Grill and cowl maybe. It's a Willys wanta be tube buggy.    

Is it a concours-level CJ2A restoration?  Of course not.  Bullfrog started as a '51 CJ2A and is still registered as such.  Only the rear frame section is tube, as can be seen in the photos.  The Bullfrog is  what the owner, Kevin Hawkins, built it to be - an extremely capable off-road Jeep.

Thanks for reading!  

Thanks for reply Phil. Just calling a spade, a spade.  You are right it is a beautiful, cool ride. But that's all I agree with. For the sake of dialogue, what does the registration have to do with it being a CJ2a. It's clearly not street legal and I don't think it has an original CJ2a v.i.n. # anyplace.  I still think it is more of a want to tube buggy. And what on it is JEEP? I hope you will use a real Willys in a future feature.  

Willysworker, WOW!!  I believe that the Utah licence plate on the rear of the vehicle does say that it is obviously street legal.  Which goes against your statement that there are not any of the 51 Cj-2A #s on the Willys.  The majority of the frame is still intact which has numbers on it and I would be willing to bet that the tub still has its original # plate on it also.  If you want to call it something then call it what it is, an awesome example of a custom 1951 Willys Cj-2A flattie!  

Phil writes, "Kevin procured a YJ Wrangler frame". If there are numbers on it, they aren't for a 1951 CJ2a Willys.   Also, Willys stopped building 2a's in '49 I believe, so a '51 would be a 3a.
It doesn't have a windshield or wipers, fenders or bumpers and who knows what else. Are those real bead locks? I don't live in Utah and I was only at Moab once for Easter Jeep Safari back in '01. Loved it. Anyway, the local police where looking the other way in town but out on the highway, they were stopping rigs like that. Street legal or not isn't my point.
 I'm wondering at what point does a vehicle become something else. I just don't think Bullfrog is a CJ2a anymore. It could have a Samurai, Liberty or Edsel grill and be called anyone of those too.  

2a's did stop in '49 and were replaced with the 3a.  Kevin wrote 2a on the tech sheet because that's what the Utah title says it is and he didn't want to raise issues.  Someone at the DMV probably hit 2 instead of 3 when keying it in.  

Bullfrog is sort of like Grandpa's axe.  First, the handle broke and was replaced.  Then, the head wore out and was replaced.  Is it still Grandpa's axe?

I saw this Jeep when it was still a stock flat fender, before the buildup.  The flatty has an original number plate on the cowl.  The frame is a YJ frame, as willysworker mentioned.  Supposedly, the Jeep is actually legal in Utah because of an open-wheel hot rod law that was passed a few years ago that very few know about.  Kevin carries a copy of the law around with him, as most police haven't heard of the law (or don't care) and continue to hassle him.  He doesn't drive it much on the street.  The Forest Service and NPS are requiring vehicles to be registered when traveling on more and more trails.  That's what the plate's good for.

Changing the subject a bit, I plan on finding a flat fender of some vintage (WWII-1953) and will build it, leaving the L-head in, but maybe upgrading the front and rearends just a bit.  Keep watching the magazine.  If I find a 2a, I plan on painting it one of the original two colors - tan.  

i put a ford 8.8 rearend on my tj does that make it a jeord no its still a jeep.  people been moding jeeps sence 1941 and they are all still jeeps.  

I'm with you, your TJ is still a JEEP. But if you put your old TJ rearend in that FORD is it now a JEEP.  : :  

I have to put my two cents in...

One of the best things about building an off-road vehicle is that you can use your base vehicle as a canvas, and create your ideal ride.

To me, this means that if you want a vehicle that's truly capable on the trail you'd be foolish not to take advantage of modern engine, suspension and drivetrain technology.  

Kevin Hawkins obviously wanted a capable trail rig and that's why the Bullfrog is adorned with all manner of non-original hard parts.

Willysworker, you're right that there's not much OEM left on the Bullfrog, right down to the frame.

At the same time, why would someone in the 21st century wilfully choose to put up with an anemic, carbureted engine, weak drum brakes, a wet-noodle frame, and a wheelbase that's downright dangerous for many situations?

While I can see a case for keeping a flattie all-original, I don't think the resulting vehicle would be the best choice for today's trails.