Few automotive subcultures enjoy as much devotion and camaraderie as the family of classic Jeep owners. There are pockets of zealous Jeepers across the country, but Jeep roots run especially deep in Ohio. After all, Jeep has built nearly every one of its vehicles in Toledo since 1945.
This WWII Willys MB, restored by Speciality Jeeps, is displayed at airshows and museums worldwide.
Drive a couple of hours southeast of Toledo, and you’ll find another cache of seven bar grilles in the town of Coshocton. That’s where Specialty Jeeps made a name for itself by restoring vintage Jeeps into rolling works of art. The origins of that father-and-son Jeep restoration business can be traced to one man’s love for a rusted early CJ2A from the 1940s.
Love at First Sight
A 1966 CJ5, before and after Specialty Jeeps worked its magic.
The founder and owner of Specialty Jeeps, Bruce Uher, told eBay Motors about buying his first Willys Jeep when he was 13 years old. He took the $50 he earned by shoveling snow and mowing yards and bought a discarded CJ2A. “I thought my dad would kill me,” said Uher.
Bruce Uher Senior and Bruce Junior with one of their creations
But Uher’s father then witnessed his teenage son restore the rusted heap, sell it, and move on to more Jeep restoration projects. He continues this work until today, more than four decades later.
In 2015, Uher finally decided to turn his passion into a part-time business run out of a two-car garage. Specialty Jeeps was born. Since then, the company expanded into a dedicated facility and a team of seven, including Bruce Junior—who plans to carry the family’s Jeep tradition into the next generation.
The Antidote to Supply Chain Woes
1952 M38
Specialty Jeeps works on all varieties of modern and classic Jeeps. It does business with scores of aftermarket parts suppliers to upgrade modern rigs for hardcore mudding and rock climbing. But Uher has a special love for restoring military Jeeps made before 1952.
Uher said:
There’s just something about flat-fender Jeeps. I just love the way they look.
However, Uher confessed that it could be difficult to source parts for older military Jeeps—especially since the pandemic squeezed the global supply chain. Uher used to scour parts at military shows and swap meets, but Covid-19 curtailed these events in the past two years.
The rebuilt engine powering a restored 1966 CJ5
Uher explained:
eBay has been a lifesaver. I probably buy a part on eBay every day. In fact, these Jeep parts sellers on eBay have become my friends. I know they have the stuff I need.
Uher sees the network of Jeep enthusiasts on eBay as a vibrant community of fellow enthusiasts across the globe.
Shop now for Jeep Willys partsThe Classic Jeep Experience, On the Road
The body of a 1966 CJ5 being fitted on its frame
Uher knows that he can access the necessary parts via eBay, so his team can pursue perfection with their restoration projects.
He said:
We take the vehicles clear down to the frame, sandblast every part, and fix the frame or whatever needs to be repaired. We then bring them back to life like they’re brand new.
For an example of Specialty Jeeps’s work, check out this 1951 Jeep M38 military vehicle restoration on eBay.
Uher not only loves the way that classic Jeeps look. The thrill of driving one on the open road never diminished for him.
Uher said:
The best way to ride one of these Jeeps is with the windshield down and sunglasses on. It’s the same feeling people get out of riding a Harley. Take a ride in the country, and you feel cool spots where the trees are, and you warm back up when the sun hits. It’s pretty cool.
