TheJeeperWarehouse: July 2009

Well, after an incredible an amazing story, I save the red bodytub from the crsusher!!! Just in time! This bodytub was kept at a warehouse near the automotive workshop but as this warehouse wasn´t in property by the Willys jeep owners...Imagine the rest of the story! Yes, one day the owner felt fed up about this and call a local crusher to clean off his placen and as the bodytub was sitted in the interior of a funeral wagon, nobody noticed but anything. So, when at 18/05/09 (one year later!) I went to paid for it, the owners told me that it was in a wreckyard for at least 1 week ago! Ouch! My heart was going to explode!

I phoned then the wreckyard offices but they told me that the body was located at the trucks and vans section and that as it was 19:30 pm, it was closed. So, I´ll try next day!

I called the owners before went to the wreckayrd and then go at 9:00 am, hoping to found it before anybody take the decission of made with it a good steel package...And after meeting with one of the workers, and explained him the situation, we went to look for. And yes, he told me that he can´t believe it: "But how can they throw it to the wreck before calling the owners or you!? That´s amazing!" And it was there, stored up in an open van´s bed!!! Well, well, I went to explain again all to the boss and he noticed me quite excited and nervous, but he kindly me gave me the promise to kept it until I would go there again to recover it. He told me that I have had a lot of luck, as wrecks were those days very bad paid and that he also can´t believe the whole story of how the tub stopped at their site...He, the former worker I meet told me too that usually they crushed ASAP anything related with funeral companies, because supersticions and so!

Well, next day I called my friend David Guardia (thanks for your kindful help, David!) and we go there in the afternoon (at 17:00 pm) with his truck to recover it. When we arrived there, the boss called a couple of workers and they driven a Cartepillar to take it and put with our help at the truck. And men, what an spectacle!!! All the people was amazed to see an ol´Willys bodytub! A guy who came from Ermua, at Bizkaia or Vizcaya (Spanish Basque country) where´s a well known wreckyard who have stored Willys, REOs, GMCs, Dodges, etc. for years told me that his uncle was friend of the owner and he couldn´t believe to see that one! Also, another couple of guys who came from Donostia-San Sebastián told us about a local automotive workshop specialized in classic cars and Willys jeep too.

Frankly, I was quite shocked with the expectation caused by that vet´piece of steel...the wreckyard boss asked me if I was restoring a Willys jeep and answered him "Sure, man!". And I explained him just a little of this passionating hobby! Or illness, if your prefer.

Those´re some pics taken of the bodytub after storing it a village near my hometown and waiting for the sandblasting. Enjoy them! I would like to give my thanks for helping me in this, mr. José Luis Mier!