Willys Hotchkiss Willys M201 Jeep...

Rewind to as far as I remember, and watching WW2 films from the 1960`s and 70`s I always loved seeing WW2 Jeeps and would as I grew up have Action Man Jeeps and Airfix models and Dinky Toys of Jeeps and various WW2 stuff...

My late dad served as a Gunner in Centurion Tanks in the 1960`s,and while the British Army by then used Austin Champ Jeeps the French Military were still using the Willys Jeeps and replacement parts including a replacement Chassis, made under licence after WW2 by the French Hotchkiss Company kept many of the Jeeps in service with the French Military and Police until the 1990`s. Over their years of service they were updated and improved with better electrics and internal engine improvements and carburettors ...

I always said to my dad that one day I would buy a WW2 Jeep and as the years have went on looking at the prices of WW2 dated Jeeps they have went crazy to a point of not being affordable to the working man...

After 1990 French Military Jeeps started becoming available to the public here in the UK with the same basic design as the MB Willys using nearly all the same parts but with their upgrade improvements these Jeeps dressed as WW2 Jeeps have become a better option to own than an iconic WW2  machine unless you are a classic car collector,  The Hotchkiss Jeeps seem to be better to use in the real world...

And after saying for years that one day I will buy a Willys Jeep  for my 50th Birthday despite the buying options were drying up as prices for original examples have went through the roof, circumstances with me selling my house and moving in with G and spending some of my banked cash into a classic car would hold better value than cash right now in the bank, and I will have some fun with my investment...

And on Xmas eve of 2020 a new toy rolled off a flatbed courier truck...

The flat head `Go Devil` engine is the same 2.2 litre side valve of war era Jeeps but Hotchkiss had the timing belt replaced with a more reliable gear drive along with a French `Solex` Carburettor, so it still has that same noise and fan whirl of the WW2 Jeep...

I got plenty reading up to do on the Jeep history and maintenance which I hope to mostly do myself, 

They were built for `in the field` basic maintenance using basic tools, proper Meccano meets Tonka for grown ups!...

There is a lot of helpful people online and useful videos on YouTube for help and I will hopefully share these helpful peoples films and my progress...

Just been around Town mostly getting used to driving it, and it drives good, the steering is tight with no play, and the overhauled brakes pull it up straight...

The Jeep cruises happy at 45mph, and that feels fast enough in it's open top design...

It needs a few parts replaced which is expected for a 55 year old Jeep...

Did one long drive following the coast to my Mum`s and it was ace!, 

The Jeep is driving way better than i expected. Summer evenings cruising around Country roads will be good fun!...

Xmas pressies give a load of intelligence on what's going on...

G`s son helped me take off the roof tarp that once it is folded fits under the passenger seat, and we folded down the roof frame and then the windscreen, giving it that classic Jeep look...

A quick drive around town and I much prefer to drive it with the roof down, 

Windscreen will probably just be down on the hottest of days though! as it was proper baltic!...

Open top motoring in January... canny beat it!...

Here is a wee film, I will need to wait until after Lockdown restrictions eases before I can go out a leisure drive and do some  proper filming, though I can use it to go to essential shopping!...

More Soon...

UK Lockdown returns...

 

Midnight on January 5th 2021 the whole UK was put into Lockdown. Only essential Supplies shops are now open and essential travel only is advised. Exercise is as before last year allowed staying in your County Region, So again it's back to the coast staying safe and away from most other folks out and about... JMCP will be my go to loop for the next few days, enjoying the recent MK1 Surly Pugsley i recently got from friend Chris in a bike swap/deal. Done a few more tweaks I will post up soon in an update, today was just a short wee solo ride and G should be out alongside soon... Were back to the old bubble again, stay safe, save lives, don't get bitten... 

This wee fellow has not made it through the winter...

Hour or so cycling and the legs stretched and lungs full of fresh winter air, beach riding is my Yoga, and soon I was home buzzing for the rest of the day....

Here is a wee film from this mornings ride, Song is `White Cyclosa` by Boards of Canada,

More soon...

Hogmany and New Years Day Cycle...

New Year 2021... the last day of 2020 went out on an overcast grey day which later in the afternoon turned to biblical rain!, It must have rained solid for 12 hours on New Years Eve, bouncing off the windows it was... We were tucked up inside with some booze and snacks staying safe indoors as advised by Government  Covid restrictions... 

At least we had got out a short New Years Eve cycle around John Muir Country Park (JMCP) with the mid morning low tide...

A sprinkling of snow covered the sand above the high tide line...

We were soon home warming up as it was only 0.5C to 1C max all morning... Home and i quickly edited up a wee film, taking stills from the film which are posted  above...

Song is `L` by Tycho,

So with a Hogmany in the house together we watched an hour or so of some of our favourite Isolation Cycle films we did together in what has been for us both an amazing year.

2020 has not been such a good year for so many with people losing their loved ones, jobs lost and hopefully next year will be an improvement for many...

Up early on New Years day and clear skies!, the rain had passed and it was cold but not quite so nippy as the day before and we more or less repeated the same morning ride around JMCP...

Here is another wee film under a lot better light today, Song is `Love On A Real Train` by Tangerine Dream,

We were soon home and midday went a drive to Barnes Ness in the Jeep, 

And here it is! It is a 1965 French Hotchkiss Willys M201 Army Jeep, painted by the 1st UK owner who imported it in 2005 in WW2 USA markings...

Need to get some more film of the Jeep in use and will soon do a blog post on the Jeep and it's history etc...

After that an evening outdoors in the garden with G`s son and partner with the fire box roaring away keeping us warm as the temps dropped below Zero under the star lit sky...

Happy New Year everyone!  and best wishes for 2020!

More soon...