Friday, August 24, 2012:
Junk Yard Dog gets facelift
-Story and photos by 2nd Lt. Jessica Donnelly
Members of the Combined Support Maintenance Shop out of Havre de Grace, Md., are currently giving the old Junk Yard Dog vehicle a makeover, creating a more traditional military look for the oversized truck.
Lt. Col. Robert Newby, CSMS manager, explained that the truck was originally built by maintenance members sometime in the 90’s, as a recruiting tool to bring to fairs, parades, car shows and unit events. The JYD has been through several paint changes throughout the years, including lime green, but the current remodel will change the outdated desert camouflaged body to the more modern sand color of a Light Medium Tactical Vehicle.
“The changes will make it look more like an actual military vehicle,” said Mr. Adam Britton, CSMS allied trade worker, who has been working with Maryland National Guard maintenance members to complete the remodel.
Not only did the JYD get a new body, which takes the two-seat vehicle to four seats, but it also received new tires, is scheduled to receive a new engine, and will be lowered about six inches, explained Britton.
He added that the original JYD was created with all donated time, after hours and on weekends, but now that it’s seen as a recruiting tool, it is more of a priority to finish the remodel. All of the work is expected to be completed near the end of the year or the beginning of the New Year, and then it will be ready to make its debut.
“Hopefully we can get it out to more events and shows once it’s finished,” said Britton. “Kids love it.”
Britton explained that when the vehicle was first created, the unit members traveled all over the state for events, winning awards and trophies for car shows, but over the past couple of years the JYD has only been used in the local 4th of July parade. However, once the transformation is complete, he’s hoping to get it back out into the community.
“I’m ready to make it more popular,” added Britton.
© Friday, August 24, 2012 MDNG> News Stories
The Junk Yard Dog will change its outdated body for a more modern military look.
The new Junk Yard Dog body will be a more traditional sand color.
The old body will be completely replaced, turning the two-seat vehicle into a four-seat vehicle.
Published by: Maryland National Guard Public Affairs Office
The PAO is responsible for all publically releasable information on this site.
For story ideas, corrections, or other comments please email us at: