Rugged, durable, and unstoppable—words that describe an American classic. Both Willys Overland Motor Company and Ford Motor Company manufactured what was to become a four-wheel-drive icon—the jeep. Between 1941 and 1945, for a mere $738.74, the U.S. government was able to purchase roughly a half million jeeps. When WWII was nearly over, Willys Overland retooled and began marketing a civilian version of the military’s “jeep that won the war,” and between 1945 and 1949 the company made the CJ2A.
Aside from owning a part of the Jeep character, Jed Colledge wanted to explore the great outdoors. His ’48 buildup is a story not unlike the classic ¼-ton itself. Practically built from the frame, his CJ2A is modified to favor rockcrawling more than anything else. That means that the components Jed selected, like twin Ford 9-inch axles, a well-laid-out/well-functioning drivetrain, and a spring-over with Wrangler leaf springs, make for one heck of a good time.
Jed Colledge: Proud owner of a ’48 Willys Overland CJ2A.
Envy: We want it.
Enjoy the outdoors: The purpose for which it was built.
Perfect tools: What’s better than a backstage pass at a Metallica concert? An all access pass to your dad’s machine shop. Think tube bender, grinder, and all sorts of amusing metalwork gear.
Custom six-point rollcage built by Colledge Machine of Lindon, Utah, and painted DuPont red to match the rest of the rig.
Jeep: The American icon.
2 years: That’s the time it took Jed to build the ¼-ton.
Air tank and compressor built into the rollcage make for convenient, compact air and tool access.