COVER STORY: IT'S A JEEP?

What began as a 1993 E-Z-GO Marathon golf cart was custom crafted into a one-off Jeep in a matter or three short months. Owner Cary Lowery of Meyersdale, PA said “My wife suggested that I should build the golf cart into a Jeep. When I mentioned it to a co-worker (John Harshberger) he thought that we should tackle the project together. He was the mastermind behind the build, after seeing several photos of older-style Jeep Willys. The transformation began in March 2021 and was ready to cruise the campgrounds by Memorial Day weekend 2021.”

Cary and John stripped the ‘93 E-Z-GO down to the frame, saving only the windshield and roof supports that would later be used to construct the flip-down windshield. Cary purchased a 420 Predator motor from Harbor Freight, a new clutch from Vegas Carts, a new 70-amp alternator, LED Jeep halo fog lights, whip sticks, LED brake/turn signal lights, LED green clearance lights and muffler from different eBay suppliers. To give the Jeep an offroad stance, he purchased a 4-inch lift, HD leaf springs, and wheel and tires from Steeling Golf Carts.

“John and I worked 18 hours each a week on top of our full-time jobs at 4-Guys Firetrucks in Meyersdale. My guess from start to finish, this project took around 180 hours per man.” Cary says, “John’s neighbor Charlie Klein graciously gave us a Q-Siren from a 1969 firetruck that we installed under the hood, as well as train horns.” For the metal construction, he used stainless steel that was left over scrap from building firetrucks.

John would look at the pictures we pulled from internet and draw his ideas on cardboard and give them to Cary to take to work (arriving early) to cut and grind the body of a Jeep. These cuts consisted of using a jigsaw, bandsaw, or cut with a 4-inch grinder with a cutting wheel. After work, the duo would meet at John’s garage and tack parts on the Jeep. They cut out the old pieces where the motor was and fabricated their own motor mounts. This was a time-consuming process to get the motor mounted and braced to line up with the rear end, taking about four days in total to complete. Next on the list, they fabricated the supports to reduce motor vibrations. They fabricated a stainless exhaust and welded the muffler to the end of it. Afterwards was the construction of the body fenders, extension of the front end, hood, grill and shifter. We used a real grenade, drilled out the bottom and tapped it to fit on the shifter.

Last was the electrical part of the build. Cary customized the dash with switches they use on firetrucks and added a GPS speedometer. They put a key push-button start with a kill switch (secret shut off switch). They installed a red switch for

the Q-Siren and five other black switches that would go to the headlights, green halo lights and whip sticks, leaving the last two as spares for additional lights in the future.

“My Jeep has gotten a lot of attention at Big Bear Lake Campground, located in Hazelton, WV, with 2500 camp sites where my wife and I purchased a lot about five years ago. Many campers are military and veterans, and it always brings a smile to my face when I drive by and they salute me. It brings a tear to my eye knowing they served our country to give me and you our freedom. I built it because no one else had one, and it has turned into much more to me. I can’t say how awesome it has been meeting new people at the campground. It is a great conversation starter,” Cary recounts.

“I want to thank John for his time and craftsmanship on the design, and 4 Guys for allowing me to utilize the work facility and junk metal. I want to thank John’s son Kyle for doing the body work and spraying the Monster Liner. I think it’s one awesome Jeep that I am very proud of.”

We think you would all agree that this build is one true craftsmanship with a lot of heart, blood and sweat.