How it all started Cleopatra in action

 

How it all started

 

I was infected with the Jeep virus in the spring of 1982, my brother Herman got the idea to buy a Jeep. Every saturday afternoon we travelled the country to look for second hand Jeeps. At the end of Februari he found the right one. Rather jong ( four years old) and not to expensive. We didn't like the color combination of Yellow with brown and when we looked closely to the Jeep, we discovered a few rusty spots. So a paint job was nescesary. I was graduating highschool that year, so my vacation started in the end of April. I had lots of time to restore all kinds of small parts at home when the Jeep was painted. In May the Jeep came home again and we builded it up again, so Easter 1982 the first testdrive was made .

 

 

 The years after I visited as co-driver many Jeep events, Including all the European Jeepers Jamborees. Many improvements were made, High back seats were placed in the Jeep and taller tyres were mounted (33X12.5X15). To make some space for the tyres the Jeep was lifted 3 inches by add a leafs on the front and extra coil springs rear.

 

 

 

    

 

     With Hermans Jeep we travelled through Europe in the holydays. We slept in our home made trailer tent and had lots of Jeeping fun. Once when we were in Spain we, did some promotion driving for a disco called 'CLEOPATRA' , when we took off the stickers after the holydays it looked a bit naked. Since that day the name 'CLEOPATRA' is on the hood in chrome plated old greek shaped letters.

 

 

 

After five years of heavy duty driving some rust bubbles became visible. Something must be done about that. Christmas 1986 we started, but when we looked closer it was worse, so finally at the end of may 1987 we were ready. The back half of the body was rebuild totally and CLEOPATRA was in perfect condition again. After that no serious bodywork was nescesary anymore. The only thing that is changed after that is the rollover barr, which is replaced for a home made stainless steel one.