Join Date: Sep 1999
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Slat grill in the junkyard, it just makes me sick
I just came from the junkyard looking for a set of front springs from a flat fender to put on my old m416 jeep trailer (mine are shot-totally rusted away).
Well, what's that sitting up on top of 4 stacked cars, waiting to be crushed but an old flat fender, let's climb up and have a look. Well. It's got a slat grill. Wasn't I just reading about those in the illustrated jeep buyers guide by Jim Allen? Yes I was. It should have a stamped WILLYS on the left rear panel-sure enough there it is. Made somewhere between 1941-1942. Grill is mangled (probably by the forklift that put it here), steering wheel and column mangled, missing hood and windsheild, no wheels, no motor. Has a flathead four in the back seat, which has JEEP cast into it along with what appears to be the date 8-48. Didn't the old flatheads have WILLYS cast in them not JEEP? Gauges didn't look original and were busted. Tried to get the pintle hook off but wouldn't budge. Tried for the front springs but same thing. Went to the front desk to inquire about them removing the springs for me and they said it was to much work to get it down, it's going to the crusher. I'm in Hawaii of all places. I wonder how it got here? I couldn't find any data plates. Makes me sick to see a rare piece of history going to the crusher like this.
Had to vent a little. It's a Jeep thing, and no one around here understands. Thanks.