1954: Richard and Harold Kammeraad
"We bought this '54 from my grandpa about 4 years ago. It had been sitting in his back yard and hadn't moved for 19 years. We have done a lot of work on it since we bought it. It's running great and it never fails to amaze us with what it will do!"
See also some New Mexico trail photos:
1954: Jean-Maurice Mongrain
"I live in Quebec (Ile Perrot near Montreal) and I own a CJ-3B 1954. The engine is a 4.3 gm tbi, transmission t-90 stock, front differential Dana 30 with Detroit true trac locker, rear differential Dana 44 with easy locker and power disc brakes with power steering. The tires are Super Swamper tsl 33x12.50-15 and the suspension is a Rancho 2 1/2" lift kit."
See the larger photo (140K JPEG) showing the 3B lined up at a show with all the configurations of Jeeps that have followed the CJ-3B.
1954: Andy Gilchriest
As of September 2004, this Jeep was the earliest example we've found of a 1954 OB serial number. It was the 22nd 1954 CJ-3B to come off the Toledo assembly line in the late summer of 1953.
Andy said, "I bought the Jeep from my great uncle who had owned it since at least the early 80's. He used it as a hunting vehicle on his lease for a number of years until he stopped hunting. It sat in his driveway and later garage for roughly 10 years unused before I bought it in July of '03. I have now converted it to 12-volt entirely, and will shortly be getting insurance and registering it to be able to drive it in Texas. It currently has 32,000 miles on it." See also a front view photo (100K JPEG.)
Note: the Jeep was sold to Chuck Rossetti in Massachusetts in 2005, and Dave Strickler in 2009.
1954: Donald Laskey
"I have recently purchased a 1954 Willys CJ3B. It appears to be in very good to mint condition. Every little thing works. Speedometer reads 12000 miles. I note that it came from the Indio, CA area. I was told by the former owner, that it was a military unit. If so, someone has mounted the spare tire on the side, as with the jerry can (see a rear view photo, 50K JPEG.) I put the stencil on the tailgate, by downloading the pattern on The CJ3B Page. I am also responsible for mounting the handyman jack on the front bumper. I am planning on doing a restoration."
1954: Gert Christian
"I live in Cotia, state of São Paulo, Brasil. Recently I was looking for a used Jeep in good condition from the 1980's. Well, it just happened that I bumped into this beautiful, in good shape, only needing an engine rebuild, CJ-3B 1954. I couldn't resist.
"My objective is making the engine with the highest performance possible without losing originality. Also I intend to change the three shift gearbox for a 4-speed, to get some more speed. I started my engine rebuild by introducing light modifications:
"So far everything is going as expected but for gas consumption, and maybe I will put the old carburetor back."
See also a photo with the windshield folded down (120K JPEG).
1954: Khyl Powell
Khyl has this 3B for sale in Phoenix, Arizona, and says, "The engine is a 283 Chevy. When I was in high school '67-71 my friend owned this Jeep. I have no knowledge of its history before that. However, he kept the Jeep all these years and gave it to my son about three years ago. We hired a restoration shop to restore it and modernize it. I don't want it to go to waste. I have no way to store it but outside."
See more photos and details of this Road Warrior.
1954: Marcelo Fleury
Marcelo in Brazil says, "I have possessed this Jeep CJ-3B 1954 for three years. Until January 2003 it was original, but after an accident it was remodelled and modified." (See also a rear view photo (70K JPEG.)
For lots of offroad action photos, see High Hood on the High Plains.
1954: Scott Goranson
"Just rolled my Jeep down off the trailer from the body shop and spent the day bolting things back on. Still need to paint the windshield and a few things. Read a little about the 2.3 Ford 4 cyl. swaps, and have a finished one with power steering and vac. brakes and juice clutch. This Jeep was not at all stock when I purchased it. Had been wrapped with steel diamond plating and tin, and probably 6 gallons of bondo. Had a blown 260 V8 in it and had been rolled. But it had new tires/rims and a Bestop in the box. Salvaged the grill from the old body, and the bad hood yielded one intact WILLYS for the aftermarket tailgate. Tub is an original with probably 60% patch panels.
"See also a rear view photo (100K JPEG). Haven't taken pictures since I put the 4-wheel-drive logo on the back. By the way, had a shop here in town (Washington state) make it out of white vinyl -- exact copy of the stencil. He'll make them for anyone who wants them for $10.00."
1954: Hollis Wooldridge
"The serial number indicates this is a '54 but the title says '55 (see CJ-3B Serial Numbers for some likely reasons). Has the original 6-volt system, vacuum wiper and F134. I completely rebuilt the engine with an .030 overbore and it runs quite well now. The body is solid and does not have any of the usual rust, having been kept in a barn for many years.
"The previous owner added a roll bar, top, and tow bar, but everything else appears to be unmodified. I re-covered the seats with khaki canvas and they contrast nicely with the paint colors. It has a bikini top but I plan to add an original style, multi-piece unit once I obtain the bows. The wheels, interior and front fenders are black, and the rest of the exterior is painted with an original green shade. It has new 7.50-15 Xtra Grip-style tires from Cordovan. I live in a rural area on a small piece of property so use it daily for chores and running around the neighborhood, plus haul it to the deer lease every year where it gets a good workout in rocky country in the mountains of west Texas."
1954: Roberto Rodetti
"I live in Buenos Aires, Argentina. CJ-3B's are rare Jeeps here; mostly we have CJ-5's made in our country. I bought mine last year at 5000 pesos, something like 1600 dollars. All 4WD vehicles are expensive here. It is a '54 3B, far from being original; I think it was born green, now white. The engine was replaced by a Ford inline 6, the gearbox by a 4-speed ZF, and the steering box and column by a Torino part (an Argentine car based on the Rambler; see IKA Jeeps in Argentina on The CJ3B Page). The shackles were replaced by larger home-made ones.
"An interesting mod is the addition of an extra 13-gallon fuel tank at the back where the rear passenger seat should be. A valve connects it to the other tank which has no more refuelling hose, thus, no more leaks or smelt. At the back, it has Wrangler lights and the spare tire (originally at the right). Tires are Dunlop AT2 31-10.5-15. They give me great performance on tarmac and sand, but while mudding I prefer to use them with chains; they make the Jeep unstoppable.
"Diffs are 5.38:1. Lots of power but very slow highway speed, only 47MPH at 3000RPM; fortunately I tow it for long trips. I'm very happy with my Jeep (actually it's my wife's Jeep). The excuse to buy it was that we needed another car. It makes me happy when driving with the windshield down in the streets, when fourwheeling, and also when repairing it. Working on it is great to free my mind, and as someone said in the CJ-3B Bulletin Board, it makes me feel like a child."
See an underside view (70K JPEG) as Roberto crests a hill, and a view from behind of the Jeep attacking the hill (60K JPEG).
Continue to 1954 Owners and Photos, Page 4.
Return to the index of Jeep CJ-3B Owners and Photos.
You can contact the CJ3B Page to add your CJ-3B to the Owners & Photos pages. -- Derek Redmond
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