I have been painstakingly re-building his father's Jeep and are very near completion." He also has some interesting stories from this 3B's younger days, and I think you might see a feature on CJ3B.info when the restoration is done.
Mike Metzger of Bethlehem PA has another one of those stories that keeps the rest of us hoping: "This 1958 model was sitting in the yard of a local contractor I had been working with as a client. I kept my eye on it for several years until I needed parts to finish the restoration of my 1957 CJ-3B. I casually asked him if I could buy it. 'I won't sell it to you!' he shot back. Oh well, I thought. He quickly added, 'You can have it!' I was glad to give him 50 bucks when I picked it up. It is the ubiquitous snowplow hunting camp jeep found around here, with Flintstones floor and numerous drilled holes, but is fairly complete and original."
See a side view photo (210K JPEG)
Tom Sando says, "I knew a guy that bought a Jeep in the local Trader for $500.00. He told me about it and it sounded pretty cool! Said there wasn't much left of it but it sure pushes a lot of snow. That always stuck in my mind on having a yard truck. Over the years I tried a few but never got them running. So two Decembers ago I asked him, do you still have that jeep? Said yes, it's going to the scrap yard soon, make me a offer. So the boy and I went over there on the weekend and asked to see it. He said it's in the grove. So we went to look at it and it wasn't much. I saw yardy, go-cart, etc. My boy asked me, Dad what do you want this piece of junk for? I said, I'm trying to buy it for 50 dollars. With a gleam on his face he said, 50 bucks! BUY it! Well, he would only take 100.
"Brought it home, people thought I was nuts. I just told them that I bought it just for the plow. Then they thought it was OK! I started to see if I could get spark. I got it and it's been fun every since. I brought it back from the dead! I went so far as to try to make it road legal -- still have the rear fenders to go. I drove around 30 mile radius from my home and still have to see a cop to see how really legal I am! Driven about 500 miles last summer!"
Pathetic? To a lot of people. Dilapidated? In a lot of ways! Last Place Loser? No way. I would rather drive my CJ-3B around the country block than my high priced ATV. Who cares what people think!"
See also the front and rear views (40K JPEGs).
Chris "Copperswilly" Reinthaler has this story: "I drove up to New York to buy this 1953 CJ-3B beauty from Mr. Oakes, so I could finish resurrecting my '54 which used to be a United Airlines conveyer Jeep and pretty dilapidated herself. When we arrived at the farm where this 3B was sitting, I was a little shocked at how stripped she was. It looked like a junkyard relic waiting on a new life. Along with the help of the farmer and Mr. Oakes, I managed to roll her up on a trailer with the help of a trailer axle chained in place for the front wheels, and a farm tractor as the pusher (50K JPEG). The Jeep took on somewhat of a happy look being moved.
"On our trip back to Baltimore we had a lot of looks and a couple emergencies, like a ratchet strap holding down the top coming loose and allowing the top to start levitating on the highway. And the longer we drove the more air leaked from the trailer axle tires, allowing the main strap holding the Jeep on the trailer to get loose, giving the little Jeep room to move around. When we made it home and the venture was over, the Jeep's dash, cowl and firewall were removed and installed on my '54. The top was sold to a fellow looking to warm his 3B ride up, and the frame went to a guy building a 3B; all in all that little Jeep still lives."
Bob Radzai in Pennsylvania writes: "I would like to enter my tired old 3B in the competition. A lady farrier who trims our horses' feet heard me say that I'd like an old Jeep to work on. She said there was one on her property that her late husband enjoyed before he died. She didn't want it scrapped so she said 'Jerry would want you to have it.'
"I couldn't just take it for nothing so I gave her a couple of hundred for it (she resisted.) I was happy to get a new toy to play with and to help her out a little. The engine was frozen and the body shot. I now have a new repro body on the frame and another engine from another 3B and hope to get her roadworthy by this spring."
Check the diamondplate on the frame (right), also the interesting cover for the cargo bed (200K JPEG) in the rear and the interior (200K JPEG).
Paul Rundel in Perth, Australia has another entry for us, and this one belongs to him. He says, "This 1958 Jeep was located inland from Sydney and transported almost 5,000 km across to west coast Perth. On arrival, the perils of an 'internet purchase' were more than evident, with the body neatly wrapped around all four wheels! The whole floor pan was non-existent with firewall and cowl the only recoverable body items (130K JPEG).
"Remainder of the Jeep was exceptionally complete, right down to original canvas top. The Jeep appears to have been ex-RAAF, based on lifting lugs (rear), extra dash gauges, and spare wheel which was originally located off the tailgate (tailgate rust and weathering had rendered this mount useless) with the spare wheel bracket then 'neatly' welded to the left rear (120K JPEG) as per original.
"Although a long term project, the restoration is progressing well with the main objective being the use of original parts and body sections rather than a repro unit; two original bodies having been scavenged with a good solid unit now ready for painting and completion."
Dave Fedor in Edmonton, Alberta, Canada writes, "Thought I'd throw my 3B into the ring for the Dilapidated 3B Contest. It was a gift from a good friend who kept the original axles for spares for his early CJ-6, and the frame was too busted up to keep or save. Not too much is left of it (see the dash, 40K JPEG); mostly a rusted-out tub and a somewhat decent front end and windshield frame. I loaded it up in my '52 Willys truck (120K JPEG) for the ride home.
"The serial no. is 57348 74942, which would make it a '61, and it was last registered in Saskatchewan. I think somebody bought it to rebuild, then sandblasted the tub and frame and realized how much work it would be.Seeing how I'm not overly endowed with common sense, I'm going to rebuild it for my daughter to drive when she's 16. (She's currently 2 days old so I should have enuff time.) I've since aquired a good frame and running gear; plan is to rebuild that then start on the body."
Update! See Dave's Jeep now on the road in 2014 -- Dilapidated No More.
Paul Rundel in Perth, Australia simply says, "Attached are a couple of pictures of a 1958 right-hand-drive CJ-3B I saw in Northern Queensland (serial no. 57348 45125). The vehicle was actually very complete and apparently heading to a new home for complete restoration."
See also the photos from the right side and the rear view (70K JPEGs).
Steven Alheim in New York comments, "I found this 'gem' on the internet in a forum. After contacting the guy, I drove 2 hours with a trailer to go look at it and make an offer. Well, I gave it the once over, but much to my disappointment, the little '53 flattie was pretty beat. From the firewall back the body looks like a frag grenade hit it. The rear crossmember was totally gone, and the body was actually folding over on itself! The driver's side floor (110K JPEG) was weak with a large hole in it, so if you wanted to push the pedals, you had to hold your foot in the air, yet I bet the air flow kept the driver cool. The gas tank wasn't original, but was strapped through the body (swiss cheese, remember) to the frame with a rubber hose going out to the engine. You can see the tires, exhaust, brakes, etc. right through the floor! Inspections are soooo easy.
"The engine (110K JPEG) started up after a few tries, but it didn't want to stay that way. The wiring was pretty shot too, crumbling and scary.I drove home, but thought about it the whole way. I decided to make an offer anyway. It was A JEEP! A few days later I was on my way back down to bring 'er home. I hid it in the garage for 3 weeks before the wife found it, but I told her she followed me home and I need to take care of her. The reply was, 'As long as the neighbors can't see that thing.'
"Everything leaks. Even the seats. But she's beautiful to me. At least I hope she will be."
"My name is Manuel Castro. I am from Spain and I found this 1966 M606 (CJ-3B) in a junkyard. It was ready to go to the mechanical saw but I saved it." (Editor's note: Spanish junkyards are a great source of dilaidated CJ-3Bs; see Roberto Flores' 1991 photo.)
"I have a lot of work to do to put it again on the road. The Jeep has most of its components and parts, except the canvas and the seats (110K JPEG), the carburetor (120K JPEG) which is missing! The exhaust is missing too, and the exhaust manifold was broken in two. But after more than 20 years in the junkjard, the Jeep is not in very bad condition; maybe this won't help me to be the Great Loser, ha ha!
"The engine almost turns without problem, and the exhaust valves are fine. (I could see them by the left window under the exhaust manifold). The axles are fine too, with some cleaning and painting. The worst areas are the body, the tailgate (missing too!) and the steps. I will send more pics after the restoration.
Darcy McQuillan of Sylvan Lake, Alberta, says, "I found her on a second hand car lot, tucked away at the back one day after she arrived. Seeing as my wife had not divorced me yet, I figured I would give it another try. All I knew was that it was a 'flattie.' Seems the owner just bought it and was going to get her going and use it as a hunting rig. I was scared he was going to drive it into the bush and burn it. I was hoping to find an overdrive, but looking underneath, I couldn't see one. And unfortunately after 30 minutes of picking away the layers of cow dung and soil so I could actually see the transfer case and tranny, there wasn't one there either. The serial number 29684 (the only visible identification so far) is on the frame, making this either a '54 or a '56 CJ-3B.
"The passenger side below the door is almost completely eaten away. I took off that panel on the driver's side, and I found more rust (50K JPEG). The tailgate consisted of 2x8's, with a rollbar that only its mother could love. The steering wheel is a Chevy, and The passenger seat fell off when it tipped forward, as the weld on the gate hinge on the bottom of it broke. The fuel tank cap opening could probably dock in-flight with a Boeing 747 nozzle. Surprisingly, the tool box under the passenger seat is in fairly good shape.
"The leaky carb from the Chevy 350 transplant (160K JPEG) had been removed, and was sitting on the front bumper, next to the scary battery tray. There was a garbage bag over the intake manifold to keep water out, but unfortunately there was a towel shoved into the barrels. That acted as a wick and sucked water in, rusting out the intake. The steering box looks like it was welded by something without opposable thumbs using batteries for power and tie rod separators for welding rods. To fit the 350 engine in they cut out one of the dash supports from the engine bay. The firewall gives new meaning to the words 'air conditioned.' It needs a lot of work and love, and there is nothing that is going to be quick about this project."
Note: Darcy has thoroughly documented the "before" -- he has 250 detail photos posted online.
Don Norris in North Carolina says, "As best as I can tell, and from what Brent who sold it to me said, it's a 1954. The serial number tag is missing. There is a United Airlines property tag, with wings, on the dash. It was used by the airline to carry a conveyor belt for loading baggage (see Building Conveyor Belt CJ-3Bs on CJ3B.info.)
"I originally bought this Willys to chop a few body parts off to fix up the current project in my shop, but... I didn't have the heart to scrap this old workhorse. Although it's just sitting right now, it is not completely forgotten. I plan to get it running and find a home for it with another CJ-3B nut like us. The engine was free when I got it but neglect has taken its toll and it's frozen. I loaded the cylinders with oil to stop any more damage and will keep working to free it up. The brake pedal goes to the floor, the clutch pedal will stick part way down, and the steering is... well, besides the column being shoved two inches to the left at the dash support, let's just say the rest of the steering needs work."
"The basic body is sound, but as you can tell from the photos, a few parts are missing: the hunk of hood, half the cowl, the gas tank in the rear cargo area will have to go, the top of one wheel well is chopped off and the tailgate is missing. The transmission lever with its unusual bends needs to be replaced. One of the transfer case levers is bent down to the floor. The front bumper is pulled half off, while the rear bumper has huge hunks of steel welded to it (230K JPEG). Also notice the large steel braces exiting from under the body in front of the rear wheel well that helped support the conveyor assembly (see a left side view, 250K JPEG.)
"Well, there it is -- it don't run, it can't fly, it won't roll, but it sure ain't gonna go to the junkyard."
"My name is Patrick Watters. I live in Raleigh NC, and my Jeep is in Wilmington NC where my dad lives. It is a 1960 3B that my dad gave me to rebuild a few years back. Originally this was a U.S. Dept. of Agriculture Jeep that my dad acquired 20 years ago for use as a 'wheelbarrow.' The previous owner used it as a beach buggy and apparently never rinsed it off, so the body is in sad shape and the suspension system is in bad shape (especially on the driver's side, 90K JPEG.) The frame and most of the mechanical features are not too bad considering the abuse it endured.
"From the interior (170K JPEG) look close and you can see the ground.... So far I have rebuilt the frame (lots and lots of work that was!), transfer case, transmission, and I'm finishing the engine... maybe next weekend. With a little luck and a suitable bank loan, I will finish my 3B sometime this summer.
"That's it. May the best... I mean worst... Jeep win!"
Jean-Francois Lavie in France submitted this one: "Here is a Hotckiss JH102-type CJ-3B that I bought on eBay. Be reassured I had seen the picture before I bought it!
"The engine is actually very good -- I got the papers with it. You can see on the JH102 the engine was a flathead -- also the gear train was a copy of the WWII Willys. The axles on this one were largely worn out -- the rear beyond repair.
"How is the car now? Well, I finished stripping it apart and I plan to rebuild it using leftovers from other projects. In the meantime the grille (120K JPEG) has ended up as an ornament in my garage, overlooking my Rover V8 CJ-3B.
Patrick McIntyre sent in these photos taken by Roy Ginn.
Roy says, "Here's a 3B we found near Portage du Fort, Quebec. Mechanically good but the body has fallen apart. He wants $1,000.00 for it because his neighbour down the road sold a Jeep for that much last year with a bad engine.
"It seems to have solid seat frames (80K JPEG) as you can see in the pics."
See also a photo of the engine (80K JPEG).
"My name is John Parasiliti and I recently moved from Belleville, Ontario to Chilliwack, British Columbia. My new neighbour here in BC has an old military Jeep and we have been cruising the forest access roads up to the top of mountains (amazing.) Anyway I got hooked on these old Jeeps and found this one. It has no engine. I have a box of rusty transmission parts all disassembled, and a disassembled transfer case. I will be shopping for a motor to rebuild.
"I believe it must have had an 8-cylinder -- look what they did to the firewall (150K JPEG). There is also welded-on checker plate and a glove box in the dash that I thought was factory until I found CJ3B.info. I have 2 gas tanks -- one under the seat and one in the back. I removed the tub (150K JPEG) myself, using some wood to slide it off."
Thanks to Ken and the photographers. -- Derek Redmond
Also on CJ3B.info, see Found Along the Roadside.
Return to the Index of Unusual Photos on CJ3B.info.
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