JChatary
Outdoor Daydreamer
I came across this story from the Orange County Register here in So Cal. and thought this would be something really interesting and special to share. I've contacted the person who wrote the article, and he gave me permission to post it here. Enjoy!
Part 1 of 2...
Craig Yee has this thing about getting stuck.
He's not for it.
Yee, 55, has spent nearly $100,000 over the past four years to build the ultimate off-road vehicle, combining a 1953 Jeep Willys Wagon with a 2005 Jeep Rubicon Wrangler. It's a semi-holy union of styles, eras and technologies that, for a Jeep aficionado like Yee, has a singular goal.
"I want to be able to go anywhere and not get stuck," says Yee, sitting in his Laguna Niguel garage, where he is surrounded by a neatly stacked pile of Jeep dashboards and other components.
Yee knows stuck. He's been working to rehabilitate his legs since 2002, when he was rear-ended while driving north, from San Diego on the I-15 in his Jeep Wrangler. After careening off the freeway, Yee eventually ended up at St. Jude's Hospital in Fullerton with a broken neck.
And a long road ahead.
Yee credits the staff at St. Jude's for helping him regain some function in his legs. He says his ability to use a wheelchair and walker is a credit to their dedication, his determination and a higher power.
"I don't blame anybody," Yee says of his injury. "This is what happened."
Over the years, Yee, a one-time machinist, has had several Jeeps, using them mainly to explore the outdoors.
"I like to go places," he says. "I don't have to conquer things."
Since his injury, the Willys restoration project has become a central part of Yee's therapy. It keeps him busy and focused.
"Whenever I felt down, I thought about the Willys."
"The car is my therapy. They go hand in hand.
"I have to get myself so I can go anywhere."
•••
That go-anywhere ethic is key to understanding America's fascination with Jeeps.
While many reviewers view them as poorly manufactured (Consumer Reports, for one, hasn't offered many glowing words about the comfort, safety or fuel mileage of Jeeps in recent years), it's among Chrysler's best sellers, maybe because of its timeless design and the fact that it's the cheapest convertible you can buy. In fact, when rumors circulated that the company might sell the brand last month, the company quickly quashed them.
The Jeep has a storied history, created for the military in WWII out of a desperate need for a light reconnaissance vehicle that could go anywhere and credited by generals as Americas' greatest contribution to modern warfare.
"Faithful as a dog, strong as a mule and as agile as a goat," is how WWII-reporter Ernie Pyle described the admiration soldiers had for Jeeps.
When those soldiers got home, the Willys Overland Company – who created the Jeep for the Army – had a solid market with farmers and later, off-roaders.
There are tons of stories about how the Jeep got its name. Some say soldiers pronounced the stamped letters GP, for general purpose, as Jeep. Others say the GIs nicknamed the Jeep after a Popeye cartoon character. No one is sure.
What is assured is that the Jeep's flexibility, reliability and ease of service catapulted it into an early leader of today's multi-billion dollar SUV and aftermarket industry.
"You're never done building it," said Yee, noting that California's deserts and mountains are a natural Jeep playground.
Tires, rims, suspension lifts, roll cages, engine modifications, body armor, bumpers, differential lockers…
For many Jeepers, it's a never ending list that eventually morphs into a quest for the perfect Jeep.
•••
Because of his background as a fabricator and machinist, Yee became fascinated with building the perfect Jeep.
"It's the pleasure of seeing it work," Yee says about fabrication. "There's a lot of thought that goes into each project, even before you get started."
With a legal settlement, post accident, Yee had enough money to buy a disabled van. But he wasn't too thrilled with his options.
"They all look the same," he says.
What's more, he figured whatever he bought – or built — was probably going to be his last car.
So Yee thought he could give the whole disabled van thing a special twist. It had to be off-roading monster; that was a given. But it also had to accommodate a disabled driver.
"This time, I want all the comforts of home."
In 2004, he got the idea to transform an old vintage Willys Wagon into just such a monster.
So he started thinking. And looking. He went online to check out Jeep stuff on eBay and Craigslist, and he started asking around at the local Jeep shops.
Yee was specific. He wanted a Willys Wagon. But the fenders on the 1948 model weren't pleasing. And from 1959, the front grill was unacceptable. He wanted a classic body, with modern technology,
Now, 1953; thatwas perfect.
"I'm not supposed to be doing this," Yee says, just after describing the '53 model. He moves slowly out of his wheelchair and, with the help of an aid, grabs his walker to go toward the bathroom.
Eventually, everyone Yee talked with about his dream project pointed him toward Larie Tales, a nationally recognized Jeep customizer who owns Jeeps R Us in Laguna Beach.
•••
Tales was more than happy to get in the game.
Tales helped Yee achieve all that by finding a 1953 Willys Wagon and then rebuilding it around a 2005 Jeep Rubicon Wrangler frame and components.
On the outside, the wagon looks like an original Willys. But on the inside, it's cutting edge technology, with all the creature comforts of a new Wrangler, and able to roar down the highway and climb its way just about any mountain.
The Jeep has a modern dashboard on the inside along with air-conditioning and room for passengers. An air-shock suspension is capable of accommodating 37" tires along with Yee's wheelchair lift.
A 5.7 liter Hemi engine propels the beast and an extra large gas tank makes road trips easy.
Then there are the small touches.
Like the state of the art sound and navigation system. And the light blue LED front and taillights. And the black metal flake paint job that seems to change shades when viewed from different angles. And the flames lightly sketched into the front hood. And the vintage 1953 California Yellow historic license plates.
And the chrome hood ornament that features the devil playing a horn.
"This car is going to be nasty," said Yee, smiling like a teenager. "It's gonna go anywhere."
The question is, will Yee?
Part 2 and pics are below...
Part 1 of 2...
Craig Yee has this thing about getting stuck.
He's not for it.
Yee, 55, has spent nearly $100,000 over the past four years to build the ultimate off-road vehicle, combining a 1953 Jeep Willys Wagon with a 2005 Jeep Rubicon Wrangler. It's a semi-holy union of styles, eras and technologies that, for a Jeep aficionado like Yee, has a singular goal.
"I want to be able to go anywhere and not get stuck," says Yee, sitting in his Laguna Niguel garage, where he is surrounded by a neatly stacked pile of Jeep dashboards and other components.
Yee knows stuck. He's been working to rehabilitate his legs since 2002, when he was rear-ended while driving north, from San Diego on the I-15 in his Jeep Wrangler. After careening off the freeway, Yee eventually ended up at St. Jude's Hospital in Fullerton with a broken neck.
And a long road ahead.
Yee credits the staff at St. Jude's for helping him regain some function in his legs. He says his ability to use a wheelchair and walker is a credit to their dedication, his determination and a higher power.
"I don't blame anybody," Yee says of his injury. "This is what happened."
Over the years, Yee, a one-time machinist, has had several Jeeps, using them mainly to explore the outdoors.
"I like to go places," he says. "I don't have to conquer things."
Since his injury, the Willys restoration project has become a central part of Yee's therapy. It keeps him busy and focused.
"Whenever I felt down, I thought about the Willys."
"The car is my therapy. They go hand in hand.
"I have to get myself so I can go anywhere."
•••
That go-anywhere ethic is key to understanding America's fascination with Jeeps.
While many reviewers view them as poorly manufactured (Consumer Reports, for one, hasn't offered many glowing words about the comfort, safety or fuel mileage of Jeeps in recent years), it's among Chrysler's best sellers, maybe because of its timeless design and the fact that it's the cheapest convertible you can buy. In fact, when rumors circulated that the company might sell the brand last month, the company quickly quashed them.
The Jeep has a storied history, created for the military in WWII out of a desperate need for a light reconnaissance vehicle that could go anywhere and credited by generals as Americas' greatest contribution to modern warfare.
"Faithful as a dog, strong as a mule and as agile as a goat," is how WWII-reporter Ernie Pyle described the admiration soldiers had for Jeeps.
When those soldiers got home, the Willys Overland Company – who created the Jeep for the Army – had a solid market with farmers and later, off-roaders.
There are tons of stories about how the Jeep got its name. Some say soldiers pronounced the stamped letters GP, for general purpose, as Jeep. Others say the GIs nicknamed the Jeep after a Popeye cartoon character. No one is sure.
What is assured is that the Jeep's flexibility, reliability and ease of service catapulted it into an early leader of today's multi-billion dollar SUV and aftermarket industry.
"You're never done building it," said Yee, noting that California's deserts and mountains are a natural Jeep playground.
Tires, rims, suspension lifts, roll cages, engine modifications, body armor, bumpers, differential lockers…
For many Jeepers, it's a never ending list that eventually morphs into a quest for the perfect Jeep.
•••
Because of his background as a fabricator and machinist, Yee became fascinated with building the perfect Jeep.
"It's the pleasure of seeing it work," Yee says about fabrication. "There's a lot of thought that goes into each project, even before you get started."
With a legal settlement, post accident, Yee had enough money to buy a disabled van. But he wasn't too thrilled with his options.
"They all look the same," he says.
What's more, he figured whatever he bought – or built — was probably going to be his last car.
So Yee thought he could give the whole disabled van thing a special twist. It had to be off-roading monster; that was a given. But it also had to accommodate a disabled driver.
"This time, I want all the comforts of home."
In 2004, he got the idea to transform an old vintage Willys Wagon into just such a monster.
So he started thinking. And looking. He went online to check out Jeep stuff on eBay and Craigslist, and he started asking around at the local Jeep shops.
Yee was specific. He wanted a Willys Wagon. But the fenders on the 1948 model weren't pleasing. And from 1959, the front grill was unacceptable. He wanted a classic body, with modern technology,
Now, 1953; thatwas perfect.
"I'm not supposed to be doing this," Yee says, just after describing the '53 model. He moves slowly out of his wheelchair and, with the help of an aid, grabs his walker to go toward the bathroom.
Eventually, everyone Yee talked with about his dream project pointed him toward Larie Tales, a nationally recognized Jeep customizer who owns Jeeps R Us in Laguna Beach.
•••
Tales was more than happy to get in the game.
Tales helped Yee achieve all that by finding a 1953 Willys Wagon and then rebuilding it around a 2005 Jeep Rubicon Wrangler frame and components.
On the outside, the wagon looks like an original Willys. But on the inside, it's cutting edge technology, with all the creature comforts of a new Wrangler, and able to roar down the highway and climb its way just about any mountain.
The Jeep has a modern dashboard on the inside along with air-conditioning and room for passengers. An air-shock suspension is capable of accommodating 37" tires along with Yee's wheelchair lift.
A 5.7 liter Hemi engine propels the beast and an extra large gas tank makes road trips easy.
Then there are the small touches.
Like the state of the art sound and navigation system. And the light blue LED front and taillights. And the black metal flake paint job that seems to change shades when viewed from different angles. And the flames lightly sketched into the front hood. And the vintage 1953 California Yellow historic license plates.
And the chrome hood ornament that features the devil playing a horn.
"This car is going to be nasty," said Yee, smiling like a teenager. "It's gonna go anywhere."
The question is, will Yee?
Part 2 and pics are below...
