Jeep Willys MB Water Fording Kit

Willys MB MX-735 Waterproof Kit, a photo by lee.ekstrom on Flickr.

Original art for the Willys-Overland Water Fording Kit. Currently selling on eBay for a buy now price of $1,999.

According to cj3a.com it looks like the kit is a MX-735 Waterproofing Kit: "This kit was designed for the Navy and supplied by Willys-Overland for use on Marine Corps CVD radio jeeps. The kit also fit on the G503, W.W.II jeeps. It consisted of numerous parts to be installed on the jeep to make it waterproof. Everything from a new dipstick to a new speedometer were included in the kit. The distributor was replaced with a waterproof metal clad unit. The spark plugs and wires changed to waterproof "aircraft" type. A waterproof Carter YS carburetor replaced the standard WO carburetor. Fittings and vent lines were included to allow an atmospheric vent system to be attached to the transfer case, master cylinder and fuel tank. Two valves activated by a control on the dash allowed the engine crankcase to be naturally pressurized slightly while fording. The electrical system was upgraded with waterproof generator, regulator, starter, switches, horn and wiring. This must have taken a considerable amount of time to install, but when completed, the jeep was always ready to ford, unlike the earlier WV-6 kit."

True Craftsmanship - Wooden Jeep 4x4

Wooden Jeep museum exhibit, a photo by Spottedlaurel on Flickr.

Check out this wonderful wooden flat-fender Jeep found in a Museum on holiday by photographer Spottendlaurel. The photographer added this fine shot to my Museum Jeep Group on Flickr. According to Spottendlaurel, "There was a ruined Chateau just outside the village near where we stayed, and in one of the beautifully refurbished buildings there was a museum full of life-size things made from wood. F1 car, tractor, motorbikes, all sorts of things. The bonnet lifted up on this to show a wooden engine inside." Talk about craftsmanship - this is rich!

1942 Jeep CJ-2A Hot Wheels Art

Love this piece of art from Hot Wheels.

This Custom 1942 Jeep CJ-2A featured a roll bar, a parachute, a blown V8 engine, and rear paddle tires. According to Hot Wheels this Jeep® 4x4 "eats up the competition like a ham sandwich."

Jeep Converted to Ambulance - Navy Art

Jeep Converted to Ambulance - Navy Art, a photo by lee.ekstrom on Flickr.

Recruiting poster of World War II.

One of the great innovations of the war, the pug-nosed, pugnacious Jeep 4x4, reveals a softer side of its nature as it becomes an ambulance on the Bougainville jungle front.

Though often painfully jolting to the wounded on its journey through the twisted trails of the jungle, the Willys MB Jeep vehicle at least gets the casualties away from the firing lines speedily.

Plasma transfusions are sometimes given en route, despite the rocky motion.

Kerr Eby #43
Pastel drawing, 1943
Gift of Abbott Laboratories
88-159-EA
Uploaded on Flickr by Lee Ekstrom

2005 Jeep Gladiator Brochure

2005 Jeep Gladiator Brochure 1 of 2
Originally uploaded by lee.ekstrom

The 2005 Jeep Gladiator Concept Vehicle seems to be making its way back in the press again. In January, Chrysler Group CEO Sergio Marchionne said the Jeep brand would be releasing a "multipurpose" vehicle that will have a pickup-like bed in the back. That kind of jives with this flyer.

My art director partner, Dennis Outlaw and I created this 2005 Auto Show Brochure when we worked at BBDO Detroit on the Jeep Creative team.

SO UNIQUE, IT DEMANDED A CATEGORY ALL ITS OWN.
When we produced this flyer in 2005, we were tasked to keep the Gladiator out of the truck category - ultimately calling it a "Flexible Utility Truck."Thankfully this last line may hold true:

This authentic statement of Jeep brand heritage is but a glimpse of the direction the brand could go in the near future.

No comment on the word "near." The Gladiator Concept Vehicle relied heavily on the Wrangler front grille. An integrated front recovery winch was a nice touch. We'll have to see how closely it lines up with the real thing once it launches later this year.
The new multipurpose exotic Jeep (sort-of pick-truck) 4x4 will most likely be sold internationally as well.Copy from the flyer:

A category all its own - the Jeep® Gladiator concept vehicle is the first "Flexible Utility Truck," a mid-size alternate with a max-size appetite for more. Go ahead, get a second helping. With Gladiator's expandable bed you can stretch from 5'8" to 6'8" to 8'11" in a matter of minutes. You never know when an extra foot of truck-bed space will come in handy. A dent-resistant Durabed Bedliner and multiple tie-down help tether gear should you be trailering an F5 twister.

A trick driver-side rear-seat access hatch allows for easy retrieval of stowed gear. Under the side-mounted spare is a bottle jack stored in a military-style watertight box.

Peel back the canvas top partially, or remove it completely, for a huge sky/moon/star roof. Hauling a 4'x8' drywall in a mid-size? Sure! Gladiator's rear-seat stows away beneath the truck bed, and a slide-down rear glass and lowered tailgate instantly reward the user with over 8'11" of bragging rights.

Key Features of the Jeep Gladiator Concept Vehicle:

• Powerful 2.8L I-4 Turbo Diesel engine (295 lb-ft of torque / 163 hp)
• Heavy-duty 6-speed manual transmission
• Trail Rated® Capability
• Proven Command-Trac® 4x4 system
• Exposed hood latches / door handles
• Armour Green Metallic paint
• Integrated front recovery winch
• Goodyear 265/75R18 (33-inch tall) tires
• 18x8-inch cast-aluminum polished wheels
• Super-tough front / rear solid axles
• Suspension: 4-link front coil and 5-link rear with dual coils (includes separate ride and load coils)
• Bed length - 5'8"
• Midgate forward - 6'8"
• Expanded with tailgate down (min) - 8'11"
• Open fenders / extra-wide rear fenders
• Passenger-side rear door (opens a full 180 degrees)

The strategically placed side-mounted spare tire is all about utility, ultimate use of rear bed space, and uber coolness.

Copy: Lee Ekstrom
Art Direction: Dennis Outlaw
Agency: BBDO-Detroit

$2,000 Beer Can Jeep

You can purchase this masterpiece of Aluminum machinery for a cool $2,000 cash.
Or, buy the designs for $10 and try it yourself at home.
You'll need some other supplies as well: superglue, single edged razor blades, sharp scissors, sand paper, galvanized wire, electric cable, tiny nuts and bolts, washers, aluminum tubing, small piece of wood, and a few pins from a sewing kit.
That and a few hundred (or thousand) hours depending on skill set. Give yourself four weeks of part time work if you're an expert.
According to perfectionist artist Sandy Sanderson, choosing a can can be a tough decision.
You may want to visit the local Beer importer to get the best colors and graphics for your Beer Can Jeep.Sandy Sanderson is a perfectionist. He recycles. He lives in Hamilton, New Zealand.

Favorite New Chair

I want one for my office. Fashioned by Patrick Amiot Urban Furniture.