Coast To Coastin A Diesel Willys

He drove this diesel powered 1946 CJ-2A from sea to shining sea and back.

- Jake Headlee

Photography: Daniel Buck

Daniel Buck picked up his ’46 flatfender as a project. Through the years, there was no specific plan during the build, but Daniel recounts that it was more like going through phases. Two things didn’t change though, he wanted it to be a comfortable daily driver and a mild wheeler. A cross-country trip—and back again—is nothing to scoff at for any driver and even a brand-new vehicle. Thousands of miles to drive, adverse weather to endure, and mental preparedness are only some of the hurdles. For Daniel, a Long Beach, California, resident, the end of that journey was his cousin’s wedding in North Carolina. He had driven cross country before and enjoyed it, so the wedding was a great reason to do it again.

Mechanical Mayhem