My mother, "Boo", bought a 1949 Jeepster in 1949. We lived in Kent, Ohio where she taught at Kent State University. I assume she found out about them because Toledo is only a 4 hour drive from Kent. Well, now it is, don't know the drive time in 1949. It may have been less if my father, noted for his fast driving, took her to Toledo in his Jag!
When I turned 16 in 1958 she had the car redone and gave it to me. I drove it to Kent State University High School where it was illegally parked everyday. The day I got caught my mother told the principal she was the one who had driven it to school and parked there. That is the only time I remember her coming to my defense - a clear indication to me of her deep love and attachment to the Jeepster!
The Jeepster made numerous trips to Antioch College in Yellow Springs, Ohio. Since the car stood out, even then, I was unable to go anywhere without my mother finding out! A 5 hour drive from home!
My cousin crashed the car while I was in American Samoa in the late 60s. I always wanted it back!
Last May I saw a 1949 on eBay. I was looking for one that was as original as possible. That was it! Of course, the Jeepster was not close by. My husband and I live in Yuma, AZ. The Jeepster was in Glens Falls, NY! "My car" arrived safe and sound in Yuma about a month later. Within a week James found out how much fun she was - so now Jaunty (the name on the license plate) - seems to be mine only because my name is on the paper work!
Jaunty gets a lot of attention here - more when all the Snowbirds arrive. We are going to put her in the Yuma, AZ car show, 17th Annual Midnight at the Oasis, March 6-8, 2009. There are always 800 or more entries. I will let you know how Jaunty does.
It will be obvious to those Jeepster lovers who stumble onto this site that Jaunty will be a long term project! But at least she runs and Yuma has the weather for it - most of the year!
