Department > Old Iron
What You Wanted
by Jim Allen
Got a good pic of your vintage 4x4? Send it in. We’re doing an “Old Iron Readers’ Rigs Roundup” for a future issue.
Wow! The response for suggestions on 4x4s to cover in December’s “Old Iron” was remarkable. Thank you. We’re glad the good old days of four-wheeling can still play a part in today’s wheeling scene. We join you in celebrating the rich history and heritage of the four-wheel-drive vehicle.
The notes are still coming in, adding to a three-quarter-inch stack of paper here, with 80 different makes and models requested, many of them multiple times. All we can say is, read you Lima Charlie*. Your requests are being processed and will start appearing roughly in order of popularity and according to info and photo availability.
Here’s another request. We’re putting together an “Old Iron Readers’ Rigs Roundup,” so send us your best “Old Iron” pictures.
We’ll break them down into two categories: stock rigs (or nearly so) and modified rigs. Send us a print, slide, or high-resolution digital photo. The digitals should be on a CD, Zip or disc; please don’t e-mail them. Include some details on the vehicle and why it’s cool.
When we get enough, we’ll publish an “Old Iron Roundup” to celebrate your love for the good old days. (*Military phonetic alphabet for “Loud and Clear.”)
Send your submission for Old Iron Readers’ Rigs Roundup to:
- Off-Road Adventures, Old Iron Rigs Roundup,
- 610 W. Walnut St., Compton, CA 90220
- or email to Gearhead at info@oramagazine.com
Most Requested Category and Brand: Jeep
Figures, huh? If there ever was a bunch of foaming-at-the-mouth, die-hard, rather-fight than-switch 4x4 fanatics, Jeep fans are definitely it. There were 20 separate Jeep model requests with, believe it or not, the Forward Control models garnering the most. We covered FCs in the October/November issue, but I guess you guys are hungry for more.
Most Requested Model: International Scout II
The International Harvester brand was tied with three other categories for the number of separate model requests, but the Scout II was the most requested individual model by a large margin. Can’t say we’re surprised. Scout fans can go head-to-head with anyone for raw fanaticism. If there were many more of them, we’d have to worry because they would take over the 4x4 world.
Third Most Requested Category: Imports
Inside this category there were two rigs that garnered multiple requests, the Lamborghini LM-002 and the Nissan Patrol. Both are obscure, the Lambo being a bazillion-dollar bit of 4x4 exotica and the Nissan that fits in the fine-but-almost-forgotten category. Well, maybe not so forgotten...
photo courtesy Ishikawa
Second Most Requested Category: Military Vehicles
Anything military that didn’t fit into a large, specific model category got dumped here. Requests included some vehicles already covered, such as the Austin Champ and the M-151 M.U.T.T. Others were unique, like the M-422 Mighty Mite, the Volkswagen Iltis, and the Mercedes-Benz Unimog. The most repeats in this category was for the Steyer-Puch Pinzgauer. Other military rigs, like Jeeps and Dodges, were also requested but were grouped by make.
Did Anyone Stump Jim Allen?
The jury is still out, though one reader is in the running — but if he can’t give me enough clues to prove the existence of the vehicle he mentions, I’m going to have to pick the runner-up. We’ll announce the winner in a future “Old Iron” installment. Stay tuned!