Unlike the advertising by Willys Overland, this ad by New York City based A.W. Pickett is sedate and forgettable.
Features Research Archives
Unusual Gravelrama Jeep
The auction for this has expired, however this is still an interesting vehicle that made the cover of the 1976 Four Wheeler Magazine. Looks like it is part jeep and part truck.
1955 CJ-5 AD **SOLD**
Just a Squirrel — A George Barris T-Buggy
If you have seen Pixar’s UP movie, then you know what a ‘squirrel’ is, something that distracts you from what you planned or should be doing. Well, at least that is the terminology Ann and I use.
Obviously, the internet is notoriously full of squirrels. Today’s squirrel relates to a search I was doing this morning, something I do in the normal course of producing (and by producing I mean borrowing) the incredibly high quality, unparalleled content published herein. That’s when I spotted this (http://lascruces.en.craigslist.org/cto/3151068039.html only $800!) fiberglass flat fender dung buggy body. I instantly recognized it as the body style of the dune buggy the my neighbor Bud across the street used to build his dune buggy when I was a kid. The distinguishing feature were those flat fenders in the front, which for obvious reasons seemed comfortably familiar to a lover of flat fenders like myself. After spotting this ad, I spent about an hour this morning, chasing this squirrel of a buggy to learn more about it. It turns out it is a Barris designed T-Buggy kit that Barris had hoped to sell through dealers in every state (I don’t’ know how far he got creating the dealer network).
Now, my neighbor Bud was quite a character. He was a machinist for Boeing until he retired and machined a couple parts for me that really helped when I was building my first jeep. During the 1970s he purchased an electric wedge car like this, which on a full charge had just enough power to allow him to drive down Renton’s South Hill into Kent in the morning and return up the hill in the evening. When Bud’s son Tim, who was my age, turned 16, we’d go for a drive occasionally. Thank goodness we never got in a wreck, because that vehicle was a coffin waiting for bodies.
At some point before he purchased the ‘cheese wedge’, Bud built a dune buggy. Every so often we would go for a ride in it, sometimes on the roads and sometime down a power line trail (that was the good old days when you could still go down a power line trail). One day, we drove into downtown Renton to the former Sears outdoor shopping mall off of Rainier Avenue. However, instead of parking in a parking spot, Bud drove onto the sidewalk, between a couple stores, and into the middle of the walking mall. We drove by a few stores until he got right in front of the store he wanted to enter, where he came to a stop as if he belonged there. We got out and people walked by checking out the cool dune buggy as if it belonged there. When we were done at the store, we just hopped in and drove back out.
I never knew what type of dune buggy he had, until today’s search. Based on what I’ve read below, he must have purchased a Barris T-Buggy kit. The dune buggy he built had all the Model-T elements you see below. His body was painted a metallic dark red. It had the faux leather straps across the hood, the chrome roll bar, and a small soft top. Bud ended up selling that in the 1980s I believe. I’ve never seen it since.
If you want to chase some dune buggy squirrels of your own, check out the Dune Buggy Archives or Samba.
Here’s an example that is as close as I’ve found to Bud’s:
This is example the way I remember Bud’s, only it was red and didn’t have the stripe around the edges. Bud had wider, more aggressive slicks that improved the ‘hot wheel’ look, too.
Here’s an example of a kit.
Two Ads from a few years ago on Advertolog
I”m not sure what these ads were used for, but I found them on Advertolog.com. They were released during 2001 by Ogilvy & Mather Frankfurt for the Chrysler company in Germany.
http://www.advertolog.com/jeep/print-outdoor/least-popular-imported-car-2897855/
http://www.advertolog.com/jeep/print-outdoor/minor-landmine-damage-3608705/
The King of Jeeps: Berg’s Truck and Parts Co., Inc
UPDATE: Brochure sold on eBay.
I spotted this 1960 Catalog from Berg’s Truck and Parts Company tonight. Hyman Berg, a Ukrainian by emigre, was possibly the first distributor of Willys Parts (though I have no information that definitively backs this claim). Mr. Berg founded the international truck and jeep parts company in the 1940s. In the 1950s, he founded Amsco Parts Co. Both were at 1608 S. Wabash, Chicago, Illinois. Apparently, JC Whitneys was right down the street from Bergs for some period of time. According to Berg’s grandson, the family was immersed in Marketing for decades, hence the decision by Hy to be known as the “King of Jeeps”.
In addition, as suggested by this G503 thread, Hy sold Sears Jeep parts and also sold Jeep parts to the Phillipines. He bought some early prototype jeeps and housed them at this same location, which is where this photograph was taken. There is more information about Berg here, too, from G503.
Hyman Berg died in 1986 at the age of 75.
1st Annual NCFFC Southern Jeep Meet October 27th, 2012
The President of the Tennessee Flat Fender Club William Dabney just dropped me an email saying the North Carolina Flat Fenders Club (NCFFC) has announced the 1st Annual NCFFC Southern Jeep Meet October 27th, 2012 at Freeborne’s Eatery and Lodge: 14300 Nc Highway 18 S, Laurel Springs, NC. It’s great to see the growth of Jeep meets!
A Jeep Cake off of MySpace
Apparently, MySpace is still out there! I found this jeep cake there. http://www.myspace.com/couturecakesandconfection/photos/230884
There are more jeep cakes here: http://www.ewillys.com/tag/cakes/
CJ-3B from Germany on Flickr
Here a CJ-3B with an unusual dash and steering wheel design. It’s got kind of an antique feel that I find interesting. It was photographed and posted by RUD66.
From a 1947 Racing Program **SOLD**
UPDATE: **SOLD** Was on eBay.
There’s a neat drawing of a dealership on the back of this program. The Schotts owned a Willys Dealership (more than 1?). This is the same Schotts that would eventually own the Cincinnati Reds. There are a few items from their dealership still around, including this altoy jeepster and this ashtray plate.
1962 CJ-5 with Goodyear Neothane Tires
I spotted this ad with some unusual tires. Anyone ever seen these?
“VINTAGE MAGAZINE ADVERTISEMENT page measuring approximately10 x 13 inches in very good condition, two separate pages of boys & girls fashions, kids ride in “Willys Jeep with Goodyear’s experimental Neothane tires” the text says.”
How about this Trailer?
I’m not sure how this thing folds together, but I like the way it looks setup!
Robin Hood Popcorn
I like reading books about the history of odd subjects. Whether gum, beer , milk or salt, if it is a history about something food related, I want to read it. A few years ago I read a fun little book about the history of popcorn called Popped Culture: A Social History of Popcorn in America by Andrew Smith. I was surprised to learn how many different kinds of popcorn there are, having grown up on the basic non-branded yellow variety. So, when I spotted this article about popcorn trailers that were pulled by Willys Wagons, I thought it was interesting. Below you can see the trailers built by Clyde Gould, see one of two wagons that pulled them, and learn about his attempt to create a popcorn business. Unfortunately, the article doesn’t indicate how successful he was or what happened to the trailers.
You can read the entire article here: http://blog.modernmechanix.com/he-popped-corn-into-a-fortune/
2012 Bantam Festival Update
I had hope to get out there for this years festival, but my kids visit has shifted to August. We’ll try for next year!
Jeepocalypse @ Leno’s Garage
UPDATE: I must sheepishly admit that I should have known which US President drove a Scrambler. President Reason drove a M-38A1, a CJ-6 and, according to ewillys, a Scrambler, too.
Mark from jeeptruck.com forwarded this jeep quiz at Jay Leno’s website. I came in 22nd place with my score, probably because I missed one. I didn’t know which US President drove a Scrambler. I also didn’t realize I was being timed on my speed, so read fast or repeat the quiz if you want to do better.
Also, there were no extra points for naming the vehicle on the pic below. I suspect it was used to avoid paying Jeep/Chrysler any royalties. I guess who needs a Jeep when you have a GAZ.
Give it a try!
http://www.jaylenosgarage.com/games/jeepocalypse/e1d626f0afe93ad3330da7c9596ed8f6
New Yorker Magazines with Jeeps on the Cover
Here are two New Yorker Magazines with jeeps on the cover.
The first one is from May 27th, 1944. View the Magazine information on eBay
This picture appeared on the cover of the March 11, 1944, of New Yorker Magazine. View the Magazine information on eBay
1950 Top Sales Platter Tulsa-Willys on eBay
Here’s a very unusual Willys piece.
“WELCOME TO OUR SHORT 5 DAY AUCTION FOR THIS VERY COOL AND SUPER RARE VINTAGE ONE OF A KIND WILLYS JEEP OF TULSA OKLAHOMA OUTSTANDING SALES AWARD LARGE SILVER (PLATE?) TRAY FROM 1950. IT MEASURES 16.25” IN DIAMETER, HAS A GREAT GRAPHIC OF A WILLY’S JEEP TRUCK AND IS MARKED “AWARDED TO TULSA-WILLYS, INC. IN APPRECIATION OF OUTSTANDING SALES PERFORMANCE WILLYS 1950 COMMERCIAL CAR CAMPAIGN W.S. VENN GENERAL SALES MANAGER”. THE DESIGNS ON THE FACE AND EDGES OF THE TRAY ARE VERY ART NOUVEAU AND ORNATE. ITS PHYSICAL CONDITION IS EXCELLENT ASIDE FROM NEEDING A GOOD SHINE, WHICH I WILL LEAVE TO THE NEW OWNER.”
December 1982 Offroad Magazine on eBay
Here’s a nice looking race flattie that appears on the cover of Offroad Magazine and taken at Gravelrama. Gravelrama is held in Ohio and has been since its inception in 1971. The Magazine is currently listed on eBay for $15.
Here’s a nice looking CJ-3B Hill Climber and Drag Jeep. You can see more vintage photos here.
Remote Control Jeep from 1952
This ad was featured in a 1952 Modern Mechanix Magazine advertisement. It advertises a remote control jeep that “goes forward . . reverse . . left . . right. It’s called a “electra-JEEP”.
1951 Willys Overland Franchise Brochure
UPDATE: **SOLD** Was on eBay.
“non color catalog , 4 x 9 , 12 pages , describes the Willy’s franchise and shows five models plus small photos of Jeeps and others in dealerships.”
LeMay – America’s Car Museum
Last month LeMay – America’s Car Museum (ACM) opened its downtown Tacoma location. The location can hold up to 350 vehicles, many from the LeMay collection, but others are there, too, making it one of the world’s largest automotive museums. However, as Ann pointed out, it isn’t so much a museum as a gallery.
The building complex is four levels and uses a parking garage as its organizational metaphor. Visitors begin on a main, very spacious area with curved wooded beams that have a nice warmth. As you walk slightly upwards on this main floor, the vehicles at the pinnacle are a Dusenburg and a Tucker. As I’ve mentioned, I always wanted to see a Tucker in person and I wasn’t disappointed. Fortunately, the car is positioned so you can walk around the entire vehicle, unlike most of the vehicles.
Once the first level is complete, visitors can walk down ramps as they begin the descent into the garage portion. A ramp leads to a flat floor, then another ramp leads down further until the bottom floor is circled. At that point, visitors begin ascending the other side with another set of ramps that lead back to the surface.
My main goal of this trip was to see the Tucker and explore the museum. I didn’t expect to see any jeeps, because my last review of the museum’s online records didn’t indicate there were any. However, on one of the underground floors we were pleasantly surprised when we spotted the familiar WW2 grille. Unfortunately, as we got closer, I discovered this was a poor example of a jeep. Even the sign said the vehicle was “titled a 1945 MB, but made with parts from 1941-1944”. Problems with this included a passenger side fender had lots of rust underneath (not evident in the pics). Brackets were welded on to the rear and sides of the body. There was no windshield.
Despite the jeep experience, the museum is beautiful with a large number of mostly American cars. Poor Ann had to listen to my occasional frustrations about how the museum was missing opportunities to educate and entertain people. She bore my rants well, as usual. Guess that’s why I’m marrying her 🙂
Note, due to the low light and the banning of tripods, Ann had to use her cell phone to take pictures, so these aren’t as good as usual.
A Man, A Beer, And A Jeep on eBay
Looks like a nice relaxing day at the beach.
“Original Vintage Snapshot Photo of Willys Jeep Man w/ No Shirt Holding Beer”
DJ-3A Surrey Photographic Reprints
There are two separate ebay auctions here. Both are reprints from 1961 photographs.
These two are part of this auction
WWII Jeep Willys Postage Stamp
UPDATE: **SOLD** Was on eBay.
I thought this was unusual. I don’t know anything about stamps.
“This is a nice detailed Original Stamp showing a Historic Scene: PRESIDENT FRANKLIN-DELANOR – ROOSEVELT REVIEWING U.S. TROOPS IN LIBERIA IN 1943.
RIDING IN A WWII MILITARY WILLY’S MB or FORD GPW JEEP. This 67 Year old Stamp is unused and is in MINT Condition.
This is the first time in the World by any Nation to show the mighty Jeep on a official Postage Stamp.
The Country of LIBERIA Honored President Roosevelt Death with this Special Stamp.
This COMMERATIVE Stamp was also issued in a 3 cent (PURPLE) and a 70 cent (BROWN) version that I have on ebay now!
Don’t miss out on this one! It Reads 5 CENTS
1882 * FRANKLIN D. ROOSEVELT * 1945 This Stamp is made by E A WRIGHT BANK NOTE CO PHILA. (PHILADELPHIA, PENNSYLVANIA, U.S.A.
The Size is: 1 2/8 x 1 6/8 inches. 31 x 45 mm”
The Duke arrives in a CJ-5
John forwarded this photograph from the March 2012 issue of Driven Magazine that shows John Wayne arriving to the Hollywood premiere of his movie Hatari in a striped CJ-5. There were a few FCs in the Hatari movie, too.