Welcome Back!! If you missed the first part of this article, you can read it here: JEEPS, JEEP PEOPLE, AND THE QUIRKY WORLD OF JEEP DUCKS IN PITTSBURGH, PA
In the first article, we started with a brief history of the Jeep and its rich history that dates back to World War II. The original Jeep, the Willys MB, was produced for the US military. Its off road capability and durability were crucial when being used by our military.
After the war, the Jeep brand evolved and expanded its lineup to include civilian models. The first model available to non-military, was the civilian Jeep vehicle, the CJ-2A, and was produced in 1945. Advertisements marketed the Jeep as a work vehicle for farmers and construction workers. It came with a tailgate, side-mounted spare tire, larger headlights, an external fuel cap and many more items that its military predecessors did not include.
“According to Willys-Overland, there were 5.5 million farmers in the U.S., and of these, more than 4 million had neither a truck nor a tractor. The rugged and versatile CJ-2A was marketed by Willys-Overland as “The All-Around Farm Work-Horse”.” jeep.com
FUN FACT: The CJ initials stood for Civilian Jeep
In 1962 the Jeep Wagoneer hit the automobile market and from there, the Cherokee, Gladiator, and the Pickup Truck. The Jeep Wrangler launched in 1986 and the brand has continued to grow and develop over the years while still maintaining its original mission:
“For 80 years the Jeep® Brand has been indelibly linked to freedom, adventure, authenticity and passion. Our core values are embodied in every Jeep Brand vehicle’s DNA. Throughout our storied history, Jeep Brand vehicle owners have learned that Go Anywhere. Do Anything.® is a way of life, not just a slogan. The Jeep badge stands for more than a brand. In truth, it’s a badge of honor. Explore our legendary lineup, then create your own timeless story.”
You can read the full article from Jeep.com here.
Jeep owners, known as “Jeepers” have formed tight-knit communities of passionate enthusiasts who share a common love for adventure, off-roading, and the freedom that comes with owning a Jeep. So, when one of them gets a dent on their Jeep, THEY CALL US! THE PAINTLESS DENT REPAIR EXPERTS!! Meet Gene Fetty, (and MeLissa Fetty) the owners and operator of Dent Repair Now.
Between Gene, and our 3 other certified, trained technicians, there is over 50 years of paintless dent repair experience! One of the most common dents on Jeeps was the cowl dent. If you’re a Jeep owner, I’m sure you know exactly what I’m talking about. It’s the dent that happens when you remove the door strap and the door swings back and smacks the cowl. This is definitely one of the most difficult dents to repair. The reason being, when those doors swing out, the momentum when it hits the cowl causes a really deep dent. Access is really tricky in the cowl area, and add to that, there is an excessive amount of paint on that panel, making it prone to cracking when pushing from behind the dent. After numerous tries, we found that constant heat applied to the panel, bring the surface temperature to somewhere between 160-200 degrees made the paint pliable enough to manipulate the metal back to its original place. The newer models of Jeep Wranglers were redesigned and no longer run the risk of the door slamming into the cowl. But if you have an older model, be careful!! If you do accidentally let that door go, you know who to call!! Dent Repair Now!! Watch the video below to see the before and after of one of Gene’s repairs on the Jeep Wrangler Cowl.
Gene has also worked on all manner of dents. Including this “Mystery Dent” on a Jeep Grand Cherokee. Watch how he maneuvers the metal by pushing from behind the fender reaching through the wheel well and the liner. Then he uses his tapping tools to bring down the high spots. Paintless dent repair is like an art form for sure.
This next dent is one we still talk about! It happened a few years ago, but the repair was such a winning success, it’s definitely one for the books! Buddy, the owner, had his brand-new Jeep Wrangler backed into, in the most absurd spot. You just have to watch the video below to see what we’re talking about.
You can see more by watching more videos on our YouTube Channel. If you have questions about our service, you can check out our blog that covers a multitude of answers and information you might find helpful. We’ve talked about Gene a lot in this particular article, but we also have 3 more talented and more than capable paintless dent repair technicians. You can learn more about them either by watching this video, or if you’re more of a reader, here’s the link to our article all about our company and its employees.
If you’re still not sure, give us a call at 724-554-1756. We are more than happy to answer any questions you may have. You can text us at the above number as well. Pictures are really helpful in providing a more accurate estimate. If you are more of an in-person person, we invite you to stop by our shop located in Robinson right off of the Parkway 376. If you’re heading West, take the Campbells Run Road exit and make a left. We are right next to the Marathon gas station. If you are headed East, take the Ridge Road Exit and make a right. Our address is 4699 Campbells Run Road Pittsburgh PA 15205. If you haven’t already, visit our website dentrepairnow.com. We have a page where you can fill out a form, with information such as your name, the year and model of your vehicle, and you can upload pictures there as well. We will put together an estimate and call you right away.
MORE FUN FACTS! DID YOU KNOW THAT JEEP VEHICLES HAVE HIDDEN “EASTER EGGS” IN THEIR VEHICLES?
“Since the late 1990s, every Jeep comes with a fun design flourish hidden somewhere on the vehicle. These little visual gifts are known as “Easter eggs,” a reference to their sometimes elusive location and the fact that they are small treats intended to pay homage to Jeep’s illustrious history. Though a bit more enigmatic, these hidden objects, animals, and logos are nearly as recognizable amongst owners as the Jeep logo itself.
These hidden features are more difficult to spot on some Jeeps than others, especially if you’re not quite sure what you’re looking for. To help you complete your hunt, we’ve put together a handy guide to some of the most popular Jeep Easter eggs and where to find them.”
Things like a topographical map of the Moab Desert near the gear shift, flop flops on the cowl, morse code by the foot rest, and even a picture of a Jeep Willy printed on the windshield or tire.
“The first-ever Jeep Easter egg came out in 1997 when vehicle designer Michael Santoro sought to make his mark on the Wrangler redesign by incorporating the iconic seven-slot grille imprint into the vehicle’s cowl. The grille design helped air flow into the vehicle, but it also jump-started the Jeep Easter egg design. Jeep then incorporated a small Jeep grille inside the headlamp bulb shield of the 2011 Grand Cherokee.”
