This June 3, 1947, ad published in the Sullivan Daily Times, out of Sullivan, Indiana, highlights the ability of the jeep to be an efficient, low-cost option as a road-service vehicle.
Features Research Archives
1947 Jeep Caravan’s Coming to Town
This July 08, 1947, article from the Sullivan Daily Times announced the upcoming arrival of the Jeep Caravan to the town of Sullivan, Indiana. It was one of four Jeep Caravans traveling the United State at the time.
The caravan consisted of eight jeeps. One was the CJ-2A fire jeep. Four other CJ-2As sported attachments, including an arc welder, a generator, a compressor, and a line of hydraulic lift implements. Based on the pic below, it looks like 2 wagons and a truck, brand new to the line-up in the summer of 1947, rounded out the caravan.
This July 09, 1947, article from the Sullivan Daily Times announcement was published the next day and featured the CJ-2A fire jeep.
1961 Slide of a DJ-3A on eBay
1943 Photo Promoting War Bonds
This photo and caption appeared on the second page of the Daily Nebraskan on February 24, 1943.
Draining Away the Water
UPDATE II: There are additional updates throughout as several folks suggested other drain holes in various bodies and windshields.
UPDATE: Barney Goodwin noted that MBs/GPWs also have drains on the gas tank sump, front and rear. He also shared some pics (thanks!). Also, some MB/GPW bodies had 3/8″ drain holes in the tool boxes (seem more here).
A couple months ago Chuck asked a question about drain holes, so I collected the information below. It’s hardly exhaustive, so if I’ve missed something, please comment. Also, I did not find any drain strategies for Wagons, Trucks, Jeepsters or FCs; did they have any interior drains? I’m also unsure if the prototype jeeps had drain strategies.
MBs & GPWs:
MBs and GPWs did have drain holes in the far left of the driver side and far right of the passenger side corners, stopped with brass plugs. There seems to be some debate about whether the plugs should have square tops or slotted tops. You can imagine it might not be easy to locate and remove a brass plug once the floor of an MB was full of dirt/mud/water. Here’s a photo of a square plug from G503 in the left corner of the floor:
Fun fact, the drain plug for the floor is reportedly the same size as the drain plug for the MB and GPW gas tank.
Here’s an example of the square plug alternative, a slotted plug. I would think this could be especially difficult to locate when filled with water/mud:
I didn’t know about the fuel tank sump drain holes (of course, on hindsight, it makes sense they’d have them). Barney Goodwin adds, “MB/GPWs had 2 large drains on the fuel tank sump to clear water out, especially after fording. They are basically a radiator cap and gasget without the temp pressure spring. Even the neck on the drain looks like a radiator neck. There was one fore and aft of the sump. It was especially important because there was felt or horsehair insulators between the tank and the body that would be prone to retain moisture and rust the tank if not maintained.”
CJ-2As/CJ-3As/CJ-3Bs/DJ-3As:
These jeeps had drain holes on the sides near the outside step on either side of the body. When purchasing a jeep, If the body is missing the drain hole, then it’s worth examining the body to see if it has been altered in some fashion. Sometimes the lack of drain hole is also a sign that the body is an M-38 or that the body is fiberglass.
Auburn Jeep-A-Trench & CJ-2A Slide **SOLD**
UPDATE: **SOLD** Was on eBay.
That might be a 1947 Luzon Red CJ-2A. An early Auburn Jeep-A-Trench is mounted on the back. One of the fellows is wearing overalls with “Lincoln City Line, Inc.” (Bus/Transit Company) on the back, a company that was based in Lincoln, Nebraska. Meanwhile, Auburn Machine Works was based out of Auburn, Nebraska. So, I’d wager that this photo was taken somewhere in Eastern Nebraska, probably in 1947 or 1948.
The Burke-Schneider Motor Company out of Lincoln, Nebraska, was also involved in this event. The company had a Willys dealership, which explains the fellow in the center with his white overalls. As early as December of 1946 Burke-Schneider was advertising the new CJ-2A (perhaps earlier, but I have no evidence).
CJ-2A ‘Jeep’ Fire Truck Brochure on eBay
This is one I’ve bid on a few times, but never seem to get. At some point I will.
View all the information on eBay
“Vintage Willys Jeep Firetruck Brochure CJ2 CJ3 as pictured. Condition is Used. Shipped with USPS First Class Package. Thanks for looking. Let us know if you have any questions”
Late 1950s Jeep Sign Meriden, CT eBay
Reproduction sign? With over 1 hour to go the auction is only at $162 (plus $33.80 shipping).
View all the information on eBay
“Used Previously displayed Jeep Willys lighted sign Sign. Silk screen lens with metal ribbed frame. Measures 37x3x10.5 inches. Recently purchased with other Mopar related items. Has wood backing and the light source is a tubular bulb. Tested in working condition. Has newer cord. Ships priority insured ”
1944 Photo of MacArthur in Jeep on eBay
Here’s another example of MacArthur visiting the troops.
View all the information on eBay
“Press Photo Douglas MacArthur Jeep Shown forward Area troop Lloyd Lehrbas. This is an original press photo. Douglas MacArthur, in his 4 star Jeep Shown During a visit of his troops in a forward Area, Photo measures 10 x 8.25inches. Photo is dated 02-02-none.”
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Originally Published August 27, 2017
“1944- General Douglas MacArthur, Supreme Allied Commander of the Pacific, in his four-star jeep on a visit of his troops in a forward area in New Guinea on his birthday. General Robert Eichelberger is driving the jeep and his acting aide Colonel Lloyd Kehrbas is in back.”
Dale Model, Inc., Model Jeep
Our normally dull lives were upended last week as a neighbor dog we watched during the day passed away, then our dog Zollie suffered a slipped disc, meaning he needs some special attention, and one of Ann’s relatives suddenly landed into the middle of a messy divorce, with Ann lending a hand in that process.
Amongst all of that, on Wednesday I spotted an unusual model jeep for sale for only $15. The seller lived a few hours away from me in Portland, so I expressed interest and sent her an email, asking if she could mail it. A 67-year-old woman named Jan responded with an email explaining that it was her deceased husband’s jeep and that she has some medical issues that would prohibit her from mailing it. This led to more emails between us, as it took me a while to identify the jeep (A Dale Model Co. jeep, which is a derivative of a Fromburg model jeep). As we got to know each other better, I decided to drive to Portland and meet her. She just seemed like a nice person.
I ended up spending a couple hours with Jan, learning about her much older husband (he was born in 1914), about his teenage years working in the CCC in Oregon, his Navy experience in Hawaii during WWII building plane hangars and his long work as an engineer with the city of Portland, erecting buildings, parks and fountains.
We also walked through some of the stuff she has left to sell (she’s downsizing), most of which isn’t really worth much. However, she does have an cool machete from her husband that has a leather sheath. I had a suspicion that it might be something of value, as it has a great weight to it. She was willing to give it to me and have me pay her once we figured out a value. I told her I was concerned that it was quite valuable and beyond my budget, but I took some pics and promised I would figure out what it was.
Last night when I returned home I did some research, discovering the machete is a Collins & Sons Legitimus 27″ Machete #128 with a number #13 leather scabbard. It was likely made around 1941. Values range from up to a couple hundred dollars, though that’s someone’s asking price on eBay. I reported my findings to her and we struck a fair deal, one that includes returning to Portland to help her with some more of her stuff.
So, in the end, that little $15 jeep will cost me more than $200 after gas, food and the cost of the machete! But, helping someone out and making a new friend seems worth the cost.
Late 1940s Willys Sign Peoria, IL **SOLD**
UPDATE: **SOLD** Was $3800.
Has working neon.
“Willys Jeep porcelain sign with an original can single sided. 70″ X 35″ X 10″. No touch ups.”
1960? Family of 4-Wheel Drive Vehicles
UPDATE: There is a French version of this brochure as well.
I bought this brochure years ago. I’m glad I did, because I think I’ve only seen one other appear on eBay. The is high on my list of favorites. It’s a high quality print job on textured paper. The downside of the textured paper is that I had to manipulate the images to turn them into decent scans, but doing so made the yellows brighter than they ought to be.
Curiously, the brochure also includes the new ‘Hockey Stick’ style 2-Wheel Drive Wagon, along with solid windshields, but doesn’t mention that the design is new or anything about ‘Maverick’. But, it does indicate the FCs are “new”. Given the photo of the Paris factory on the back, and the nod to the Willys Export Company, this may have been a European focused brochure (the English version … there is a French version, too).
L-134 Factory Heat Shield
UPDATE II: There’s a reference to the shield in a 1943 Tech manual (pg 23). Still no part number.
UPDATE: Another heat shield on an industrial WWII L-134 spotted today (at bottom).
Barney Goodwin from Barney’s Jeep Parts shared a pic of this rare heat shield (he has several in his parts inventory). It mounts between the carb and the intake manifold. We’ve been trying to document a part number, pics, or other evidence of its use. The only evidence so far are two industrial engines with heat shields.
Here’s the heat shield Barney has in stock. Anyone have a part number for this?
As sometimes happens, when I know what to look for, things sometimes pop up. In this case, after writing this post, I ran across a WWII Industrial engine for sale in Santa Cruz that has a heat shield installed. It’s hard to tell how far the wing sticks out.
When searching the industrial equipment archives, an image from 2015 of a civilian industrial engine with a heat shield with a heat shield popped up. The wing is more easily seen. Whether this heat shield is the same as Barney’s or not I couldn’t say for sure:
This Navy unit is powered by a L-134 with a heat shield:
1954 CJ-3B Brochures
I believe these two CJ-3B brochures were put out in 1954. The red one was published initially, followed by the yellow one, which was printed without the KW logo and other minor changes.
This revised version of the CJ-3B brochure was also printed in 1954.
Cookie Monster’s FJ-3 Foodie Truck
UPDATE: There’s an update here on Cookie Monster’s Foodie Truck (and associated items for sale).
Thanks to Gayland for spotting this Sesame Street FJ-3 fleet van that was made into Cookie Monster’s Foodie Truck. You can learn more about the show and the truck on the Muppet Fandom Page: https://muppet.fandom.com/wiki/Cookie_Monster%27s_Foodie_Truck
There is both a two dimensional fake FJ-3 and a three dimensional real FJ-3. This is obviously the fake one:
And here are two photos of the real one:
In an episode of Buttermilk Biscuits and Honey, the FJ-3 makes a brief appearance at the start of the show (it likely appears in others, but I don’t have the time to watch them all):
5 Folded Brochures of Different Models on eBay
UPDATE: There are more of these five-brochure sets on eBay. View all the info on eBay. These are five out of the 20 issued (Form 600-01 through 600-20) during 1960. Slightly different, but similar brochures were published in 1959 (Form 59-01 through 59-20). The form number can be found at the bottom of the brochures. I’m working on assembling an entire list for each year.
(02/09/2017) I bought and received a set of these. By the time you factor in the exchange rate, this is a good price.
“These are five small format (22 x 9 cms) six page two colour sales brochure folders for the 1960 Jeep range for the US market.
Produced by Willys Motors Inc in Toledo Ohio, in English and undated, but they are around 1960
All open out to about A4 size with good pics and specifications.
Covers the following models:
1960 Jeep Universal CJ-6
1960 Jeep Utility Wagon
1960 Jeep Pick-up Truck
1960 Jeep FC-150 Forward Control Truck
1960 Jeep FC-170 Forward Control Truck”
1959 or 1960 Mailer Brochure?
Anyone have this brochure?
I don’t have it; but do have these old pics from a 2013 post. The problem is I can’t quite tell what the date (aka form number) is from 1959 or 1960. If you have this brochure, the date would be great. Scans would even be better, but I know that’s not simple for everyone.
I’m also interested in other 1958-1962 brochures. These all have date related-form numbers. I have a bunch, but not all of them. At some point this month I will create a list of what I have and what I need to more fully document the brochures from this era.
GPW & MB Data Plate Robbery
Tom Furrer’s prized collection of GPW and MB glove box lids and tags were stolen as part of a robbery. Contact him through G503 with any questions: https://forums.g503.com/viewtopic.php?f=5&t=311501:
“To all my friends and fellow hobbyists in the Jeep world I need your help..
On November 1 Friday I was in Santa Rosa California helping my elderly mother who is 95 prepare to evacuate from the Kindle fire , we were one of 180,000 people told to prepare to evacuate. While I was down there my house that is in Columbia California was robbed and ransacked. I hadn’t even moved in yet yet these thieves got into my house ransacked the house and stole a lot of personal belongings of my mothers and myself ..
For many years by Elder father a World War II vet liked to tinker with jeeps and one of his hobbies was he collected data plates that where from both Ford and Willys Jeep‘s that were junked. When my father passed I continued with his hobby. By the time that he passed he had collected over 60 sets of these data plates most of which are still attached to the glove box doors.
Well these thieves got off with almost all of them and I need the help of every person in this hobby to be on the lookout for these plates. The thieves obviously know cars very well as they were able to move a locked vehicle out of the way to complete their crime. These plates will be extremely easy to identify and eventually I believe they’re going to end up in the hands of somebody who knows what they are and what their value is.
Please everybody keep your eyes open watch eBay watch swap meets. The identifying feature of every single plate is on the glove box door: the serial number and date of delivery written in black ink.
Please everybody keep a watch out I do believe over time they’re gonna turn up we’re too big of a family to let this kind of crap happen.
I Thank each and everyone of you.. Local sheriffs and law-enforcement are well aware of this and crime reports have been written.”
Tom Furrer
Jalpnik’s David Tracy Struggles w/ Selling 2 of His Loves
This article appears in Jalopnik on Friday. He’s struggling (emotionally) with selling two of his jeeps: A CJ-2A and a DJ-5. I don’t currently see the 2A listed for sale on FB.
https://jalopnik.com/im-trying-to-sell-two-vehicles-i-love-but-im-having-suc-1839718020
Hamilton Fire Patrol Jeep Antioch, IL **SOLD**
UPDATE: **SOLD** Was $450.
Thought used, this still looks fun for kids. It’s not quite stock anymore, as a bell is installed on the front bumper (sometimes an “H” is on the hood, other times a bell); the front bumper (bumper isn’t stock either). This appears to be missing the hose and ladder as well. There is more about Fire Jeep toys on the CJ-3B Page.
Here’s a semi-restored Fire Patrol jeep that I believe shows how it should actually look:
1958ish Snow Removal Commercial
Tis the season for a snow removal commercial. This one must be about 60 years old.
“Veteran” Jeep Story at LimaOhio.com
An article was published late last week about a WWII veteran who restored a jeep. It’s a touching tribute by the daughter of the veteran about her father’s restoration of a WWII jeep. The one glaring issue is that the jeep isn’t a WWII jeep; it’s a CJ-2A.
https://www.limaohio.com/features/lifestyle/382930/restoration-of-workhorse-veteran-labor-of-love
Willys Wagon Comparison Chart on eBay
This is listed at $14.00. It’s a two-sided comparison chart.
View all the information on ebay
“1960s? Jeep station wagon salesmans features slid card, size 4 by 9 inches, condition is good with light handling, any questions please send an e-mail, USA shipping will be $5.00”
1959 Anytime, Anywhere, Any Job Brochure on eBay
Seller has it priced at $10, but is accepting offers.
View all the information on ebay
“Description – This auction is for a vintage sales mailer covering the Jeep FC-150, FC-170, Universal, Pickup truck & 4WD Utility Wagon. Not sure what year it was published.
Condition – The covers have dirt and wear as shown but the book is otherwise OK.”
(pics from my collection):
Two Nearly Identical Jeep Family Brochures
These two nearly identical jeep brochures were published in different colors a year apart. The red version was published in late 1959. The blue (or green-blue?) brochure was published in late 1960.
Differences:
Page 1: The truck at the mid-far-left of the page on the 1960 version has the ‘hockey stick’ styling, where the 1959 version has the older styling. Curiously, the wagons are identical.
Page 2: The ‘hockey’ stick 4WD utility wagon moves from the right to the left hand side on the 1960 brochure, while the older-design 2WD wagon is dropped in favor of the Harlequin-design wagon. The plain version of the truck is swapped for the ‘hockey’ stick truck. There are a variety of small text edits as well.
Page 3: Some very minor edits. The red version of the brochure is marked Form NO. 59-19, while the blue version is marked Form No. 600-19. Both brochures were part of a 20 series set of brochures both years. Once I get both sets of brochures complete, I will do a post for each year of brochures.
1960: