The M-29 Weasel

[Roscomacaw]

Only 50 miles from me, but a million or so as far as rounding up the rest of it![V]

Miscreant adrift in
the BerStuda Triangle


1957 Transtar 1/2ton
1960 Larkvertible V8
1958 Provincial wagon
1953 Commander coupe

[Roscomacaw]

Only 50 miles from me, but a million or so as far as rounding up the rest of it![V]

Miscreant adrift in
the BerStuda Triangle


1957 Transtar 1/2ton
1960 Larkvertible V8
1958 Provincial wagon
1953 Commander coupe

[gordr]

Well, yesterday was a nice mild day here, so I took my Weasel out for a spin. It started quite readily, and I drove it out of its parking shed, and topped up the oil and radiator, and dumped some gasoline in the tank. Went for a nice cruise, up to the neighbor's place. Gave a ride to a batch of kids, and a ride to another batch, and then "traded" a Weasel drive to one of the moms for a spin on her Polaris 800 snowmobile. She caught on quite readily to operating the Weasel, including shifting gears, which is not all that easy. I have to say the snowmobile is faster, but the Weasel steers easier.

I must have put on at least 3 miles. Even found a hill the Weasel could not climb; a very steep grassy slope covered in snow. Got about 2/3 of the way up, and then spun out. Taking a run at it would have got me over easily, but I had kids in the back, and didn't want to launch them when the Weasel pitched going over the top. The kids had a great time, too.

Gord Richmond, within Weasel range of the Alberta Badlands

[gordr]

Well, yesterday was a nice mild day here, so I took my Weasel out for a spin. It started quite readily, and I drove it out of its parking shed, and topped up the oil and radiator, and dumped some gasoline in the tank. Went for a nice cruise, up to the neighbor's place. Gave a ride to a batch of kids, and a ride to another batch, and then "traded" a Weasel drive to one of the moms for a spin on her Polaris 800 snowmobile. She caught on quite readily to operating the Weasel, including shifting gears, which is not all that easy. I have to say the snowmobile is faster, but the Weasel steers easier.

I must have put on at least 3 miles. Even found a hill the Weasel could not climb; a very steep grassy slope covered in snow. Got about 2/3 of the way up, and then spun out. Taking a run at it would have got me over easily, but I had kids in the back, and didn't want to launch them when the Weasel pitched going over the top. The kids had a great time, too.

Gord Richmond, within Weasel range of the Alberta Badlands

[garyash]

Gord, it's good to be careful when taking the tops of the hills. Here's a picture from a 1944 magazine article:


But it is amazing what steep hills they can climb.


[img=left]http://www.studegarage.com/images/gary_ash_m5_sm.jpg[/img=left] Gary Ash
Dartmouth, Mass.
'48 M5
'65 Wagonaire Commander
'63 Wagonaire Standard
web site at http://www.studegarage.com

[garyash]

Gord, it's good to be careful when taking the tops of the hills. Here's a picture from a 1944 magazine article:


But it is amazing what steep hills they can climb.


[img=left]http://www.studegarage.com/images/gary_ash_m5_sm.jpg[/img=left] Gary Ash
Dartmouth, Mass.
'48 M5
'65 Wagonaire Commander
'63 Wagonaire Standard
web site at http://www.studegarage.com

[gordr]

Actually, Gary, the hill I spun out on was very similar to the second pic you posted. I'd get well up it, and lose traction on both tracks, and slowly swing to the right, at which point I declutched and let it roll back down. Don't want to be getting sideways on a steep slope.

The hill is covered in tall grass, and drifted in with snow. The grass all seems to bend downhill, so it is slippery in its own right.

Gord Richmond, within Weasel range of the Alberta Badlands

[gordr]

Actually, Gary, the hill I spun out on was very similar to the second pic you posted. I'd get well up it, and lose traction on both tracks, and slowly swing to the right, at which point I declutched and let it roll back down. Don't want to be getting sideways on a steep slope.

The hill is covered in tall grass, and drifted in with snow. The grass all seems to bend downhill, so it is slippery in its own right.

Gord Richmond, within Weasel range of the Alberta Badlands

[raprice]

When my wife and I were in South Bend in '97, we visited the then Newman and Altman during the Nat'l Stude meet and they had a Weasel engine still in the crate. I wonder whatever happened to it.
It could have been used in any car that used the Champion engine, since it was a modified Champion engine.
Just wondering.
Rog

'59 Lark VI Regal Hardtop

[raprice]

When my wife and I were in South Bend in '97, we visited the then Newman and Altman during the Nat'l Stude meet and they had a Weasel engine still in the crate. I wonder whatever happened to it.
It could have been used in any car that used the Champion engine, since it was a modified Champion engine.
Just wondering.
Rog

'59 Lark VI Regal Hardtop

[gordr]

quote:Originally posted by raprice

When my wife and I were in South Bend in '97, we visited the then Newman and Altman during the Nat'l Stude meet and they had a Weasel engine still in the crate. I wonder whatever happened to it.
It could have been used in any car that used the Champion engine, since it was a modified Champion engine.
Just wondering.
Rog

'59 Lark VI Regal Hardtop

Rog, there's probably many more Weasel engines than there are Weasels, since the DOD ordered many spares. They are a Champion block, but there are many detail differences: water pump, distributor, manifold, carb, rear engine plate, and oil pan come to mind.

Gord Richmond, within Weasel range of the Alberta Badlands

[gordr]

quote:Originally posted by raprice

When my wife and I were in South Bend in '97, we visited the then Newman and Altman during the Nat'l Stude meet and they had a Weasel engine still in the crate. I wonder whatever happened to it.
It could have been used in any car that used the Champion engine, since it was a modified Champion engine.
Just wondering.
Rog

'59 Lark VI Regal Hardtop

Rog, there's probably many more Weasel engines than there are Weasels, since the DOD ordered many spares. They are a Champion block, but there are many detail differences: water pump, distributor, manifold, carb, rear engine plate, and oil pan come to mind.

Gord Richmond, within Weasel range of the Alberta Badlands

[raprice]

Thanks Gord. I realize that it needed to be modified to keep the ignition dry, since the Weasel needed to go through water too.
Rog

'59 Lark VI Regal Hardtop

[raprice]

Thanks Gord. I realize that it needed to be modified to keep the ignition dry, since the Weasel needed to go through water too.
Rog

'59 Lark VI Regal Hardtop

[lstude]

Oliver North did a segment on his War Stories show on the Fox News Channel and R. Lee Ermey also did a segment on his Mail Call show on the History Channel about the Weasel. I taped them both. Both mentioned Studebaker.

Out club chapter is going to have our meet at the home of Paul Cook who is a military vehicle collector and owns a Weasel. It will be on May 6.

Here is a picture of Ollie North in a Weasel.



Here is the Weasel owned by Paul Cook





Leonard Shepherd, editor, The Commanding Leader, Central Virginia Chapter, http://centralvirginiachapter.org/