Jeep is Back in Uniform
The original 1941 Willys MA—later to be known as Jeep—became a staple of the allied war effort in World War II. Jeep reenters the military market with the all-new Jeep J8.
New military version of the Jeep® Wrangler Unlimited reports for duty
Jeep® recently unveiled its new J8 multipurpose vehicle at the Defence Systems & Equipment International (DSEi) military trade show in London, making the legendary vehicle available for reenlistment in active military service.
Based on the 2007 Jeep Wrangler Unlimited, the J8 features increased capability and versatility. The frame is reinforced to allow for payloads of up to 2,952 pounds. In addition, axles, brakes and suspension components are engineered specifically for the riggers of military and civilian government use.
Powered by a 2.8L four-cylinder turbo diesel engine, the Jeep J8 is available as a two-door with extended pickup bed for personnel or equipment transport, or as a four-door multipurpose vehicle.
In June of 1941, the U.S. Army received its first shipment of the Willys MA, the rugged 4x4 vehicle that came to be called the Jeep. This predecessor to today’s Jeep Wrangler proved so vital to the allies’ World War II effort that General Dwight D. Eisenhower declared the war could not have been won without the Jeep vehicle.
Guitarist Rocks Out with Mopar
Two-time Grammy nominee parks his Mopar ride at SEMA
Kenny Wayne Shepherd is passionate about two things: Guitars and cars. The renowned blues and rock guitarist and two-time Grammy nominee displayed his 1970 Plymouth Duster in the Mopar booth at last year’s Specialty Equipment Market Association (SEMA) show in Las Vegas (see page 6 for complete coverage of Mopar at the 2007 SEMA show).
Among other things, Shepherd’s Duster features a Mopar 406 cid engine, custom two-tone paint job and custom-painted hood treatment, one-off Foose Nitrous II wheels, custom one-off brakes by SSBC, Hydratech brake boost system, Be Cool radiator, and a Bowler Transmissions custom-built 4-liter 60 overdrive transmission.
Shepherd has four number-one blues albums and a string of number-one mainstream rock singles. He’s also received two Billboard Music Awards and was twice awarded the Orville H. Gibson Award for Best Blues Guitarist.
He also has good taste in cars.
Restoration Products Are Hot
The market for restoration products grew at an astounding 65% in just the past 10 years.
Mopar offers a full line of restoration products for your classic.New research released by the Specialty Equipment Market Association (SEMA) reports that the market for restoration products increased by a whopping 65% from 1997 to 2006.
The restoration market—which focuses on returning/repairing vehicles back to original condition with minimal modifications—has become big business according to Jim Spoonhower, SEMA’s Vice President of Market Research.
“The restoration market has benefited from the fact that consumers are looking at these vehicles as investments, an idea perpetuated by high prices fetched by fully restored to stock vehicles at auctions, such as Barrett-Jackson,” Spoonhower said. “This, coupled with nostalgia-motivated consumers bringing these cars and trucks to their original condition, has brought the restoration market to where it is today.”
To meet the demand, Mopar now offers a growing line of authentic restoration products. From exterior parts such as side view mirrors and vehicle badging to interior products including gauge bezels, shifter boots and door lock switches, Mopar has a full line of restoration products for those serious about keeping their classic Chrysler, Plymouth or Dodge genuine.
For more information about Mopar restoration products, log on to www.mopar.com and click on the restoration link.
