It was 1963 and Steven Adams was looking for some tools. He came across a ’46 Jeep CJ-2A at the local Jeep dealer in New Martinsville, West Virginia. It was a low mileage creampuff used only to mow the fairways at a local golf course. Though too big to fit in his toolbox, the little CJ turned out to be one of the best tools Adams ever purchased.
 Early CJ-2As mix some WWII military features with civvy features. A couple of these are the tool cutouts on the body below the driver’s seat and the full-float military rear axle. The easiest giveaway difference for an early civvy jeep is the 7-slot civvy grille with large headlights and bezels. The military jeeps had 9-slot grilles and small, recessed headlights. Military rigs also have no tailgate. The “Little Red Wagon,” written on the body, commemorates a WWII Jeep with the same nickname that the elder Adams drove in the Philippines during World War II. The Plow bracketry is for a ’40s vintage Monarch plow. |
 Adams had to fabricate much of the bracketry for the Ramsey model 200R rear winch. Driven from a rear mount PTO, this unit was designed more for industrial use than recovery, but it can be used for either. An A-frame can be attached for lifting, but you must have the front bumper weights attached to prevent wheelies! |
 In the old days, accessory hydraulic pumps were driven by the engine with belts. This Hy-Lo unit operates the Monarch snowplow. |
 This Westinghouse T-1 compressor kit is a very rare accessory. Originally developed for military jeeps in WWII, it was marketed commercially for a number of years after the war. One vintage ad from the 1950s shows it marked down from $60.50 to $29.95! The two-cylinder compressor has a mechanical clutch and can develop 3.27cfm at 600 rpm and 6.54 cfm at 1,200 rpm. Max pressure is 90 psi. |
When the mailman slid off into the ditch one winter, the Jeep was used to get him back onto his appointed rounds. When Steven’s brother was cutting wood and managed to jackknife a tractor and a wagon load of firewood out in the woods, the little CJ wormed its way between the trees and got him straightened out. After building a new house, Adams learned that the local rural electric company didn’t have anything that could haul a transformer down the muddy road to the house. The little Jeep did it. Such was the life of many an old Jeep, but it turns out Adams’ Jeep was also a little special.
Engine: 134.2 ci, 4-cyl. L-head
Power: 60hp @ 4000 gross
Torque: 105 lbs-ft @ 2000 gross
Comp. Ratio: 6.48:1
Transmission: 3-speed Warner T-90
Transfer Case: 2-speed Spicer 18
Front Axle: Spicer 25
Rear Axle: Spicer 23-2
Axle Ratios: 5.38:1
Wheelbase: 80 inches
GVW: 3,500 lbs.
Curb Weight: 2,125 lbs.
Fuel Capacity: 10.5 gallons
Top Speed: 65 mph
MSRP: $1,241.00 |
When a civilian version of the Willys jeep debuted in 1945, it was an instant hit. So strong was this jeep fervor, generated by the wartime jeep, that buyers were willing to spend many extra bucks for a new civvy version — even though there were thousands of “slightly used” military jeeps available at bargain prices.
The ’45 and early ’46 CJ-2As were unique in many ways compared to what became the standard Jeep CJ-2A by mid ’46. Some were obvious visual heavy hitters like a column shift T-90 transmission, the WWII full-float Spicer 23-2 rear axle, recessed front marker lights and tool cutouts on the body underneath the driver’s door opening. Along with these big differences, there were a bazillion little things that were not as obvious to the eye.
Adams’ Jeep, now owned proudly by his son (also named Steven Adams), is the 32nd Jeep built in 1946, and the 1857th production civvy Jeep. Only 1824 were offered as ’45s. That may not mean anything to the average Jeep-Joe out there, but collectors now highly prize the earliest CJs. They are generally considered the number one collectable in the flatfender realm.
After his dad passed away in 1982, the younger Adams cosmetically restored the Jeep to a condition similar to the way it was when his Dad bought it. He’s learned a lot about restoration since, and plans to redo the Jeep again — and do a more accurate job.
Over the years, Steven Jr. has added a number of accessory items to his Jeep. Keeping in mind his Dad’s use of the Jeep as a tool, Adams has added a Monarch Hi-Lo snowplow and a rear drive PTO, from which is driven a Ramsey model 200R rear winch setup. This type of winch was used industrially to load equipment and even featured an optional rear mounted A-frame for lifting. Under the hood is a rare, engine-driven Westinghouse air compressor kit. The Jeep even features factory front and rear weights, necessary when the snowplow or rear A-frame is put into use. An Evergreen body extender provides a little extra cargo space when needed.
Adams’ Jeep is way more than a toy. It’s a family heirloom maintained in honor of the guy who originally brought it into the family. It’s also a useful tool. Just like the antique saws and planes that woodworkers still use, the Adams Jeep is still occasionally pressed into service. There’s no better way to honor a tool than to use it.
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