UPDATE: I located a full video clip of the ‘jeep’. Mark discovered via Hemmings that this was a plywood prop built on a Ford chassis for the Laurel & Hardy movie Great Guns. It’s reported the prop still exists in a private collection.
Features Research Archives
Willys Jeep Clock from Toledo Plant? $250
It might be an older clock with Willys Jeep printed on it, but does anyone know if there is real history related to this?
“Vintage Willys Jeep Wall Clock.
Metal frame with glass face.
Approx 14 1/2 inches in diameter.
Great piece of Toledo History.
Works great.
asking $250
If interested please leave a number where I can reach you.”
1982 Photo of Jeep-Roping on a CJ-3B
This cowboy preferred to rope a cow with a saddle mounted on a CJ-3B. I don’t know a whole lot about rodeo history, but according to the Lodi newspaper competitive jeep-roping occurred at least between 1952-1998. Below is an April 21, 1982, photo published in the Lodi News Sentinenl, the best photo evidence I could find of jeep-roping.
I found this second photo from 1998, but it does’t provide much detail. In this case the jeep looks like it might be a MB/GPW.
1944 Photo of Marines on Eniwetok Atoll
UPDATE: **SOLD*** Was on eBay
Powerful photo.
“WWII U.S. Marines Shelter by Jeep during Invasion of Eniwetok Orig Press Photo”
1945 Photo of Lake Washington Jeep Test on eBay
I wonder where on Lake Washington they tested this jeep? I can’t imagine why the army would choose Lake Washington (borders the eastern side of Seattle), as there were no military facilities nearby of which I’m aware.
“1945- U.S. soldier tests drives a jeep in Lake Washington to test its watertight motor. Mufflers have been removed and long chimney-like air vents are connected to the engine.”
More Photos from Charles
Here are more photos from Charles:
1943 Photo of the ‘Manhattan Bridge’ **SOLD**
UPDATE: **SOLD** Was on eBay.
This bridge crossed the Volturno River in Italy, east of Dragoni, Italy.
Willys News Article on Modified Jeeps
1943 Photo of Soldiers Entering Eboli, Italy on eBay
This photo was taken by Charles Corte, Acme Photographer for the war picture pool and ‘flashed’ to the U.S. by the Signal Corps Radio Telephoto.
Bulgarian-made Tonka Knockoff on eBay
Blaine forwarded the ad for this toy.
“Hello dear friends, offering for sale ~ rare vintage Bulgarian made copy of Tonka Japna, circa 1970 pressed steel toy Jeep. Bulgarian traffic police insignia emblem (KAT). All completed, made of pressed steel and plastic. Folding wind screen/shield Rare in orange, made only for Bulgarian marked by Mir toy factory.”
Kelloggs Corn Flakes CJ-2A Cutout **SOLD**
UPDATE: **SOLD** Was on ebay.
Wow, how about this rare CJ-2A model? I knew I liked Corn Flakes cereal for a reason!
“1940s Cereal Premium Kelloggs All Wheat War Wwii Amphibious Jeep “uncut flat”
CJ-3B/M-606 Plastic Model
Roberto spotted this model for sale from the Czech Republic. It’s advertised as a CJ-3B/M-606 model, but I don’t see much M-606 elements here. It costs 39.00 Euro (Approx $43.00)
http://www.vt-models.cz/www-vt-models-cz/eshop/9-1-AFV-35/0/5/809-M-606-CJ-3B
CJ-2L? Extended CJ-2A Sold @ Auction for $700
Blaine discovered this possible CJ-2L that was auctioned off last weekend. The auction occurred just north of where I live, but, unfortunately, we didn’t learn about he auction until today.
I called one of the men responsible for the auction. He had some images of the jeep saved to his phone, so he forwarded them to me. He couldn’t remember who bought the jeep. These are the first photos I’ve seen of the underside of an extended CJ-2A. In this case, the extension was done poorly and looks more like a backyard extension than that of a dealer.
First FC-150 To Alaska Via Plane
A May 1957 article from Willys News reported that the first FC-150 to Alaska was sent by plane. Unfortunately, to fit on the plane it had to be disassembled. Look how close that cab is to not fitting. Someone in Alaska sure wanted that FC badly!
1943 Photo of Ford GPA at Fort Knox
The Seep’s name is Mud Hen.
“1943- Troops riding in Ford GPA Jeep Amphibious Vehicle “Mud Hen” at Fort Knox.”
Early Warn Manufacturing Co. History
This May 1957 Willys News article provides some interesting history about the Warn Manufacturing Company. Apparently there was some early resistance to using the first generation of the warn hubs, because jeep owners felt they’d purchased their jeeps for the four wheel drive capability. The initial hubs turned the jeeps into two wheel drive, which some owners felt defeated the whole point of owning a jeep. However, through education and marketing, the Warn folks slowly turned naysayers into advocates.
From a 1995 Field & Stream Magazine article:
These were the first locking/unlocking hubs Warn developed. These were advertised as early as October of 1953 in the Popular Mechanics:
1947 Willys Overland Christmas Card on eBay
1942 Junior Scholastic Ford GP
UPDATE: **SOLD** Was on eBay
This May 1942 Junior Scholastic magazine had a Ford GP on the cover.
“Junior Scholastic magazine for school kids. Week of April 27-May 2 1942 issue.
16 pages. A little larger than 8 inches x 11 inches.
World War II era article about the modern mechanized cavalry charging into battle on motorized vehicles, motorcycles (like the Harley-Davidson WLA), and even horses still.
Complete. Clean pages. No water damage. No creases. Normal amount of age-browning to the paper. Considering the newspaper-quality wartime paper used, this magazine is in remarkably nice condition after 70 plus years. There’s some minimal red marking here and there. The delicate folded, stapled-binding has a small amount of separation along the top and bottom edges, but is holding together well.”
1950s Wood Puzzle Jeep on eBay
Probably not many of these left in the world.
“This auction is for a vintage wooden Jeep puzzle/toy. It comes in its original box with a parts diagram. Made in Japan, probably 1950s or 60s. In new condition, never played with. 5 1/2″ L x 2 1/2″ W x 2 3/4″ H.”
2015 Bantam Jeep Heritage Festival
This year the Bantam Festival has a fantastic lineup of early jeeps courtesy of Omix-ADA. The BRC built by Duncan Rolls, along with a host of other early jeeps should make for a great show.
More Photos from Charles
Neat follow me jeep from the belgian air force 1ste wing-1950
Note the accordion on the front of this jeep.
1949 All-Wheel Drive Means All-Year Usefuleness Ad
Another ‘the jeep can do it all’ ad. This one was published on June 1, 1949, in Utah’s Deseret News.
Quick Trip Down to Utah
On Monday we drove down to Boise where we met up with Josh to see his prized four-wheel-steer Bantam BRC-40, which appears to have been converted to two-wheel-steer by the military. According to Josh, the four wheel-steer-jeeps were horrendous to drive, so they weren’t used that way for long. He’s in the process of gathering the parts he needs to do a full restoration on it.
Two interesting tidbits about the four wheel steer Bantams. In the first photo, the inner sides of the wheel wells were beaten with hammers to accommodate the four-wheel-steer mechanisms.
One way to identify a four-wheel-steer is by shocks mounted inside and in back of the springs like the ones shown below.
Josh has a few other jeeps around as well. I got so busy talking with him that I forgot to photograph the others. Meanwhile, my photographer got chilly, so she returned to the jeep. Zollie accompanied us on our trip, so Ann posed him in front of this jeep.
After spending Monday night in Boise, we drove down to Salt Lake on Tuesday. We picked up the boys and went to eat some delicious food at the Mahider Ethiopian restaurant. Below is the huge plate of food we ordered. To eat, you tear some of the spongy, fermented bread called Injera from the edges of the plate and scoop up food with it.
On Wednesday we went to Kimball Junction to see the Topeka Hiway Mower for sale here. After that we returned to Salt Lake City and took Colter to a movie (Karson was busy with college). Unfortunately, by Wednesday afternoon snow was predicted on the Blue Mountains in Oregon, so we decided to head back Thursday night.
It was a short visit to Utah, but a good one.
Willys Quad Historical Landmark Display on eBay
Here’s an unusual item.
“INTERNATIONAL HISTORICAL LANDMARK DISPLAY
MECHANICAL ENGINEERING -WILLYS OVERLAND JEEP MODEL MB
THE AMERICAN SOCIETY OF MECHANICAL ENGINEERS
APPROX. 40 INCHES TALL”
1960? Jeep Trucks FCs Mailing Brochure
UPDATE: This was likely published in 1959, 1960, or 1961. I can’t make out the form number to verify. This was sold on eBay in 2015.
Plus the brochure the seller will include a Scheneker Plow Ad.
“Up for auction no reserve! A Mailing Brochure for Willys Jeep trucks also the CJ-5 jeep Brochure folds out to a nice display sheet measuring 11 inches tall 17 across. please see pics condition is very good a little paper aging as expected for the age. Also a one sided brochure Ad for Schenecker Snow Plow Universal mount for Jeep. age stains light crease across middle small paper loss left center in pic”