UPDATE: I had mistakenly labeled this a BRC-40. Craig corrected me.
Neat photo with caption. The Associated Press labels it a Blitz Buggy.
UPDATE: I had mistakenly labeled this a BRC-40. Craig corrected me.
Neat photo with caption. The Associated Press labels it a Blitz Buggy.
<– Day 3 – Mar. 22nd: Old Bones and Old Jeeps | OVERVIEW | Day 5 – Mar. 24th: Talking Jeeps w/ Worn Rusty Hubbs –>
With beautiful blue skies overhead, we started the day in Grand Junction with our sights set on the mysterious Colorado National Monument. Having done no research on it, and trusting Dean’s advice from yesterday, we started at the western entrance of the park near Fruita.
After the ranger station, the road climbs quickly, switching back and forth, tunneling through rock, and teasing the driver (who should really keep his eyes on the road according to Ann) with beautiful views of the Grand Junction Valley. Those travelers familiar with Southern Utah will instantly recognize the red sandstone walls, the juniper trees, and narrow canyons.
After four miles of driving, we arrived at the visitors center, a complex perched near a canyon wall with a view toward some of the amazing pinnacles that dot the landscape. Inside the visitors center we learned about John Otto, the man that made the Monument happen. His early vision included an amazing road full of switchbacks that would allow cars to traverse the park from one end to the other. Hi dream might not have become a reality had the Depression not happened, for it provided all the cheap labor ($1/day/per person) he need to carve a twenty-three mile road through the park.
After driving the road, it’s my opinion that it is one of the truly unique features of the park. There aren’t many places along the drive that don’t feature beautiful views. It is one continuous bit of eye candy from start to finish.
UPDATE: **SOLD** Was on eBay.
Wait, that’s not a government issue mask! The three pictured from left to right are: CPL. Arthur Smith of New York City, NY, PFC. Matty Furyal of Detroit, Michigan, and PVT. Carl Carlson of Norwalk, Connecticutt.
“1944- U.S. troops in Italy with a mask of Mussolini attached to the bumper of their jeep.”
As Marc noted to me, the photo appears more likely to have been taken in the late 1940s. Perhaps it was a photo that wasn’t released until 1958?
“You are bidding on an original press photo of Willys Motors Employee in Vintage Jeep. Photo has staple hole top right corner & waving Photo measures 8 x 10 inches and is dated 6/17/1958.”
<– Day 2 – March 21st: From Salt Lake City To Vernal | OVERVIEW | Day 4 – Mar. 23rd: Hurray for Ouray –>
We started our day planning to leave Vernal, Utah, and drive to Dinosaur National Monument, before heading for our final destination in Grand Junction, Colorado.
But, before we left our motel’s parking lot, we spotted our first ‘feral’ jeep of the trip, a CJ-5 that was right across the street from us. The snowplow on the front suggests this utility vehicle’s singular purpose.
Satisfied with a quick photo, we were on our way, but not before one final dinosaur bid us a farewell.
Dinosaur National Monument is about a 20 minute drive east of Vernal. The monument was established in 1915 after Earl Douglas discovered a quarry of bones near the small town of Jensen, Utah. While known for the amazing dinosaur history, much of the Monument consists of over 200,000 acres of rugged canyons. Apart from exploring the Monument, there are many other day trips which could keep a person busy exploring. We plan on returning to the area at some future point and spent several days driving the backroads.
That jeep and trailer look pretty loaded up!
“Original advertisement for their C-82 Packet cargo plane showing an Airborne Signal Team loading a Jeep and radio trailer.”
<– Day 1 – March 20th: Dinner and Salt | OVERVIEW | Day 3 – Mar. 22nd: Old Bones and Old Jeeps –>
After our long drive on Thursday, we intentionally had an easy day drive of a few hours, a quick trip from Salt Lake City to Vernal, Utah.
We started off the day with some bagels at the Einsteins on 13th East with Karson. After we were done eating, we posed for a photo together, which further demonstrates that either he is growing or I am shrinking. Must be the water in Salt Lake or something . . .
We were just about to leave Salt Lake when Ann and I spotted Caputos, a well known deli that now has a small store next to Einsteins. They know their stuff at Caputos and know a couple suckers when they see them. We walked out a little poorer, but with some really good goat cheese and some locally made chocolate.
On March 22, 1948, The Federal Trade Commission ordered Willys-Overland Motors, Inc. to stop advertising that it had created or designed the “jeep.” Said FTC: although Willys-Overland “made an outstanding contribution in its powerful engine as well as in other features of the vehicle,” the credit belonged jointly to four companies—Willys-Overland, American Bantam Car Co., Ford Motor Co., Spicer Manufacturing Co. (now Dana Corp.)—and the Army.
Read more: Facts & Figures, Mar. 22, 1948 – TIME http://content.time.com/time/magazine/article/0,9171,804527,00.html#ixzz2s81qUrOv
Marc forwarded this ad. I guess the message is that everyone will look good working on a jeep if they wear Stevens Twist Twill clothes?
UPDATE: **SOLD** Was on eBay.
“This is an old black & white photograph of a Jeep station wagon advertising American Relief for Poland. The car has a message board on the roof which reads: “Poland Needs Your Help Help the Children of Poland Tag Day Sept. 13th and 14th”. The car also says: “6000 Dubois MAdison 1644”. The latter is an old-style telephone number (this style was phased out in the 1950’s), and the former is likely an address. American Relief for Poland was formed in 1929 and was active at least through the 1950’s. The Jeep station wagon was introduced in 1946. I can’t see much of the clothing of the people in the background, but what I can see seems to look more like 1940’s or 1950’s clothes than later. A “tag day” is a day on which contributions for a charitable cause are solicited; the donors are given a tag in return. The photo is in good condition apart from some curl to it. It measures almost 7 inches long by 5 inches tall. I got this near Cleveland, Ohio, and I don’t have any other information about it; there is no identification on the back.”
UPDATE: **SOLD** Was $200.
Looks pretty original to me, but I haven’t seen many of these.
“Pedal Car; Hamilton, Princess Jeep, Canopy used needs restored”
<– OVERVIEW | Day 2 – March 21st: From Salt Lake City To Vernal –>
We left Pasco, Washington, at 5amish yesterday, which means we’d planned to leave at 5am, but due to last minute scrambling, our departure didn’t actually occur until 5:30am. After nine hours of driving, we arrived in Salt Lake City in time to celebrate with the kids.
Karson, Kasia and Colter joined us at the Old Spaghetti Factory for some pasta. It was Kasia’s choice, due both to her upcoming 18th birthday and because we found out yesterday she’s been accepted to the University of Utah. However, she won’t be attending the U this fall, but will postpone it until the fall of 2015 so she can spend the next school year participating in a mentorship program in Los Angeles.
Colter has another two years at East High School. I think he hopes that without his brother and sister at school, he will no longer be known as Kasia or Karson’s little brother. Instead, people will actually know him by his own name.
You may remember our trip from last summer when we ran into Karson twice during his participation in the Americorps/FEMA program. In November he successfully ‘graduated’ from the program with lots of experiences, stories and scholarship money. So, he decided to go to Westminster University starting this winter. He seems to be enjoying it immensely.
Several folks forwarded an article at Hemmings that announces the Ford Pygmy’s inclusion on the list of National Historic Vehicles.
Sean forwarded these photos. If I had to put a caption to the first one it would be, “TOO HIGH! TOO HIGH! I didn’t sign up for this!”
I found this interesting photo of Bennet Larson and a few others standing in front of a Keystone Automobile Club Jeep. Keystone was an automobile club that was absorbed into the AAA Mid-Atlantic in 1965. The photo was taken in/near Philadelphia. I imagine the jeep was used for helping stranded motorists or patrolling?
http://content.lib.utah.edu/cdm/singleitem/collection/UU_Photo_Archives/id/47939/rec/162
On this year’s trip we’ll have a few different items you can buy from us as we travel. If you want the items mailed to you, we’ll figure out a way to do that, too. Just email me (d @ ewillys.com). Everything is first come first serve.
The purposes of these items should be pretty obvious: 1) help raise money for our trips, 2) provide unique, vintage jeep items you won’t see elsewhere, and 3) to promote the community of vintage jeeps. For me, it makes the whole eWillys adventure more fun.
SHIRTS are $20 each: They shirts are good quality material that is 60% ring spun cotton and 40% polyester. They are light and very comfortable. The image is based on a WWII bond-drive image printed on an envelope.
1. Olive Drab: I only have Large and X-Large.
2. Gray: I have a couple of Smalls, Mediums and XXL. Mostly, I have Larges and X-Large.
BOOKS are $20 each: Of course, don’t forget about my books. We’ll have copies of both. For those that don’t know, Finding Virginia is personal journey of mine, including my history with jeeps and more. The Amber Panels is an adventure/fiction novel based around the real Amber Panels. Of course, jeeps find there way into it, too.
One of the reasons for we are detouring down to Sante Fe, New Mexico, is to visit the Bataan Museum. WWII in the Pacific and the Philippines will play a role in book three, tentatively titled October Gold.
POSTERS are $10 each: Not many left, but we’ll be carrying some of these with us as well. These are professionally printed 18″x12″ posters. I have varying amounts of each. Want more than one? We can make a deal.
Jim Johnson, his father and brother are all Willys nuts. He says they can’t get enough of them. Each year they head south from Utah’s Utah County for the Jeep Safari with their vintage jeeps. They enjoy showing how well their ‘old’ jeeps perform against the new ones.
This first jeep is a 1962 CJ-5 that Jim got from his father. Jim fixed it up some and gave it another coat of paint. All three look ready for Moab again this year. Have fun!
Scott, whom everyone seems to know as Haines Garage, posted this jeepish photo of himself wearing a unique jeep shirt. The shirt is great, as is the pose.
Find him here: https://www.facebook.com/haines.garage or at his flat fender website: http://hainesgarage.proboards.com
UPDATE: It looks like a few of these photos are reversed, especially the one below.
Frazier discovered these 1962 Canyonlands trip photos within the digital archives of the University of Utah. He’s a big Landrover fan, but also has a soft spot for old jeeps, too.
He wrote, “I thought you might be interested in these pictures I found in the University Of Utah’s digital library. They were taken during the filming of “The Sculptured Earth”, which was a film to promote the creation of Canyonlands National Park. You’ll have to excuse the university watermarks, but they are some pretty great shots.. (and yes, as you’ve probably found out by my email I’m a huge Land Rover fan…. But I have a deep obsession/respect for the vehicle that started it all!)”
According the to the University of Utah, The Sculptured Earth (see the photos below and more here)” was a 45-minute film promoting the creation of Canyonlands National Park, produced by Charles Eggert in 1962 at the request of Interior Secretary Stewart Udall and the National Park Service.
OVERVIEW | Day 1 – March 20th: Dinner and Salt –>
UPDATE: This page originally covered our anticipated trip, but now that It is finished, it’s a summary page.
We finally made it home to Pasco. It took us six weeks and one day to make the loop through the mountain west, into the southwest, and northward into California and Oregon. We covered a distance of 6,378 miles.
Once again, we have to give thanks to everyone who met with us, supported or followed our journey. We feel very fortunate to have these periods of time to travel with one another and see so much of this great country. Hopefully, you’ve enjoyed our trip and learned something new about a place you never knew.
We appreciate all the suggestions everyone gave us and we’re sorry we couldn’t followup on all of them. I know I’d hoped to drop by and see Paul Barry at Willys America or Jerry at his truck/wagon shop in Rodeo, CA. However, since my daughter is supposed to be in Los Angeles in the fall/spring of next year, I figured we would be back down there soon enough and will stop by both places.
Here are links to our daily reports:
OVERVIEW | Day 1 – March 20th: Dinner and Salt –>
Ann forwarded this link to me. Is it possible the author was actually paid for this post? I’m not sure if the article or the comments are funnier.
http://autos.yahoo.com/news/anywhere-anything-story-willy-jeep-140059277.html
Marc found these interesting photos on Flickr.
The first is a photo of the Italian police from 1947: http://www.flickr.com/photos/16435224@N05/4856286877/
Here’s a more recent photo from Ravenna, Italy:
http://www.flickr.com/photos/30797788@N03/5133444193/
This photo was taken in Iran in 1997:
http://www.flickr.com/photos/69060931@N06/6778733213/
Taken in October of 2013, this photo was taken in Japan:
http://www.flickr.com/photos/69060931@N06/6778733213/
I’m guessing this photo of a late model CJ-2A from the Netherlands was taken in the late 1940s:
http://www.flickr.com/photos/tuuur/6890468326/