Features Research Archives

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1941 Photo of Edsel Ford in Ford GP Press Day

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

These series of photos show Edsel Ford riding in a “Blitz Buggy”, which we now know as a Ford GP. Note that there’s no reference to the “Ford GP” in any text.

This photo appeared in several newspaper, including the April 11, 1941, issue of the Sikeston Standard out of Missouri.

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Originally published Nov 11, 2014: This photo includes Edsel Ford and was shot at the same event this video was taken.

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Originally published July 12, 2017: The original press photo that appeared in the newspaper at the bottom of this post.

“1941- Edsel Ford, in rear seat, and Brig. Gen. Charles Bonesteel go for a ride in the first Ford GP prototype jeep delivered to the U.S. Army after it rolled off the assembly line at the Ford River Rouge factory in Dearborn, Michigan. Photo measures approx. 7″ x 9″”

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Original posted 06/30/2016:
This photo and caption were published in the March 7, 1941, issue of the Owosso Argus Press. No article accompanied it.

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Tropical Motors St. Thomas, VI, ‘Jeep’ Gala Keychain on eBay

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

Were the original Gala key chains encased in Acrylic like this? Maybe the dealer ones were? Price of this is $99, but seller will consider offers.

View all the information on ebay

“Rare Vintage Jeep Gala Tropical Motors St. Thomas V.I. Acrylic Keychain in Excellent Used Condition. My Father obtained this keychain while working in fleet sales for Willys in the Carribean and Central & South America in the 50’s and early 60’s. Measures approximately 1″ in diameter x 1/4″ thick. A must have for the Jeep Gala Surrey owner!!!”

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1943 Canadian Newspaper Ad on eBay

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

This as is insteresting as the advertiser is the International Nickel Company of Canada, yet visually it feels like an ad for the upcoming civilian jeep.

View all the information on eBay

“1943 CANADIAN CANADA NEWSPAPER AD WWII WILLYS JEEP AD INTERNATIONAL NICKEL”

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Columnist John S. Van Gilder’s First Jeep Experience.

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

John S. Van Gilder, in his ManHATtan column, tells the story of his first experience with a jeep in the September 13, 1942, issue of The Knoxville News:
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Willys-Overland Equipment Book Cherokee, IA on eBay

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

Bidding starts at $99. It appears to include some of the supplemental brochures.

View all the information on ebay

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2 Early Wagon Ads out of Mexico on eBay

• CATEGORIES: Advertising & Brochures, Features, International This site contains affiliate links for which I may be compensated.

UPDATE: Still Available.

(11/02/2020) The Willys Export Ads showing wagons were placed by the Willys Export Company in the El Automovil Americano Magazine. The seller does a good job of explaining that he may not be able to ship these ads to certain states due to the pandemic.

View all the information on eBay

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“VERY IMPORTANT! Due to the pandemic the deliveries are taking longer than normal, so please be patient in case this happens.

To the residents of United States: due to the contingency caused by the pandemic, shipments to the following states the regular mail are not being made by Correos de Mexico, Louisiana, California, Wisconsin, Texas, Iowa, Illinois, Columbia, Missouri,Georgia, North Carolina, New Jersey, Maryland, Minnesota, Montana, Dakota, Indiana, Arizona, Alabama, Michigan. If your state is on the list, please contact the seller. This inconvenience is temporary and there is no date set to restore the service.

The paper may have tears, stains, or missing parts.
Shipping world wide with tracking number:

EE.UU. US $ 8 Delivery time 15-40 days
Europe US $ 10 Delivery time 15-40 days
Asia US $ 13 Delivery time 15-40 days

I combine purchases for a better shipping cost.

VERY IMPORTANTLY: all items in this shop are located in Mexico, therefore, will be shipped from that location. The shipping cost published by the ebay automatic sistem is not correct because don´t works in my mexico account to calculate the rates, so please, before the payment, wait for a correct shipping amount to your place, because it could have variations.”

 
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1944 Forbes Article on the Peacetime Jeep

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

This Forbes November 15, 1944, article titled “Will the Jeep Invade Peacetime Markets” is a pretty sober look at the reality of the WWII jeep. That’s probably because the author, Francis “Frank” Fenn, was the former President of American Bantam at the time the Bantam BRC was developed (one person argued that Frank was the actual father of the jeep).

With tweaks to the basic WWII jeep, Fenn predicted the CJ could do quite a bit, but would never make a good around-town or travel car due to it’s rough ride and basic functions. He predicted, rightly, that it would take a quite a bit of engineering for the vehicle to meet the average family’s on-road needs.

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