Ivan Vicario Martin
There are vehicles that, although they are part of our history, have been quietly forgotten, overshadowed by other more popular ones. This is the case of the protagonist of this discovery, A Jeep-Viasa CJ-6 that has been found abandoned in a shed. It was manufactured by Industrial and Agricultural Vehicles, S.A. (Viasa), a company that was established in Zaragoza in 1960 with the aim of manufacturing agricultural machinery and Jeep vehicles.
In addition to the Willys Overland license, They were made with Hotchkiss's equipment when the French company lost its license. Initially, while the obligatory nationalization of production was being achieved, the first units of the so-called CJ-3B They were assembled using parts from American production, including the engine. Most of these models ended up in the army, even though CJ stood for “Civilian Jeep”.
It is estimated that by unit 200, production was already nationalized, using different domestic mechanics for its motorization, especially Perkins, Barreiros and Hurricane. In addition, a little later a elongated version called CJ-6, native to our country, since it was not inspired by any Willys.
Since 1974, year in which Motor Ibérica absorbed Viasa, and until its discontinuation in 1983, the CJ-3B and CJ-6 were now offered only with the Perkins 4108 engine. In addition, they were renamed Jeep Bravo and Bravo L respectively. Finally, let us remember that the Zaragoza company also manufactured tractors Fiat (only until 1963), the SV van and Command.
THE JEEP-VIASA CJ-6 OF THE DISCOVERY
In this case, The open vehicle has no engine, which on the one hand makes its recovery more than difficult and, on the other, also complicates its dating. However, together with the CJ-6 there is the dismantled front grille -with radiator included-, where you can read “Jeep Avia”, that is, it is a model after 1974.
Like all Jeep-Viasa CJs, it has a pick-up body, although this unit was given a modification to install a hardtop. In any case, it has been cut off afterwards, so that it has an open bed at the back again, and even has some arches to unfold a canvas roof. This is not the only modification it has, as it is fitted with door handles from a Citroën 2CV.
Inside there is very little left that can be used, although at least it retains its dashboard and original steering wheel, which could perhaps serve as a donor for another unit. Behind it there is support for a pair of “Jerrycans”, which would mean that at one time it could have belonged to the army.
If you want to know the whole history of Finding this Jeep-Viasa CJ-6, below, we leave you with the video of the channel of Alfredo Yugo's YouTube. Also, as always, we recommend that you subscribe so you don't miss any of their discoveries.
