I’ve posted something similar to this video, but not this specific one (at least that I can find). This early 1941 film reel is narrated and shares the news that Ford’s Reconnissance Cars would be joining the Army. The video is located at the National Archives.
Features Research Archives
Photo of Bantam BRC-40 Exiting the Water on eBay
It’s a good photo of a BRC-40.
“1941 Press Photo Wartrace, Tenn. US Army jeep & Pvt NR McDougle of MPs. Photo measures 9 x 7 inches. Photo is dated 6-7-1941.”
East Penn Jeepers License Plate
Perhaps this license plate belonged to Del and Ann Parker?
View all the information on eBay
“Here I Have A 1950’s -1960’s Vintage JEEP PLASTIC license plate East Penn Jeepers AMC JEEP WILLYS.Very hard to find in this condition.3RD pic is as found (DIRTY). the rest of thE PICS are cleaned. no chips, rips, or brakes. some rust around mounting holes. there is names printed on tag DEL & ANN PARKER .”
1952 Navy Foam Fire Fighting Jeep Prototype
UPDATE: Thanks to Ted, below I’ve added an article and more images from a March 1953 Popular Science article about the little fire fighting jeep, also known as the “Little Squirt”.
This video from the National Archives Catalog shows a special-purpose fire fighting jeep the Navy was testing. The video is divided into two parts. The first part shows the jeep fighting a fire. The second part shows the jeep from various angles. I’ve also included some images from the video below. (If the video is slow or doesn’t work, go here to download the video).
1952 Photo of Navy Foam Fire Fighting Jeep on eBay
In an otherworldly co-incidence, this press photo appeared on my ebay search a couple hours AFTER I found the video in the post above. That’s just crazy lucky! So, I’m heading out to buy a lottery ticket right now, lol!
View all the information on eBay
“1952 Press Photo Navy’s foam fire-fighting jeep demonstration, Washington, D.C. This is an original press photo. U.S. Navy – Equipment. Washington, D.C. The Navy’s new foam fire-fighting jeep designed for use on the decks of aircraft carriers is shown extinguishing a blaze during a demonstration at the Naval Research Laboratory today. The self-contained fire extinguishing system is mounted on a jeep and is capable of spreading a protective cone of fire-killing foam 30′ in diameter over a trapped pilot. Photo measures 9.25 x 7.25 inches. Photo is dated 10-7-1952.”
US Army Signal Core Telescope/Range Finder on eBay
I’ve never heard of one of these. Perhaps someone could use it?
View all the information on eBay
“5-LB. RARELY SEEN, ALL ORIG. MOUNTING BRACKET FT-511 IS MADE OF O.D. PAINTED SOLID BRASS. ITEM 100% COMPLETE AND IN EXCELLENT WORKING ORDER CALIBRATING DIALS FULLY FUNCTIONAL ETC. . SHOWS NORMAL SIGNS OF USE / PAINT WEAR. SHOULD YOU HAVE NEED TO MOUNT A TELESCOPE / RANGE FINDER TO YOUR VINTAGE WW2 JEEP, THIS ONE IS FOR YOU. TRY TO FIND ANOTHER ? GOOD LUCK.”
More on The New Mexico Jeep Derbys
The February 1963 issue of Popular Mechanics included an article about the New Mexico Jeep Derby held annually in Truth or Consquences, New Mexico. It’s a great article about the early days of jeep racing. I’ve also included a video of one Derby race, but the quality is poor. Still, in some clips, you can see just how much the co-pilot shifts his body around the jeep.
View Popular Mechanics February 1963 at Google Books
Images From the Los Angeles Public Library
These images are only some of the jeep images within the Los Angeles Public Library digital collections.
1) This August 11, 1964, photo shows Frank Millard’s 4 Wheel Drive Center in Encino. There’s a pretty wide diversity of jeeps, including CJ-3BS, CJ-5s, A DJ-3A, Gladiators, and Wagoneers.
2) A September 24, 1943, photo of a Hollywood Bond Cavalcade with numerous stars.
3) A rare photo of the Antelope Valley Sheriff’s Posse jeep.
4) These boys were photographed on July 18, 1958, while riding on the African Jungle Safari Ride at the Pacific Ocean Park (aka POP … see more images on PINTREST) in Santa Monica.
5) This photo was taken as part of the Los Angeles Attacks Army-Navy Show on January 4, 1944.
Dodge Command Car Toy
I didn’t know there were any Commando Car toys made. This is 30″ long!
https://www.facebook.com/marketplace/item/1713378238792862/
“German Military Jeep Removable parts Almost 30” long 10”high”
Unusual Metal Jeep Warwick, RI **SOLD**
UPDATE: **SOLD** Was $25.
Home made?
“Metal Army Jeep. In good condition! 12″ long X 5″ wide. All is metal except for the plastic tires.”
1960s Commercial for American Oil
Robin shared this great vintage ad that includes a jeep.
Rudy’s Flower Truck
Jim and his wife Tracey spotted Brittany together with Rudy’s Flower (FC) Truck yesterday afternoon in St. Louis, so he took these photos. I’ve seen this FC appear in a few posts on Facebook and was hoping someone would track it down. Speaking of FB, you can visit Rudy’s Flower Truck page here (or through the website or instagram)
Brittany mentioned to Jim that Rudy’s hopes to expand its fleet by adding another FC that won’t break the bank. So, if you have an FC you’d like to sell which you hope to see go for a good purpose, contact Rudy’s.
Since Brittany is purportedly an eWillys reader, which clearly means she has excellent taste, I have some questions. Who is/was Rudy? Was this Rudy’s FC? Inquiring minds need to know!
Aug. 18, 1944 Newspaper Ad for the Willys Jeep
Here’s a curiously early newspaper ad for the Willys Jeep in the August 18, 1944, page 3, of the Healdsburg Tribute and Enterprise out of California. It’s a small, one-column, straight to the point ad without any credit as to what company placed the ad. This may be the earliest ad for the jeep I’ve seen in a newspaper. This would have been placed during Willys-Overland’s fight with the FTC over W-O’s use of the term “Jeep” in its marketing.
The ad was again published the following month in Monterey, Virginia, on September 29, 1944, in the Highland Recorder: https://virginiachronicle.com/cgi-bin/virginia?a=d&d=HR19440929.2.28.1&e=——-en-20–1–txt-txIN-willys+jeep——-
Kids Driving Jeeps
UPDATE: This photo of Jimmy Crabtree resides in the Free Library of Philadelphia Digital Collections (see bottom image).
=================================
Originally posted in November of 2014: The Chicago Tribune featured two kids driving jeeps. The first was about a boy named Richard Aulerich who built a soap box entry and then turned it into a drivable vehicle.
A year later Jimmy Crabtree proved a little smarter than Richard. Three-year-old Jimmy had his father make him a drivable jeep, but it seems ladies-man Jimmy made sure it was a two-seater. He wasted no time picking up Susan Spitzer and taking her for a ride.
Free Library of Philadelphia Digital Collections Photos
These photos are located in the Free Library of Philadelphia’s Digital Collections. I’ve posted eight photos below. There are many more “jeep” related photos on the site. See all 124 of them here: https://libwww.freelibrary.org/digital/search/home/page/5/q/jeep
- Keystone Automobile Club Road Patral Service CJ-2A:
- This photo was taken in 1946 in Denmark.
- 1946 Photo of Surplus Jeeps:
- 1948 Photo of CJ-2A plowing sidewalks in St. Louis, Missouri:
- Postcard of Pocket Testament League Jeep Truck in China (FRONT & BACK):
- This 99 year-old Civil War Vet wished he was a little younger so he could fight in WWII:
- Customs Inspector checking jeep:
- Jack Hoffman and his CJ-2A (bought with proceeds from the sale of a champion steer):
Plastic CJ-2ish Toy on eBay
This plastic toy is priced at $25. This is the closest toy I’ve seen to a CJ-2 (grille, windshield, mid-mounted tire, tailgate, no glovebox.
View all the information on eBay
“In decent condition for the age. They have signs of use. Please refer to pictures and use the zoom to see more details. I’m not antique dealer, collector or expert. The pictures describe the item along with any flaws and markings we can find the best we can.show Sold As Is. No returns.”
Kaiser Willys Dealer Accounting Manual on eBay
Can’t be many of these around, but I suppose there are many folks around who want them.
View all the information on eBay
“Probably uncommon Vintage Kaiser Willys Dealer Accounting Manual In used condition. .A 3 ring binder made especially for them. Comes with some ledger paper. From the Reynolds & Reynolds Co. of Celina Ohio.”
Wyoming Digital Collection Photos
I found a few jeep-related photos in Wyoming’s Digital Collection.
- This first one is most interesting, as it might be a stretched CJ-2A. this might have a rare Porter & Reed half top:
2) This CJ-2A might have a Beck hardtop:
3) Photo of soldier jumping a horse near a jeep:
2019 Southeast Willys Jeep Get Together Oct 5
This Saturday (Oct 5) is the Southeast Willys Jeep Get Together in Asheville, North Carolina.
Learn more or register at the website: http://www.southeastwillysjeepgettogether.com. Will also has a group on Facebook.
1943 Photo of Jeep Stuck in Alaskan Mud on eBay
Hard to get far in that type of soft mud.
View all the information on eBay
“1943 Press Photo US Army jeep stuck in the mud, World War II, Amchitka island. This is an original press photo. World War II – Alaska. U.S. Army jeeps can negotiate most terrain, but this one came a cropper in the mud of Amchitka island in the Aleutians, which was occupied by the Americans in January, and required a tow. Amchitka island is only 73 land miles from Japanese-held Kiska. Photo measures 9.5 x 7.75 inches. Photo is dated 5-8-1943. ”
1944 Photo of Crossing Mayenne River on eBay
I wonder if the raft’s rowers had to do that all day, row vehicles and men back and forth across the river?
View all the information on eBay
“1944 Press Photo US soldiers ferry their jeep across the Mayenne River. This is an original press photo. Jeep crossing Mayenne River — American infantrymen ferry their Jeep across the Mayenne River using expedient raft constructed from 2 half boats by members of an engineer unit.Photo measures 9 x 7.25inches. Photo is dated 08-09-1944.”
1970 Con-Ferr Catalog Pages 43-96
These are the final pages for the Con-Ferr catalog.
View pages 1-20 plus Covers and History:
View pages 20-42:
View pages 42-96:
1942 Photo of Jeep Test Driven into Fuselage on eBay
To me, what’s most interesting about this photo is that the men are using a test fuselage.
View all the information on eBay
“1942 Press Photo Airborne Infantry handling Jeeps via aeroplane, Washington, DC. This is an original press photo. Trucks – United State. Washington, D.C. Members of The Airborne Infantry acquire great skill in handling of “Jeeps” via aeroplane. Here are men of The Airborne Infantry practicing placing a “Jeep” in an aeroplane and removing it. The aeroplane fuselage “Mockup” is exact scale of an actual aeroplane. Sent A and O list Chicago to west coast. Photo measures 8.5 x 6.75 inches. Photo is dated 2-28-1942.”
1949 Article on the Bountiful Jeep Posse
I took a chance on eBay and bought a 1949 issue of the Goodyear’s Magazine for Men off of ebay that mentioned, in the ebay ad, about having an article on a Jeep Posse. The magazine turned out to be a sort-of marketing piece by Goodyear Tire & Rubber Company focused on men and with several interesting articles. Below you’ll find two articles from the magazine and a quiz.
The first article is a pretty early article on Utah’s Bountiful Jeep Posse. The other article covers a man named John Fordon and his business in New York City called “Beck ‘n Call”. Finally, the Fordon article includes a quiz on streets from around the country, names as relevant to day as they were back in 1949.
And now, the article on Fordon. Also, note the “Where are they” quiz.
1967 Four Wheel Drive Rocky Mountain Test Article
The May 1967 issue of Popular Mechanics includes the article “Four-Wheel Safari Test In the Rugged Rockies”. The article covers a two-day test in the high mountains of Colorado from Telluride to Ouray. The main goal was to see if the Ford Bronco and/or the International Scout could compete with a V-6 equipped CJ-5. The conclusion was interesting.