What do you say when they invoke "jeep in a crate?"
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- G-Sergeant
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What do you say when they invoke "jeep in a crate?"
How do you guys handle that? I used to try to explain the truth to them, but it always leads to an awkwardness, or worse. They just won't believe me.
I tried taking printed material about that myth, but they don't want to read a flyer at a show.
Lately, I just smile and say "How interesting."
Would love some suggestions.
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- G-Lieutenant General
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Re: What do you say when they invoke "jeep in a crate?"
Hello Bill,
Just ask if they have any pictures of the crate and the jeep
The US Government did in fact sell crated jeeps, here in the USA.
They did exist, and people did buy them.
There was a G member that posted the paperwork on his jeep that had all the auction information, and papers on his particular jeep that notated that it was new, and crated.
viewtopic.php?f=144&t=289307&hilit=crate+jeep
A lot of the public knowledge about them likely was from the advertisements in old Popular Mechanics Magazines, that every kid had seen in the old days, advertising crated jeeps, GMC CCKW trucks, etc.
A great dream of many, but very few actual crated jeeps .
But people did buy them, and they were real .
Best Regards,
Ray
Just ask if they have any pictures of the crate and the jeep
The US Government did in fact sell crated jeeps, here in the USA.
They did exist, and people did buy them.
There was a G member that posted the paperwork on his jeep that had all the auction information, and papers on his particular jeep that notated that it was new, and crated.
viewtopic.php?f=144&t=289307&hilit=crate+jeep
A lot of the public knowledge about them likely was from the advertisements in old Popular Mechanics Magazines, that every kid had seen in the old days, advertising crated jeeps, GMC CCKW trucks, etc.
A great dream of many, but very few actual crated jeeps .
But people did buy them, and they were real .
Best Regards,
Ray
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- G-Staff Sergeant
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Re: What do you say when they invoke "jeep in a crate?"
I’ve bought several brand new never driven army Jeeps but they were in racks, not boxes. Also, they were newer!
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- G-Sergeant First Class
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Re: What do you say when they invoke "jeep in a crate?"
In the early 70's My best friends dad had a mint condition 44 willys, the thing looked brand new. Fast forward a few years and one eveing I was visting with my friends father and the willys came into the conversation, He told me he purchased the jeep new in 1946 from military surplus. He could not recall what he paid for it, but said it was not much and that it was on a pallet or some kind of crate. He then disappeared into his shop and came back with one photo of the jeep when he brought it home. There it was a jeep basicly on a wood frame pallet ,inretospect it may have been a crate that had the top and sides already removed. It was setting on a single axle flat trailer pulled by a 46 Oldsmobile. Looking very much like the pictures we all have seen, tires stuffed underneath, windsheld stored etc.
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- G-Lieutenant General
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Re: What do you say when they invoke "jeep in a crate?"
Hello,Mike's GPW'S wrote: ↑Wed Nov 09, 2022 8:18 pmIn the early 70's My best friends dad had a mint condition 44 willys, the thing looked brand new. Fast forward a few years and one eveing I was visting with my friends father and the willys came into the conversation, He told me he purchased the jeep new in 1946 from military surplus. He could not recall what he paid for it, but said it was not much and that it was on a pallet or some kind of crate. He then disappeared into his shop and came back with one photo of the jeep when he brought it home. There it was a jeep basicly on a wood frame pallet ,inretospect it may have been a crate that had the top and sides already removed. It was setting on a single axle flat trailer pulled by a 46 Oldsmobile. Looking very much like the pictures we all have seen, tires stuffed underneath, windsheld stored etc.
A neighbor stopped by the other day as I was working on my jeep.
He told me his dad bought 8 crated jeeps after WW2, when he was a teenager.
He said they couldn't get them uncrated fast enough as the demand was very high and they sold everyone of them.
He also said they got several Army motorcycles.
They were in the car business.
Now, he saw these crated jeeps, and worked on assembling them as well.
So, I asked the question ..... did you happen to get a pictures of the crated jeeps back then, and he thought for a minute, and said that they did take
pictures of them, and that he should have the pictures somewhere, but he would have to search for them.
So hopefully he can find them, and I can post them if he does.
Best Regards,
Ray
- mstokes
- G-Sergeant Major
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Re: What do you say when they invoke "jeep in a crate?"
Like you said just smile and be humble. That’s what I do. I’ve also had people tell me their grandpa’s Jeep was shipped back from Europe after the war then they show me a picture and it’s a CJ. Same thing I just smile and compliment them on the Jeep.
1941 MB slat grill #105647 DOD 12-22-41
1942 Script GPW #43012 DOD 7-6-42
1945 MB #403328 DOD 1-6-45
1953 NAVY CJ3A #453 GB1 17562 Reg# 94-02441
1942 Script GPW #43012 DOD 7-6-42
1945 MB #403328 DOD 1-6-45
1953 NAVY CJ3A #453 GB1 17562 Reg# 94-02441
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- G-Sergeant
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Re: What do you say when they invoke "jeep in a crate?"
For some reason, our jeeps draw a lot of attention. The $50 jeep in a crate was tremendously popular in the 1980’s when so many of the Greatest Generation were around. I wish now I had written more of their war jeep stories down. It always seemed there was an adjacent listener to the Vet’s story who was waiting for the opportunity to chime in with his “crate story.”
It is tough to smile, which is best to do, while you are thinking of all the time, sweat, and money you have in your OD jeep friend as some yo-yo thinks you bought it for a song.
I have a harder time with, “yep, this jeep was in D-day” when the jeep sits in the Midwest USA...
Anyway you look at it, remember, you own a jeep!
It is tough to smile, which is best to do, while you are thinking of all the time, sweat, and money you have in your OD jeep friend as some yo-yo thinks you bought it for a song.
I have a harder time with, “yep, this jeep was in D-day” when the jeep sits in the Midwest USA...
Anyway you look at it, remember, you own a jeep!
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- G-Second Lieutenant
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Re: What do you say when they invoke "jeep in a crate?"
Amen!
Tim
1945 WC-57 81674456
1944 WC-52 81750129
1945 MB 430629
1943 Ford GPW133609
1943 Ben Hur 0347395 (Gertstenlager)
1945 WC-57 81674456
1944 WC-52 81750129
1945 MB 430629
1943 Ford GPW133609
1943 Ben Hur 0347395 (Gertstenlager)
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