1943 Jeep rebuild

Moving on.

2010-09-24T08:32:00.000-07:00

Okay.. Time to come out of the closet! The reason I bought the Jeep in the first place, and now a second one, is to take both of them to Egypt and drive the pistes once driven by The Long Range Desert Group. This blog will now, seamlessly change into a new one to be found here!

A week in the life.

2010-08-18T09:26:00.000-07:00

Progress on the second Jeep ‘Willy’ is progressing at a brisk pace. The body tub was soon off and I have been over to Jeeparts, in Shrewsbury, with a big - ish, shopping list. I dropped a careful off at the Matt Savage Overland Preparation Barn last week and, as I type, brakes are being rebuilt, wheel bearings replaced and repairs started to the floor panels. Meanwhile, back in the jungle, I took the original Ford Jeep, ‘Henry’ for a 320 mile round trip to Betws y Coed for a spot of fun on some old Droving Roads. It was 16 hour day, but worth every minute. The Jeep ran perfectly and managed to cruise at a respectable 50 -55 mph. There will be a couple of small issues to attend to before I can truly sign it off as ‘finished’, but they can wait a while.

Up and running.

2010-07-08T14:13:00.000-07:00

The latest folly arrived at The Matt Savage Overland Preparation Barn today and we thought it might be worth trying to start it to see just how good, or bad, it was, before ripping it apart. A can of petrol appeared, a battery and a spot of hot wiring and with a tentative shove of the starter button the engine burst into life. First signs are good. No smoke and ran well. A run up the test track indicated all was well in the transmission too. All it needs is............

Irresistible

2010-06-24T13:28:00.000-07:00

It was September 2007 when I started this Blog, having bought a 1943 Ford Jeep in need of a full rebuild. That Jeep has now been on the road for 18 months and recently had it’s second MOT test. It therefore made perfect sense to buy another one! This time it’s a Willys Jeep. Also made in 1943. There are a few very small detail differences between the Ford and the Willys. Back then, Willys came up with the best design, but lacked the manufacturing facilities to supply the big military contract, so the building was shared with Ford. I bought this Jeep from the same guys I bought the last one from as they had ‘a few’ when I phoned them up. A deal was struck and it will be up at the Matt Savage Overland Preparation Barn within the next two weeks. First inspection indicates that it should need less work than the first one. It has an engine!

I need help.

2010-06-15T12:18:00.000-07:00

A couple of busy months and I feel a weakness coming on. Someone please stop me! The whole rusty tale could be about to start a new chapter. Watch this space...............

Hot new rubber.

2010-04-08T01:19:00.000-07:00

Remember my Jeep? Not mentioned the old girl for a while, but it’s still here, ready for combat at the drop of a flag. I’ve finally dug deep and bought a new set of tyres. The ex (very ex) Range Rover 205-16’s wobbled their last wobble a week ago to be replaced by Michelin ZXL’s. Pals dave and Roger Tilton helped out on Bank Holiday Monday and we wrestled with black rubber all afternoon. A test run at about 5.00 confirmed they were a delight and no trace of wheel wobble. When we removed one of the old tyres it transpired I had trapped a section of inner tube between the halves of the rim. So, no wonder they could not be balanced. My fault and not repeated this time. Split rims are a learning curve. Not sure about them yet, but they are fine right now.

2010-03-29T14:17:00.000-07:00

Wait a minute. It's the same work bench! Look at the handle on the drawer. We must have had that bench for 40 years. Good bench.

A big clear up.

2010-03-29T14:06:00.000-07:00

When you reach the point that it is quicker to go out and buy a new screwdriver/spanner/hammer/flange sprocket, than find the one you know you’ve had for years, it’s time to clear out the garage. Will and I did just that this weekend, helped by our pal Ian and his 10 year old son, Casper. A load went to the tip and the rest was sorted out into boxes scavenged from the road side and recycled. It was very rewarding as I’m sure like minded readers will appreciate.

Camp as a row of tents.

2009-12-05T12:11:00.000-08:00

Tried this out recently, on short term loan from Nene Overland. The Ford Ranger was boring, but did the trick and the Camper that dropped into the back was most comfortable. The boys and I lit a fire and cooked up some grub. White wine and beers cooled in the stream and we had a jolly night round the camp fire while the rest of the Country watched something called ‘X Factor’, whatever that is. It was raining a tad, but who cares. Good clean fun.

The Goodwood Revival 2009.

2009-09-23T00:52:00.000-07:00

My first visit to the Goodwood Revival Meeting and what a spectacle! About 90% of the capacity crowd were in costumes from 1940’s to 1960’s. Dressed in polite clothing, people were most polite! So many interesting cars one became rather dismissive of anything not mouth watering. My favourites in the car park were the two Messerschmitt’s and the Bedford Camper Van. I could go on and on. A great day thanks to a free tickets from my pal Rod, the Photoshop Guru.

My other car's an old 4x4 too.

2009-09-16T08:09:00.000-07:00

Always a thrill to get an MOT certificate. Dug out of it’s resting place of six months in my lock up, persuaded to start, tyres pumped up and £1.15 lavished on a new exhaust gasket, fitted after dinner one night. A pleasant trundle up to a remote garage in Derbyshire where the owner races classic bikes. A thorough test of the few things on an old Land Rover that apply in such tests and Bob’s your uncle! He even commented how good it was to drive. A new ‘Tax Exempt’ disk in the windscreen and away we go for another year. The bike in the picture is a stripped down CB 350. Very successful apparently.

Ashby Folville Sept 09.

2009-09-10T12:52:00.000-07:00

An early departure from the City saw me parked, in the Jeep, on the hallowed turf of Ashby Folville Cricket Club at 5.45. 10 minutes later the field was full and others had to park in the field opposite. The usual eclectic mix of bikes and cars, but a delightful Messerschmitt took my fancy behind the pub. I had one of these in 1969 and made the colossal mistake of selling it, running and with an MOT, for fifteen quid! This one would be worth about £9,000 now. Mine, as any expert will see, was the earlier KR 175. That's a 16 year old me with eye wide shut snapped by my Dad on a new Polaroid camera. The big Yank Tank was built of steel that, even without paint, was so thick it will never rust. A group of us stayed until about 9.00 pm, by which time it was dark and a bit chilly. A brisk dash south on the B6047 was most rewarding. No screen, eyes streaming teeth full of flies from grinning too much, then overtaken by The Thunderbug which disappeared very quickly leaving nothing more than a whiff of Casrol ‘R’ diminishing roar of big V twin. Good fun!

On any Sunday.

2009-08-28T09:26:00.000-07:00

The annual VSCC meeting at Mallory Park and a chance to see Edwardian racing cars, racing. Fantastic! I am always impressed by how these leviathans are kept in competitive running order. The 1907 Grand Prix Delage was quick by any standards topping the ton on the Stebbe Straight and lapping in 1 minute 12 seconds. The pits displayed a good selection of quality corduroy trousers too, as old chaps fettled old engines on a sunny August afternoon. The low mileage Renault 4 was for sale. We thought £3500 was a tad optimistic, but it was lovely. ‘Mick’ on 07711 218917 if you’re interested. I resisted, which felt odd.

Algarve classics.

2009-08-19T08:25:00.000-07:00

Two rather quaint ‘i-spy’s’ whilst in The Algarve last week. In the late 60’s and early 70’s the Honda N360 and later N600 (This model) were the Japanese giant’s first attempt at a mass produced car and were in manufactured until 1972 along with the far sportier S600/800. This was a gem and appeared un-restored and in everyday use, though ‘enthusiast’ owned according to various badges in the screen. The climate would have helped maintain it, but a secret squeeze of its wheel arches revealed the use of quite thick steel (Engineers technical term). Some panels were plastic to save weight. Autocar’s test back in 1968 recorded a top speed of 77 mph, yet only 36 mpg. They were £589 on the road - £28 more than the Mini. That would have been a good week’s wages for a professional back then. The chap with the moped pitched up each day to flog his stuff, then pottered home again. Lovely little two stroke engine and beautiful sculptured cowling. It had the look of a one owner from new machine and I wanted it.

A brace of Deaux Chevaux.

2009-08-06T10:12:00.000-07:00

Fumbling around in the fields and farms that lurk slightly to the southeast of the Millau suspension bridge last week, I was trying to find the perfect spot for a photograph of Norman Foster’s masterpiece, when I stumbled across two of Andre Citroen’s masterpieces from five decades ago. Hard to believe that such barn finds still exist, but there before me on 27th July 2009 were an early 1950’s 2CV and a late 50’s - early 60’s example, ripe and ready to be discovered by some maniac who likes these things. I’ve owned two. Both endless trouble so you can keep ‘em for me. No. I didn’t ask the farmer if they were up for grabs. He never showed his visage, and no, I didn’t poke about underneath to see just how rotten they were. Google maps is lagging behind a bit as they don’t show the completed bridge, but I have marked with a bold 20 point arrow exactly where the barn is in the village of Issis. Good luck you brave enthusiasts. May the best man win!

What a waste.

2009-07-07T10:38:00.000-07:00

The Jeep sits here under a fifteen quid Tesco gazebo and all it seems to do is rain. I drove it from Kibworth to Leicester last Friday and got soaked. The gazebo does a valiant job, but the sides of the top buckle with the weight of the water, so there is a permanent puddle in both foot wells. The canvas seats seem to do a marvellous job of deflecting the water and are not, by a miracle, soaked through. Mid July and I should be taking it for a spin in the country. Possibly picking up a few chums and partaking of a pint. Bloody English weather! Forecast is the same all week. Think I’ll go for a pint anyway. Timothy Taylor's beckons.

The Way Ahead.

2009-07-02T07:17:00.000-07:00

Last week I went to the DVD Show at Milbrook Proving Ground. Milbrook was conceived and built by Vauxhall in their heyday and is now used by most UK manufacturers (Do we still have any?). I haven’t a clue what DVD stands for, but will have to find out sharpish because I have to write a 1200 word commentary on it for 4x4 Magazine pronto. Anyway. This is the Jeeps Grandson and mighty impressive it is too. Built in Devon by Supacat it is powered by a 6.7 litre Cummins diesel engine - American. It is capable of 80 mph, off road and is an awesome piece of kit all round! You heard it here first, but when these are being flogged off at some Army Surplus sale, bag one. Hope I’ve not given too many secrets away. Who’s that at the door now?

Just for Ron.

2009-06-15T09:28:00.000-07:00

There’s one left!! back in the seventies, Ron and I worked together and the company had a pool of dire seventies cars. One of which was a Hillman Avenger a bit like this. Others in the fleet comprised a pair of Austin 1300’s and an Austin Maxi - the one with the seats that folded down to make a bed. Quite useful when one was in one’s 20’s! Our challenge was to drive them as fast as possible and all would show over 100 mph on the clock (probably 75 in reality) None achieved more than 20 mpg, which always surprised the transport manager. I can confess now that I did have the Maxi airborne for a good two car lengths once, over the hump back bridge near Market Bosworth. Sorry.

There's just a small bag round the back.....

2009-06-02T23:48:00.000-07:00

Not quite the roll I had in mind for the Jeep, but after the Pick Everard ‘PE in the Park’ event held at Leicester Grammar School last Saturday, I seem to have volunteered to take away the rubbish. Fortunately it was well wrapped and nothing oozed out. The Jeep did make an excellent toy for small children to play in. At most stages of the day there were at least four kids in it pretending to conquer the World. Great fun on a hot afternoon.

All you really need.

2009-05-19T13:20:00.000-07:00

I photographed this back in January in the market square of Ben Ghardana, a dusty little shit hole in Tunisia, just before the Libyan border. Looking at it earlier today It represented such a simple and uncluttered life I was moved to print it out, frame it, and stick it up on the wall for all to see. It terms of fulfilling it’s role in life this bicycle represents total efficiency at minimum cost. It probably looked exactly like this ten years ago and will look exactly like it again in another ten years. Lovely.

There is still hope.

2009-05-13T06:18:00.000-07:00

A chilly evening yesterday with the wind coming direct from Siberia at a pace fast enough to prevent it picking up any north European warmth. This did not put three of us climbing into the Jeep, sans screen, to head off to Ashby Folville for the monthly gathering of the sane. Preparation included getting the front wheels balanced (big difference) and finishing the stencilled number plates for that original military, if it doesn’t move, paint it, look. A couple of stills here and a video of surely the coolest car there, Mark Walker’s 4.2 litre GN Thunderbug. I have seen this racing at a couple of VSCC events and believe me, it doesn’t hang about. Have sympathy with his passenger as she eases herself into the bottom shaped, hand beaten aluminium seat for the ride of her life!

Cheap thrills.

2009-05-08T00:38:00.000-07:00

With freakish regularity, my Honda C90 has just passed it’s MOT again. Not even a ‘You may need a new flange sprocket next time mate’. Just a straight forward pass. At £29 that will be the most expensive annual expenditure on the ultra reliable Honda. Tax is £15 and insurance is £20, (tacked onto my ‘big’ bike insurance). The petrol tank holds just £3.50’s worth and that seems to last at least a month. As it’s a sunny morning I am about to fire it up and ride into town to deliver some work. I will be there and back on the bike faster than the there only journey in the car. Good fun.

Barn find Lamborghini.

2009-04-27T14:22:00.000-07:00

A flight over to ‘Comboland’ last weekend promised a glorious walk in the hills of Piedmonte. ‘The views will be spectacular’ promised Ron. The walk, organised by the Club Alpino Italiano was a circular hop around five Medieval Towers at the villages of, Monastero, Scarampi, Olmo, Roccaverno and Vengore. A total of 32 kms for the real walkers and 18 km for us feeble, booze soaked Englishmen, who took a coach up to the first village, Scarampi. Sadly the weather was so foul that even at the foot of each tower we could barely make out it’s top, shrouded in mist and rain. The meal and copious quantities of red wine and the end more than made amends and I had the dubious honour of winning a generous hamper of local produce for travelling the furthest distance to compete. After the thrill of the ‘barn find’ Lamborghini, Ron and I suffered the humiliation of being overtaken by a 72 year old, who ran the full distance, gave advise on the route to the second oldest man on the walk, caped in red, who strode ahead at a brisk pace and finally, drowned in red my name appeared in lights at the end scrawled on an old cardboard box!

Viva Las Vagas.

2009-04-01T01:18:00.000-07:00

I saw this last week. How many of these can be left? The whole generation of seventies cars and vans seems to have become extinct. Not a great loss, but odd how earlier motors have hung around far longer. My mate Rich Dunnil had one like these in the late seventies. It was brush pained black, had a length of 4x2 timber as a bumper and front wings made from an old fridge. They looked rather Jeep like.

They start them young these days.

2009-03-24T09:17:00.000-07:00

Teddy, my oldest Grandson turned 12 earlier this month and was, at last, able to get a competition license to race with the Pennine Auto Grass Club in the 12 to 16 class. Much time had been spent preparing the blue Mini over the last few weeks building up to the BIG DAY last Sunday. I was delighted to be able to be stood shivering at the side of an oval of packed mud in a biting wind just south of Ashbourne to watch Ted in his first ever race. Nerves were soon swept to one side as young Ted, on only his second lap, overtook the Citroen AX of Shaun Nelson on the outside to leave him choking on blue smoke. Four races, four finishes, no mishaps. A great start.

Hors de combat.

2009-03-17T10:42:00.000-07:00

The new rims I bought for the Jeep are called ‘Combat Rims’, presumably because splitting into two parts should make it easier to change tyres. Well. I’m jolly glad I wasn’t in the field of combat when I changed all five from the big 235-16’s to the recently purchased 205-16’s. Despite attempting this job in a state of tranquil calm, (cup of tea at the ready, good play on Radio 4), after half an hour sweating over the first one I was ready to surrender and wave the white flag. A second attempt the following evening with far more washing up liquid to lubricate the tyre/rim interface I got it down to about 20 minutes a wheel. just under two hours for the whole job. About the time it took Jerry to take a small village in Normandy! The end result was a far better ride and handling, if that is the correct term for hurling a Jeep around a bend. A run to Northamptonshire on Sunday, with son Will following in his car confirmed that the Jeep was cruising happily at about 55-60 and generally keeping up with the flow of traffic. The ‘new’ Hotchkiss engine purring sweetly under the bonnet, or ‘hood’ as the Yanks called it.

A colourful career in show business.

2009-03-02T13:00:00.000-08:00

After buying a set of second hand tyres for my Land Rover some years ago, with disastrous consequences, I swore I’d never buy second hand tyres again. These are they! Ten quid from ‘Wet Paint’ Tony, they will replace the oversize tyres currently fitted to the Jeep. I was over in the land where time stands still (Swadlincote) last week removing these tyres form some Land Rover rims and chatting to Tony and a pal of his, Mick, who owns three tanks. Clank, clank, I’m a tank. They were discussing a Range Rover project Tony is working on for Mick and the fitting of a winch. The conversation went like this:
Tony: ‘You still got that winch?’
Mick: ‘No I lent it to Dave.... you know? Dave who’s in the porno films’
Tony: ‘Oh. Can’t you get it back off him?’
Mick: ‘No. He says it’s on his motor now and he can’t be arsed to remove it and I owed him one anyway.’
Tony: ‘Uh’
Mick: ‘ His missus is pregnant again. It’ll be the fifth.... Bit of a cock up at work’

All fall about laughing.

It was the delivery of the porno film line that amazed me. It was as if discussing someone who was an electrician, or worked in the green grocers. Dave, whoever he is, was in porno films! The tyres seem okay. I’ll fit them tomorrow.

Everything stops for tea.

2009-02-20T05:36:00.000-08:00

A Christmas gift from Mr. Combo turned out to be far more useful that he probably ever imagined. The ‘Leicester Coffee Shop’ has enjoyed an unrivalled reputation for producing expresso coffee in far flung reaches of the Sahara for a number of years, but for 2009 the Coffee Shop was able to broaden the menu to include tea. This 1 pint Kelly Kettle boiled water in under five minutes thanks to a plentiful supply of dry twigs and a stiff prevailing wind. It’s design is similar to a Thermos flask, but with fire replacing hot water. The water jacket is around the centre, therefore getting most value from the fire within. With both gas rings covered by expresso machines this proved to be faster and easier and gave various people something to do. Mustafa, seen here transfixed by the machine wants to order 20 to sell in the Tripoli Scout Shop, that he runs. Thanks Ron.

Pictures show Steve Baker with the first brew up in Libya, Professor Mustafa Selem transfixed by the smoke, Dr Kevin White on the edge of Lake Gabrun and Ian Reeds stoking the fire heading North in Tunisia.

Homeward bound.

2009-02-02T23:48:00.000-08:00

The long drive back up to Tripoli went smoothly and as a farewell David took what was left of the team (others flew back last week for teaching commitments) for a slap up meal. A fleet of taxis whisked us out of town to a collection of fish stalls and open barbecues with restaurants behind them. The deal was you selected a few fish, they were weighed and you were given a table number. Once seated - we waited about 20 minutes as it was busy, there was a salad buffet to keep us amused, whilst the chefs gutted and grilled the fish. Being within feet of the Mediterranean and busy it all looked fresh. I shared a big Gilt Head Bream, in the middle of the picture, with my pal Ian. Delicious. Just lacked a glass or two of Chablis, but that’s not far away now.

Pick-me-up.

2009-02-02T23:45:00.000-08:00

The whole of North Africa, is kept moving by Peugeot 404 pick up trucks. Grey in Libya, Biege in Tunisia. All of these must be at least 35 years old, but show no sign of giving up just yet. I have long been impressed with their sheer stamina in the face of eastern competition (slowly making an advance now). There are not hundreds, but thousands, probably tens of thousands, of these battered Peugeots to be seen daily carrying everything from workers, building materials, crops and livestock. The drivers of modern cars call them ‘scorpions’, as you never quite know when one will jump out and sting you. Whilst I was having a puncture fixed by a group of excited Nigerians one pulled up. I exchanged greetings with the driver and his two companions and gestured that I admired his truck and would like to sit in it. He offered me the drivers seat. Pulling the door open it fell off. Fantastic! A full half turn of the steering wheel before any movement of wheels and two good pumps of the brake pedal prior to any pressure. The steering wheel - from a BMW, was welded on. There were no dials at all and the wiring was a mass of twisted wires hanging below the dashboard. I watched in awe as he twisted two together for ignition, then flashed another pair for the starter. They have evolved into motorised wheelbarrows and with pattern parts now being made in North Africa will probably be lumbering around for many years to come.

The answer is blowing in the wind.

2009-01-28T01:49:00.000-08:00

It has been a windy few weeks on and off and being outside so much makes one acutely aware of the weather. One day whilst working indoors at our base there was a gentle wing coming up from the south. Warm, and with a bit of dust in it, but nothing too threatening. Within half an hour it swung right round and came from the north, across the great Ubari Sand Sea bringing with it hundreds of tons of sand. We all went outside to look, as the air literally went orange. Working throughout this was the mighty Fiat bulldozer out on the road, the squeak of it’s dry tracks on dry driving wheels audible over all other things. The Government are laying infrastructure to take fibre optics and improve communications throughout the Wadi. This involves the Fiat dragging a huge hook that rips a metre deep gouge out of the land at the side of the road. Then another equally huge Fiat comes along when the trench has all but filled up with dust and lays the tubing to take the cable. Somehow I can’t see it working.

Gabrun Yacht Club.

2009-01-28T01:44:00.000-08:00

Part of the remit for the Geographers was to take core samples from the lake bed of Lake Gabrun, an oasis about 45 km north of our base at Germa. It involves a sporting drive through the dunes, which with a strong wind was quite challenging. The difficulty is that the wind soon blows away all traces of previous tracks, leaving us to pick our own route following GPS waypoints. Once there - four hours instead of the usual two, we launched the bigger of my two inflatables and Simon, who rowed for a minor Oxford team in his youth, had a preliminary paddle about and sank a 6 inch drain pipe into the mud at the base of the lake. This was to be the site of the core sampling the next day following a comfortable nights camping where we cooked chicken with garlic and lemon juice, wrapped in foil, on the fire. The morning dawned fine and with the bigger boat as lake base station, Kev paddled back and forth with the core samples in the dinky little yellow boat. These cores went through four meters of mud to the bottom which was sand. Once back in the UK these will be examined for organic matter - plants and Diatoms (single cell life forms) to establish what was going on there over the last 2000 years or so as the lake went from wet to dry to wet again. The beauty of this science is that everything ends up on the lake bed offering a neat cross section of life. Pics show an overall view of proceedings from half way up a dune, our camp and one of the core samples laid out on a sand ladder. This was then wrapped in foil and slid into the drain pipe for safe transit back to UK.

Ancient boozers.

2009-01-28T01:41:00.000-08:00

Desert adventure over for a while, it was time for us to turn ourselves in and work with the Archaeologists in and around Germa, a breeze block town, once the capital of the Garamantian Empire that ran in parallel with he Roman Empire some 2000 year ago. In this once noble city slaves would have been exchanged for luxury items carried by camel, a new form of desert transport back then, from the coast some 600 miles north. Pottery, glassware, fabrics, beads and fashions crossed the desert to satisfy the Garamanties. The project, under the direction of Professor David Mattingly, is excavating a selection of tombs some 10 miles east of Germa to learn more about these sophisticated people. This tomb at Taglit had, like most, has been robbed, but a second layer missed by the robbers all those years ago came up with an abundance of pottery and glassware. Pictures show; Two truly stalwart Libyan labourers who have worked for the project for ten years now. Both in their late seventies they have sharp eyes for a find and labour in heat and dust for an eight hour day, six days a week. Hats off to Abdul Rakman and Ishmal El-Khair, a kite shot of the excavation, Matt and Steve working out where to place a ranging pole and an exquisite piece of glassware representative of what the Garmantians were drinking from. Cheers.

Within range.

2009-01-27T23:52:00.000-08:00

During the Second World War the Long Range Desert Group launched an ambitious attack on an Italian air base. I have read an account of it, but am going on memory here. A small group - probably three Chevrolet, or Ford, 30 cwt trucks and 18 men (ish) set off from the LRDG base at Kufra to drive about 500 miles northwest to Muzuk where they succeeded in blowing up all of the enemy’s aircraft - about 15 planes. Mission accomplished they headed south to Chad and met up with the free French. Interesting stuff and a great trip that was thankfully successful. A straight line from Kufra to Muzuk would have taken them past our camp in Waw en Kebir and wandering around looking at rocks Kev spotted an old petrol can. Closer inspection revealed three and some engine parts and a spent bullet. The petrol cans were the products of Shell, stamped 1941, the Sphinx Oil Company and Atlantic Motor Spirit. What marvellous names and this is how petrol was carried in pre jerry can days. Pure speculation, but not impossible that this could have been a brief camp for the LRDG on that daring mission 65 years ago. There is a little cover to hide them from patrolling aircraft on an otherwise totally flat expanse of unforgiving desert where they would have stuck out like sore thumbs. We took a GPS waypoint and left the finds to weather for another 65 years.

Mosquito coast.

2009-01-27T23:42:00.000-08:00

The bait that lured me back to Libya for this, my tenth visit, was a chance to hoon off southeast towards Chad and take a look at Waw en Namus, an extinct volcano in the middle of nowhere. Leaving the bulk of the party to dig up bits of rock, four of us and two Libyans set off across the vast expanse of nothingness that is this part of the desert. Easy gong over largely flat terrane it was about 150 miles. We checked in at the loneliest police checkpoint in Libya and gave one of the guys stationed there some laxatives. At his request! The piste started to go uphill as we approached what appeared to be a black dune sandwiched between the sand and the sky. Over a distance of about 100 yards golden sand turned to volcanic ash, heavier and not subject to movement by the wind giving a sharp cut off line when viewed from Space (Google Earth it). As we popped over the crest, before us lay a breathtaking sight. Looking like The Lost World, was a crater some 3 miles across with three oases, trees, birds and reeds. We walked down the steep edge into the centre to be met by an army of mosquitoes (Namus is arabic for Mosquito) Like steam trains it was clearly better to be outside looking in, rather than inside looking out, so we retreated and camped about a mile away, before returning to meet up with the others the next day. Pics show; the police checkpoint, the approach to the black stuff, the stunning view over the edge and the lost world within.

Oliver's Army are here to stay.

2009-01-27T23:35:00.000-08:00

Eleven days and 2600 miles after leaving the UK we did our first days work. Looking at fire hearths in Waw en Kebir made by upright man (us!) between 2000 and 5000 years ago. It’s a quiet spot and we had it to ourselves. Probably 2-300 square miles, mainly flat, with a few raised bits along the north and south flanks just visible about 30 miles away. The hearths were of particular interest as they contained Acheulean stone tools (The style of manufacture indicates these pre date fire - cave man stuff, 100,000 years +) that had been reused as stones to line a hearth along with regular stones, to possibly cook something. Simon Armitage has the task of dating these in a lab back in London. From that he can calculate when the fire was burning. There were loads of hearths and this would indicate lots of people along what was once a lush green valley. We moved on to a way point identified by satellite image as the likely last damp patch to take a core sample. As we got closer there turned out to be an army base there. This was best avoided, not for any danger, but by the time you have shaken hands with everybody and drunk tea, half a day is lost. We pressed on a bit and camped. The pictures show a charred stone tool, our camp with the glow of light from the base about 2 miles away and lunch, served on a gingham table cloth out of the back of my Land Rover. Nothing if not stylish.

The Lake District.

2009-01-27T23:33:00.000-08:00

After a faltering start we finally hit the sand at about 10.00 am heading southeast across a flat wilderness of nothing much at all to the northern edge of Waw en Kebir, an oasis of interest to the Geos, who intend to bore a hole in it to confirm the desert really is made up of sand. We actually camped at the edge of a vast wadi, some 20 kms. across. Low hills from an eroded lake bed of 450,000 years ago offered good protection from the southerly wind which was reasonably warm and a stark contrast to the previous two years when it has been just sub zero. The good thing about travelling with such knowledgeable chaps is that they are always keen to explain just what you are looking at and why it’s there. They are studying what was Lake Mega Fazzan. Yes. This 120,000 square km. area of desert has been a lake five times over 450,000 years. The high bits are in fact lake bed sediments that have refused to be eroded away by the desert’s winds. Microscopic fossilised shells confirm that it was fresh water, not saline. Flint hand tools confirm mankind had a rich and lengthy stay here, both millions and tens of thousands of years ago. From a nomadic ‘cave’ man, to upright man, much like you and I, but without a mobile phone. The sheep bought it on night four!

Under the watchful eye.

2009-01-27T23:30:00.000-08:00

After a subdued, alcohol free, night out with the rest of the team. (There are about 25 of us - all boozers) It was an early night in the Hotel Yosser, then an early start to head south. Driving out of Tripoli we took then opportunity to fill up with diesel. Full tanks and 14 jerry cans. Whilst all of the 1000 kms. ahead of us would be on tarmac, one thing that you can’t rely on, is fuel stations actually having fuel. Particularly diesel (Nafta). This is rather odd in a country that produces the stuff, but apparently they have to sell one lot and get the cash in, before ordering another lot. This can mean petrol stations being without fuel for a few days and as they are spaced out at a rate of about one every 150 kms. it is prudent to be fat with fuel. I am attached to the Goes and we peeled off at Sebha, a mere 750 kms. in a day, whilst the Archaeologists carried on to Germa, a further 250 kms.. A long day. At Sebha we meet up with our Libyan logistics team in four Toyotas - two Cruisers and two pickups loaded up with food, drink and more fuel. Next stop, the desert. Photos show just one of many posters of The Colonel, The town of Ash Shwayre, a one horse town if ever there was one, half way down our route and us filling up with a good tenners worth of diesel. Fuel’s gone up!

Traffic calming.

2009-01-03T03:07:00.000-08:00

Surprisingly, the Libya border crossing was easier than on previous occasions. ‘Tourist Police’ have been given a charm course and Hasan became our minder throughout the process. What is always amusing about traversing from Tunisia into Libya, is that all the officials involved in producing three bits of important paperwork appear to have never done it before, despite there being a steady stream of Euro 4x4s through the border every day. We were through in two hours and in daylight. A bonus. Last night we stayed in a Dept of Antiquities rest house behind the museum at Sabratha. This is little more than a shed, so I slept in the Land Rover. Our evening meal was at a very good Turkish Restaurant on the main road. As we promenaded along the pavement (A Libyan equivalent of strolling through Market Harborough) a local youth was doing massive doughnuts in a big car in the middle of the road. Loads of them! It was Friday night and the equivalent of the weekend. Maybe this is what you get when you deprive people of alcohol. Today we have driven into Tripoli centre. A mayhem of traffic where every gap is regarded as an opportunity for progress. A competitive element came over us to keep up with the locals. Scary, but we arrived here okay and hope to head south into the desert tomorrow morning.

Photos show our last beers for a month in Djerba, Tunisia. Changing money on the black market in Ben Gardena, just before the border and Tripoli traffic!

This is Toby Savage for 1943 Jeep Rebuild Blog 3rd January 2009.

Happy New Year!

2009-01-03T02:20:00.001-08:00

‘Bonne Annee’ came the cries as we drove through the streets of La Goulette, on the edge of Tunis, to our usual hotel, the Amilcar. Things were different this year, however, as it had closed down. Hardly surprising, as like the Habib, our ferry, it was well past its sell by date. We drove on up to the Hotel Sidi Bou Said. 5 stars, but Tunisian stars are different to ours. Slightly smaller. Four rooms and secure parking suited us and the beds seemed comfy enough. Sanctuary was found later in the Au Bon Vieux Temps restaurant in Sidi Bou Said. We have treated ourselves to a slap up here in the past, but on our return from Libya, to celebrate the return to civilisation. As it was New Years Eve, we felt we should hit it again. It did not disappoint and neither did the Tunisian Reserve red wine. As good as anything drunk on the way down through France. We left at 11.30, before the dancing started and headed to the Coffee House at the top of the hill for mint tea with pine nuts and a blast on the Shisha pipe to see in the New Year. There was only us four and the staff there! Bleary eyed on 1st we headed south, first through Carthage, from where Hannibal set out to conquer the Roman Empire, then on the newly completed motorway down to Sfax and smaller roads to a little ferry that took us and about 20 other cars over to the Isle of Djerba where I write this. Next stop is the Libyan border about 100 miles further east. This is Toby Savage for 1943 Jeep Rebuild Blog 2nd January 2009.

Pictures show the first course of our meal, Kev’s and my Land Rovers on the ferry and the coffee house favoured by Impressionist painter, Gaugin in his day.

Lost in France.

2008-12-29T15:26:00.000-08:00

It’s been a pleasantly uneventful run down through France, but tonight, in Valence we stumbled across a bar near the station with a barmaid who resembled Pocha Hontas. Several beers later Kevin and I ducked out leaving Ian and Steve to finish off the many beers. The photos show; a line up of us four somewhere in France, a meal (quite good from memory) some bread and water, as our budget is smaller than last year, and our new mate in Chalons en Champagne who photographed us pumping up tyres. This is the build up to real adventure.... it says here. This is Toby Savage for 1943 Jeep Rebuild Blog 29th December 2008. Just.

Oily Rag.

2008-12-25T03:37:00.000-08:00

I know it’s really sad blogging on Christmas Day, but I was so moved by this picture my Mum made a card from that I had to share it. This was a Jaguar XK140 fixed head coupe my pal John and I ‘did up’ back in 1970. We bought it for £1000 and sold it for £2000 after fitting a replacement engine and respraying it. The engine came from a 3.4 Mk 11 scapper and we transferred the ‘C Type’ head from the knackered engine. She was sweet. It also had J.A. Pierce mag alloy wheels and Jag XJ6 tyres. John is bent double sanding with a pneumatic sander and I am sporting a flat cap sanding manually on the left. It looks as though we were flatting down the first coat of primer. It was a lovely car. Happy Christmas.

Red tape.

2008-12-18T02:02:00.000-08:00

I’m going to hijack my own blog to bring live coverage of this years folly to Libya. There are a few dust filled internet cafes in Libya and if I can get to them it should work. The trip involves my Land Rover, so there is a vague Jeep link.

On Monday, I went to ‘dat’ London. I had to go, to present myself, in person, at The Libyan Embassy, the only shabby building in Knightsbridge, to apply for a visa. This is a change to previous years when it was all done by remote control. In a tit for tat retaliation against our own immigration, who make it very difficult for any Libyan to enter Britain, the Libyan’s have made it pretty tricky for us. 12 of our team of Geographers and Archaeologists pitched up at 9.30 to start the process. Each application had to be accompanied by air, or ferry tickets, a bank statement, and an invitation from Libya. Then our application would be considered. In-Sh-Allah we may get the passports back in about ten days. My ticket proved I was sailing from Marseilles to Tunis on 30th December, but this was accepted in a marvellous piece of North African logic. We then were led, one by one, into a back room to have our fingerprints scanned to add ‘biometric details’ to our passports. Whilst there we picked up the passports of those members of the group who had been through the same procedure two weeks ago. No sign of any ‘biometric details’ in their passports. The whole lot will be filled away on a CD somewhere and left on a London Bus.

Homeward bound.

2008-12-09T01:28:00.001-08:00

And so, the day arrived when I drove the Jeep home from Matlock to Leicester. Saturday 6th December. We had been camping up in Edale for the weekend and swung by Matlock on the way back to pick the Jeep up. By 6.00 pm it was a little chilly so I opted to wear ALL my clothes. This would be the biggest journey the Jeep had done in 5, 10, 20, 30 years. Anybody’s guess. Jo was able to drive the Land Rover and act as back up. A tall order as she had not driven it in over a year, but she managed. I chose the M1 route, out of simplicity. We set off at a cracking pace with Matt following for a short distance. Within a couple of miles he sped by, stopped me, and said the rear lights weren’t on. My fault. Funny military switch. Once on the Motorway we settled into a steady 50 mph cruising speed and yes, I was a bit chilly, but I thought of all the young soldiers who had frozen driving identical Jeeps in the War. I had nothing to complain about and the risk of being shot at was minimal. Though I was shot at on the M69 once! The Jeep ran very well, its new engine feeling powerful and no alarming noises. It was great fun! We made it back in good time. Tucked it up in the garage, where it will probably remain until the Spring.

DVLA Dealings.

2008-11-26T03:34:00.000-08:00

The process of registering the Jeep has now taken two months. Firstly I had to join the Military Vehicle Trust (£30), then they sent a chap to verify the age of the Jeep, which I know to be 1943. (His travel expenses £45). Then I had to swap my old Land Rover insurance cover over to the Jeep. (£20). Finally, today, armed with; The Californian log book, the importation document, the M.O.T., the insurance cover note, the MVT Age verification, two forms of identification and the Vehicle Licence Application Form V55/5, I drove to the nearest DVLA office, Nottingham! I was expecting a wait of about half an hour following a tip off from my mate, ‘Wet Paint’ Tony, so took a flask of coffee and the Daily Telegraph. I took a seat in a waiting room with about 5 other people and was called to the desk within about 3 minutes. Things were looking good. I was seen by Phil, a man of a certain age, who looked like he still lived with his Mum and had an unhealthy interest in train sets. Within ten minutes I was back in the car heading for Leicester. Job done. Within 72 hours I should have an allocated registration number and a zero rated tax disk. What could possibly go wrong?

Fully recovered.

2008-11-04T05:38:00.000-08:00

It all started off as a pretty normal Monday. Work not quite kicked in for the week and the gentle fall of drizzle outside. I try to fill quiet days with Landy activity and am starting the lengthy process of preparing my Carawagon for a trip to Libya in Jan ‘09. Rather than leave things to the last minute I try and get the truck well sorted at least a month beforehand. There has been a slight rumble in the back axle for years and it has been fine for the last few Sahara trips, but I found a ‘new, old stock’ one on the internet at a main dealers in Chester. We did a deal over the phone and I set off. I noticed the old girl seemed a bit lacking in power, but would plod along at 50 and got me there okay. On the return journey though it got progressively worse. A call to Landy supremo - eldest son Matt, suggested a failing fuel pump. In rush hour traffic on the A51 I was becoming a liability so, 20 miles south of Chester I pulled into the car park of The Old Barbridge Inn and called Matt for assistance. Poor chap was already running around taking the boys to football/rugby practise, but he was up for it later. Not a problem. I went in the pub and had two lovely pints and a 10 oz Ribeye steak with all the trimmings, then fell asleep in the back of the truck until he arrived at 10.15. It was actually quite easy getting the Land Rover back to his place in Matlock. Up over the Peak District, black roads, no traffic and no sign of any coppers. I seem to have ended up with his Land Cruiser and the relieve that the breakdown was here and not there.

Torque to me.

2008-10-30T00:36:00.000-07:00

A billion lbs. feet of torque here, generated by this is one, of four, steam engines that pumped Leicester’s sewage from the city up to Beaumont Leys from about 1860 until it was no longer big enough to serve the city in 1964. This week I was privileged to get the full lantern lit tour, even right down into the basement, surprisingly free of odour. There is something irresistible about the slow, rhythmic, almost sexual, movement and hissing of these great engines that has a lasting schoolboy appeal. It looks so powerful that if one were to shove a tree trunk in the gears and stop it, the World would probably spin off its axis.

Three sheets to the wind.

2008-10-17T09:52:00.000-07:00

Popped over to my Dad’s this week. He had cooked an excellent curry and Annie, his wife and I saw off a bottle of Dolcetta picked up recently in Comboland. As it was a lovely evening I took the 1948 Land Rover minus roof. Always a thrill to drive. It’s so dangerous, lacking seat belts and with doors that fly open round bends. Leaving their house in Pitsford at around midnight I felt it might be prudent to take the back roads home, via the lovely villages of Tur Langton, Carlton Curlieu and Burton Overy. There is no thrill quite like driving a sixty year old Land Rover on a moonless night down narrow country lanes. Pathetic lights, appalling handling, freezing cold and wishing I had worn more layers. I took the picture on my phone, having left the Canon at home, but it represents about the right view. The gloom pierced by a mixture of original ‘Butler’ headlights, as fitted to tractors of the day and a Lucas spotlight from the fifties. Motoring does not get better than this.

Let’s Off Road!

2008-10-14T02:38:00.000-07:00

An opportunity to write a report on Bures Pit Off Road site for 4x4 Magazine heralded a baptism of fire for the Jeep this month. As it’s still not registered so I trailered it down to near Colchester behind the Land Rover. I borrowed Matt’s ex Gas Board Box Trailer, into which the Jeep just about fits. Heaving the trailer around in his workshop nearly brought on the long overdue heart attack. The toll of a the previous week spent in Comboland nearly proved fatal as the pulse quickened and the beads of cold sweat gathered on my brow. A half hour sit down in a darkened room sorted me out and the following day at the site was a great pleasure. The brakes packed up after a few applications, but who needs them anyway. So. The Jeep now has 12 miles on the clock. 4 from its visit to the MOT station and 8 done in the Pit. Great fun.

Dad’s Army

2008-10-08T00:15:00.000-07:00

Operation Market Garden. A warm sunny day and a lot of people dressed up in forties costume. All rather nice and jolly English. These WW2 re-enactments are growing in popularity. Presumably because it’s the last thing this country of ours did well, with the exception of the 1966 World Cup, of course. Diplo is correct in that there were many Jeeps to keep me amused and a few Tanks, two of which were offering rides for a very reasonable £7 and Jo was kind enough to treat both of us, giving us the opportunity to do something we had never done before. Ride in a Tank. Great fun and clearly designed before the days of Health and Safety. More like Danger & Excitement.

The actual battle was great fun and reinforced the fact that your average WW2 soldier was 19 ish, not mid fifties and carrying a healthy girth! Luckily there were no heart attacks on the Sunday. Sadly we could not drive there in the Jeep. Still not registered, but we did take the 1948 Land Rover. Open air motoring at its best.

Three little letters.

2008-09-08T23:57:00.000-07:00

M, O and T. we tend to forget it stands for Ministry of Transport and the final word ‘test’ is missing from the abbreviation. It just gets shortened to ‘M.O.T.’d, or not M.O.T.’d.
Delighted to say that the Jeep, as of yesterday, is M.O.T.’d!! Matt drove it over the hills and down the valley’s to the local testing station, screen off. (That negates the need for wipers and washers at a stroke). With the whole process now being linked by computer to Gordon Browns spies, there is a set time allowed for the test, be your car a complex supercar , or this, the humblest of vehicles. The tester has a real job stringing out the job to fill the time. Fortunately these tests are still carried out my humans and Derbyshire blokes have a sense of humour and a realistic approach to the situation.
With the Jeep now finished, the next job is for me to register it for use on the road. A process I am a little daunted by, as it will involve dealing with beaurocracy. Something the middle aged, self employed are not too good at in general. I’ll keep you posted as despair and frustration take on disproportionate aggression.
As you will have noticed the Jeep is a replica of those used my the Long Range Desert Group and the S.A.S. in North Africa during the War. This is significant. More later!

Twin Heaps.

2008-09-05T00:00:00.000-07:00

Like something from a David Lynch film, I stumbled upon this long gone car dealership in the South Derbyshire town of Church Gresley this week. A mixed array of 10 grotty seventies cars lined up in a welded steel cage and covered in a thin film of dust caught my eye as I drove past. Closer inspection and a look through the window revealed a 2002 calendar on the wall and a pile of paperwork. The signs of desperation on top of the cars further fuelled the mystery and I regret to say, I have no answers. Maybe the owner went bust in huge and dramatic circumstances and the legal battles persist to this day, or maybe he died a bitter and twisted man. Only car worth a cent was a 1971 Beetle, but never worth £2500 ‘bought with all faults’, even in 2002.

One in the oven.

2008-08-31T14:31:00.000-07:00

After nearly a year in the building, the end is in sight. Young Teddy and I did the final (easy) bit of sanding of various bits as the masked figure of Matt’s number one helper appeared with a spray gun full of primer. Half an hour later the whole thing was dull grey and we sat out in warm sunshine, gazing at the Ryber Valley waiting for it to dry. It’s a lovely view from the doors of the workshop. Most conducive to sitting in with a cup of tea and a biscuit. Next, on went several layers of top coat and as Capt. Sprayer coughed up a lungful of paint and thinners we wheeled the Jeep out into the Matt Savage Spray Booth Oven (sunshine) to dry off properly. All that remains is to fasten all the bits back on and it should be ready for an MOT.

One small step.

2008-08-11T11:02:00.000-07:00

With great excitement I took my first faltering drive in the Jeep on Friday. I spent the day up at Matt’s place near Matlock - mainly getting in the way, but I did manage to sort out the hand brake and rear lights, then made a battery securing clamp. That done we connected a few wires together and hit the starter button. Matt had already driven the Jeep last week, so we knew it was okay, but for me it was a very nervous first drive. The throttle pedal was a bit jerky, but I think we can adjust that a bit. The four tyres John Carroll has lent me feel a tad too big at 235-16. I think 215-16 would be plenty big enough. Maybe even 205-16. They do seem to raise the gearing too much. Anyway it was a great way to end the day and next time there will be less bare wires and tools lying about and I am sure I shall feel more relaxed.

One Wheel Drive.

2008-08-07T01:14:00.000-07:00

Before an interest in 4x4’s took a grip, my sole passion was 3x1’s. I had a few, Messerschmitt, Isetta and finally this Hienkel built under license in the U.K. and badged as a Trojan. Myself and the Mk 1 wife, on a budget of nothing, went camping in Wales. Our tent was the simple affair amongst the big frame tents that dominated the camp site. I had a lot of use out of the Trojan, commuting up and down to Salisbury, where I was at Art College, from Leicestershire and averaging 80 mpg! This particular jaunt to Wales went pretty smoothly until 5 miles from home on the return journey. I was thrashing it at a heady 50 mph and the exhaust valve burnt out. With only one cylinder, that was that and Dad came to tow us in.

Carefree biking days.

2008-08-02T12:44:00.000-07:00

Bikes seem to be pretty prominent amongst the collective, so I thought I’d pitch these in. I was looking up some old photos from my own Pentax era to illustrate an article on the resurgence of camping and found these gems. This is my brother, the renowned yachtsman, Captain Haddock, fiddling with two bikes he abused in the early seventies. First was the Matchless 500 single. No doubt worth a fortune now, but picked up for less than a fiver then. The front mudguard soon went, to be followed by the fitting of a ‘peanut’ fuel tank from an NSU Quickly and some Ape Hangers. Essential kit back then. It looks SO dangerous. Marvellous! The workshop picture is the one we had at Appletreewick Farm and I was astonished to find that I have that workbench her e, now, in my garage complete with the very same vice and buffer (on the extreme right). The bike was a Bultaco Sherpa trials bike. 250, two stroke, bags of torque. he competed at club level with mixed success. I’m confident Fred Fibonacci will take up the story.

Two Dimensions

2008-07-30T12:41:00.000-07:00

With the Jeep now finished and thoroughly tested on the Matt Savage ‘Tansley’ test track, I was finally allowed to take it for a spin. I chose a cafe at the War Tunnels Museum, in Jersey for its first outing. Handling was commendable the small patch of and under the tyres, but once on the ceramic tiles the old bar grips felt a bit two dimensional. I am hoping to get some better tyres soon for the authentic military split rims I have, now painted to match the rest of the chassis.

It goes!

2008-07-23T12:02:00.000-07:00

Behold. An mpeg of the Jeep on the extensive Matt Savage test track near Matlock.

Click on the question mark!

A chat afterwards confirmed that all was well. The gamble was that the gearbox, transfer box and axles may have been duff as these are the (only) parts not new, but they were fine. Even the radiator held water okay, but a laid back Californian mouse had made a nest in there some years ago. Debris cleared all was fine. Next is finish off the rear lights (me!) and give it a coat of paint, then an MOT.

Twisting wires together.

2008-07-14T05:12:00.000-07:00

A flurry of activity on the Jeep last week sees it very nearly running. I was entrusted with sorting out headlights, bolting in the seats, screwing on the rear reflectors and a few other menial tasks. Matt connected up the fuel pump and plumbing. By the time we had finished for the day another hour would have had it running, but these things are best not rushed, so that highlight will wait for a few more days. Still on the shopping list is a pair of seats. All I have is the steel shells and even with my ample padding, I shall need the original style canvas padded ones to maintain any vague comfort. A pair of old sofa cushions will do for the MOT though.

Chasing Rainbows.

2008-07-07T06:29:00.000-07:00

Nothing to do with the Jeep (of which more very soon), but this was the view through the Land Rover screen yesterday on the M69. Torrential rain and yet the sun was out, causing a 60 mph following rainbow, just visible here. Never any Global Warming when you want it is there?

Another mindless purchase.

2008-06-23T10:09:00.000-07:00

After writing in Land Rover World, last month: ‘Tucked behind a barn, was a 1952, 80 inch. It looked as though it could have been there for about 20 years. I resisted asking the farmer as to whether it was for sale or not. I have a weakness for such things and really, really, don’t need any more.’ And here it is, safely tucked up in Jo’s garage. It’s the male equivalent of buying a new pair of designer shoes. Illogical, but irresistible and I know I’m preaching to the converted. I’m not sure what I’m going to do with it yet, but the signs are good. Yesterday I managed to get the engine to turn over, first on the starting handle, then on the starter motor. There was a spark, but the petrol had been in there for ten years, so ignition was not forthcoming. Lovely patina though, eh?

Leaps and Bounds.

2008-06-02T03:34:00.000-07:00

A surge of activity last week sees the Jeep looking more Jeep like, and these latest pictures give a clue to it’s intended use, for those in the know. Purists will be pleased to see that it is a repro grille, from the Philippines, that has been butchered with the angle grinder. We have saved the 1943 one, just in case it is ever restored to a ‘normal’ green Jeep again. Next stage is the wiring and I have to lift a finger and restore the two ‘Italian’ rear lights. I have an old trailer board with some lights on it and hope to incorporate those feeble plastic lenses into the 12 gauge steel of the original lights. Built when Men were Men and stuff was built to win Wars!

Hubble Bubble toil and trouble.

2008-05-28T06:28:00.000-07:00

It was in the summer of ‘69. A Messerschmitt KR 175 swapped for £3 and a BSA B31 single, in bits, from a chap called ‘Stocker’ in Measham, who had it abandoned in his garden. This is what started it all. I cleaned it up, painted it yellow and hit the road, with my Mum in the back giving me ‘lessons’. She must have been terrified! It was a 1953 Cabin Scooter and I still have the number plate here in the garage, LDR 509. The photo was taken by Dad on one of those new Polaroid cameras. It was, of course, only 16 years old then and parts were easy enough to get from an outfit called Pride and Clark, in that London. Big ad in the back page of Exchange & Mart. Cue Diplo & A F-A. I didn’t have the Messy shit long and was thrilled to get £15 when I sold it a few months later to replace it with an Isetta Bubble car. Now it would be worth several thousand. There are some very funny vids on Youtube of others.

But I only borrowed it Ratty....

2008-05-14T14:19:00.000-07:00

A lively night out last night, trying out the new goggles. (Ex. French Airforce, unissued WW2, bought on ebay) I phoned my pal Duncan who needed reminding of what motoring is all about, having just bought a new Audi A6. We went out to the pub at Ashby Folville, which every second Tuesday of the summer months sort of hosts a Classic Car/Bike event. It is delightfully unorganised. Not a high viz jacket or Copper to be seen and a £1 coin allows you to park on the village green. A good turnout last night as it was a mild evening. It is so quintessentially English and allows those of us in the autumn of our lives to dress up in a way we only can in the company of others of the same persuasion. There were Mods on Scooters, Hells Angels on Harley's and old Buffers in Vintage Cars, mixing with some pretty cool Dudes in 40’s and 50’s Buick’s and Chevrolets. Everybody stayed for a couple of hours, lamented on how they used to have one of those, but scrapped it in 1975, then went home. Reality was in another World.

First Coat.

2008-04-21T00:47:00.000-07:00

A lick of paint has restored enthusiasm and momentum to the Jeep project. Matt and his team of experts worked a long Saturday to finish preparing the chassis and all the mechanical components for a coat of ‘sand yellow’. The underside of the body had a coat for good measure and is positioned, but not bolted to the chassis. I find it most inspiring that a BIG bit is now almost finished. looking at the Jeep in stripped down form there is really so little to it that a few good weekends would see it finished. There will, inevitably, be awkward snagging items, but I think we are on track for hitting tarmac in late Spring, early Summer.

Rose tinted life.

2008-04-17T08:14:00.000-07:00

A marvellous ebay purchase, just this week. Genuine WW2 French Air Force, flying goggles. Bought for £33 from a lady called June with a hand written note in the jiffy bag stating, “Given to me by a Captain in the French Airforce”. One can only imagine the rest of the story and I’m sure there will be a few suggestions. They are new, unissued stock and the seal with my face is made with rubber, the like of which is one never sees now. Soft and without colour. There is a lovely little adjusting screw at the bridge to adjust the overall width. They will be perfect for blasting across the desert in the Jeep, which I plan, will have no windscreen, though I may wimp out nearer the time.

Post War bikers.

2008-03-31T07:51:00.000-07:00

Not mine, I’m sad to say and almost nothing to do with the Jeep, but what a lovely picture depicting a life free of Health & Safety, when people were allowed to think for themselves. I love the Wallace & Grommet slippers. I found the picture mousing around on http://www.bbc.co.uk/history/familyhistory/your_photos/
One can waste hours, but the rewards are well worth it. Peter will be lost forever in an historical cyber space. The bike, a B.S.A. M20 (I think) is relevant, however, as one of these lived up the road from me when I was a car/bike mad 13 year old. It was for sale, but the £5 was beyond my pocket money, so I bought a B.S.A. B31, 350 single, for ten bob instead. It was an early one with a rear sprung hub and started a relationship with the infernal combustion engine that lives on today, in the Jeep project. Thanks to John Hyatt, Nottinghamshire for the picture.

Carbon footprint.

2008-03-21T01:26:00.000-07:00

Nothing to do with the Jeep, but interesting never the less. Trying to do my bit to save the planet, (Waste of time.... obviously. We're all doomed) I have taken to using my electric bike and charging its two 12 volt batteries via the two 40 watt solar panels on the roof of the Land Rover. Squeaky clean power. The bike itself dates back to the 30’s and is a Philips Gent's with rod brakes and a Sturmey Archer three speed with original cross bar mounted changer. The electric bit comes from a 24 volt electric shopping bike discarded by none other than Ron Combo’s elder brother. It’s remains were in a lock up in London when Ron quit this sceptered Isle. I welded the mounting bracket to the bike frame, made a battery rack and fitted a Bakelite switch offering ‘on’, or ‘off’. I even managed to rig it to run through the Sturmey Archer three speed, thus giving comfortable cruising speeds of 100 mph. No room for the back brake, but any fool can make a bike stop. Added advantages are one can quite legally ride it back on the cycle lanes having had one or two too many in town and whizz up behind pedestrians in silence giving them a huge fright!

New this, new that.

2008-03-11T01:20:00.001-07:00

The motor is now in complete with; new clutch, new water pump, new carb, new manifolds, new distributor, new engine mounts, new-ish starter motor that I bought on ebay. I bought this engine from Jeeparts Uk before Christmas. Originally rebuilt by the French Army, probably in the seventies, it had been stored in some vast hanger in France until the army decommissioned their Hotchkiss Jeeps. Graham, at Jeeparts, gave it a check over and a clean bill of health and with a few more little bits it should be time to fire it up. Less torque than a Hornsby, but probably more suitable for the task in hand.

Massive Torque.

2008-03-08T11:24:00.000-08:00

In the winch room at Cadgwith, down on the Lizard Peninsula, lurks this remarkable engine. I have been aware of it for over 20 years and pop in to pay my respects every time I’m down here. It is pitch black in the shed and I banged my head on something to get these pictures. Up until comparatively recently (Within the last 30 years I guess) this engine was in regular use hauling fishing boats up the quay in this living fishing village. Web research tonight has unearthed that is a Hornsby Oil engine dating back to about 1910. There’s a mass of stuff on the web about them and some You Tube video of boiler suited enthusiasts keeping them chugging along at summer meetings.

A Load of Hot Air.

2008-02-27T10:50:00.000-08:00

A recent addition of a space heater to the Overland Preparation Barn, a thoughtful Christmas present from Liz, Matt’s wife, raised the temperature from -20º to a tropical -5º and made an evenings work on the Jeep almost enjoyable. I was trusted with wire brushing bits of chassis whilst Matt fitted new; engine mounting rubbers, gearbox mounting rubbers, and a new rear wheel bearing. In an evening we achieved a lot. Prior to my visit, Matt had already fitted a completely new brake system, rebuilt the steering box (yet to be fitted) and replaced all the seals in both the gearboxes and both diffs. I’m optimistic that it will hit the tarmac in June.

The Lights Arrive.

2008-02-25T14:03:00.000-08:00

These are probably the least convenient Jeep parts yet. A photo last summer showed a Jeep tail lamp on a trailer in Italy. The genuine article, not some Filipino copy, and it turned out there were a pair. The trailer was in Guileo’s yard. The Italy v. Wales Six Nations Rugby Match was coming up. Tickets were purchased for both the match and flights from Milan to Bristol. Beer drinking trousers were dug out of wardrobes and we all met up in Cardiff. Frazer and Delores threw a party and the tail lamps were exchanged, then the singing started. It was quite a night and the following day Wales triumphed, though it was anybody's game at half time (he added politely!) Great weekend!!!

Pop that top.

2008-02-21T04:12:00.000-08:00

The Jeep will never have a Pop Top, but it seems my life has featured cars with lifting roofs for a long time. I photographed the Bedford CA in 1964 on the first roll of film I ever shot. Kodak Bantam Colorsnap 2, 828 Kodachrome 2 film, set to ‘cloudy, but bright’. Life was so simple then. Dad had borrowed the Dormobile from a colleague at work and four of us went to a campsite in Manorbier, near Tenby. Easter from memory and unusually clement weather for both the time of year and Wales. The Bedford was both cramped and slow, but in 1964 most things were. The Land Rover was shot last month in Libya. How plain the colours look in comparison and yet its Pop Top dates back to 1970. Perhaps I should fit it with some nice flowery curtains.

Flywheel, Shyster, and Flywheel.

2008-02-19T06:06:00.000-08:00

There has been a bit of a break in proceedings whilst I’ve been swanning around in the desert and Matt has had more pressing matters to attend to, such as keeping warm in both his workshop and his Toyota Land Cruiser. The good news is that it’s back on track and the engine is nearly ready to go in. I bought this engine from Jeeparts UK back in November. Graham, at Jeeparts, confirmed in had been rebuild by the French Military about 20 years ago for one of their Hotchkiss Jeeps. He whipped the head off and declared in a ‘good one’. As it had no flywheel I bought a new one of those too. Back at the Overland Preparation Barn it looked very much as though the flywheel on the existing, later type, engine was the same. A curse, since I’d shelled out a ton on a new one. However, on closer inspection the starter ring was very worn and subsequently the new flywheel has gone on, along with a new clutch assembly. The aim is to fit it and fire it up later in February.

Real Desert Truck.

2007-12-18T09:08:00.001-08:00

You may spot that this is not a Jeep and has no tangible links with a Jeep, but it is a true desert truck, so there’s the link. This is my pal Mohammed. Mohammed, with his pal Sulliman, cooks for us in Germa, Libya, where I shall be for January. Germa is a dusty little breeze block shithole in the middle of bumfucknowhere about 700 miles south of Tripoli. Mohammed has had his Datsun pick up for at least ten years to my knowledge and it’s always looked exactly like this. He did point out, with great pride, that he had bought a NEW brake master cylinder recently and for the first time in a few years revelled in having brakes. They have a sort of M.O.T. type test in Libya, but they only test the lights and do it every two years. To get round this most Libyans in the desert towns share a set of lights to be fitted for the test, then removed and passed on for someone else. One headlight and one rear light is, obviously, quite enough for any car.

All the bits.

2007-12-04T00:11:00.000-08:00

A visit to the Overland Preparation Barn in Matlock yesterday confirmed that we now have virtually all the bits required to build a 1943 Jeep. All that is needed is some warmer weather and a bit of time. The chassis is fine, but all the hub oil seals will be replaced and all the brake pipes. The new spring shackles are now done! the body tub is welded and spot on. In the numerous boxes are all the rather prosaic bits and sitting on a pallet is the new engine. Well. Not new, new, but rebuilt by skilled French technicians (no laughing at the back) about 20 years ago. Graham, at Jeeparts, checked it over and confirmed it appeared to be ‘a good one’ and was ‘20 thou over’. The whole project is now 2 thou over, but I’m sure the end result will be worth it.

The Roman Way.

2007-11-29T09:50:00.001-08:00

The time had come for another big spend over at Jeeparts, so I fitted the roof to the old one and set off on a 200 mile round trip to get an engine, plus some other stuff. It would be the furthest I had been in it since visiting the Combo’s in Italy three years ago. I opted for Roman Roads all the way to Shrewsbury, taking the Fosse Way down to Hinckley, then Watling Street the rest of the way. The Romans didn’t piss about. They wanted good road links at any expense. Anyone gets in the way, throw them to the Lions. And here we are today, still using their road network. I had forgotten what a thrill it is to drive my 59 year old Land Rover. A delicate balance of gear changing, brake pumping and vague steering. Having to get a move on to catch Matt at the Overland Preparation Barn, before he went home, I found I had to spread the gate of my feet to maintain balance through the lovely bends between Utoxeter and Matlock. I felt very much like Mr Toad at the wheel. Great fun! I made it and deposited a new engine and various other bits for the next instalment.

My Aunt's Jeep

2007-11-21T01:14:00.000-08:00

I went up to Matlock yesterday and did a tour of inspection. The completed body tub is standing to attention on it’s rear panel in a corner of the workshop and the rolling chassis is being wheeled in and out to make way for real work. Hopefully, before Christmas, we shall formulate a second list of parts for me to collect, no, buy, from Jeeparts UK. It will include a new engine. Gulp! Meanwhile I found this lovely picture of my Aunt Rosemary taken, probably, at the end of the war. She was a bit of a James Bond in her day and talks little of what she actually did in the war to this day. It was all a secret. However, she has clearly wooed a couple of chaps to change a wheel here, whilst her and an officer watch on. I shall email her and ask if she can remember any other details. She would not, for one moment, have been interested in the Jeeps, or the fact that the one at the front has a trailer in tow, but you never know, she may just say that the officer lives down the road and still has the Jeep covered in dust in his shed.

Light me up Giulio.

2007-11-16T10:39:00.000-08:00

Sorry for the gap in transmissions Peter, but truth be told, there hasn’t been a lot of activity to report on. The boys in Matlock have had a ‘real’ job come in and that had to take priority. I did have a very encouraging picture emailed to me from none other than Ron Combo, in Italy. Ron has a good pal, Giulio, a singer of note and enthusiastic dancer any time after midnight. The picture shows Giulio, first opening the tenth bottle of wine that evening and secondly, livening up a quiet village main street near where they live. I can’t imagine why the other villager's didn’t come out and join in. They must have heard the music roaring out of the Jag. And it was Giulio on the tape. Great voice! Anyway, Giulio has a yard and in that yard is an old trailer with two Jeep rear lights. My aim is to ask Ron to persuade Giulio to remove them and bring them over to Blighty when they come over to see the Italy v Wales 6 Nations Rugby match next February. If it all works out I shall buy Giulio a pint in Cardiff, if they have beer there. It may be a Sunday. I’ll have to check. I’m worried now. Maybe he’ll settle for a lamb chop.

A Lick of Paint

2007-10-29T09:48:00.001-07:00

With the first coat of paint now on, the great thrill is to actually tick things off the list as finished! With the body tub welded and repainted, Matt and the chaps are moving on to the chassis. There are a few, small, welding jobs to do, then the fitting of all new brake pipes and fittings. The brakes it came with, were judged to be serviceable anyway and some parts even look new. My role has been minimal, but I fear I shall be doing what I do best, and heading back to Jeeparts, with another shopping list before too long.

Nice new floor.

2007-10-23T23:50:00.001-07:00

Piece by piece it’s taking shape. The rusty old floor is in the skip and this lovely new one is now in place, Matt went to great lengths to point out that it would be far better to get the whole tub sand blasted and weld to bare metal, but I wanted to retain the patina of old paint underneath the new paint I shall apply next Spring. Therefore, it was out with the grinder to clean up the metal for welding. With the new floor now in, the body is not far off being complete and the next task is to get the chassis and all it’s components up to scratch before refitting the body.

Measure twice, cut once.

2007-10-10T03:05:00.000-07:00

The Matt Savage team have now started work and removed the old, rusty, floor section. I went back to Jeeparts and lashed out a fortune on a whole Land Rover full of bits. The biggest bit was a new floor panel. This should fit in perfectly once the chaps have hacked out the original 1943 spot welds and tidied up the edge of the floor.

They found a few little wasp nests around the vehicle. These are genuine Californian wasps and one or two were sort of flying about and about 3/4 of an inch long. Hope this sort spell of warm weather we're having doesn't wake them all up! ahhhhh

Biting the bullet.

2007-09-30T09:34:00.001-07:00

Last Friday I met up with, co-conspirator, John Carroll, at Jeeparts in Shrewsbury, http://www.jeeparts.co.uk We had a long chat with Graham and Amanda, who run the business out of a very tidy, newish, warehouse on Atcham Business Park outside Shrewsbury. John has a similar pile of rust to mine and we plan to use them as a pair on a daft mission in the future.

Graham showed us around shelves stacked high with new parts. There was enough stuff to build a brand new Jeep from scratch! Chassis’s from the Philippines rubbed shoulders with original big end shells packed during the war in Ford’s huge US plant by Chuck, or Hank, neither of these knowing that one day their carefully labelled packs would be on a shelf with pistons from ‘The Piston Company’ of Coventry, where 50 odd years ago a Reggie or Len would have been packing pistons in their part in the global fight against fascism. This was living history.

Anyway. We sorted out a list of parts that will require the equivalent of a Third World Debt to pay for, and departed into the autumn light of Shropshire. John on his Harley and me in my Skoda, to contemplate the next move.

The ghastly truth

2007-09-19T04:57:00.000-07:00

Sometimes it’s best to get these things straight from the horses mouth, so to speak. So here, in it’s entirety, is the latest email from Matt at the Overland Preparation Barn, up in Matlock:

Barry and I took the body off yesterday and had a look at everything. Barry is quite keen that you get a new body, but I think, for what you want to do with it, repairing the existing body will be fine. Although this is going to cost a bit of time and it'll still look shabby! The strengthening cross members have all rotted away. And (as we know) the floor needs a long plate on going from one side to the other. The bit under the fuel tank has been bodged up with wire mesh and filler. It looks horrible, and a nice metal bit would be better (as it is susceptible to being hit, off road), but I think if you want this to be metal then it would be easier to simply get a new body.
Now the chassis is in great condition, although it has been hit on the front RH side and on the rear RH side. And it looks like the rear axle has been pushed (in an accident) to the left hand side. But these little inaccuracies are very easily straightened (by Barry!) There is only one little crack on theLH front hander (that we saw when you dropped it off) that need repairing.
The springs look rusty, but I think they are ok really. All the shocks are ok. There is a little play is one of the king pins, but itmight be possible to adjust this. All the wheel bearings/hubs are packed with nice NEW blue grease! It could do with four new hub oil seals, and one (well two really) of the stub axles have a VERY big groove in it where the seal seals against.This is on the rear axle and I think the stub axle is part of the whole axle assembly, so I suggest we fit a speedi-sleeve to these (about £45 each).
The wheel cylinders and the shoes all look kind of new, so I think we'll simply clean them up and put them back together. The master cylinder looks old, so I think a new one of them would be a good idea. Also a set of (four) brake hoses.
Oh, and I guess there is some sort of bush that the brake pedal pivots on, this has worn as well, so we need a new one.
And, the steering box is knackered!
On the chassis there is part of a stamp that says "F", it's not possible to read the rest,looks like the beginning of Ford?!

Flaming Jeep!

2007-09-09T14:20:00.000-07:00

This in from the Matt Savage Overland Prearation Barn: On Saturday (1st Sept) young Ted (aged 10) and I thought we'd try to get the Jeep running. With battery, jump leads, HT leads and a load of wire to coil and distributor... we got a spark!! Then had to find number one lead on distributor, pretty easy. After that I tried squirting petrol down the carb and operating the starter motor, it kind of tried to do something. But the squirting petrol whilst holding lots of wires and operating the throttle is pretty tricky. So I filled the carb with petrol (the carb body leaks fuel inside and out a little), then tried cranking again. Still it was almost trying to start, but not quite. All this with wires and crocodile clips falling off and coming loose! Anyway, we eventually got one battery for the ignition and one for the starter motor, this worked well. So we filled the carburettor up with fuel, and whilst operating the starter and throttle I also squirted some brake cleaner (very flammable!) down the carb.... nearly there, the odd splutter and a few backfires coming through the carb. Then another go with the same set up, leaking carb full of fuel, wires, crocodile clips, loose throttle linage and squirting brake cleaner down carb.... nnnnnn (ok) nenenene (yes!) nin eee nin eee nin eee (yes, yes, go on!).......... WOOF! (err, no... ahhhhh) a little back fire came through the carb a ignited the leaking petrol in/on the carb!! After 5 seconds of panicking I soon put it out by smothering the carb with a rag.
No damage done!

Collecting the Jeep

2007-09-02T02:38:00.000-07:00

I have always had an unhealthy fascination with 4x4 vehicles. I bought my first Land Rover aged 19, a 1948 model, which I still have today, in good running order. A 1970 Carawagon followed 10 years ago which, in extensively modified form, I have travelled North Africa in. Now it is time to get the granddaddy of them all. A war time Jeep. Mousing around on ebay and millweb I soon realised they were pretty expensive and that unrestored examples were rare. Particular war time ones. Despite manufacturing half a million, most seem to have either been blown up, or destroyed by nature over the last 60 years. As a last resort I tried some old Landy contacts, AMD Four Wheel Drive, here in Leicestershire. They had one that suited my needs perfectly at a reasonable £3500. It didn't run and had been imported from sunny California. A deal was struck and I collected it from the barn of the 'A' in AMD' who expressed a strong desire for his photo not to appear on any web site. So that's him looking like George Clooney! I then trailered the Jeep up to Matt's place in Matlock, where we gave it a good look over and planned a restoration. Follow it on this blog over the coming months and if you happen to have a set of original wheels I would be VERY happy to hear from you. Likewise any other hints and tips. many thanks. Toby