Jeep Workshop
In the first of a two-part feature, Ray Froggett discusses the process of completely restoring an original barn-find 1942 Willys Jeep
My first encounter with a proper World War Two Jeep was around 1999 at Dunkeswell Airfield. A good friend of my father had a 1943 Ford GPW and I had the chance to drive the machine and thought it was brilliant, deciding I wanted one at some time in the future. Sadly, my father’s friend passed away and the Jeep went somewhere never to be found.
Several years later, having retired as an aircraft engineer, I had to have a project to keep me occupied and what better way than restoring a Willys Jeep? Not knowing much about Jeeps in general, I made some enquiries and, around 2016, started emailing dealers to get photos of what was on offer. I didn’t know whether to buy a complete Jeep or one in pieces, and having spent nearly a year trawling the internet, I eventually came across a 1942 Willys offered by Robert U’Ren all in pieces in a barn in Totnes. I gave the owner a call and, after finding out a bit more about the condition of the vehicle, we agreed on a date to go and view it in his barn.
The Jeep was spread out on the ground, tub on a pallet, both axles…
