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Learn(ing) About Blitz Buggies

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

This post began as a single newspaper photo and caption titled “Learn About Blitz Buggies”  that Mario posted to Facebook. Just before I readied the post, I figured I’d see if there was a better quality version of the photo he posted.

To my surprise, when I searched for “About Blitz Buggies”, the results returned numerous seemingly press release photos over the summer and fall of 1941. No credit for the photos are provided. Given the titles are mostly identical and all showed various soldiers “working” (but probably posing) in front  Ford GPs, I can’t help but wonder if this was a subtle campaign by Ford Motors to encourage the adoption of the Ford GP “Blitz Buggy” by the military.

So, here are some random newspaper photos from 1941 (there are many more during 1941).

June 26, 1941, Manhattan Mercury out of Kansas:

1941-06-26-manhattan-mercury-ks-learning-about-blitz-buggies-fordgp-lores

June 17, 1941, Montgomery Advertiser out of Alabama (looks to me like the same person as above, yet the caption shows a different name):

1941-06-27-montgomery-advertiser-learning-about-blitz-buggies-fordgp-loresJuly 13, 1941, Akron Beacon out of Ohio:
1941-07-13-akron-beacon-learn-about-blitz-buggies-lores

August 16, 1941, Star Gazette out of Elmira, New York:

1941-08-16-star-gazette-learning-about-blitz-buggies-fordgp-lores

August 24, 1941, Austin American out of Texas (that Ford logo looks a little too obvious):

1941-08-24-austin-american-tx-learning-about-blitz-buggies-fordgp-lores

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1947? Photo of a CJ-2A Spraying in South Dakota

• CATEGORIES: Features, Fire/Police/Industry Vehicles, Old Images This site contains affiliate links for which I may be compensated.

Taken by Jay Higgins on May 28, 1947, and published by the USDA Forest Service, this photo is shared on archive.org. The confusing part is that this is a May 1947 photo, but CJ-2As with passenger side bow holders weren’t supposedly built until 1948. The photo does not appear reversed, as the reflector is on the correct side in the rear.

1947-05-28-jeep-sprayer-black-hills

 
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2 – 1954 Willys Commercial Data Fact Books on eBay

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

Two different 100+page Willys Commercial Data Fact Books on eBay. One is listed at $95.99 and the other at $159.99. I’ve never seen one of these, so I’m not sure all of what is inside them.

  1. This appears to have more cover wear than the 2nd one and priced at $95.99.
    1954-willys-commercial-fact-book03
  2. This one is the more expensive one at $159.99.
    1954-willys-commercial-fact-book04

The interior pics appear the same for both:
1954-willys-commercial-fact-book02

1954-willys-commercial-fact-book8

1954-willys-commercial-fact-book01

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September 1941 Article on Loosing The Army Contract

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

This September 28th, 1941, article covered the ‘cold shoulder’ given to American Bantam by War Department.

1941-09-28-pittsburgh-sun-telegraph-blitz-buggy-output-curbed-lores

 

 
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Odd Ball Jeeps

• CATEGORIES: Features, Sedan-jeep, Unusual • TAGS: This site contains affiliate links for which I may be compensated.

A few items I found on my phone. I think all these photos were on Facebook?

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Some thought when into the mods on this jeep:

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This sedan jeep is odd even for custom hardtop jeeps.

sedan-jeep

 
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Manley Wrecker Brochures

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

UPDATE: This brochure appeared on Facebook a while back.

year-manley-jeep-wrecking-crane-brochure

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Originally published October 2016: The American Chain & Cable Company’s Manley Division produced these Jeep Wrecking Cranes in the late 1940s. I can’t imagine there are too many of these around. This brochure is from a 1948 Industrial Equipment book.

1948-industrial-equipment-brochures-manley-wrecker1 1948-industrial-equipment-brochures-manley-wrecker2

 
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September 1957 Willys News

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

This issue has some good articles, from new dealers, to jeeps in media, to the Schreiders’ first big adventure in their Ford GPA, Tortuga, from the Arctic Circle to Argentina (opposite direction of yesterday’s adventure).

Photos Photos Photos Photos Photos