It’s taken almost eight years, but there are now 30,000 posts on eWillys! That number doesn’t include all the posts I’ve deleted over the years. Thanks for everyone’s support, including links, ideas, comments, content and more!
Features Research Archives
Jim ‘Pee Wee’ Martin & Jeep Trains
Roger and his father Jim “Pee Wee” Martin attended the August 23, 2014 D-Day Reenactment in Conneaut, Ohio. He writes, “I took my dad,Jim “Pee Wee” Martin (2014 CNN Pee Wee Interview), and Ira Morehart to the D-day Reenactment in Conneaut, Ohio on August 23rd, 2014. My dad is the one in the passenger seat of the Jeep. He and Ira were in the 101st Airborne that jumped into Normandy the night before the D-day invasion. The jeep is a GPW that now features my father’s signature inside the glovebox.”
Roger added, “These other 2 pictures are on South Bass Island in Lake Erie where I went with my youngest daughter, Katie, September 11, 2014. The two jeep “trains” are in front of the winery where the largest geode in the world is located under the winery. Guests can tour the winery and see the geode.”
Photos of City Transit’s CJ-2A **SOLD**
UPDATE: **SOLD** Was on eBay.
City Transit of High Point, NC, owned this CJ-2A.
“3 Vintage 1940s-1950s photos of a Willy’s Jeep sitting outside of Horace Ilderton Dodge and Plymouth Car garage in High Point, North Carolina. The writing on the jeep says, “City Transit Co”. They are 2.75″ x 4.5″ black and white photos. One has foxing, and the others have minor wear.”
American Motors Poster on eBay
This 1974 poster is one I haven’t seen available very often.
“For your consideration is an original rare vintage American Motors Jeep Parts Division Model Chart. The heavy stock paper chart shows pictures and identification features of all Jeep models from 1941 through 1974. The charts were designed to hang in a Jeep dealerships parts department for reference. It measures approx. 45″ wide, and 35″ tall. The chart is rolled and free of any rips, tears, stains, or pin/tack holes. The exposed edge has normal wear from age, handling and storage, but nothing that detracts from its appearance or functionality.”
1951 Elastic Stop Nut Ad on eBay
It sure didn’t take people long to realize they needed some more secure nuts on their jeeps! It didn’t take me long 🙂
Jeep-themed Golf Cart Ofallon, MO **SOLD**
UPDATE: **SOLD** Was $1300
Looks ready for a round of 18 holes.
“This is a gas powered golf cart converted to look like an Army Jeep. Runs good and is Fun to drive but I need to sell to make room for a new toy.”
1949 Wagon Built for Fishing
This Willys wagon was built by an older couple to enjoy fishing. Maybe it is just the camera perspective, but it sure looks like there is plenty of room inside. When the couple decided they were done using it, they sold it the author of this blog: http://rockhopperfishing.com/sleepinginthedunes1963/
Washoe Willys
Washoe Willys is the Reno-Sparks Convention & Visitors Authority’s newest representative. This 1951 Wagon will appear at a variety of the region’s attractions to promote the RSCVA.
Learn more here: http://blog.visitrenotahoe.com/tag/washoe-willys/
Fishing Near Cape Kiwanda
This jeep truck was used to pull a boat from Cape Kiwanda in 1958. The photograph is stored at the Oregon State Archives.
1943 Photo of USMC in Puerto Rico on eBay
Looks staged, but still a good photo.
“1943 Puerto Rico USMC Marines on Jeep Guard Duty 8×10 Original Press Photo”
Recent Camping Trips
With all the great weather, we’ve managed to sneak in a few camping trips. We were really roughing it in Ann’s mother’s new motorhome. Yes, we left her mother behind so we could enjoy some quite time.
Early last week we made the two hour drive to the Ohanapecosh Campground at Mt. Rainier. Here are some photos from that trip.
A couple days ago we drove from Pasco to Red Bridge Wayside State Park. Red Bridge is one of five northeast Oregon state wayside parks that are well kept and inexpensive places to stay. Of the twenty spots available, only three were taken. So we had a very quiet stay. However, somehow we didn’t get any photos of the campground.
We did find a horseshoe pit, but lacking horseshoes we turned to frisbees.
Photo of Jeep Hanging by Glue on eBay
I wonder if the plastic glue every became a commercial product.
“You are bidding on an original 8 x 10 press photo of Pittsburgh PA Westinghouse Jeep Hangs By Plastic Glue developed by Westinghouse.”
1948 Photo of Snow Plowing **SOLD**
UPDATE: **SOLD** Was on eBay.
Hopefully the jeep shows a little better in the original photo.
“1948 Press Photo Sidewalk Snow Scooter nickname given by students to Jeep”
Pics from Charles
No updates other than these pics from Charles for Sunday (We should still be camping).
Here are a few photos of the Belgian Army:
Little Giant PTO Wrecker Brochure
This early Canfield PTO Wrecker brochure shows Canfield as the manufacturer behind the Little giant PTO wrecker.
Roberto’s Latest Doodle
Roberto Flores let me know that these classic Colorado Plateau photos inspired him to draw this jeep with a few mountains in the background.
Brooks Stevens Concept Drawings and Model
Patrick found this great series of pages hosted by the Milwaukee Art Museum. The site contains over 160 Brooks Stevens drawings and models. Wagon, FCs, DJs, and Wagoneers are included. Start here to see all of the concept photos and drawings.
Patrick put together this animated GIF which shows the different noses Brooks considered.
This is an August 1946 Jeepster concept:
These DJ concepts are always interesting:
2015 Holy Toledo Calendars For Sale
Got your 2015 Holy Toledo calendars yet? It got mine. You can get yours at http://norris-banonis.com/holy-toledo.html
CJ-2A Accident Photo on eBay
Steve spotted this odd photo. My question is, did the jeep back into the wall and then get lifted up? Or did it somehow hit it from the outside?
“This lot is for two 5″x7″ black and white original photos of a Willys Jeep somehow attached to a barn door…not sure if this is intentional or by accident. Appears to be a 1957 Ford in the background. See photos for condition. Please be sure to view my other listings as well! Thank you for looking.”
1946 CJ-2A Pittsville, MO **SOLD**
UPDATE: **SOLD** Was $1000
(08/14/2014) It’s a Dodge cab on a ’46 jeep.
“1946 Willy’s Jeep. Entire running gear in good condition. 1940 dodge truck cab. Been barn stored since the 60’s. Worth 1,000 in scrap, asking 2,000 or best offer. Wanting this to go to a good home and hopefully reach full restoration”
The First Set of Pics — The Southwestern Utah 1961 Trip
First published (03/24/2011): A reader named Alan found these these classic jeeping images from the Four Corners area of the Southwest while scanning some slides, taken while on a jeep trip in 1961. Not only are the colors wonderful, but quality of the shots are fantastic. The slides came from Alan’s father-in-law and the CJ-3A, the yellow jeep in image 2, was his father-in-law’s father’s jeep. I will publish a couple more posts with more pictures later this week.
When I lived in Utah, I used to travel down to the Moab area, find a piece of slickrock (similar to the type of rock the jeep below is traveling down), throw my sleeping bag on a flat surface, and fall asleep under the stars (and there are lots of visible stars down there). At sunbreak in the morning, the light would cause the slickrock to turn intense reddish colors. Southern Utah is one of my favorite places to explore.
Bountiful City Jeep Posse
First published 09/02/2012: The February 1948 Issue of Popular Mechanics Magazine published this fascinating look at the Bountiful City Jeep Posse, an organization that worked as a volunteer Search and Rescue and Fire Fighting group out of Bountiful, Utah. Started in 1946, the organization is still in existence.
I found this article that provides additional history from the 2006 in the Deseret News. Though they own fewer jeeps and have more trucks, they are still helping their community. I’ve contacted the newspaper to see if I can communicate with the members to get some more information about them and, possibly, some additional jeep pictures.
The Images below all come from the Popular Mechanics Magazine article. Note the jeep in the background of the bottom image on page 3 has a full cage, the earliest example of a full cage I’ve seen.
Following the article, I’ve included pics of two ads, too.
Page 1:
California State Park Rangers and Jeeps
First published 09/17/2012: I ran across this book about “California State Park Rangers” written by Michael G. Lynch, which includes several pictures of Rangers and Jeeps. I’ve included three images below and don’t know if there are more. The book covers the history of California State Park Rangers, beginning with the first Ranger Galen Clark at Yosemite State Park in 1866. With a career of thirty-five years in the California Park system, Michael plans to donate some of the proceeds to the parks.
According to the author, many of the images come from the state park archives, which you can view online here.
The Jeep of All Trades Article from 1943
First published 09/29/2012: I first spotted this article in the May 22, 1943, edition of Colliers Magazine.
An article by the same name (Jeep of All Trades), but with different content, was published in Mechanix Illustrated in November 1945 (see an example at this-old-jeep.com).
Below are some images of the article. I searched on the author, but all I learned was that he wrote for Colliers. If you spot an inexpensive Colliers Magazine with the article, let me know!
Going Camping for a Couple Days
Ann and I decided last night to head for Ohanapecosh near Mt. Rainier on Sunday for a couple days. No reception there means no updates for a couple days. However, I have schedule a few old feature posts to reappear. We’ll be back on Tuesday so there will be some updates at that point.