Features Research Archives

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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)

Continue reading

 
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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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Continue reading

 
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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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Merlin Visits the Top Kicks Museum

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

Anyone familiar with West Virginia’s Top Kicks Military Museum? If not, it’s worth a look. Merlin stopped by the other day and filed a detailed report on his blog. The museum has an extensive Jeep collection that even includes a copy of the CJ4 Jeep and a 6 wheeler.

https://hansonmechanical.wordpress.com/2015/07/18/a-million-jeeps/

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Joseph’s High School Project and His LED Taillight Kit

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

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Pete from the Old Willys Forum shared this news with me. Click on the links to learn more.

Joseph is working on his high school senior project this summer.  He is planning to build a CNC Mill machine that will mill wood, plastic, and aluminum.  He just launched a Kickstarter Campaign to sell his Willys Station Wagon LED tail lights as a kit, to fund the purchase of the CNC parts.

https://www.kickstarter.com/projects/1192462920/willys-station-wagon-led-tail-light-kit

Once he has the CNC machine together, he will use it to produce the circuit boards for the LED tail lights, and other small parts that he can sell to help fund his ’51 Willys Wagon build. 

http://www.oldwillysforum.com/forum/showthread.php?2989-Joseph-s-51-Wagon-Build

He is hoping to sell 25-30 sets of the lights to fund the CNC project.  It is an ambitious senior project for a 16 year old kid, but he has already raised 2/3 of the 30 day campaign goal in the first 10 days…  There has been lots of interest in these lights on www.oldwillysforum.com and hopefully from others who might not visit the forum to find the info on them.

Even folks don’t need a set of the lights, they can support Joseph’s Kickstarter campaign by pledging $25 or more and get a cool shirt he designed for the project.  If they are feeling philanthropic, they can donate any amout to the campaign… 

Here is what comes in the “kit”, for each tail light, which bolts in to the stock Willys tail light bezel.

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Glenn’s Accident in Miss Willy

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

A couple days ago Glenn Byron was driving to a local Parking Lot Hot Dog Stand Display in his DJ-3A “Miss Willy” when a 90 year old driver pulled a left turn right in front of his bright yellow Jeep. The driver claimed the sun was in his eyes and he didn’t see glenn. Glenn hit the brakes, leaving about 5 foot skid marks from all four wheels before impact.

A nearly new Subaru was the victim, hit on passenger side, side air bags deployed, and probably totaled. The impact caused Miss Willy to flip onto her drivers side and slide a very short distance.
Miss Willy has bent frame, broken windshield, whole nose screwed up, and who knows how much more.

Fortunately, Glenn seems to be okay, though he did get hit on the head pretty good, causing him to be a little foggy. He’s not sure, but he believes he was ejected. No one seems to know of for sure.

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Here’s the Subaru:2015-07-glenn-crash2

Miss Willys before the accident:

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1948 Photos of Frances Freeman at the Rare Bird Farm

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

These two photos were taken at Kendall’s Rare Bird Farm in 1948 showing Frances Freeman. It has since closed, though I have no additional information. Note the odd rear rim.

 
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Melbourne’s Thomas Blamey Monument

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

Field Marshall Sir Thomas Albert Blamey was memorialized in a monument in the Royal Botanical Gardens in Melbourne, Australia. It shows him standing while gripping part of a jeep windshield. The way a July 1955 Willys News described it, I thought there’d be a whole jeep!

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https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Thomas_Blamey_statue_Melbourne.jpg Blamey is mounted on a jeep instead of the traditional horse. This conveys Blamey’s role in the technological transformation of the Army that occurred during his years of service

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1942 Photo of Cecil McAdams Towing Glider with Jeep on eBay

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

This was part of the training exercise at the Air Force’s Advanced Glider Detachment in Mobile, Alabama.

View all the information on eBay

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