RESTO-BEATER: Looking back to a conversation-starting flattie

Despite the "Ugly" title across the page, this story has been an inspiration to 4x4 enthusiasts far and wide.

- JERED KORFHAGE JERED

Take a look back with us to the September 1989 issue of Four Wheeler where we dug into Jimmy Nylund's infamous '51 Willys CJ-3A.

This Jeep started its life in Sweden with about 30,000 punishing miles on the clock spent pushing around city buses and gathering rust, all things which prepared it for a life that favored function over chrome and body filler. In addition to the rust, it came equipped with a Dana 25 frontend, a Dana 44 out back, and a Spicer 18 transfer case. Reworking the battered Jeep began with a spring-over-axle suspension setup and relocating the rock magnet, or as some would call it, the tie rod, behind the front axle housing. This task required raising and reversing the steering arms and adding a steering box (2.5 turns lock-to-lock) from a Pontiac Firebird.