It takes these German guys under 4 minutes to assemble a Willys

[Ron]

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WtyDj7EsqSM

Maybe a German speaker here can fill us in on what this is about.

[Ben]

Maybe a German speaker here can fill us in on what this is about.

The video starts at what appears to be the middle of some kind of game show / contest so there's not a lot of background on what's going on. Basically there's some kind of bet that these guys can do it in under four minutes using hand tools only. Any kraut being spoken is just the announcer giving a play by play with a few lame jokes thrown in.

[griz]

Here's a group that cuts that Jeep time in half. ('Merica!) I noticed a few shortcuts, like they dropped in the radiator but didn't bolt it in, connect hoses, or put in coolant.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DBHB1jG7weo

[MechAg94]

Are the right side wheel lugs left handed threads?

[MechAg94]

I am a bit surprised Jeep doesn't sell that design as a UTV.  I think they would sell a ton of them. 

[Hawkmoon]

I am a bit surprised Jeep doesn't sell that design as a UTV.  I think they would sell a ton of them.

There is (or was) a company that sold a scaled-down clone of the original Jeep, as a UTV.

Here it is -- the Mahindra Roxor:

https://www.mahindrausa.com/mahindra-roxor-utvs

[Brad Johnson]

There is (or was) a company that sold a scaled-down clone of the original Jeep, as a UTV.

Here it is -- the Mahindra Roxor:

https://www.mahindrausa.com/mahindra-roxor-utvs

It's not scaled down at all. With exception of engine/transmission, the Gen 1 US Roxor is pretty much an exact duplicate of early Jeeps, so much that body, frame, and suspension parts are interchangeable. It even spawned a lawsuit for being too "Jeepy" in appearance, thus the current "50's Futurecar" front end appearance.

If memory serves, Mahindra or some part of the Indian government licensed Jeep production during or right after WW2 and just kept making them, unchanged, for decades. It came to the US market as a UTV so they didn't have to deal with roadworthiness certifications.

Brad

[Ben]

I remember when I first moved to  potatoho, I stumbled across some info on the state saying it was ok to have those Roxors as highway vehicles with just a few modifications (turn signals and other minor stuff). I thought one of those would be the bomb in my neck of the woods. Until I saw the price. Yikes! I don't know what they're going for now, but I remember that 5 years ago the price was a shocker.

[dogmush]

I see the Roxors in dealerships around here for $18-$20k ish.  I see a lot of side-by-sides in Central FL, but I've never seen a Roxor in the wild, so I think most people agree with you on the price.

Although I think the four seat Polaris' are creeping up close to $20k new as well, and I see those all the time.

[Ben]

I see the Roxors in dealerships around here for $18-$20k ish.  I see a lot of side-by-sides in Central FL, but I've never seen a Roxor in the wild, so I think most people agree with you on the price.

Although I think the four seat Polaris' are creeping up close to $20k new as well, and I see those all the time.

Yeah, I just looked, and the base Roxor is right at $20K here. Once they put a top on it, as well as "road gear", it hovers near $30K, and the rule in Idaho is "no state highways" which severely limits its use. At even $15K (street legal price), I'd consider one, but at $30K? I'm pretty sure I can find decently restored actual jeeps for less than that.

Also, yes, the Polaris prices are getting out of hand. I got my base 500 new for I think $8K in 2019. Personally, I wouldn't pay $20K for a 1000, because again, those are big enough, I might as well buy an older jeep.

[Brad Johnson]

... but at $30K? I'm pretty sure I can find decently restored actual jeeps for less than that.

Given the availability of repop bodies and frames, you could probably build your own CJ5 from new parts for cheaper and end up with a better rig in the process.

Brad

[230RN]

Are the right side wheel lugs left handed threads?

I thought so too but don't know enough about which vehicles had left hand threads on the right side to comment.

That almost prompted me to make a lame joke about "it was all done with mirrors."

[Hawkmoon]

It's not scaled down at all. With exception of engine/transmission, the Gen 1 US Roxor is pretty much an exact duplicate of early Jeeps, so much that body, frame, and suspension parts are interchangeable. It even spawned a lawsuit for being too "Jeepy" in appearance, thus the current "50's Futurecar" front end appearance.

If memory serves, Mahindra or some part of the Indian government licensed Jeep production during or right after WW2 and just kept making them, unchanged, for decades. It came to the US market as a UTV so they didn't have to deal with roadworthiness certifications.

Brad

That sounds familiar. Thanks for the clarification.

[230RN]

I was unfamiliar with that vehicle since I haven't been off roading for a looooong time.  So I looked up why they were not street legal, found this:

https://myvehicletalk.com/are-roxors-street-legal/ 

Also in there was a State-by-State list of yeas and nays. Colorado was a nay, but right under it was Connecticut, which was a little amusing to the mensuration portion of my mind:

"Connecticut
You must register your Roxor in Connecticut and can use it on public roads only while crossing a road perpendicularly."

"--ly" indicated an inexactitude, so my immediate thought was then "What's the tolerance for 'perpendicularly?' I never checked any further in the State list, having no need to know.

Nap time.

[Ben]

Just for kicks I looked up CJ5 prices. From 1954 (as early as the site let me go) to 1970. Most all of them are cheaper than the Roxor, and many side by sides for that matter. And of course can be driven on all roads everywhere.

https://classics.autotrader.com/classic-cars-for-sale/jeep-cj_5-for-sale?year_max=1970&year_min=1954

[Hawkmoon]

"Connecticut
You must register your Roxor in Connecticut and can use it on public roads only while crossing a road perpendicularly."

"--ly" indicated an inexactitude, so my immediate thought was then "What's the tolerance for 'perpendicularly.'  Was it 1.56 radians to 1.58 radians off the road's direction, or what?  What if you crossed the road at 45° or 135° (0.78 to 2.36 radians) to it?  What if you were a spherical chicken in a vacuum?  Would the chicken have to cite a reason for its crossing the road?"

That makes no sense at all. As best I can remember, Connecticut (where I grew up) has never had registration for UTVs, and doesn't allow them to be operated on public roads. I have known people who owned various makes of UTVs (I think similar to whatever the thing is that Ben owns), and they do not require registration.

I'll have to research this -- or maybe cheat and ask a friend who until recently was a VW dealership shop forman in Connecticut.

Update: https://www.dirtlegal.com/street-legal-utv-guide/connecticut

[Hawkmoon]

It's not scaled down at all. With exception of engine/transmission, the Gen 1 US Roxor is pretty much an exact duplicate of early Jeeps, so much that body, frame, and suspension parts are interchangeable. It even spawned a lawsuit for being too "Jeepy" in appearance, thus the current "50's Futurecar" front end appearance.

I found some photos of the Roxor I.

WANT!

[MechAg94]

Thanks for the info on the Mahindra UTV.  I knew it was similar, but didn't realize it was nearly a copy.  And yes it it expensive, but on par with similar UTV's. 

[230RN]

That makes no sense at all. As best I can remember, Connecticut (where I grew up) has never had registration for UTVs, and doesn't allow them to be operated on public roads. I have known people who owned various makes of UTVs (I think similar to whatever the thing is that Ben owns), and they do not require registration.

I'll have to research this -- or maybe cheat and ask a friend who until recently was a VW dealership shop forman in Connecticut.

Update: https://www.dirtlegal.com/street-legal-utv-guide/connecticut

Complain to that site's owner.  I know it's their condensation of probably a full page of legalese and citations to other Connecticut laws, but they do not provide citations for any of their yeas and nays.

[Ron]

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MURw4Gc2siU