This ad was featured in the February 06, 1943, issue of the Saturday Evening Post, page 59.
Features Research Archives
Odd Bakelite Key Chain on eBay
Maury spotted this odd key chain. It looks to be Willys Aero related, making it from the early 1950s.
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“Rare Vtg Orig Willys Jeep Keychain Orange Bakelite Logo 40s 50s . Condition is Used.”
1972 Article on the PNW4WDA and the Boys Scouts
This April of 1972 article in Boy’s Life Magazine tells the story of the Boys Scouts work project on the Naches Trail in the Cascade Mountains just north of Mt. Rainier in conjunction with the Pacific Northwest Four-Wheel-Drive Association. I was not there (that I remember), but our club, the Wandering Willys, including my father, was there to help ferry the Boy Scouts to the Naches Trail.
Cool Willys/Kasier/Jeep Magnets
Over the past couple years I’ve been the beneficiary of some custom magnets created by Maury. I figured it was about time I shared them. I keep them on both sides of a metal bookshelf, but moved them to one side for the photo. Many thanks Maury!
1943 International Nickel Ad with Jeeps on eBay
This is a an ad I don’t think I’ve seen. This Adolph Treidler illustration was published in the April 25, 1943, issue of Time Magazine.
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“This is an original 1943 print ad for International Nickel! It measures approximately 11″ x 8” overall, has no tears or stains, comes from a dry, high-altitude, smoke-free environment, and is strictly graded
Bernd and His CJ-5 Are Back to Work
It’s springtime in Austria. Bernd and his CJ-5 are back to work.
“My jeep helped prepare for a classic vehicle get-together (see links below). Today, I moved a narrow gauge railroad switch for the event. On my way, the traffic police pulled me and the jeep aside. Fortunately, they found nothing amiss, so I left without a ticket.”
See some links about the yearly event:
CJ-3A TOY w/ Trailer Madras, OR $1200
UPDATE: Still Available. I last show it was listed for sale in Madras in 2009.
https://www.facebook.com/marketplace/item/847560688954992/?ref=messenger_share
“One of a kind Jeep pedal car. (large enough for a adult to ride ) custom hand built, extra heavy duty double wall construction . have to see to appreciate the craftsmanship and detail in construction. would make a great project to motorize ”
March 1950 Issue of Sales Builder
I’d won this a few years ago on eBay, but never got this posted. The scans are not the best, but I’ll have to wait until later to redo them.
Wood Toy Possible Kempro Kit? **SOLD**
UPDATE: **SOLD** Was on eBay.
This toy is about 8″ long. Seller thinks it might be a Kempro Kit toy.
“Here is a nice sturdy toy car. Unknown maker. Quite possibly was a Kempro Co kit.
It is well made, and has been played with. I love Jeeps and have had a few. This sat on my desk at the shop. Unpacking some boxes the other day, I came across it again.
It shows some signs of age, but otherwise is in very good condition. Nice hardwoods used. ”
1953 Willys Aero Introductory Brochure on eBay
The seller has several of these neat Willys Aero brochures. It’s not anything jeep-related, but it’s a neat advertising piece. This advertisement dovetails with Willys 1951-1953 efforts to push the WILLYS brand. At the start of 1953 Willys-Overland introduced the Aero Falcon, the Aero Ace, and the Aero Lark.
1943/65 Flattie Rio Rancho, NM $13,000
UPDATE: Price dropped to $13,000.
https://albuquerque.craigslist.org/cto/d/rio-rancho-willys-jeep/6828048488.html
(04/18/2018) Chad spotted another California modified Flattie. It’s nearly identify to three other jeeps (same body updates, same dash, same custom windshield, same Muller custom top, etc). The differences are slightly, such as this one has a black rear bumper rather than a chrome one like the others.
- For example, Here’s one that was also listed as a 1965. They have different valve covers and different rear bumpers, but pretty much everything else looks the same: http://www.ewillys.com/2015/06/10/1965-custom-flattie-las-vegas-nv-ebay/#more-113889
- Here’s another (this has a 302 and chrome bumper): http://www.ewillys.com/2014/08/25/1948-cj-2a-kerman-ca-6950/
- And another (black seats): http://www.ewillys.com/2012/03/13/1948-cj-2a-clovis-ca-ebay/
- This has more differences than the others, but similar look: http://www.ewillys.com/2017/08/17/1948-cj-2a-fort-mohave-az-16500/
Here’s the ad …
“I’m selling my willys jeep. I hate to see it go but i don’t use it at all. Its in perfect shape. So many upgrades to the small block 305 v8. I don’t need to get rid of it so no low ballers. I am open to some trades and reasonable offers. I dont need help selling it and cash only. No scammers or tire kickers.”
Sportif-looking JeepRod Sand Canyon, TX **Status Unknown**
UPDATE: **Status Unknown** Was $2500.
(11/29/2018) This oddity reminded me of the Willys Sportif prototype (seen at bottom).
Photo before paint:
“This is a Rat Rod, bucket, vintage, or What every you want to call it, this is what it is.
This is a one of a kind never will you see this again.
It was built in 86 so I am to believe but I think it was built earlier as it appears to have pre- mig welder welds that look cool.
This was a full custom job when it was done and someone left it for dead.
This is a 41 Willy’s chassis.
(Registered as a 41) Continue reading
1950 and 1951 Ads From the Saturday Evening Post
Here’s a collection of ads published in the Saturday Evening Post between 1950 and 1951. This will prove useful as you read through the post underneath this one.
‘Meet The Jeepster’ Brochure
This introduction to the Jeepster book is curious for its lack of any ‘Jeep’ branding. I’m guessing this booklet was produced in 1948?
10th Annual Willys Rally May 24-27th
UPDATE: The Rally is this weekend. I hope everyone has a great time!
This year’s Willys Rally occurs late this month May 24th-27th in Moab, Utah. Roberto Flores produced another great bit of artwork for the event. T-shirts with this design are available for purchase.
Jeepster Pin on ebay
Smokey Bear Postcard on eBay
Cool postcard. Too bad the jeep isn’t more accurate. This is a tribute to artist Rudy Wendelin.
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“VINTAGE SMOKEY BEAR POSTCARD – TRIBUTE JEEP.”
1957 Photo of FC-150 w/ Louisville Health Dept Mosquito on eBay
Cool photo.
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“1957 Jeep FC Press Photo. City of Louisville. Transportation Division. Louisville & Jefferson County Health Department Mosquito Control Project.
Pages: 1
Details: W 10 x H 8 x D 0.1 Weight 1”
1943 photo of Jeep stuck in the Solomon Islands on eBay
UPDATE: A different version of this photo is up for auction.
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Original Post March 22, 2014: “1943- U.S. Marines pull jeep from mud on Bougainville, Solomon Islands.” This was on eBay.
Willys-Overland Saturday Evening Post Ads 1948-1949
These are all the ads I could find on Saturday Evening Posts published between January 1948 and December 1949. Again, it seems Willys-Overland’s advertising was an exercise in experimentation. Some notes:
- City-And-City Campaign: The first obvious item is that Willys-Overland ran its wagon city-and-city campaign in 1948, but did not run all the ads produced in the Saturday Evening Posts (as documented here). Collier’s Magazine also got a few as did Life Magazine.
- W-O Graphic: In a November 11, 1946 (see 1946-1947 ads here), ad Willys-Overland used script for Willys Overland Motors. In December 21, 1946, the script was accompanied by the graphical representation of Willys-Overland in the form of an yellow “O”, colored red on the inside, with a yellow “W” atop that design.
The scipt disappeared in January on 1947, leaving only the W-O logo. In February and March of 1947 the W-O logo was absent from ads, but then in April of 1947 it made a brief return, before disappearing again.
In Febrary of 1948, the W-O logo reappeared, this time with the ‘Jeep’ logo hovering above it. That combo was used through May of 1948.
In June of 1948, the ‘Jeep’ was dropped in favor of just the W-O logo. By July, the W-O logo disappeared for 1948 and 1949. - CJ-2A Barely Advertised: Trucks and wagons dominate the advertising. There’s only one ad in two years for the CJ-2A and none for the CJ-3A. One reason for this is that Willys-Overland expanded their advertising to other magazines. The Farming magazines (Farm Journal, Country Gentleman, and others) were more CJ-ad oriented.
- ‘Jeep’ Product Badge: Through 1948 and most of 1949 Willys-Overland was advertising ‘Jeep’ Trucks and ‘Jeep’ Station Wagons. However, in late 1949 the company began a switch to WILLYS ‘Jeep’ Station Wagons (see October 15, 1949 ad), then the ‘Jeep’ name was relegated in December 1949 to a small (new) badge, while WILLYS became the more prominent branding once again. Here’s how the badge looked.
In January of 1950, the company shortened WILLYS ‘Jeep’ Station Wagons to Willys Station Wagons, dropping the ‘Jeep’ entirely. - From ‘Jeep’ to WILLYS: After February 1950, Willys-Overland dropped the ‘Jeep’ badge and the ‘Jeep’ branding of the wagon as a ‘Jeep’. Instead, the company went full WILLYS branding, as seen in the September ad below. This seems incredibly strange, given the company had finally won the Trademark for JEEP that year (June 13, 1950 Awarded JEEP registered trademark).
Why did Willys-Overland drop ‘Jeep’? I have no idea. But, it’s no wonder the average person is/was confused about whether a wagon is a ‘Jeep’ wagon or a Willys wagon!
- In October of 1946, Willys-Overland introduced the phrase, “Makers of America’s Most Useful Vehicles” within its ads. That phrase would accompany ads into the 1950s. However, in December of 1949, Willys-Overland introduced a new phrase, “World’s Largest Maker of 4-Wheel-Drive Vehicles”. This phrase was only used once in 1949, but a variation of that phrase would eventually grace Willys-Overland ads (or Willys Motors) in the form of “World’s largest manufacturer of 4-Wheel-Drive Vehicles”. I don’t have dates for when the former was dropped and the latter adopted … yet.
Below are the 1948-1949 ads from the Saturday Evening Journal:
Army Story Includes a General and Bob Hope
This story appeared in the August 12, 1950, issue of the Saturday Evening Post, page 56. It highlights the challenges of being an Army jeep driver.
1943 Bantam BRC-40 Postcard on eBay
UPDATE: Another of these postcards is now on eBay.
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“U. S. Army Signal Corps. Jeep Soldiers Out For Refreshments.”
Original Post February 20, 2014:
“You are bidding on a vintage 1943 photo postcard of a Jeep, soldiers and a lady. The card reads, Photo by U S Army Signal Corps. The card is postmarked Camp Pickett, VA 1943. The card is in very good condition.”
The K And K Mower Patent
In February of 1948 Allan Keyser filed a patent for a side mower. It appears this became the design for the K And K Manufacturing Company’s Mower as seen in the brochures at bottom. You can view other early mowing apparatuses here.
“This invention relates to a mower attachment for the presently popular small, four-wheel drive, automotive vehicles popularly known as jeeps, and has for its principal object the provision of means whereby a mower bar can be quickly and easily attached to, or detached from, the vehicle so that it will be easily visible and easily controlled by the driver of the vehicle.
Another object of the invention is to provide highly efficient means whereby the angle of attack of a mower bar may be adjusted to suit the desires of the user and the requirements of the particular crop being harvested.”
Break-in Instructions for a 1961 Wagon
Frank shared this pic of instructions that accompanied his 1961 wagon.
He wrote, “Thought you might find this interesting. It is the sleeve that came on the visor of my 61 Wagon. When I bought it it had 32,000 miles and now 42,000. The jack was wrapped in a newspaper dated 1961.”
1944 Photo of Eisenhower in France **SOLD**
UPDATE: **SOLD** Was on eBay.
This photo appears to have been published as part of Eisenhower’s 1948 book “Crusade in Europe”.
“Gen. Dwight D. Eisenhower in a jeep at front line positions in France in September, 1944 . . . Get. Eisenhower’s own book of the war, “Crusade in Europe,” to be published Nov. 22, will be a treat to military men in studying the strategy of the war and its campaigns, but perhaps the most interesting part of it to the layman is his inside estimate of the war leaders. . .”