Mopar recently showed off some serious Jeep truck hotness at this year’s Moab Easter Jeep Safari! The vehicular hotty of which I speak is none other than the Jeep Nukizer 715 concept.

Let it be know far and wide that I love Jeep trucks! And, man, do I seriously love this ultra-sweet Jeep pickup concept from Mopar! With the recent Moab Easter Jeep Safari in the history books, Mopar’s official skinny on this super sweet Jeep pickup has been made available to the automotive media.

The official word from Chrysler is that the Jeep Nukizer 715 was conceived and built in tribute to the legendary Kaiser M-715 military truck. Consistent with the concept vehicle’s military heritage, Jeep appropriately based this one-of-a-kind Jeep pickup on a thoroughly modern military-spec Jeep J8. The sad part about this story is that there’s less than a snowball’s chance in south Florida of Chrysler ever bringing this beast into production. But oh, the inspiration for customization it will undoubtedly provide for owners of classic full-size Jeep pickups!

For additional details on this awesome truck, see the Jeep Nukizer 715 portion of the Chrysler press release provided below.

[Source: Chrysler]

Jeep Nukizer 715

The Jeep Nukizer 715 is an all-purpose truck that pays homage to the beloved military-only Kaiser M-715 truck. With a military-issue Jeep J8 four-door, the Mopar team converted the vehicle into a pickup body style by adding an aftermarket AEV Brute pickup box built for a TJ. To increase the size of the vehicle, the wheelbase is stretched to 124 inches from 116 inches. Enforcing the brand’s iconic M-715 is a new front clip produced in carbon fiber that re-creates the characteristic forward slant of the M-715 truck. To top it off, Bestop provided a unique soft top which artfully captures all of the quirks of the original.

Drivetrain upgrades include beefy Dynatrac Pro-Rock Dana 44 front and Dana 60 rear axles filled with 5:38 gears and ARB Airlocker differentials. Power is distributed by an Atlas II transfer case spinning custom driveshafts from Tom Woods. To keep the military look, tires are 38-inch BF Goodrich Mud Terrains mounted on Hutchinson beadlock wheels.

The powerplant remains a J8-specific 2.8-liter turbo diesel I-4 that has been treated to a re-programmed controller for more boost. Fuel is supplied from a custom Gen-Right tank made specifically for this vehicle and mounts to the rear cross member.

For body protection, Mopar added Jeep Wrangler rock rails and off-road bumpers. Other features include a Warn 9.5XP low-profile winch equipped with a Master Pull synthetic winch line, Warn air compressor, Terraflex dual-rate front sway bar and Garmin GPS Map 640 navigation unit.

Vehicle information:
Engine: 2.8-liter turbo diesel I-4
Transmission: four-speed automatic
Overall height: 75.2 inches
Overall width: 78.6 inches
Wheelbase: 124 inches
Weight: 4,500 pounds
Tires: 38 x 14.50-R17 BF Goodrich KM2

Most classic Jeep fans know that Willys pickups are special vehicles, but now the New York Times has jumped on the bandwagon!

The New York Times recently announced the top 30 collectible cars and trucks to be judged for the title of 2010 Collectible Car of the Year. The Times indicated that the paper’s judges have picked the top 30 from among hundreds of photos submitted by readers.

Among the top 30 vehicles is a mint condition 1954 Willys Pickup from Troy, Maine. The pickup, which is powered by a “Super Hurricane” 6-cylinder, reportedly has 54,000 original miles. The only apparent non-stock upgrades to the vehicle include seatbelts and a 12-volt electrical system.

The Times was asking for readers to register and vote for their favorite vehicle, but unfortunately voting ended on May 17, 2010. The New York Times will announce the winning vehicle on July 24, 2010. Head on over to the New York Times website to check out the pictures of the lovely ’54 pickup as well as all the other sweet top 30 readers’ rides.

PS – Thanks to Darrell Hewko for the tip!

[Source: New York Times at URL: http://collectiblecars.nytimes.com/Contest/Vote.asp#COL703231]

Hey there! Welcome again to MyClassicJeep.com. This post is intended to be the first of many to come, hopefully, in which I will highlight the story of the build-up of an exceptional classic Jeep. I’ll start with my own story and build off that foundation with engaging stories of classic Jeep vehicles and experiences shared by Jeeper friends here in southwest Ohio, as well as from future readers both near and far.

My Jeep story begins with a true love of cars and trucks instilled and encouraged in me by my father Cubert Coleman of Hurley, Virginia. Dad has always been a fan of classic cars and trucks, skewed mostly toward 1930s and ‘40s streetrods and 1950s customs (his current ride is a custom 1953 Studebaker pickup truck).

Jamie's 1960 pickup - original condition

I didn’t have a love of Jeeps, specifically, at the genesis of my automotive passion, but that all changed around 1997 when Dad traded up a red 1960 Willys pickup truck in nearly original, un-restored condition with around 83,000 miles on the odometer. I still remember the telephone conversation when Mom called from Virginia and told me Dad had bought the truck. From my home in Ohio, I could not picture what the vehicle looked like, never having seen one. All I knew for sure was that it would definitely be square and boxy in true Jeep fashion.

It turned out, of course, that my expectations were fully met when I went down home for a visit and first saw the truck. I was immediately wowed by its old-school Jeep style and the elegance of its simplicity. In a later conversation I strongly encouraged Dad not to sell or trade the vehicle, as frequent trading of toy vehicles was his custom, since I thought it was so utterly cool.

It was around 1998 that Dad, sensing my affinity for the ’60 Willys, called up and offered to give me the vehicle as an early grad school present. He offered to give me the truck and do the restoration/repower conversion work if I would buy parts. I immediately accepted with great enthusiasm and anticipation for what I was sure would be a one-of-a-kind Jeep truck. Little did I know it would be many years hence before both the truck was finished and I was out of grad school! [Grad school seemed like an eternity.] It would be around 9 years before my classic Jeep truck would grace the spot I reserved for it in my garage!

With the internet growing in its usefulness and accessibility during the 1990s, I did some research and found out about Mr. Paul Barry’s Willys parts business at Willys America in California. I ordered Mr. Barry’s repower conversion guide and parts catalog for the upcoming Jeep build.

In March 1999, Dad began the disassembly of the pickup for a frame-off repower conversion/renovation. During this timeframe Dad and I poured over the plentiful bits of valuable advice in the Willys America repower conversion guide and selected the AMC Grand Wagoneer front end/Chevy truck/blazer rear end configuration that Mr. Barry recommended as one option for updating the old Willys drivetrain and suspension.

Around October 2000, Dad acquired a 1978 Jeep Grand Wagoneer from which the front axle and the steering column was used for the restoration. Around the same timeframe he also procured a rear axle from a 1975 Chevy 4WD pickup truck. He also acquired a 1979 Chevy 350 turbo automatic transmission for the build to mate up with an intended GM power plant [Dad had a 305 V-8 we considered, but ended up obtaining a 4.3 GM V-6 for the build].

In April 2001, the truck’s bare frame, as well as the front and rear axles were media blasted and painted a nice shiny black. In May of the same year Dad mounted the motor to the finished frame. Since the truck was a labor of love that Dad was doing for me amidst his obligatory retirement related piddling and honey-do projects to keep Mom happy, there were often extended periods of inactivity in the Willys build. It would be winter 2002 before any more significant work was done on the truck.

In February 2002 Dad restored the front disc and rear drum brakes. After another long lull, in August 2003 Dad and my brother-in-law Anthony Clifton sanded / ground the cab bottom for patching and painting. Later in the fall/winter of 2005 much body work was done on the truck’s cab. Dad temporarily mounted the reworked cab to the shiny restored frame in December 2003.

In January 2004 Dad installed the power brake booster and pedal assembly. Later that winter and on into spring Dad installed the tilt steering column from the donor Grand Wagoneer. He also performed herculean feats in working the puzzle of the wiring and electric power windows. Yes, I said electric power windows – in a 1960 Willys pickup! They were Dad’s idea. I would have been pleased as punch with old-school cranks, but Dad wanted to get all high-tech redneck on me! Thanks, Dad, they’re awesome!

Toward the end of 2004 on into 2005, Dad repaired and mounted the front fenders. For those in the know, there is no source for aftermarket replacements for Willys truck/wagon front fenders. As such, Dad had to put some serious work into getting the ones we had up to snuff, with the best pair selected from among several different donor vehicles.

In February 2005 Dad installed my seats. I selected and purchased the Bestop low-back vinyl bucket seats and a matching lockable floor console. About a month later, Dad mounted the grille, installed the fan shroud, and mounted the hood.

It turned out to be a pretty busy year for Dad and the truck in 2005. In July he installed sound/heat insulation in the cab and completed the vehicle’s wiring. In September Dad installed custom wooden dash panels. Dad and our cousin and long-time neighbor Don Lester crafted the custom panels and did a beautiful job. The panels were mounted with a custom gage package and a Pyle stereo CD/cassette. The front fenders were also painted during this timeframe. The cab paint was completed in December.

During the period of July through December 2006 the bed, again selected from one of several donor trucks since it was way better than the original bed on my truck, was deconstructed. The bed walls were removed from the standards, requiring Dad to drill out a seemingly countless number of spot welds. The bed frame was stripped and painted, new bed walls were fabricated and subsequently welded to the bed frame. Fiberglass rear fenders sourced from Willys America were installed, and the bed and fenders were painted to match the cab.

Pop wins the truck's first trophy!

During the winter of 2006/2007 final assembly began on the truck. Dad fabricated a custom tailgate with outer and inner (diamond plate aluminum) skin, and installed a bed floor also composed of aluminum diamond plate. Dad also fabricated and installed custom aluminum diamond plate side steps on the bed. Final assembly was complete in May. On May 26, 2007, Dad won the truck’s first trophy at a small car show in Grundy, VA. Interestingly, the car show was sponsored by Modern Sales, the very Jeep dealership (now defunct, but originally one of the oldest Jeep dealerships in the U.S.) from which the truck was originally purchased in 1960 or 1961.

Jamie's 1960 pickup - Pop Coleman hands over the keys

After 9 years since the promise of the truck, in July 2007 Dad and Mom made the fateful journey from Virginia to Ohio with my big red toy. Words fail to describe my feelings when seeing my parents pull into our subdivision with the finished vehicle on the back of a flatbed trailer. Ever since then I have been the proud owner of an eye-popping red 1960 Willys pickup truck that occupies a prominent place in my third car garage.

I suppose this is as good a place as any to offer my thanks to Dad for all his hard work, as well as to my wife Amy for supporting me in allowing withdrawals from the general fund for use on my beloved Jeep. I also need to thank my mom for enduring Dad’s distractions from honey-do projects during the build.

As stated previously, my story is intended as the first in a perpetual series of stories on the acquisition and/or build-up of classic Jeep vehicles from Jeeper friends known and yet unknown. If you have a classic Jeep (pre-CJ through XJ Cherokee, but not including TJ Wranglers and newer) that you think would make a good candidate for a MyClassicJeep.com story, give me a yell at MyClassicJeep@gmail.com.

MCJ is the brainchild of Jamie Coleman, a Jeep enthusiast (owner of a 1960 Willys pickup – re-power conversion) and part-time blogger with a serious love for Jeeps of all sorts. Jamie presently lives with his lovely wife Amy and daughters Elizabeth and Emily in beautiful Liberty Township, Ohio.

MCJ features blog posts profiling classic Jeep vehicles and their owners, the first of which is dedicated to Jamie’s very own 1960 Willys pickup (see this post HERE). MCJ also provides coverage of Jeep-related shows and events, vendor profiles, product reviews, Jeep related book reviews and author profiles. In light of Christ’s admonition that in order to lead we must serve (Mark 9:35), MCJ intends to serve the Jeep community by providing compelling, high-quality content that will fuel readers’ passion for classic Jeeps.

By way of introduction I am, among other things, a Jeep enthusiast and part-time blogger with a serious love for Jeeps of all sorts. I presently live with my lovely wife Amy and daughters Elizabeth and Emily in beautiful Liberty Township, Ohio.

I’ve pretty much always been a Jeep fan, but I really came into the Jeep fold back in the late 1990s when my father in Virginia gave me an un-restored 1960 Willys Jeep pickup as a grad school present. With the gift of the truck came Dad’s commitment to do the restoration and re-power conversion of the truck on the condition that I help buy parts. Over the years, Dad put way more into the truck in terms of blood, sweat, tears and money than I did, even though I did buy quite a number of restoration components along the way. After a couple of years of planning and about 8 years of part-time work on the truck – Dad is a retiree, after all – it was completed back in May of 2007. Later that same summer Dad hauled my bright red beauty from our homeland of rural Appalachia to southwest Ohio where it presently adorns my third car garage.

But enough about me! Why MyClassicJeep.com? As a Jeep enthusiast and a general car nut, I have combed the web far and wide in search of automotive news and commentary of all types. In my extensive web surfing, I have yet to find a blog dedicated to classic Jeeps. After getting my feet wet in the blogging world doing some freelance work for High Gear Media of Palo Alto, California [you may see some of my earlier blogging efforts at LexusReports.com and presently at AllPickupTrucks.com], I got the bright idea to stake a claim to my own little slice of the blogging pie in the area of classic Jeeps.

I am a “big-tent” Jeeper when I use the term “classic,” so I tend to be more inclusive than exclusive. As such, MCJ is a blog focused on all Jeep models from the 1940s with the birth of the brand through the first generation Wrangler (YJ), which ended production in 1995. My definition of “classic” also includes the XJ Cherokee. Even though this legendary Jeep’s production ended somewhat recently in 2001, it was originally offered a quarter century ago in 1984. The XJ easily qualifies as “classic” to me, as well as many other loyal Jeep fans.

While not the blog’s primary focus, MCJ will also include coverage of what might be called “modern classics” or “future classics.” This category might include such models as the beastly and relatively low-production-volume Grand Cherokee SRT-8, with its massive V-8 engine and monstrous horsepower.

MCJ will feature posts offering a detailed profile of classic Jeep vehicles and their owners, the first of which is dedicated to my very own 1960 Willys pickup (see this post HERE). MCJ will provide coverage of Jeep-related shows and events. We’ll provide vendor profiles that are relevant to the classic Jeep community. As opportunity allows, MCJ will also offer insightful reviews of products and accessories that are sure to be of interest to readers. On occasion, MCJ will feature book reviews and profiles for authors of Jeep-related literature, whether technical, historical, or otherwise. MCJ might even include a post here and there concerning current Jeep-related events and the present state of the Jeep brand.

If this type of content lights your fire and feeds your passion for classic Jeeps, come along for the ride with MyClassicJeep.com! And if a particular post stirs you up, please provide feedback in the form of comments. We at MCJ will do our best to be responsive to readers’ interests and concerns. Also, so you won’t miss anything, be sure to subscribe to the bi-weekly MCJ email newsletter (see the link at the top of the page) and/or subscribe to our RSS feed (using the orange button on the right side of the page).

Here to serve,

Jamie Coleman