What a different ten years make! Gone are the 1945 farmer-in-overalls ready-for-some-serious-work press photos, replaced by a nicely dressed ranch gal ready to drive the range. I’d say that’s a demographic shift.
“1954 Press Photo A new version of the famed Willy’s Jeep is introduced. This is an original press photo. A new version of the famed Willy’s Jeep is being introduced by Kaiser-Willys dealers. The new vehicle, designed for a multitude of transportation and towing chores on or off road, is said to be more rugged, roomier and more comfortable than previous models. It is powered by a 75 horsepower engine in combination with four wheel drive. Features include streamlined hood, contoured fenders and larger windshield. A new all-weather top is easier to install or remove. Photo measures 10 x 8.25 inches. Photo is dated 12-09-1954.”
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And in another 10 or 15 years the jeep ads will feature bikini girls on the beach, another demographic shift.
Why is the windshield white and not black?
Mark, that’s a good question. That might even be a ventilating windshield?
I’ll keep a look out for other early CJ-5 press photos to see how often a light colored windshield frame was used.
And a Black windshield, not White.
THATS NOT A VENTILATING WINDSHIELD , NO SPLIT-GLASS — EARLY PROTOTYPES SOMETIMES HAD ODD FEATURES , COLORS
Though Willys offered split ventilating windshields on several military models, the company also sold non-split ventilating windshields on CJ-3Bs, CJ-5s, CJ-6s, and DJ-3As (http://www.ewillys.com/2017/02/12/what-years-were-ventilating-windshields-offered/). On closer inspection of this windshield I don’t see the arms I thought I saw yesterday.
I agree the early prototypes had some odd things, but given this was taken in December 1954, this should have been a production unit. I suspect by December the factory was already producing these in anticipation of the 1955 launch. They did the same thing a year later with the 1956 DJ-3As. They produced the early ones in 1955.