I used to answer the phone after school for my dad. Someone knew we had a half-track and called one day about a Jeep Half-Track. Having never heard of any such thing I thought the caller was confused. I asked a lot of questions and the person was positive that’s what he had.
When my dad got home I relayed the message and he immediately got out Bart Vanderveen’s book and turned to the page. Needless to say we called and made arrangements to go see it. It was within 30 miles for where we lived in Somerset, PA. We bought it immediately. I recently found the receipt written on the back of a business card with the receipt.
We were surprised to learn that in the Vanderveen book is shows a small dent in the front fender and that same dent was on the fender! This was very exciting. We brought it home and took the body and hung it from the ceiling so it wouldn’t be damaged and put everything else under it in our big shop building. There it sat from the 1970’s until late 80’s or early 90’s when my dad decided to sell it to his best friend in VT, Albert Pike. He did so with the understanding that Albert could machine parts needed since we didn’t have equipment or skill to do that. Unfortunately Albert sold it to the current owner in England.
The current owner reached out to me several times over the years to ask questions and to my dad. He mailed me a copy each time he wrote a book and included personal notes. He mentioned us I believe. I do have those books and letters packed away. I’ll share when I come across them.
We learned over the years after we acquired it that there were I believe three prototypes if memory serves. They were sold to a scrap dealer in North Central PA. I can’t quite remember who it was, but I used to know it. One person saw this and saved the one that is left and hoped to go back for the others, but they were scrapped before he could do so. Therefore this is the only one in existence.
I have led a very interesting life some say.
On Beth's Mind 