In March 2007, I spotted a 1953 CJ3B for sale on a forum. The photos looked good and I was needing something "different" as I already had a 99 TJ.

On Sunday, March 4th I went out to Massachusetts for a look but came back empty handed. The body looked terrible for the asking price to be what it was. I lowered my offer after thinking it over, but I drove home without it. We went back and forth a couple times as I was trying to get a body for it from another guy, but I needed to pull together the two deals so it's affordable and doable (I pulled the deals together that week).

On Saturday March 10th, I got a verbal deal on the 2nd one (body), and got the first one home.

The picture I received that got me looking in the first place

Stripped...

I brought it home and jammed it into the garage. It drove up on the trailer under its own power, but once home it wasn't budging. There she sat for 3 weeks, hidden away like some jewel. Unfortunately, my wife eventually found out and told me she better stay hidden away, like a piece of junk.

But eventually, out she comes...

Tear Down (pre April 2008)

Getting a new life

The build-up has begun with the frame being blasted, repaired, and painted.

Frame - July 2008

Suspension - March 2009

Drivetrain/axles -

Engine - ongoing

Electrical -

Body -