Features Research Archives

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Auto Part Jeep Sculpture $94.99

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

Roger Martin spotted this jeep sculpture on Facebook. I don’t see it as being “Authentic down to the last detail”, but still a neat little item. The price isn’t so neat though.

https://www.facebook.com/commerce/products/1472356579484727/

“Authentic down to the last detail a jeep is ready for off-road adventure. Armando Ramirez transforms recycled bicycle and automobile parts into a realistic miniature replica. His creativity is fascinating. Ramirez does not give his sculptures a fine polished finish therefore smudges and scratches may be present.”

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Austin Champ Fire Fly Engines

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

As I’ve mentioned, I once made the ‘mistake’ of buying three Austin Champ fixer-uppers to save them from being crushed. Despite that experience, I joined the Austin Champ group, as sometimes I find Champs for sale and post the links on the site.

The other day someone posted a 1955 ad for the Champ Firefly, which was a type of fire engine built on the Champ chassis. I’d never heard of them, so thought folks might find these ads interesting.

Here’s a an actual Austin Champ NSL 418 Firefly Fire Engine:

The next three ads were all listed on this site: https://www.aviationancestry.co.uk/?searchQuery=Fire+Armour&startYear=1909&endYear=1980

The first two ads, from 1954, are for Champ Firefly Airfield Crash Trucks:

1954-austin-champ-rapid-rescue-ad3 1954-austin-champ-rapid-rescue-ad2

This 1955 ad is for Fire-fighting. I’ve yet to see pics of one of these restored.1955-austin-champ-rapid-rescue-ad

 
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1943 Postcard of Flying Jeep on eBay

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

This was illustrated by Reg Manning.

View all the information on eBay

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Progressive Farmer Magazine Jeep Ads

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

Generally, my interactions with ebay sellers have been excellent. But, of course, it was only a matter of time before I received some damaged goods.

Recently, I got a good price on three Willys-Overland Progressive Farmer Magazine Ads from the late 1940s off of eBay. However, the packaging was less than stellar; in fact, it was so poor that the package arrived like this:

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Inside, each of the ads was torn in the same spot, meaning the USPS was a little too rough with the package (though I do think the seller’s poor packaging is really the primary issue).

Worse, the ads were wrapped in cellophane, without any kind of backing, making them difficult to remove without tearing the pages worse:

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The good news is that upon being notified the seller refunded my money in its entirety and let me keep the fairly worthless ads. Still, I can eventually scan them and repair them in photoshop, some day.

And now for the Ads: This ad does not have a date on it, but given the “J” logo, I’d say it was December of 1945 or January of 1946, page 11:

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This next one is from July of 1946, page 19:

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This one is from May of 1947, page 49 (it also appeared in the May 1947 issue of the Country Gentleman Magazine):

1947-05-progressive-farmer-pg49

Continue reading

 
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Johnstown Four Wheel Drive Plate eBay

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

Maybe this bit of nostalgia will appeal to someone?

View all the information on eBay

“PENNSYLVANIA 1980 JOHNSTOWN ALLEGHENY HIGHLANDERS FOUR WHEEL DRIVE CLUB BOOSTER LICENSE PLATE. AS SHOWN.”

allegheny-four-wheel-drive-club-plate

 
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Thor Winch $650 … And the Related Brochure

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

UPDATE: Here’s a Thor PTO winch for sale. See the brochure for it at the bottom of the post. (Thor also made hubs).

https://bakersfield.craigslist.org/pts/d/bakersfield-1960s-thor-pto-lb-winch/6912177380.html

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“A late 1960’s Thor T-100 Pto 8000lb winch. Popular on old Willys and jeeps,
Very hard to find, in Excellent condition as far as running properly.
Hasn’t been used since the late 70’s always been stored in a dry place no rust, has some paint missing from being moved around over the years.
Asking 650$ Obo
I have no use for this but I’m sure someone restoring a project Jeep or Bronco would love to have an original winch from the era.’

==========================

Original Post from December 2016: 

The Thor line of winches. Thor also had a line of hubs.

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Early Four Wheeler Magazine Covers

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

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R. H. Carroll took the time to create a website displaying a wide array of off-road and dune buggy magazines. His plan included posting images of early Four Wheeler magazine covers, as seen here: http://99wspeedshop.com.s3-website-us-west-2.amazonaws.com/fourwheeler01.html (This helps me as I’m still looking for 1962 and 1963 Four Wheeler magazines).

This link shows you the Home page for the entire site. As you click through, you’ll begin to see that he spent a good amount of time creating this. Another neat feature are the timelines for the various magazine genres. Just the Go-Karts/Karting section alone is unique and interesting.

Below is one timeline example. Check out the Hot Rod/Street Rod/ Custom Magazine timeline here: http://99wspeedshop.com.s3-website-us-west-2.amazonaws.com/menu03.html

 

 
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Ernie Pyle’s “First” Book: Home Country

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

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Most of you probably know Ernie Pyle from his wartime articles and books. However, prior to WWII Ernie Pyle had already made a name for himself as a widely traveled columnist under the title “Hoosier Vagabond”. Between 1935-1942 he and his wife traveled extensively across the US, north into Canada and south into Mexico. In 1947, after his death, some of his articles from this pre-war time were bundled into a book called Home Country

In his homespun style, Ernie shares his experience climbing to the top of the newly build Golden Gate bridge, learns the challenges of being a white professional wrestler in heavily hispanic Laredo, Texas, and tells the tales of some regionally famous (at that time) folks like Rufus Woods, a local Washington State character who had a significant impact on Eastern Washington, yet was a name I didn’t know.

Near the end of the book he interviews the inventor of the Ross Steering box, David Ross. Matriculating with an engineering degree from Purdue University in 1893, Ross contracted Typhoid shortly after leaving college. A doctor advised him to be outdoors to regain health, so he returned to his family farm and began tinkering. He developed the box and other inventions that made him wealthy. Ernie Pyle’s description and stories of the Ross provide some great insights into who he was.

 
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1951 Photo of Troops Pushing Jeep Over Hill on eBay

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

That looks like an uphill slog!

View all the information on eBay

“1951 Press Photo United Nations troops push jeep over hill during Korean War. This is an original press photo. The powerful jeep was unable to negotiate a muddy hill, so manpower took over. United Nations troops pushed the jeep and a trailer up the hill. About two dozen men helped. — Korean War – Troops U.S. – Living & Weather conditions Photo measures 9 x 6.5 inches. Photo is dated 11-08-1951.”

1951-11-08-korea-troops-pushing-jeep-up-hill1 1951-11-08-korea-troops-pushing-jeep-up-hill2

 
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Just a Few Updates Sunday

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

Happy Father’s Day! Just a few updates today.

This story hit the news over the weekend. It’s a heartwarming, yet sad story.