Features Research Archives

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Touring America in a Jeep Gladiator

• CATEGORIES: Features This site contains affiliate links for which I may be compensated.

The Diamant Family from Great Britain toured the United States during the summer of 1966 using a Jeep Gladiator. They saw quite a bit of the country and had a fantastic adventure.

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Defeated By Mosquito Pass

• CATEGORIES: Features This site contains affiliate links for which I may be compensated.
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Ann’s son Daniel exploring the London Mill area in Mosquito Gulch.

Making a long story short, Ann and I drove to Omaha (non stop for 24 hours) to retrieve her son Daniel. On our way back we decided to take a slightly scenic route (he’s never seen Colorado or Utah).

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After all our driving on Monday, Tuesday, and Wednesday, we knew how those Pony Express riders felt as they raced across America! This was taken Wednesday evening at a rest stop near the board of Nebraska and Colorado.

With that in mind, we left Colorado Springs on Thursday on a northwest course to Alma. I then planned to head east over 13,000ft Mosquito Pass, drop into Leadville, and continue onward to I-70. Mosquito Pass sounded like it would be a harmless little pass, but we discovered the name belies the difficulty.

We started in Colorado Springs and drove west toward Grand Junction. I’d hoped to cut across Mosquito Pass.

Mosquito Pass’ history is as old as Leadville. It was built in 1877 for $25,000 by the president of the St. Louis Smelting and Refining Company to serve Leadville miners. The wagon road was desperately needed to bring in supplies from the Denver area and ferry smelted ore out of the Rockies. the road was crucial for Leadville’s transformation into a boomtown by the late 1870s. In 1879 my great great grandfather joined the crowd and built the Billing & Eilers smelter (which became the Arkansas Valley Smelter, the last smelter in Leadville).

In 1881 my then fifteen year old great grandfather Karl Eilers and two of his Denver friends decided it would be neat to visit Leadville. So, during the summer they hopped on some horses and rode the one-hundred-mile route. They traveled from Denver to Breckenridge, up over Hoosier Pass, and then over Mosquito Pass. How many kids get to do anything like that these days??

Leadville and the tales of my grandparents fill some of the pages of my newest book, so I wanted to make the journey over Mosquito Pass to see what they saw. Since the weather was perfect and the pass was open, I decided this was a great time to do it. I just didn’t know I needed a better 4×4 vehicle!

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Started on the east side of the pass on CR 12.

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A-Bomb Tests & Willys Vehicles

• CATEGORIES: Features, Old Images, Old News Articles • TAGS: This site contains affiliate links for which I may be compensated.

This was one of several articles published about atomic tests and Willys vehicles. This article was published in the April 1955 issue of Willys News.

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Odd Jeepster-like Jeep Hot Springs, AR **SOLD**

• CATEGORIES: Features, Jeepster, Unusual • TAGS: , This site contains affiliate links for which I may be compensated.

UPDATE II: This *might* have evolved into a scam. The seller agreed to sell to one buyer and provided directions to get the vehicle, but now is avoiding the buyer’s calls. 

UPDATE: **SOLD** Was $900

Here is an odd one I spotted on Facebook. It reminds me of Bob’s odd Jeepster-like vehicle.

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“This is a very strange “Jeep like” vehicle that is not a Jeep. I was told that it was possibly a specialty vehicle built in the 60s and that it originally had a 4 or 6 cylinder engine that the previous salvage yard owner removed and sold. 2 wheel drive. No seats or top frame. It has full length curved metal running board fenders that Jeeps never had. It also has a center console that housed the shifter. It was originally painted a coral pink color so the possibility exists that it was a resort shuttle vehicle. It is NOT, repeat NOT, a Jeep Surrey model! They look nothing like this “thing”. No engine or transmission. I saved it from a salvage yard over 10 years ago. It has 14 inch “A.J. Foyt” mag wheels that probably are original. Rusty but restorable. Buy it for $900 firm, fix it up, and have the only one out there.”

 

 
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1963 Article About the Name-Change to Kaiser Willys

• CATEGORIES: Features, Old News Articles This site contains affiliate links for which I may be compensated.

On March 6, 1963, the Toledo Blade shared the news that Willys Overland was changing the name of its jeep division from Willys Motors to Kaiser Jeep.

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Jeeps at the Tennessee Museum of Aviation

• CATEGORIES: CJ-3B, Features, Museums This site contains affiliate links for which I may be compensated.

Someone posted these photos from the Tennessee Museum of Aviation (Sevierville, Tennessee) on the G503 Facebook page. I didn’t get the guy’s name and the post is too old for me to locate him. Looks like a fair number of jeeps there. The CJ-3B originally from Stillwater, Oklahoma, might be the most interesting of all the vehicles. I wonder how it landed in Tennessee.

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2 Spanish Jeep Ads on eBay

• CATEGORIES: Advertising & Brochures, Features This site contains affiliate links for which I may be compensated.

These look in good shape.

“TWO JEEP 1950s
IN SPANISH ADVERTISING – ORIGINAL
SIZE 8×5 inch
These is an original print magazine advertisement, not a reproduction.
Original and authentic collectible magazine advertisement”

View all the information on Ebay

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2 Vintage Pee-Chees with a Jeep on eBay

• CATEGORIES: Artists/Drawings, Features This site contains affiliate links for which I may be compensated.

UPDATE: There are two of these rare early Pee Chees on eBay.

“Vintage, these have wear consistant with use and age. Small tears at the bottom edges where the inner pockets start, subject names written in pencil at the top edges. Overall, good condition for their age.”

View all the information on eBay

 

 
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Halloween in San Antonio

• CATEGORIES: Features • TAGS: This site contains affiliate links for which I may be compensated.

This photo appeared on the G503 Facebook page. It was taken in San Antonio, possibly at Ripleys Believe It or Not.

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1943 Photo of early Ford GPA on eBay

• CATEGORIES: Features, GPA (SEEP), Old Images This site contains affiliate links for which I may be compensated.

This photo has appeared in various publications.

“1943 Amphibian Jeep Tested in Detroit Original News Service Photo
A new amphibious Jeep is tested in Detroit before delivery to the Army, can carry 5 men and can plunge into water and propel itself like a boat. Associated Press Photo – 7” x 9-1/8””

View all the information on eBay

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1963 ‘Jeep’ Panel Delivery Brochure on ebay

• CATEGORIES: Advertising & Brochures, Features This site contains affiliate links for which I may be compensated.

Marc found this rare brochure. I’ve added pics of the panel delivery that was for sale a couple of months ago.

“This is one of several vintage Jeep promotional brochures that I’m selling and I will combine shipping multiple purchases, so please look at all my auctions. This is a Kaiser Jeep Panel Delivery Truck Brochure for the 1963 model year. Unfolded, it measures 8 1/2 4″ and it is in excellent condition as you can see by my photos.”

View all the information on eBay

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======================

Actual Panel Delivery jeep available

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2 WWII Jeeps Heading West

• CATEGORIES: Features This site contains affiliate links for which I may be compensated.

Ann photographed these two jeeps on I-80 as she drove west. She finally comes home today after being gone a month. Yeah! (Sorry about the smashed bugs obscuring the view)

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3 Ford GPA Photos on eBay

• CATEGORIES: Features, GPA (SEEP), Old Images This site contains affiliate links for which I may be compensated.

Marc spotted these photos.

1. View all the information on eBay

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2. View all the information on eBay

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Bankhead Highway Memorial Convoy

• CATEGORIES: Features This site contains affiliate links for which I may be compensated.

Gayland shared these photos.

He writes, The Bankhead Highway Memorial Convoy rolled through Ft. Worth last Monday and I was ble to get some photos.  Only one GPW in the bunch.  M38’s, M38A1’s M37’s, M151’s, assorted Heavies (Many of which I have ridden in  in my career) and 1 M3 (I think; I am not a Halftrack expert).  The Packard Navy Staff car was my favorite!

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More Pics from Charles

• CATEGORIES: Features, Old Images This site contains affiliate links for which I may be compensated.

The first photo utilizes a B-17 cockpit. The second has a plane feel, but I don’t recognize the rear parts.

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1944 Photo of Two War Photographers on eBay

• CATEGORIES: Features, Old Images This site contains affiliate links for which I may be compensated.

Nice shot.

“Vintage and iconic shot of Acme Newspictures war photographers Charles Seawood and Sherman Montrose in Rome c.1944”

View all the information on eBay

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1945 Photo of a Jeep at Grand Coulee Dam

• CATEGORIES: Features, Old News Articles This site contains affiliate links for which I may be compensated.

Grand Coulee is just a couple hours up the road from me. This was published November 4, 1945, in the Spokesman Review.

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1955 Jeepcade From Hemet to Borrego Springs

• CATEGORIES: Event, Features, Old Images, Old News Articles • TAGS: This site contains affiliate links for which I may be compensated.

The April 1955 issue of Willys News featured this report in the April 1955 issue of Willys News.

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The Book Proofs Have Arrived

• CATEGORIES: Features This site contains affiliate links for which I may be compensated.

This is another big milestone in this project. The proofs have arrived. I can already see some changes that need to be made. I’m hoping for a late November publish date, but we’ll see.

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Casa Willys Restaurant in Colombia

• CATEGORIES: Features, International • TAGS: This site contains affiliate links for which I may be compensated.

Gayland forwarded these pics from a co-worker of his who visited Colombia. It’s a Casa Willys Restaurant (notice the sign in the upper right of the first photo) located in Salento, Colombia. It’s well rated by Trip Advisor.

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Factory-Looking Hole in CJ-5 Body

• CATEGORIES: Features This site contains affiliate links for which I may be compensated.

Bill Reiss has this 1965 CJ-5 with what appears to be a trailer wiring hole similar to the hole in the early 2A’s that had leftover military bodies. Anyone ever seen a factory hole like this on a CJ-5??

The hole is cut PERFECTLY, like it was done on a panel prior to body assembly… And the original blue paint is on the edges of the cutout. This is unusual, as I’ve never seen this before. I haven’t found evidence of an optional wiring kit/plug/whatever in the ’65 print info.

Anyone else ever seen this? Was it possibly an option?

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Puzzling Through DJ-3A Bezels

• CATEGORIES: DJ-3A, Features This site contains affiliate links for which I may be compensated.

The DJ-3As guys were exchanging emails the other day about a little known change in headlight and parking light bezels and housings during its production run. I’ve organized the information they sent and found additional information online. Hopefully, I got everything correct.

For the DJ-3A, the parking light and headlight changes occurred in 1959, with the DJ-3A switching from the 2A/3A headlight and parking lights to the later model parts. Other models (CJ-3Bs, trucks, CJ-5/6s, and wagons) had their parking lights changed in 1956.

HEADLIGHTS BEZELS:

1956-dj3a-bezel-measurements

From 1955 to UP TO 56337-15802 in 1959 the DJ-3A used the same headlight bezels as the CJ-2A/CJ-3A. Some people call these the flat bezels and the later models bug eyes.
Autolite headlight (early) UP TO 56337-15802 HL DOOR
– (CHROME) WO 643732
– (BLACK) WO 640695

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1962-cj3b-bezel-measurement

From 56337-15802 in 1959 to 1964 the DJ-3A used the later versions, also used by the CJ-3Bs, trucks, Jeepsters, wagons, CJ-5s (1955-1971), FCs, and CJ-6s.
AFTER 56337-15801 HL DOOR (CHROME)
– WO 649518

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The way the headlight bezels mount is also different:

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PARKING LIGHTS AND LENS CHANGES:

From 1956 to 1959 56337-14103 the DJ-3A used the same parking lights and bezels as used on CJ-3B 1953-1956, CJ-5/6 1955-1956, Trucks 1953-1956, and Wagons 1953-1956.
– (BLACK ENAMEL) WO 910199 (1956 ONLY)  2 3/4″ diameter
– (STAINLESS STEEL) WO 119204  2 3/4″ diameter
– Lens WO 119206

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From 1959 56337-14103 to 1964 the DJ-3A used the same parking lights as the post 1956 CJ-5/6s (til ’63), Trucks, Wagons, and FCs,
For Lamp Code (KADH)
– (Bezel) WO 718140 6 or 12V 2 1/4″ diamater
– Lens WO 718138 6 or 12V 2 1/4″ diameter

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The parking light housing was also different. The early housing mounted with horizontal holes, while the later housing mounted using vertical holes. The CJ-3B sites explains the differences.

 

 
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Gold Plated CJ-5

• CATEGORIES: Advertising & Brochures, Features, Models This site contains affiliate links for which I may be compensated.

UPDATE: Anyone know anything about these jeeps? Tony has one and wanted to get some more information about it.

This gold-plated CJ-5 sold on eBay in 2013.

“THE ULTIMATE JEEP TOY COLLECTORS FIND. THIS GOLD PLATED JEEP TOY I AM TOLD WAS MADE FOR THE WILLYS OVERLAND EXECUTIVES WHEN THEY RETIRED. VERY RARE AND SCARCE. IT IS MADE OF A HEAVY CAST METAL , IS 6″ LONG 2.5″ WIDE . VERY COOL AND VERY CLEAN. AS YOU CAN SEE IN THE PICS IT IS ORIGINAL AND COMPLETE , THE RIGHT SIDE OF THE BUMPER IS BROKEN OFF (THIS IS QUITE TYPICAL ON THESE) AND THE WIND SHIELD WILL FOLD ALL THE WAY BACK AS SEEN IN THE PICS. IT WILL ALSO STAY IN THE UPRIGHT POSITION, WILL DISPLAY VERY NICELY.ALSO HAS ORIGINAL SPARE TIRE.”

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1943 Photo of Jeeps in Sicily on eBay

• CATEGORIES: Features, Old Images This site contains affiliate links for which I may be compensated.

That’s a neat photo.

“1943- Natives of Pollina, Sicily, watch American soldiers and their vehicles moving along in a narrow street after the town fell to the Allies. Note surge tank on front jeep.”

View all the information on eBay

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African Veldt Modified Truck

• CATEGORIES: Features, Old Images, Willys Trucks • TAGS: , This site contains affiliate links for which I may be compensated.

The April 1955 issue of Willys News published this photo. It’s a tour jeep truck for the Africa.  It seems a little too open to me. Those lions look like they could easily leap inside.

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