2011 Hot Rod Power Tour: Jeep Miata hybrid is a 'Meep' project car that gets great MPG

A junked Jeep CJ-7 on top of a wrecked Mazda Miata. "It's what happens after too many beers," David Russell of Eclectic, Alabama said proudly. This $500 backyard buildup came to be after Russell's friend flipped his 1990 Mazda Miata over in a wreck. The little Miata's was body damaged beyond repair but the engine still ran. What to do? "We figured this old 1985 CJ I had out back might fit on that Miata's chassis." 
  The Jeep had been put out to pasture and forgotten. "We used it for target practice behind the house," said Russell. A few rounds of beer and some bench racing was all it took before the two buddies decided to hack into the two vehicles and weld them into one economical, lowrider Jeep. "It gets 30 miles per gallon and goes 400 miles on a tank of gas."    

David Russell in his 'Meep' — a Jeep on a Miata chassis. Check out the redneck-gangsta bullet holes.

Drag racing a Miata-Jeep 'Meep'

I quizzed, Russell, (note: Micheal Robbins was the original builder of the slammed Jeep) just before he raced the Mazda-powered beast on the drag strip at Montgomery MotorSports Park during the 2011 Hot Rod Power Tour. The 1.6-liter Mazda engine, sporting 150K miles, propelled Russell to a 17.49 E.T. in the quarter-mile. Spinning a 4.30:1 Mazda limited slip rear end gear adds some zip to the four banger. Russell has logged about 10,000 miles since his hybrid Jeep was completed.

Mazda built the Miata drivetrain and chassis in Hiroshima, Japan. Jeep CJ-7s were built in Toledo, Ohio. Their uncommon bond formed in Eclectic, Alabama courtesy of David Russell.

Try Partsgeek.com for Jeep Accessories

Built for fun and questions

Russell drives his 'Meep' creation everywhere and everywhere it goes he gets gobs of attention. Curious onlookers notice the Mazda steering wheel and gauges inside the CJ7, then ask Russell a series of questions. "Does it have airbag suspension?", "How did you get it so low?", "What is it?" Russell is used to the barrage of questions and eager to answer them. "The car is a lot of fun," Russell said. "That's the whole point, ain't it?"

Jody Potter
— Junkyard Life

Send junkyardlife your photos and story:
Email junkyardbull@gmail.com

Russell crafted the rear glass from a truck camper shell and molded it into a modified Jeep hardtop.

A 1990 Mazda Miata 1.6 Liter engine at home in the CJ's engine bay.

How often do you see a Jeep this low?

Generous cutting was required to get the Jeep to sit over the Miata's front wheels.

Mazda Miata gauges tucked into the CJ's dash.

No joke. This is a Jeep-Miata or just call it a 'Meep.'

Plenty of room to spare in the CJ's floorboard with Mazda Miata pedals.

Russell has taken his Jeep off-roading and this was the result. The Miata chassis has some clearance issues. 

Original Miata wheels were painted black and used on the CJ-7.

David Russell caused a stir at the Hot Rod Power Tour with his custom Jeep-Miata project.

David Russell's Jeep CJ-7 on a Miata chassis is a good bit lower than your average Jeep.

No joke. This is a Jeep-Miata or just call it a 'Meep.'

Do you have a classic or muscle car barn find? Send us details and we’re on the way!  Send emails to Jody Potter  at junkyardbull@gmail.com

Classic 1951 Dodge Coronet damaged by Alabama tornado sold to junk car buyer

A tornado ripped the roof off the house but the 1951 Dodge stayed glued to the driveway. David Reddell, a Concord, Alabama resident at 82 years young, is a veteran of three wars — World War II, Korea and Vietnam, and recently survived a horrifying tornado that tore through his home on April 27, 2011. Reddell and his wife lost many keepsakes and valuables and were forced to move into a camper in their front yard. Four of their vehicles were severely damaged, including a 1987 Chevrolet Silverado and a 1980 Ford Granada, that once belonged to Reddell’s mother. The Granada had only 16,000 miles and was totally destroyed in the 200-MPH winds full of swirling debris and falling trees. Somehow Reddell’s 1951 Dodge Coronet, with 39,000 miles on the odometer, suffered only a broken rear glass.   

David Reddell poses with his 1951 Dodge that was bound for the junk car buyer.

Built to last... but
  They don’t make cars or men like Reddell anymore. The tough, former Air Force fighter pilot who has seen his share of brutal war zones had to make a difficult decision concerning his damaged vehicles. More important matters required his attention, like food, water and shelter, as he struggles to live in the aftermath of the tornado. Reddell sold his damaged cars to a junk car buyer. He stood his ground and forced them to raise their first offer. The low mile Dodge was among Reddell's vehicles that were loaded up and carried away the day after I took these photos. 

This 1951 Dodge's rear glass was all that was damaged during the tornado that damaged the Reddell's property.

Perspective
  More than 240 people died in Alabama from injuries sustained during the April 27, 2011 tornadoes. Miles of houses were demolished and thousands of vehicles were crushed. Some of those cars will continue to provide transportation in the form of engine and transmission transplants. Determined gearheads will locate salvageable parts from these tornado-stricken vehicles and find a way to use them on future project cars.

– Jody Potter, junkyardlife

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Email junkyardbull@gmail.com

Reddell's 1951 Dodge was parked just outside his garage that suffered a partially collapsed roof.

Dodge's 3.8 liter flat head engine circa 1951.

This '51 Dodge Coronet had optional rear foot rests. 

39K miles on the Dodge's odometer.

1951 Dodge Coronet featured a fluid-drive or 'Gyro-Matic' transmission.

Dodge Coronet was introduced in 1949.

1951 Dodge 230-cubic inch straight six engine.

1951 Dodge Ram hood ornament.

David Reddell checks under the hood of his 1951 Dodge.

This giant tree fell onto Reddell's Granada but the stump stood upright when the top of the tree was cut off.

Reddell's tornado-damaged Silverado was purchased by a junk car buyer.

Reddell's Concord, Alabama neighborhood was destroyed by tornadoes.

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Junkyard tour: Under1981.com Antique Auto Parts in Grimsley, Tennessee

 

Tour a remote Tennessee junkyard that serves customers around the globe. Under1981.com Antique Auto Parts is a private junkyard that does 99.9% of its business via the Internet and is owned and operated by a guy who is known only as "Murf." Murf's 7-acre junkyard is loaded with more than 125 vehicles built before 1981 and includes thousands of loose parts that have been pulled from vehicles that were dying for a date with the crusher. "They can't all be restored, where would you get the parts?,” said Murf. I know, it's not always a pretty picture but Murf and his wife, Lorrie, have found a way to move hard-to-find parts from the backwoods of Grimsley, Tennessee into the hands of customers as far away as Serbia, Australia and the Netherlands.

Murf, the owner of Under1981.com, walking to his shop in Grimsley, Tennessee.

The junkyard is home
  Murf’s junkyard, which is also basically his home, has been operating for 5 years and is open for business to the public but not to just anybody. "I only let people come in to pick up parts by appointment only,” said Murf. “My place is barely visible from the road and I’m not even open to locals, except by word of mouth.” Murf’s wife, Lorrie, operates the website side of the business where customers are encouraged to email their parts request and be patient, not just ‘show up’ and ‘walk around.’ Murf and Lorrie stay busy interacting with customers and may answer more than 100 emails concerning parts per day. A high tech junkyard with solo manpower is hard work no matter how fast the Internet connection.

Murf sold some parts from this 1960 Buick Invicta before it was crushed by another yard.

You may even find a 1939 Ford coupe at Under1981.com.

Old car buff in his element
  Murf, 47, loves old cars and is in the business of saving what he can from the crusher. “Sheet metal pieces are my most requested item,” said Murf. “I will cut anything up.” Currently the oldest car in Murf’s yard is a 1946 Ford and his favorite is a 1961 Olds. “I like different,” said Murf. He is also a guy willing to spend countless hours salvaging parts from junkyards that are ready to ‘crush out.’ Murf only hauls absolutely useless pieces that will fit in a bucket to the scrap yard. “I hauled the remains of six cars in the back of a pickup truck. Imagine six cars in the back of a pickup,” Murf said.

Spreading classic parts around the world

  It’s amazing what one little junkyard in Tennessee can do to keep the old car hobby alive on a global scale. Murf and Lorrie are always on the hunt for good deals or hard to find automotive items. They buy, sell and recycle auto parts from local Tennessee junkyards, Ebay and Craigslist to maintain thousands of parts and hundreds of cars in Under1981.com’s inventory. Murf and Lorrie are saving classic cars and parts that would inevitably find their way to the crusher. Those rescued cars and parts then find their way to restorers and classic car hobbyist around the world. We can all feel better about that.


— Jody Potter, junkyardlife.com
 

Under1981.com is spray painted on the doors of many of Murf’s cars.

 

Murf pulls any salvageable part before he takes them to the scrap yard.

Everywhere you look at Murf’s junkyard you will find classic American cars.

 

Murf sells parts and some whole cars on his website under1981.com and elderlyiron.com

A 1965 GMC is Murf’s wife Lorrie’s daily driver.

DETAILS
What  - Under1981.com Antique Auto Parts
Where - Located 2 hours east of Nashville in Grimsley, Tennessee. 
Hours - Murf’s secret junkyard is open by appointment only. Email them. 
Email: UNDER1981COM@YAHOO.COM


Find out what he currently has for sale at these links:
Under1981.com Antique Auto Parts
eBay - http://motors.shop.ebay.com/under1981/m.html
Elderly Iron - http://www.elderlyiron.com/index.cfm

Know of a junkyard I need to visit? Send me an email at junkyardbull@gmail.com.

Deadly tornado wrecks lives, classic cars

Tornado leaves wake of crushed cars in Alabama. Thousands of cars, trucks and RVs, rolled, flipped and were smashed by trees, debris and houses as they succumbed to the 200 MPH winds of an EF4 tornado. “The world has been turned upside down, shook to pieces, then slung out,” said Tommy Simmons of Pleasant Grove, Alabama. Simmons was surrounded by the sobering aftermath of the April 27 twisters that demolished his parents’ home and tossed his mother’s van over their house. The violent tornadoes killed more than 230 people and destroyed or heavily damaged 14,000 homes in Alabama. Simmons, a car enthusiast featured in junkyardlife’s “What’s in My Garage,” captured these photos of Alabama’s automotive apocalypse. 

How fast do you have to accelerate a tennis racket to get it to stab a tire? Check out the handle jutting into the van's tire. The Simmons' Chrysler Town and Country was blown to the east over the house. It landed on top of a downed tree 30 yards away. The wayward tennis racket belonged to a woman who lived two houses to the west.

Send junkyardlife your photos and story:
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Massive EF4 tornadoes churned everything in their path into rubble.

A wheelbarrow slammed into this SUV and remains embedded in the hood.

A 1950 Chevy, parked in front of snapped trees that were stripped of their bark, remains upright but mangled by tornado debris.

  

Tornado survivors used overturned vehicles as billboards of inspiration.

 

This 1971 'Cuda convertible, damaged during the tornado, will remain covered until the owner is ready to look at his battered, classic muscle car.

The partially collapsed roof, caused by a tornado, fell onto a 1949 Plymouth in Pleasant Grove, Alabama.

Thousands of tornado damaged vehicles will be scrapped, which will result in used vehicle prices continuing to climb.

Junk car buyers will deliver these tornado damaged vehicles to the scrap yard. 

My condolences go out for those who lost their lives in the recent tragedies and also my sincerest sympathies to the tornado survivors who have lost so much. 

– Jody Potter, junkyardlife

Send junkyardlife your photos and story:
Email junkyardbull@gmail.com

Junkyard find: 1974 Plymouth Road Runner; Hazzard's Daisy Duke, where are you?

Daisy Duke’s 1974 Plymouth Road Runner in a junkyard? I did a double take 

MPC produced a 1/25 scale model
of Daisy Duke's 1974 Road Runner.

the moment I laid eyes on this Blaze Yellow (paint code KY5) Mopar in a rural Oneonta, Alabama junkyard. It looked exactly like the Plymouth Road Runner that Daisy Duke drove during parts of the first two seasons of “The Dukes of Hazzard” TV series. That show was an adolescent boy’s dream, Feb. 1979 to Feb. 1985, with 147 episodes filled with car chases, a high-flying, orange 1969 Dodge Charger and leggy Daisy Duke in her cut-off blue jean shorts. The first episode of “Hazzard” guaranteed that Daisy, played by Catherine Bach, wouldn’t be overlooked. It featured Daisy Duke's most memorable scene as a roadside damsel in distress. Wearing a red bikini and standing beside her yellow Road Runner, Daisy was a distraction that could not be missed. 

Plymouth built 9,656 Road Runners in 1974.

Rare birds
  Plymouth Road Runners are rare finds at the junkyard. Thirty years ago finding a parts car ‘Beeper,’ Mopar slang for a Road Runner, may have been the case as well. Rumor has it that Warner Brothers had trouble finding replacement ’73-’74 Road Runner parts when Daisy’s car was inevitably damaged during filming of the weekly, Hazzard County dirt racing and demolition show, way back in 1979-’80. In order to keep up with the show’s production schedule, a 1971 Plymouth Satellite Sebring, painted yellow with a black ’73-’74 Road Runner stripe, served fill-in duty as Daisy’s car. Producers thought they could fool “Hazzard” viewers, but saavy gearheads could easily spot the ’71 Satellite. They have a wrap-around front bumper that surrounds the headlights. The imitation ‘Road Runner’ Satellite was used in several episodes during season 1 and 2 of “The Duke of Hazzard.”

Plymouth reportedly paid $50,000 for the Road Runner
naming rights, use of the cartoon bird and “Beep-Beep” horn.

Daisy Duke arrives at The Boar's Nest in her Plymouth Road Runner.

Photo courtesy Warner Bros.

Plymouth Road Runner meets the end of the road
  Oddly enough, Daisy’s ’74 Road Runner met it’s demise at the hands of Bo and Luke Duke. It was an accident of course. The brakes failed and Daisy’s Mopar sailed off a cliff just after Bo and Luke jumped out safely. Some insiders think that the TV show’s producers killed the Road Runner because they didn’t want the bright yellow Mopar to detract from the star car of the show, “The General Lee.” Warner Brothers worked out a deal for Daisy to drive a 1980 Jeep CJ-7 Golden Eagle Edition with the nickname “Dixie” painted on each side of the hood. Daisy's white Jeep quickly became a “Hazzard” fan favorite. The Jeep, unlike the Road Runner, didn’t have doors to block viewers from seeing Daisy’s long, tanned legs. Maybe killing the Road Runner was a good idea?

  If you see a rare car at the junkyard send photos and info to junkyardlife, email junkyardbull@gmail.com

Worn Road Runner decal on the top of the header panel.
On the original decal the speedy bird is holding a white racing helmet.

Body rash from straightening too many curves like the Duke boys.

Here is a breakdown according to moparnuts.com and moparmuscle.com:

1974 Plymouth Road Runner total production: 9,656

318 V8 2 BBL: 6,453
--- 3-speed manual: 772
--- 4-speed manual: 212
--- automatic: 5,421
360 V8 4 BBL: 1,688
--- 4-speed manual: 347
--- automatic: 1,350
400 V8 4 BBL: 1,110
--- 4-speed manual: 280
--- automatic: 830
440 V8 4 BBL: 386
--- automatic: 386
(FYI: The numbers don't add up)


More from this junkyard to come
  This Mopar find was discovered in a junkyard with two unusual occupants. Horses! Grazing on the tall grass, that was growing between the rows of 200-plus cars, were the junkyard owner’s pets. You really have to watch where you step at this place. I will post more on this junkyard. Check back with junkyardlife soon.    

1973-1974 Road Runners featured a reflective strobe stripe
across the roof, which continued down the body side. 

1973-’74 Plymouth Road Runners and Dodge Chargers were equipped with large rubber bumperettes to meet safety requirements.

Plymouth spent $10,000 developing the Road Runner’s signature “Beep-Beep” horn.

This ’74 Plymouth Road Runner has no drive train, interior or J54 power-bulge hood.

Luke, Daisy, Bo and their cars were the stars of “The Dukes of Hazzard.” 
Photo courtesy Warner Bros.

  If you see a rare car at the junkyard or in a yard, send photos and info to junkyardlife, email junkyardbull@gmail.com