I like the looks of this thing, too! What is interesting to me is its small size, a welcome reversal from most commercial American-made vehicles.
Out West, so many of the back country trails were originally made for Jeeps, and, reasonably enough, are called just that: jeep trails. They fit the narrow track that Jeeps were made with. As Jeep (under Willys) introduced the Pickup, Jeepster, and Utility Wagon, they widened the track to make these vehicles practical for different markets. Later, under Kaiser, Jeeps were made larger and wider, including the new Jeep Pickups, Wagoneers, and new Jeepsters. Finally (and most dismally), in the 70s, people took to driving CJ-series Jeeps about on the highway like a normal car. The Nader/Claybrook types hopped on these Jeeps as being unsafe, because they would tip over at highways speeds. Well, duh! Of course, a narrow tracked, high clearance vehicle would be more prone to tipping over at 60 mph than a typical American road leviathan!
Trouble was, the wider Jeeps that resulted, going on to the present day vehicles (which share a name and 4 wheels only with the original Jeep) will not navigate many of those narrow Jeep trails.
This vehicle would do the job, however, and in a more modern format.
...Go Devil L-head engine…
Ha! I read this with amusement! My MB had the later F head dropped in, and they offered a lot more power than that flathead did. The flatheads I drove were REALLY underpowered! It certainly didn't "go like the devil," unless maybe they had a deviled egg in mind.
