This year (10-12 August 2018) was only the second edition of Toledo Jeep Fest, a celebration which took a long time to get off the ground, but which has quickly become one of the premier events for Jeep fans. Not surprisingly, since Toledo (also known as The Glass City for its connection to the glass industry) has been the home of Jeep production since Willys started building the vehicle there during World War II.
Of course it was mainly a weekend for newer Jeeps, but Bob got this great shot of a Willys Wagon leading a column of Wranglers, as Toledo's finest hold back the enthusiastic crowds in the background.
Any kid who drives a "Wonder Woman" Power Wheels toy Jeep would have been excited to see the real Wonder Woman (300K JPEG) riding in the back of this CJ-2A.
The Jeepster Unit from the Zenobia Shriners in Perrysburg OH turns heads at every parade they appear in, but seldom do they receive a better reception than they got at Jeep Fest.
Of course there were other red Jeeps too, plus some rarer original paint schemes like this CJ-7 Renegade.
Another Renegade on hand was this stunning Lime Green 1977 CJ-5. Fiat-Chrysler-Jeep has of course recently recycled the "Renegade" name, and also the "Willys" name for the Wrangler package seen in the background here.
One Wrangler owner recycled another name from Jeep history: "Dauntless" was Kaiser's label for the Buick V6 used in CJs and Commandos in the late 1960's.
One of the bigger Jeeps you're ever going to run into is Roger Martin's DRW Forward Control backhoe, included this year in the big indoor Jeep history display at the Seagate Centre.
Also on display with dual wheels this year was Bob Christy's CJ-3B, and in the background is the Howe FC-170 fire truck brought over again from the Firefighters Museum (see Toledo Jeep Fest 2016.)
Mindy wanted a picture at a mini-museum devoted to one of Toledo's favorite sons, Corporal Klinger of MASH, outside Tony Packo's at the Park.
Bob spotted a few other CJ-3Bs, including this '53 for sale (190K JPEG), reportedly with only 18,450 miles on the odometer.
A nice surprise was this beautifully restored mid-sixties high hood belonging to Joanne Haberkamp and her husband Tom, from Michigan.
It was worth a look from both sides, and it's good advertising for Tom's Jeep Shop in Rochester Hills MI, which Tom has started since retiring from a career with Chrysler Jeep.
FSJ fans organized an amazing display on North Huron Street -- see Bob's panoramic shot (670K JPEG).
Inside was an equally amazing display of Wagoneer literature and memorabilia from Jeff Nelson's collection.
Toledo Jeep Fest is a great example of an event that brings together current Jeep models, with Willys, Kaiser and AMC Jeeps of the past. This is crucial to giving younger Jeep fans an awareness of the vehicle's history.
Sunset behind the downtown skyline of The Glass City, seen from across the Maumee River. We'll look forward to the next Jeep Fest, which organizers have said may take place in 2019.
See more Willys Event Reports on CJ3B.info.
Thanks to Bob for the great photos. See also his pictures from Toledo Jeep Fest 2016. -- Derek Redmond
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