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don Prine - extras.JPG - Photo 39386341

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  • Here’s the 3.0L Super Duty four-cylinder-powered fiberglass flattie race rig. Dig the shackle-reversal suspension.
Here’s the 3.0L Super Duty four-cylinder-powered fiberglass flattie race rig. Dig the shackle-reversal suspension.
They’re not all Jeeps. Prine’s ’60 M-422 Mighty Mite is in pristine un-restored condition. Built for the military by American Motors, these little buggers have a shipping weight of 1,675 lbs. The M-422 used an air-cooled aluminum Porsche flat-four engine for weight and to save the hassle of maintaining coolant and a vulnerable radiator. Prine’s ’52 M-38 Hunting rig sports a neat old Warn 8000 winch, com-monly referred to as a Belleview, which was the first electric winch available to the public. Before the Belleview came along in 1959, civi-lian winches were engine-driven PTO designs. The 151-cube Chevy inline four-cylinder engine in Prine’s ’52 M-38 hunting rig. There’s just enough modernization with power steering and modern overhead-valve design, but all the cool stuff is still there like the original T-90 and oil-bath air filter. It doesn’t get much more traditional than white wall retreads on a 15x8 Kelsey Hayes reverse steelie wheel. We suspect Prine installed these back in the day, not as an attempt at creating a restomod look. Tucked away in a corner was one of Prine’s old ice racing Jeeps that is equipped with a hot-rodded 3.0L Marine engine and some serious waterproofing. Here’s a USMC CJ-V35/U that was getting new fuel lines and some other work the day we were there. It’s not Prine’s but it looked right at home amongst the other rare birds in Prine’s shop. Here’s the MB-style trailer socket that helps identify this thing as pos-sibly being a real CJ-V35/U. The rear antenna mounting bracket was missing, but the mounting location was still evident. The dash of the CJ-V35/U hides another indication that this could be a real USMC CJ-V35/U. Check the fording lever under the E-brake handle and just to the right of the gauge cluster. That’s not stock CJ-3A. Dig the rifle mount. There could have been an auxiliary generator between the front seats, but like most it’s long-gone.
How about a NOS tranny cover? Prine had this rip-snorting old-school AMC 401 build sitting in a corner of his shop. Most likely an early developmental engine, the block was lacking the traditional AMC V-8 displacement cast into the block between the motor mount castings. This thing made northwards of 500hp in its day. That massive exhaust port is one clue that gives away this 401’s atti-tude. We can imagine the pissed-off idle this thing would have with a rowdy solid-tappet camshaft and 11:1 squeeze. Just one wing of the Prine shop. The show was comprised of several rooms with individual heating and the overall building was larger than Prine’s house. Just the way any true Jeep guy would want it. Here’s the 3.0L Super Duty four-cylinder-powered fiberglass flattie race rig. Dig the shackle-reversal suspension. The Oberg Tattle Tale is an old-school race part still made today. Wonder what it does? Fuel filter! The fiberglass flattie’s 5-gallon fuel tank. How many of you know what that sticker means? We’ve been there and have ridden the bull! Prine’s monster ’60 F-600 from a different angle. Just another trinket laying in the hay inside one of Prine’s buildings.
Military box. Wonder what’s inside! A full crate of slightly dampened Cobra Hood Locks? Yup. Hard-top C-104 Commando. Couple of oil bath air filters awaiting use some day. Willys wagon and/or pickup grilles. When was the last time you saw a glass Miracle Whip jar? Bunch of starters and generators. Prine pops the hood on his prized Willys MA. Willys MA 134-cube Go Devil engine.
Willys MA engine from another angle. Herm Tillford and Prine checking out the underhood of the Willys MA. Willys MA underhood oil can mount. The hood of the Willys MA had to undergo serious reconstruction after Prine found it. Looks perfect now, doesn’t it. Willys MA steering bellcrank and twin tie rods. Willys MA steering bellcrank. Willys MA exhaust. Willys MA Spicer 18 T-case. Prine explaining the Willys MA interior.
Willys MA dash. Willys MA rear seat folded up. That’s the crank handle to turn over the engine if the starter fails. From front to back, the Willys MA, Bantam BRC-40, and Ford GP. Willys MA dash. Willys MA speedometer. Dig the mileage since the restoration. Bantam BRC-40 front fender. Bantam BRC-40 grille. Willys MA rear corner. Willys MA rear end.
Willys MA rear axle hub. Prine talking about his Bantam BRC-40. Bantam BRC-40 headlight. Bantam BRC-40 112-cube Continental engine. Bantam BRC-40 filter. Bantam BRC-40 Auto-Lite voltage regulator. Bantam BRC-40 cloth wiring. Bantam BRC-40 pedals and dash handles. Bantam BRC-40 headlight switch and gauges.
Bantam BRC-40 data plate. Bantam BRC-40 steering linkage. Bantam BRC-40 T-case crossmember skid straps. Bantam BRC-40 left-hand-drop Spicer 18 T-case. Bantam BRC-40 Dana 40 rear axle. Bantam BRC-40 squared off rear tub corner. Bantam BRC-40 rear end shot. Bantam BRC-40 rear axle hub. Ford GP grille.
Ford GP horn and lights. Ford GP radiator hose tube. Ford GP 119-cube Ford engine. Ford GP oil filter and ignition coil. Ford GP engine compartment. Check the routing of the lower radiator hose. Ford GP dash. Ford GP speedo, switches, and fire extinguisher. Ford GP dash. Ford GP cast seat bracket.
Ford GP rear seat folded up. Ford GP seat down and latched. Ford GP windshield frame latch. Ford GP steering linkage. Ford GP friction shock. Ford GP T-case crossmember, skid plate, and driveshaft loop. Ford GP drive-side drop Spicer 18 T-case. Prine pointing out the Ford-script stamping in the Ford GP tub. Ford GP rear shot.
Ford GP top bow bracket and rear fender storage lid. Ford GP rear tub corner. Ford GP rear axle hub. Ford GP rear shot. Ford GP front tire/wheel. Ford GP front tire/wheel.
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