Having done my share of battling jeep misinformation, I can appreciate this fun look at the “hobby” published by Scott Schiller. AKA the World Famous G503 Spokesperson.
Features Research Archives
Converto Trailer Hub Question
Dean’s working on this Converto Trailer. It’s got hubs with a 5×4.5 bolt pattern. He’s wondering how he might find replacement hubs. Anyone have ideas on what would fit?
Here’s the trailer:
Here are the current hubs:
Year? Military Spec Sheet on eBay
UPDATE: Still Available. but expensive.
(This unusual spec sheet compares the M-38A1 with the M-274 and the XM443E1. The M-38A1D image press photo is available currently on eBay.
Sunday’s Trip Through Canyonlands

Sunday morning was perfect for the drive through Canyonlands and for pics. Ann, me and Karson. I’m not sure how my son got so tall?? Must be a camera angle thing? Sigh.
On Sunday morning we left for the White Rim trail in Canyonlands National Park. Driving out of Moab, we had a cloudless morning with perfect temperatures in the 60s. As we left, we drove past a jeep hoisted onto a sign for the Expedition Lodge motel in downtown Moab, something that must have been added in the last two years. It’s missing the drive train, but otherwise still has quite a few parts.
In contrast to the yellow jeep, our rental jeep was a white newer 4-door Wrangler. Karson rented it through Canyonlandsjeep, which he said provided the least expensive jeep rentals (the folks there were great). It was slightly lifted and had oversize tires. The one downside of the rental jeep was that we were not allowed to drop the tire pressure. As a result (and as you can imagine) the ride proved to be rougher than it otherwise had to be.
1949 4-Wheel Drive Ad
This December 1949 Ad published in the Saturday Evening Post is interesting in that WILLYS is printed larger than the term ‘Jeep’, the latter being regulated to a small badge near the wagon image.
Dualmatic Hubs Brochure
I won this rare Dualmatic brochure on eBay. I’ll follow up with more detailed pics once I receive the document.
Wanted: Dave’s Dad’s Old CJ-2A
Dave Naylor (kaisercj71 @ yahoo.com) is hoping to locate his Dad’s old 1947 CJ-2A. His story is below:
So, just a long shot here but, please play along. In Grangeville, ID (pretty sure it was Grangeville) around 1951, my dad traded his ’47 2A on a ’51 4×4 Willys truck. I’ve lost all hope of ever finding that old 2A, having no VIN number to work from but, I’m kind of interested if obtaining some old pictures or other artifacts from that dealership, circa late 40’s or early 50’s.
The dealership was Gort Smith Motors or maybe Gortsema Motors, AFAIK, and was still in business several years ago. I called them wondering if any old sales records were still in existence. No luck, as I had imagined.
If anyone stumbles across any period items related to this dealership, I’d be interested in obtaining them. Not sure what all brands they sold as many dealers sold other stuff besides just Willys. I’d be interested in Willys/Jeep items only, of course.
Thanks folks.
Fun, But Long Sunday
It’s late and I’m bushed, so no updates today (and I’m behind on emails). We had a great time jeeping with Karson on Sunday. We drive home from SLC on Monday morning. So, updates will happen on Tuesday.
Just A Few Updates Sunday
Today will be driving part of the White Rim Trail in Canyonlands National Park, at least to the point where the river is currently blocking the trail (the rivers are higher than normal here in Canyonlands right now. We are driving a jeep rented through #Canyonlandsjeep
I’ll report on our adventure on Monday. We’ll be on the road most of Monday, so regular updates will likely not appear until Tuesday morning.
Below are some pics of our test-drive on Saturday night.
1948 Willys Overland ‘City and City’ Ad Campaign
UPDATE: The City and City campaign was introduced to dealers in the January 1948 issue of Willys-Overland Sales News (page 10).
Originally published in 2013, this updated post includes better images (though a few still need better images) along with the dates of publishing (at least the ones I’ve found so far). This campaign appears to have been limited to 1948. There are thirteen ads in all. They appeared in the Saturday Evening Post, Colliers, and Life Magazine (and likely other places).
1) The “A Hit in Boston and Buenos Aires” ad was published in the February 07, 1948, issue of the Saturday Evening Post, page 108.
2) The “At Home in Portland and Paris” ad was published in the March 06, 1948, issue of the Saturday Evening Post, page 115. It was also published in Colliers Magazine, January 24, 1948, page 58.
3) The “Hailed in Minneapolis and Mexico” ad was published in the March 20, 1948, issue of Collier’s Weekly, page 68.
4) The “It’s the Same In San Francisco and Stockholm” ad was published in the April 10, 1948, issue of the Saturday Evening Post, page 111.