New Guy Here, but not...

With 5 generations involved, it pretty much IS family.

1- Bought new in 1946 by grandparents.

2 - Dad learned to drive in it.  He taught my mom to drive in it while they were dating.

3 - It became my mom's Jeep.

4 - I learned to drive in it.  I also went EVERYWHERE in it in Southern California.  Had deer, pigs and other creatures we killed tied onto the hood.  I even laid it on it's side once...  Don't tell my dad.

5 - At 18, I left for the military and my brother-in-law, we'll just call him my sisters husband, cut it up, put in a Chev 350, pretty much destroyed it. He mistakenly thought it had become his.

6 - 20 years later, I got it back (my dad maintained ownership) and in 2002 I set out to restore it.  1 year and 10 months later it is alkyd enamel paint, cloth covered wires, everything is the way it was in 1946.  Complete disassemble.  Every last part.  I welded the hole in the hood shut (Chev 350 air cleaner hole), had to add quite a lot of body parts, but it is as original as possible, considering the damage done.

7 - Gave it back to my mom on her birthday in 2004, which is actually very close to the build date of the Jeep.  She didn't know the restoration was underway.  And she cried....  We went for a drive after which she handed me the keys and said "It's yours now".

Life is good.

We've done a few car shows, but that wasn't why I did it.  I just wanted our old Jeep back from the dead.

At our first show in Northern California, there were 3300 cars. We took "Best Restored". I'm still shocked. 

I've taught both my daughters to drive in it.  And one day, a grand kid will learn in it.

If this old Jeep didn't have this history and attached sentimental value, I would never have spent the time and money to restore it. 

And no, my sisters husband and I still don't speak much....