XJ Build Done(ish). Little rig, big story⬇️
A few scale things to mount still, but not going to have much time coming up to finish this thing and the Midwest “grey” season is fast approaching. Going to have to figure out lighting/ make a makeshift mini photo booth backdrop deal and get more pics later. Actually have some sun today…so tada! 🎉….its a little purple Jeep.
For me, this toy car is a special little purple Jeep.
First car I bought with my own cash was a bone stock purple Cherokee at the end of high school. I always wanted to build it into something neat, but as I’m sure some of you can relate, cash and time are at a minimum when you’re fresh out school. So stock Jeep and I ventured off to college.
Ole’ purple got me through 4 years of college, commuting several times a year 8+ hours back from the lower part of the mitten to the great white north of the U.P., and made it though all sorts of ill-advised college era shenanigans and adventurers. Never left me stranded on the side of the road once. Purple and I had an agreement; it always waited to break down after the long road trips, and it was never anything bad enough that my buddies and I couldn’t get it sorted out.
After the first round of college, my expensive piece of paper and I tried to find a good job, but ended up floundering and scraping by for a year or so before going back to school yet again for a skilled trade (best decision ever looking back on it now).
Another 2 years of full time school, part time work, scraping by and living with extended family/ parents had me wore out and not in a good place mentally. Finally landed a decent paying gig, but new guys started on third shift. I made it through the first few weeks decent, and almost had enough saved up to get out on my own. Unfortunately, one morning after a long night shift the hour long commute back to my parents was too much.
Managed to fall asleep at the wheel literally 5 miles from home. It was only for matter of seconds(I think?), but oh boy did ole’ purple do some damage. Took out a guys brick mailbox, his wine barrel planter boxes, and a road sign or two. Woke up to the feeling of floating as purple launched out of a ditch and back onto the road. It was absolutely terrifying and I am beyond lucky that I didn’t end up killing anyone or myself. The guy whose mailbox and planter boxes I mowed over said he had never seen a jeep fly that far and thought for sure I was going flip over and roll it. Ole’ purple did a hell of a job looking after me that day, but as you would expect, was toast.
Limped purple to my parents, parked it behind the barn for a year or so, sold it to someone for parts shortly after that.
This purple toy jeep, whether sitting on a shelf of crawling around, is a little reminder to slow down and smell the roses whenever you get the chance ….you never know when a out of control eep will smash your flower planter boxes.
TLDR: Had a 1:1 Cherokee, crashed it, built a little one. RIP Ole’ Purp. Best car I ever owned
A few scale things to mount still, but not going to have much time coming up to finish this thing and the Midwest “grey” season is fast approaching. Going to have to figure out lighting/ make a makeshift mini photo booth backdrop deal and get more pics later. Actually have some sun today…so tada! 🎉….its a little purple Jeep.
For me, this toy car is a special little purple Jeep.
First car I bought with my own cash was a bone stock purple Cherokee at the end of high school. I always wanted to build it into something neat, but as I’m sure some of you can relate, cash and time are at a minimum when you’re fresh out school. So stock Jeep and I ventured off to college.
Ole’ purple got me through 4 years of college, commuting several times a year 8+ hours back from the lower part of the mitten to the great white north of the U.P., and made it though all sorts of ill-advised college era shenanigans and adventurers. Never left me stranded on the side of the road once. Purple and I had an agreement; it always waited to break down after the long road trips, and it was never anything bad enough that my buddies and I couldn’t get it sorted out.
After the first round of college, my expensive piece of paper and I tried to find a good job, but ended up floundering and scraping by for a year or so before going back to school yet again for a skilled trade (best decision ever looking back on it now).
Another 2 years of full time school, part time work, scraping by and living with extended family/ parents had me wore out and not in a good place mentally. Finally landed a decent paying gig, but new guys started on third shift. I made it through the first few weeks decent, and almost had enough saved up to get out on my own. Unfortunately, one morning after a long night shift the hour long commute back to my parents was too much.
Managed to fall asleep at the wheel literally 5 miles from home. It was only for matter of seconds(I think?), but oh boy did ole’ purple do some damage. Took out a guys brick mailbox, his wine barrel planter boxes, and a road sign or two. Woke up to the feeling of floating as purple launched out of a ditch and back onto the road. It was absolutely terrifying and I am beyond lucky that I didn’t end up killing anyone or myself. The guy whose mailbox and planter boxes I mowed over said he had never seen a jeep fly that far and thought for sure I was going flip over and roll it. Ole’ purple did a hell of a job looking after me that day, but as you would expect, was toast.
Limped purple to my parents, parked it behind the barn for a year or so, sold it to someone for parts shortly after that.
This purple toy jeep, whether sitting on a shelf of crawling around, is a little reminder to slow down and smell the roses whenever you get the chance ….you never know when a out of control eep will smash your flower planter boxes.
TLDR: Had a 1:1 Cherokee, crashed it, built a little one. RIP Ole’ Purp. Best car I ever owned