Features Research Archives

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Robin’s New (Old) FC Weasel

• CATEGORIES: FC150-FC170-M677, Features This site contains affiliate links for which I may be compensated.

Robin picked up this FC Weasel recently (thanks to Marty who spotted it on Facebook).

He wrote, After I got this think home two things came to mind. First-What The Heck!!!!! I have no clue about track vehicles. Second (after some research) the build is backwards. The engine should be in front, not in the rear.  A really ingenious build actually.

Robin also noted that the floor is made of street signs. Follow this Flickr link for more photos: https://www.flickr.com/photos/alturusphoto/sets/72157656366380805

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1949 Photo of Jeep Tour Through Portland Sewer on eBay

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

I’ve never heard of a jeep tour through a sewer.

“1949 Press Photo Portland city commissioners went on a jeep tour Thursday
This is an original press photo. Portland city commissioners went on a jeep tour Thursday through new 1 1/2 mile sewer running undreground from Columbia slough to Oregon slough. In front, from left, are Commissioners Ormond Bean, William Bowes and Driver Chuck Odell, Commissioner Fred Peterson is at upper right.Photo measures 7.25 x 9.5inches. Photo is dated 12-30-1949.”

View all the information on eBay

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Red River and Russells Travel Stop

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

Gayland recently visited Red River, New Mexico. On the way he stopped by Russell’s Travel Stop along I-40 on the New Mexico/Texas border. Inside the travel stop is a CJ-2A. Bob stopped by there in 2013. Gayland shared a few of his pics.

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When he got to Red River, New Mexico, he spotted multiple jeeps, including this CJ-3B with a unique top.

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Need New Terra Tires?

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

Burl discovered that Titan Tires still carry Goodyear 4ply Terra Tires. http://www.titanstore.com/info/XTR396

Burl writes, The tires are actually made by Titan Tire; Titan bought the molds from Goodyear. Most listings will only list the 8 ply but there are 28 of the 4 ply tires available if none have sold since I purchased mine.

The fellow to contact is Terry Nagel. He is the factory rep for Goodyear. When I inquired about these in the beginning he checked inventory on the 4 ply and he found 31 each of the 4 ply in, I think he said Cleveland but I could be mistaken on that issue, and are available.

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1959 Photo of Elk Head on Front of Jeep on eBay

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

That’s a happy hunter.

“Original 1959 Press Photo 2×2 Negative Muddy Jeep Hunting 12 Pt Elk Head”

View all the information on eBay

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Closeup Photos of a Tender

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

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On Sunday Ann and I went to visit Rich and the “Tender” jeep wagon/truck he has for sale. The truck is in pretty rough shape, but the shell of it could be re used. However, there are lots of bees. The bees limited my ability to take pics, especially of the inside.  Yet, it was the inside of the truck that demonstrated the vehicle was definitely not a factory jeep.

My theory is that someone saw one of these Tenders in Israel. Inspired, when they returned to the states they built a few of these, hence the reason several look the same. They must have had some skills, because the top looks great on the top. It’s only on the underside of the ceiling that you can see the seam near the back. Moreover, it looks like a flat fender hood channel is used along the underside of the ceiling to provide support.

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On the outside of the back of the top, there’s a crack in what appears to be some bondo. The quality of the work is again good and matches the other side.

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It looks like the top of the sides of the former wagon has been capped. There appears to be cracks forming along the metal (see pic above … note crack about an inch below the top of the rear of the bed).

Other pics and notes:

The tailgate was not finished. The lip on the top of the tailgate was left as it was. The area underneath the tailgate window at the back of the cab looks like it might have been blocked with wood. I did not look too closely. This “Tender” was modified with a spring over axle, but the original spring perches were left.

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Unique Front Clip for M-38A1 — A Slat Grille

• CATEGORIES: Builds, Features, M-38A1 • TAGS: This site contains affiliate links for which I may be compensated.

Paul spotted this unique slat grille M-38A1 at an Alaska outdoor car show. I think it is pretty well done.

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1994 Article on Island Cruisers

• CATEGORIES: DJ-5 & DJ-6, Features, Old Images, Old News Articles • TAGS: This site contains affiliate links for which I may be compensated.

I found this interesting article from the St. Petersburg Times in 1994. Island Cruisers was a Clearwater, Florida, company that refurbished old right-hand drive postal jeeps for export to island countries where people drive on the right hand side.

Jan and Robin Stach started the company. By the time this article was written, the company had sold 35 jeeps to the Bahamas, Grenada, Aruba, the Cayman Islands and Cancun. They were generally used for rentals. The company had another 30 jeeps in process. The Stachs feel that demand was huge and they hoped to mature into a company capable of producing 500 jeeps a month.

Unfortunately, I didn’t find any additional information on how successful (or not) or for how long the company operated.

Note: Another company started about the same time on the west coast called Safari-Kars

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Jim Allen’s Agri-Jeep Article @ Four Wheeler

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

Jim Allen wrote this great article about CJ-2 Agri-Jeeps on the Fourwheeler site. http://www.fourwheeler.com/features/1507-the-oldest-restored-civilian-jeep/

You can also see more photos of agri-jeeps and other jeeps from the 2015 Midwest Willys Reunion here. The photo below shows the four agrijeeps.

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1940s Hallmark Card w/ Bantam-looking Jeep on ebay

• CATEGORIES: Artists/Drawings, Bantam-FordGP-WillysMA-EarlyJPs, Features, Postcards This site contains affiliate links for which I may be compensated.

Neat card, but crazy price!

“Vintage 1942 Hallmark Greeting Card. Oh so Patriotic!!! Little Boy and Girl in Jeep with fabric American flag. Card measures approx 4 1/2 x 4 1/2 inches. It is in Great Shape- Still attached to card stock from scrapbook.”

View all the information on eBay

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1957 Wagon @ Barrett-Jackson Auction Aug 7

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

All proceeds from the auction of this 1957 wagon are being donated to “Marines to the Mountains” program. The auction is expected to take place August 7, 2015.

http://www.barrett-jackson.com/Events/Event/Details/1957-WILLYS-JEEP-WAGON-186024

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“For sale at auction: Lot #3000 – This 1957 Willys Jeep 6-226 4×4 station wagon embodies all the charm of one of the first production SUVs. This vintage beauty is powered by an original 226/115hp 6-226 Super Hurricane inline-6 flathead engine with 190 ft/lbs of torque, a 3-speed manual transmissions and 4-wheel drive. Continue reading

 
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1947 Photo of Johnny Price doing Handstand on CJ-2A on ebay

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

Johnny had some skills back in the day!

“1947 Press Photo Johnny Price of Indians Catches Flies Upside Down in a Jeep
This is an original press photo. Johnny Price, Cleveland Indians comedian, demonstrates, with the aid of a jeep, how the outfielder of 1950 will chase flies–even while upside down. Price showed how before exhibition game between Indians and New York Giants at Tucson, Arizona.Photo measures 9 x 7.25inches. Photo is dated 03-15-1947.”

View all the information on eBay

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1944 Photo on Marine Drive Highway on eBay

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

Great photo.

“1944- U.S. Marine and U.S. Navy Seabee shaking hands in front of sign erected by the 3rd Marine, 2nd Raider Regiment on Bougainville which reads:
So when we reach the Isle of Japan
With our caps at a jaunty tilt
We’ll enter the city of Tokyo
On the roads the seabees built.

View all the information on eBay

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Military Jeeps on the SS Jeremiah O’Brien

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

Paul Barry from Willys America and his wife Jane discovered these two jeeps on the SS Jeremiah O’Brien. Moored at Pier 45 in San Francisco, it’s the last unaltered Liberty Ship from WWII. These days it operates as a living museum teaching tourists. You can learn more at the SS Jeremiah O’Brien website.

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Jeep Toy and Trailer in Monterey

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

Mike discovered this jeep toy by Salido in a small antique shop in Moneterey, California.

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Photos from the 2015 Midwest FC Gathering

• CATEGORIES: Event, FC150-FC170-M677, Features This site contains affiliate links for which I may be compensated.

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Roger shared these photos from his Midwest FC Gathering. He reported that the weather was great. He had more than 30 people and 9 FCs at the event. He also wanted to acknowledge & thank everyone for all the spontaneous help with food.

-Linda & George “The Grill Master” McGuire
-Sharon & Walter “The Grill Master” Calhoun
-Dan Laity, Dutch Oven “Chef”
-Everyone who set up canopy’s, tables, chairs, and helped clean-up.

He’s already looking forward to next year!

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FC150, Greg Houk (OH), Houk’s Jeep Parts,Fayetteville,OH

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170DRW, Ronnie & Susie Talkington (WV)

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George McGuire (PA), Dan Laity (OH), Wayne & Sally Trent (FL)

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1945 Article About the End of Joy-Riding in Paris

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

Steve shared this funny story about the seizure of jeeps in Paris to put a halt to free rides for pretty French girls. http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/3316764/posts

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Baling Hay in Vermont

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

Craig’s friend Mario put his jeep to use this weekend moving some hay bales.

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1943 Photo of GIs & Prisoner in Italy on eBay

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

The prisoner doesn’t seem all that upset about being captured.

“1943- Wounded German soldier is brought down from the hills around Salerno in a jeep ambulance for treatment at a dressing station behind Allied lines.”

View all the information on eBay

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Old Jeeping Photos of the Rubicon?

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

These old photos I bought off of eBay show aren’t the best. They capture a weekend of jeeping somewhere in California, possibly the Rubicon.

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Buddy Cowger: CJ-3B Uranium Hunter

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

According to this story, Buddy Cowger lost the use of his legs due to cyanide poisoning. That didn’t stop him from driving the backroads of Utah in search of Uranium. He was a friend of Charlie Steen, a famous Uranium hunter out of Moab.

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1955 Testimonial to the Jeep From a Tobacco Farmer

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

This testimonial was published in the July 1955 issue of Willys News.

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Hand Built Mini-Jeeps out of Bolivia

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

Richard Michalsky builds “mini-jeeps” out of his shop in Bolivia. These jeeps are all metal. The first vehicle, an MB look-a-like was completed in 3 years. It is 25% Smaller than the original vehicle and is 2WD, but has made of the same details. It is powered with a 3 Cyl engine from a Kia 1000cc. It weighs around 1250lbs.

This second jeep is a civilian model. It’s styled different, but appears to be built in a way similar to the  MB-like jeep. It too is only 2WD. They look like a kick to drive around.

 
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1943 Photo of British Solider Using Umbrella as Shade on eBay

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

I spent far too much time in the sun today. I could have used an umbrella like this!

“1943- British Signaller W. Bale working on his jeep using an umbrella for shade on Sicilian beach.”

View all the information on eBay

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Don Visits the New Mexico Museum of Military History in Albuquerque

• CATEGORIES: Bantam-FordGP-WillysMA-EarlyJPs, Features, Museums This site contains affiliate links for which I may be compensated.

Don shared these photos of jeeps from his visit to the the New Mexico Museum of Military History Albuquerque, New Mexico (That is the Facebook page … it’s website doesn’t appear to be working). This place is only about a mile away from the jeep dealership that has the CJ-2A in it. Note the Ford GP! Don sent a selfie this time 🙂

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