Living the Jeep Life

Harold Stephens in his new Willys Jeep 4x4 in front of the capitol in Washington, D.C. - prior to sending it overseas on his world-wide adventure.

The Jeep brand has always been marketed as a vehicle that enables the driver to "Go Anywhere, Do Anything. Harold Stephens took that spirit and lived it to the fullest. Stephens was in the Marines and stationed in China during World War II when his life-long adventure with Jeep vehicles began. He and a buddy "borrowed" a Jeep and explored along the Great Wall of China.

Stephens and his bright-red Willys Jeep 4x4 traveled the globe through Southeast Asia, Iran, Afghanistan, Russia. His collective tales were sold to Argosy Magazine and later printed in his many books.

Check out Stephens website to learn more about his many adventures in his Willys Jeep 4x4.

Dieselicious!

I'd love to power up one of these in the backwoods near our home with biodiesel from the grease vat behind Qdoba. These bikes can crawl up just about anything without leaving much of a trace. Lots of torque, less noise, fuel efficiency and true two-wheel drive put this high on the wish-I-had-it-but-can't-afford-it list.

The early "Trail-Breaker" off-trail bikes had a catchy "Goes Anywhere" motto and "go everywhere ... do everything" catch phrase. (Side Note: Great motto - I worked on helping the Jeep® brand trademark the "Go Anywhere, Do Anything™" slogan a few years back while working at BBDO-Detroit. This is the bike for everyone but Superman - the MK3 brochure proudly stated, "Ride one and believe. The only thing it doesn't do is fly."

Turns out Rokon has been building diesel-powered 2WD bikes since 1999 when they produced 20 for special duty in Mexican mines. It was either a Lister or Petter engine. Another Scotish company is producing a diesel bike called the Ecorider.

The bodacious brute above was shown off at the Electric Vehicle Council of Ottowa in 2008.