Don Prine passed away on March 22 at the ripe old age of 97. In 1940, Prine was an Admiral’s assistant in the Navy. It just so happened, the Admiral he was assisting was one of the proponents of the proposed ¼-ton high-mobility platform which would eventually become the Jeep. As such, Don was front and center during the early developmental days as Willys, Bantam, and Ford vied for the coveted government contract. As an avid outdoorsman and hunter, the jeep left an indelible impression on the young navy man, and as soon as he got out of the service, Prine began what would become a lifelong love affair with the spunky little 4x4 vehicle he, in essence, helped come to fruition.
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In September of 2011, Herm and Marty Tillford of ATV Manufacturing presented us with the opportunity to visit Don Prine at his home in Washington where he housed his collection of rare pre-standardized jeep models as well as a few of his prized hunting rigs. Then, we took a drive over to his shop, Prine’s Jeep Service, where original Willys, Kaiser, and Jeep boxes of parts, vehicles, and hunting trophies adorned every nook and cranny. For a true lover of Jeep history and artifacts, visiting Prine in his element was like revering on hallowed ground. We remain truly thankful to have had the opportunity to meet such a Jeeping legend. Godspeed, Don Prine.
For more information on funeral services please go to:www.legacy.com
Don's Jeeps
If you haven't seen Don's collection of Jeeps or if you want to learn more about Don and his love for Jeeps check out the following:
The Old Man and the Jeep part 1
The Old Man and the Jeep part 2
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Christian Hazel is Editor In Chief of Jp Magazine, the world's largest and oldest Jeep-only publication. He's a life-long gearhead whose interest in anything mechanical or automotive took hold when he was just a little brat and hasgrown in interest and scope ever since.
His career as an automotive journalist began in the late 1990s when he joined the staff of Petersen's 4-Wheel & Off-Road Magazine, eventually becoming Technical Editor before transitioning over as Technical Editor and then Editor In Chief of Jp magazine. He has written for numerous Source Interlink Media titles including Four Wheeler, Diesel Power, 4x4 Garage, and others as well as contributing to SEMA newsletters and serving as industry and marketing consultant to various OE and aftermarket manufacturers.
His body of written work is as vast and varied as his list of project vehicles, with editorial stories ranging from full throwdown shootouts, new product and vehicle reviews, entertainment pieces, competition articles and videos, and in-depth technical reviews, installations, and how-to stories.
You're more likely to find Christian behind the wheel of a vintage Willys, Kaiser, or AMC-era Jeep than a brand-new, shiny modern model. For Christian, form follows function, patina trumps paint, and Jeep is more a lifestyle than a brand name.
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