We’ve Got Epic Willy’s Jeep Videos!

11/14/2012

In honor of tonight’s Wheeler Dealers at 9p E/P, where Mike brings home a wartime Willy’s Jeep we’ve got a little history on the plucky little vehicle that was churned out by the thousands to serve in multiple wars and is such a part of our culture they have been collected and modified through the years.

The Willys MB US Army Jeep (formally the Truck, 1/4 ton, 4x4) was manufactured from 1941 to 1945. These small four-wheel drive utility vehicles are considered an iconic machine during World War II and the Korean War. It is beloved for its no quit capabilities and the subject of many jokes – such as the famous scene in the TV series MASH where Hawkeye jokes that Rizzo is mailing a Jeep home piece by piece. Who wouldn’t want one at home? That’s why it inspired many other light utility vehicles and was evolved by Jeep into the “CJ” or civilian Jeep.

While there may well be tons of Jeep’s out there – who knows what condition they are in. Something tells me that Edd is going to face some issues with the Jeep Mike brings him tonight. One can only imagine what the plucky little vehicle has been through.

Famous Army Jeep Crash Test.  No need to say more.

  

Giant Jeep Willy’s from Sweden Kicks Up Some Ridiculous Mud

 

Willy’s Jeep Rat Rod…Oh Yeah!

 

Plus, we'll leave you with some classic Wheeler Dealers to tide you over until a new episode airs tonight at 9p E/P.

  

 

by Eileen Marable

Morgans Old and New. Which Has More Class?

09/19/2012

Tonight the Wheeler Dealers boys are tackling a Morgan, which is considered to be one of the “classic British roadster.” The thing is, what kind of Morgan is Mike bringing back and in what shape? If it’s a roadster it could have taken a beating.  We’ll find out on Wheeler Dealers tonight at 9p E/P.

The Boys Are After a “Flying B” in Tonight’s Season Ender

08/29/2012

As Wheeler Dealers closes the season out tonight at 9:00p E/P, the boys are going big after a “Flying B” – the nickname for the prestigious Bentley. In fact, Mike’s going after an 80s era game changer in the Bentley Mulsanne. Bentleys are a revered British car, and the Mulsanne was a model that only saw some 530 or so produced from 1980 – 1987 so Mike is definitely going to have to do some wheeling and dealing to get one.

The 2013 Mercedes-Benz S-Class…Spy Photos!

08/27/2012

Spy photos are big business in the car biz – when a car company takes a new model out on the streets to road test or kick the tires in extreme heat or extreme cold, the car paparazzi are there. Everyone wants the first look.

A sneak peak at the rear of the 2013 S-Class 

A Hand Built Car, 10 Facts About the Classic VW & More in a Wheeler Dealer-palooza!

08/01/2012

Yep, today’s mini-marathon are your favorite Brits Mike and Edd in a Wheeler Dealer line up starting at 4:00p E/P. No commentary on the Olympics from them, but rather their signature look at cars from purchase second hand through the remodeling challenges.

We’ve written about quite a few cars that have passed through Mike and Edd’s hands so we’re giving you some links to revisit the stories behind some of tonight’s cars:

The Volvo P1800 – The Wheeler Dealers Take on “The Saint”

I Didn’t Know That About the Classic VW Beetle

Is The 1974 Ferrari Dino 308 a “Fake Ferrari”?

One we haven’t covered yet, but you’ll see tonight is the Jensen Interceptor. I thought I’d mention this classic British sports car because of something I love. The Interceptor (isn’t that a GREAT name??) is a GT class car that was hand-built.

When you think of a hand built car, your mind goes back to the time of Henry Ford and the assembly line Model T’s. There was nothing old fashioned about these cars when they came out of the Kelvin Way Factory in West Bromwhich in the U.K. Produced by Jenson Motors, the Interceptor was built between 1966 and 1976 with a production run of 6,408 cars.

If you want to know everything there is to know about the Interceptor, our friends at How Stuff Works have a nice little guide on this great car.

The model that Mike and Edd have found is a 1973 with a fair bit of rust problems in the under panels. That’s because Jensen returned to a steel body shell during the run in the 60s and 70s – if these cars weren’t kept garaged or well cared for…well you all know the weather over there! Here's a shot of a similar '73 model:

Image: Wikimedia Commons License

Let’s just say rust is the enemy for Edd as he repairs their ’73. Hopefully it will come together as the rest of the car is an absolute beaut!

There’s been a bit of a Jensen resurgence in recent years. If fact, there is a small, dedicated team of industry experts and trained classic coach builders that is putting out an Interceptor R series out of Banbury. Here’s a link to their site and all the details on the marvelous reincarnation of the Jensen. I think Mike and Edd might be jealous…

Now, have a look at some clips of the guys wrangling with their Jensen and more, before the mini marathon of Wheeler Dealers, today starting at 4:00p E/P! Check out the line up here to make sure you catch your favorite car find and fix-up!