Features Research Archives

To Top

1960 Article on the Los Angeles Arborteum Jeep Train

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

This June 25, 1960, article the Los Angeles Times shares the news that the jeep train would be expanded to two trams, rather than just one. Based on other articles, it appears the one-tram jeep train was started sometime around 1955.

1960-06-25-losangeles-times-jeep-train-lores

 
To Top

JEEP — Joint Effort Extra Pay Slogan

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

Maury forwarded this “JEEP” pin that’s available on eBay. Does anyone have any history on the slogan “Joint Effort Extra Pay”? It would be easy to jump to the conclusion that this was some kind of Willys-Overland or Willys-Motors factory worker incentive program, but I’d want more evidence before concluding that.

View all the information on eBay

“Vintage, JEEP FACTORY PIN (Joint-Effort-Extra-Pay) 1-1/2 x 3/4 Inches”

jeep-joint-effort-extra-pay-pin1 jeep-joint-effort-extra-pay-pin2

A web search yielded a second item with the same logo, except this time on an ashtray with the an accompanying “A W” logo.

https://avaluer.org/explore/27456590-alan_wood_steel_co___stainless_ashtray_jeep_joint_effort_extra_pay_enamel_emblem

jeep-joint-effort-extra-pay-ashtray1 jeep-joint-effort-extra-pay-ashtray2 jeep-joint-effort-extra-pay-ashtray3

 
To Top

British Airborne Jeeps: Modifications & Markings, 1942-1945

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

I recently obtained from eBay a copy of the first version (which is my designation, to separate it from an expanded 2019 version of the same name) of Monica Baan and Rob Van Meel’s British Airborne Jeeps (3rd Printing, printed in 1998). It’s loaded with detail drawing and diagrams of the modifications made for the airborne jeeps. This first version is just under 50 pages. I’ll post a few example pages at the bottom of the post:

british-airborne-jeeps-cover-01-lores

After I received the book, I did some more research and learned that in 2019 Rob updated the book with photographs and much more. Now the book is three-times as large, with 154 pages. The new version is available for purchase for £29.99: https://www.paulmeekins.co.uk/products/author/Van%20Meel,%20Rob.

british-airborne-jeep-rob-van-meel

Either book would be useful for the person who wants to recreate a British Airborne Jeep. Here is a sneak peak at some pages from the booklet I have:

british-airborne-jeeps-03-lores

british-airborne-jeeps-13-lores

british-airborne-jeeps-18-lores british-airborne-jeeps-22-lores

british-airborne-jeeps-33-lores

 

 
To Top

1960? Jeep Family Brochure in French

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

As discussed on this page, which shares the English version of this brochure, given the “hockey stick” style of the 2WD wagon and the one-piece wagon and truck windshields sometimes shown, this could have been a 1960 brochure. And, it may have been European focused given the French and Enlightenment versions.

Here is the French version fo the brochure:

1960-french-jeep-family-brochure01-lores 1960-french-jeep-family-brochure02-lores 1960-french-jeep-family-brochure03-lores 1960-french-jeep-family-brochure04-lores

Continue reading

 
To Top

David Tracy to Turn FC-170 into Electric Off-Roader

• CATEGORIES: FC150-FC170-M677, Features This site contains affiliate links for which I may be compensated.

Over at Jalopnik, David Tracy reported on his plans to turn a derelict FC-170 from Camano Island into an electric off-road vehicle. He provides plenty of pics of the neglected FC, one that will require a full rebuild. It will be interesting to follow this project.

https://jalopnik.com/im-converting-this-1958-jeep-fc-170-into-an-electric-of-1846322974

fc170-david-tracy

 
To Top

Modified MB w/ Marshall Jones and Roy Joe Baxter

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

This jeep has some of the stranger fenders I’ve seen on WWII jeeps. They seem like they are slowly absorbing the jeep

https://digital.lib.utk.edu/collections/islandora/object/volvoices%3A3434

Marshall “Grandpa” Jones and Roy Joe Baxter pose with Roy Joe’s stream-lined Jeep in Munich, Germany, 1945. The Jeep was named “the Hunk.” After the war Jones attained fame as a musician on the Grand Ole Opry. At the age of 32 he was already called “Grandpa”– he got his nickname ten years prior due to his grouchy moods on his morning radio show. The Jeep was most likely a government contracted passenger model made by Ford or Willys. There were over 500,000 of these cars produced during the War.”

1945-munich-modified-fenders-jeep-baxter-jones-lores

PHOTO CREDIT: Universi ty of Tennessee, Knoxville https://digital.lib.utk.edu/collections/islandora/object/volvoices%3A3434

 
To Top

WANTED: Anyone Seen this Wagon?

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

Hunter is hoping to find a wagon that his father sold about five or six years ago. He sold it to a woman named Heather Berry, who finished the build, then resold it to someone in the southern US. He thinks it was a “1958, 350 SBC with turbo 350 trans, ford 9 inch in the rear and I believe a dana 44 up front. Split window, possibly missing the trim but it could have been replaced.”

If anyone recognizes it, comment below or email me at d @ dealers.com. Here’s a pic of it:

wagon

 
To Top

October 1952 Motor Trend Cover and Article

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

As I was packing, I pulled this issue of Motor Trend aside. When I leafed through it, I realized there was a jeep-related article I missed. So, here the “Unique Cars for Sportsmen” by Jim Earp. All the vehicles herein are interesting. The first page has a pic at the bottom of Vic Hickey’s famous jeep.

1952-10-motor-trend-m38a1-cover-camping-article1-lores

1952-10-motor-trend-m38a1-cover-camping-article2-lores

1952-10-motor-trend-m38a1-cover-camping-article3-lores

1952-10-motor-trend-m38a1-cover-camping-article4-lores

1952-10-motor-trend-m38a1-cover-camping-article5-lores

 
To Top

1942 Jeep Day in Mansfield, Ohio, Raises Big Bucks

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

The June 13, 1942, issue of the News-Journal out of Mansfield, Ohio, happily reported on the unexpected amount of bond sales at the city’s previous day’s “Jeep Day”. The committee had hoped to sell $10,000 worth of bonds, but topped $25,000 instead. I’m sure it was all due to the jeeps!

1942-06-13-news-journal-mansfield-oh-jeep-day1-lores

Continue reading

 
To Top

1953 Exploration of Manuelito Canyon, New Mexico

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

Gallup’s local Willys dealer organized a trip to Manuelito Canyon, according to an article int he October 14, 1953, issues of the Albuquerque Journal. Some local Gallup area residents had hoped at the time that the canyon would become a national park. Instead, in 1964, it was named a National Historic District. There is (was?) a visitor’s center, but it is temporarily closed (and was so as of January of 2020, which predated the pandemic).

I like this photo with the line up of wagons. I’d love to find the original or reprint of this. 
1953-10-14-albuquerque-journal-manuelito-canyon-picnic-lores

1953-10-14-albuquerque-journal-manuelito-canyon-picnic2-lores

 
To Top

Al-Toy Jeepster Butler, PA $999

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

Here’s a rare Jeepster Al-Toy for sale.

https://pittsburgh.craigslist.org/tag/d/butler-1949-promo-car-willys-jeepster/7256548112.html

“1949 Promo Car Willys Jeepster Cast Toledo Bronze Co Al-toys RARE 15″ Unrestored told they only made about 350 of these! guess costs were too high to produce & sell, were never sold retail, were made for dealer promo’s pretty rare piece!! a must for the serious collector! have only seen a couple of them for sale at 3000-3500 heres a nice unrestored example!

have some other high end toys listed!”

altoy-jeepster-pittsburgh-pa1

altoy-jeepster-pittsburgh-pa2

altoy-jeepster-pittsburgh-pa3

altoy-jeepster-pittsburgh-pa4

altoy-jeepster-pittsburgh-pa5

 
To Top

1950-1952 Truck Brochure Scans

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

Thanks to Andy for taking photos of his oversize truck brochures. These are framed and behind glass, so he had an understandably difficult time getting good photos. The first two are domestic brochures. The third is a French version of this Willys truck brochure.

1950-willys-truck-brochure-green 1950-willys-truck-brochure-blue 1950-willys-truck-brochure-french-red

 
To Top

Comparison of Five Wagon/Truck Brochures

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

UPDATE: Here’s an updated version of the post that separates the 1950-1952 oversize truck brochure from the sedan delivery wagon brochures with similar designs.

Originally Published Feb 26, 2021: I was inspired to purchase and learn more about the brochures below after realizing that a poster I saw during a visit at Dave Antram’s place in 2013. Here’s a photo of it:

2013-06-willys-jeep-poster

 

While I originally thought these brochures were all printed in early 1950, I’m now less certain, as Colin pointed out that #1 (4WD Willys Truck) mentions “Key Starting”, which appeared in 1952. In addition, one of the truck brochures has “1951” printed on the subheading. I suspect we’ll never get firm evidence on the publish dates of these:

You can view the original scans using the following links:

  1. The upper right New Willys Sedan Delivery with — Hurricane 4 Cylinder Engine (Copper?)
  2. The upper left New Willys Sedan Delivery with — Hurricane 4 Cylinder Engine (blue) 
  3. The lower left Sedan Delivery Export brochure with the “New” Hurricane (red)
  4. The lower right Sedan Delivery with “Famous” Hurricane is here (blue): 

4-1950-brochures-wagon-brochures-interior

And now the trucks from the same period. I don’ have full scans of the bottom two trucks:

  1. The upper left NEW 4WD WILLYS Truck brochure
  2. The upper right NEW 1/2 Ton WILLYS Truck brochure
  3. The lower left is of a French 4WD Willys Truck brochure:
  4. The lower right brochure is a 1951 Willys 4WD Truck Brochure

4-1950-brochures-truck-brochures-interior

Then there is this oddball Willys Delivery Sedan brochure that has the same front as the brochure above, but unfolds differently, is black and white, and has content arranged differently on the interior pages:

1950-Form-SD-M3-73--50M-sedan-delivery1-lores

1950-Form-SD-M3-73--50M-sedan-delivery5-lores

 
To Top

1944 Five Army Auto-Mechanics Courses **SOLD**

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

**SOLD** Scottie has laid claims to these books … 

These five books were published for the military services in May of 1944 and have courses on various aspects of Auto Mechanics. I bought these hoping to find some jeep info, but found none. Still, this may be of interest to some WWII buffs (mostly non-military automobile mechanicals).

1944-auto-mechanics-pics1 1944-auto-mechanics-pics2

1. C0URSE 1-THE ENGINE – BOOK IS MISSING BACK COVER AND FRONT IS SOILED. NO TORN OR MISSING PAGES.

2. COURSE 2-COOLING, LUBRICATION, AND FUEL SYSTEMS. SOME WATER DAMAGE ON PAGES. BUT COVERS ARE IN GOOD SHAPE. NO TEARS OR MISSING PAGES.

3. COURSE 3-AUTOMATIC ELECTRICITY-WATER DAMAGE AND CREASES ON FRONT AND BACK COVERS-NO TEARS OR MISSING PAGES. BACK COVER HAS A SMALL TEAR.

4. COURSE 4-THE POWER FLOW. MISSING FRONT AND BACK COVERS BUT NO TORN PAGES OR MISSING PAGES.

5. COURSE 5-CHASSIS UNITS. FRONT AND BACK COVERS ARE SOILED BUT NO MISSING OR TORN PAGES.”

 
To Top

1942 War Production Board Father’s Day Poster Bantam BRC-60

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

The War Production Board produced several different “Father’s Day” posters (other posters at the gov archives), including this one with an illustration of a Bantam BRC-60. It also included a letter, though it’s not clear to me how the letter and poster would have been displayed (newspaper? magazine?). Father’s Day fell on June 21st in 1942.

https://catalog.archives.gov/id/165318061

 
To Top

Photo of Pouliot’s Dealership w/ Jeeps

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

Mike shared this photo that was floating around Facebook. It’s possible that this was a Minnesota dealership, as a few research nibbles seemed to send me there, but I couldn’t confirm anything. I imagine this was taken between 1963-1965, given he models shown.

The photo seems to have been first posted on Facebook here.

poliots-dealership-jeep-fb

 
To Top

1944 Article on “WAC Jeep Day” in Fort Worth, Texas

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

This May 18, 1944, article in the Fort Worth Star-Telegram describes the upcoming “WAC Jeep Day”. The Fort Worth recruiting team would offer free jeep rides to those women who fit the WAC’s specifications. I’m guessing the women had to be “U.S. citizens between the ages of 21 and 45 with no dependents, be at least five feet tall, and weigh 100 pounds or more.”

1944-05-18-fortworth-star-telegram-wac-recruitment-jeep-lores

 
To Top

1946 ‘Come in and Drive a Jeep’ Ad

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

Instead of qualifying for the WACs, it might have been easier to wait two years and drive a jeep with no strings attached! This ad published in the May 29, 1946, issue of the Knoxville News for the Sam Horne Company shows a woman test driving a jeep.

1946-05-29-knoxville-news-sam-horne-co-drive-jeep-lores

 
To Top

1945? Photo of CJ-2 with Compressor

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

There’s not specific date for this photo of a CJ-2 sporting a large compressor that’s powering a jack-hammer. This photo is housed at the National Museum of American History.

https://americanhistory.si.edu/collections/search/object/nmah_1814581

Gelatin silver print, civilian uses for a Jeep - pneumatic tools, 1945-1946. 2013.0327.1256.

Gelatin silver print, civilian uses for a Jeep – pneumatic tools, 1945-1946. 2013.0327.1256.

 
To Top

And the Packing Continues . . .

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

Over the past year, thanks to the pandemic and my Mother-in-Law’s health issues, we’ve traveled less. This has left more money to purchase vintage jeep documents. I purchased enough that I got behind on organizing them, so packing has been a good excuse to spend the past two days restructuring the binders so everything can fit.

There are binders of company brochures, 3rd party special equipment brochures, magazine articles, dealer newspapers, catalogs, and ads. This effort has been fueled by reader donations and ad revenue, along with gifts of from readers, so thanks to everyone out there! I see myself as the temporary custodian of these. My hope is to donate this collection in the future so others can benefit later. Much of the information on that table has been published on eWillys.

The binder on the lower right contains issues of Kaiser-Willys News, Willys News, and Jeep News produced from 1953-1963. I’d estimate I have roughly half of the issues produced. It also contains a couple issues of the mid-1950 Globe-trotter magazines (I believe there were more than 20 plus issues of those produced ..  a guy in the midwest told me a few years ago he had two dozen or so he wanted to sell, but wanted $1000 for them; I couldn’t justify that on my budget at the time). 
catalogs-and-binders1

The set of binders shown below houses only domestic jeep-related brochures produced by Willys-Overland and Willys Motors (so roughly 1945-1962 … so, for example, there are no spec equipment brochures in those binders). I’d call this the core of my collection as I’m attempting to get all of these I can, including revisions to certain brochures (see next two posts). Unfortunately, some of the early brochures do not fit into the 8″x11″ binders, so I also have some large portfolio binders to house them (and large print ads, some posters, and other items) as well.

catalogs-and-binders2

One goal of this collection had been to write an advertising history of Willys-Overland/Willys-Motors/Kaiser-Jeep, which showed the progression (and missteps) from the jeep as a 4-in-1-tool, to a jack-of-all-trades utility vehicle(s), to jeeps-as-a-fun toys, which the journey is the reward.

Part of the reason for making the smaller history posts over the years has been to write such a book in small parts; well, that and to determine if there was anything to write about. Because of this approach, there is plenty I can assemble from the site posts at this point to create a book framework, but there is still much more work to be done on that type of book.

At this point in life, I don’t want to write a book and simultaneously run the website, since for me that’s a 7-day a week proposition. Because, once I start writing, my head is so busy with ideas, and the need to write them down, that I can’t not write. I become obsessive, which is really the only way I can get big projects done (perhaps others can multi-task better?). After SLAG, which was two solid years of research and writing, I had to take a long break as I was mentally exhausted.

So, will a book arise out of all this? I’d say it’s a strong maybe, with a litany of qualifiers (Ann’s health, demand of the new home and property, and others). Whatever happens, I’ll keep collecting these brochures …

Somehow, this short post became a long one … how does that happen? Was I avoiding packing? Maybe …. Well, back to packing!

 
To Top

Revision Comparison of DJ-3A Form 59-06

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

While packing, I discovered I had two different version of this DJ-3A Dispatcher brochure from 1959. Willys-Motors published this brochure as Form No. 59-06, but then republished it under Form No. 59-06 R1.

The biggest visual change happens on the folded out page, where an extra yellow box has been removed and the text header repositioned.

The biggest textual change seems to be the subtraction of the “cast-in-head intake manifolding” from the foldout page in the gray area to the back page of the revision brochure, burying it under the specifications section under ENGINE.

It’s not clear to me that it was worth reprinting the entire ad for that change, but maybe I’m missing something.

This is the unfolded interior page:
1959-06-dj3a-dispatcher-brochure-revision-comparison1

This is what I call the back side of the unfolded page:

1959-06-dj3a-dispatcher-brochure-revision-comparison2

 

 
To Top

1961 CJ-5 Brochure Revision Comparisons

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

This is another set of brochure-and-revised-brochure that I didn’t realize I had. The 1961 CJ-5 brochure Form No. 61-06 was revised to 61-06 R2 (I’ve not seen a 61-06 R1). One reason may have been the Specifications area misprint of the ring and pinion ratio of 5:38 on the original brochure, then updated to 4:27 on the revised one. There addition of the ventilating windshield verifies that it was still around as of 1961. There other changes are in red.

This is the unfolded interior:

1961-06-cj5-brochure-comparison1

This is the unfolded backside. For some reason, the spring specs were revised, too.1961-06-cj5-brochure-comparison2

 
To Top

1950 Willys Sedan Delivery Brochure Blue

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

I’d forgotten that I’d bought this brochure until it arrived yesterday. So, here’s yet another 1950/51 Sedan Delivery brochure with the same brochure number of SD-73-MI–80M–350. This one has a blue front and a copper-colored(?) delivery sedan on the main page. I’ll get the page comparing these sedan delivery brochure updated after I post some others tomorrow.

This is how the folded front page looks:

1950-03-FORM-SD-73-MI--80M--350-sedan-delivery-brochure-blue1-lores

This is the folded back page:

1950-03-FORM-SD-73-MI--80M--350-sedan-delivery-brochure-blue2-lores

When unfolded vertically, this page appears:

1950-03-FORM-SD-73-MI--80M--350-sedan-delivery-brochure-blue3-lores

When unfolded horizontally, this page appears highlighting the new Hurricane engine:

1950-03-FORM-SD-73-MI--80M--350-sedan-delivery-brochure-blue4-lores

When completely unfolded, this page appears:

Photos

And, finally, this is how the back appears when unfolded:

Continue reading

 
To Top

Desktop Pen Holder w/ Gold CJ-5 on eBay

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

This seller has sold several of his father’s items from the time he worked for Willys in the Caribbean. It’s a unique item, but the price seems high given it doesn’t have the original pen.

View all the information on eBay

“Rare VTG Vintage 1950/60’s Gold Willys Jeep Desktop Pen Holder Wood Base in Very Good Used Condition. Base Only – No Pen Included. Base measures approximately 3-3/4″ x 4-3/4″. Cork pads on bottom. Needs a detail job. Minor scuffs and scratches associated with age and use. Please review the attached photos to determine your opinion of the cosmetic condition of this item. The photos are important part of the listing. What you see is what you get. I do my best to describe items accurately, but there may be some dirt, scratches, scuffs, discolorations, and/or other occurrences of wear that I may have overlooked. Again, please carefully review the photos to make your own evaluation of cosmetic condition, and do not hesitate to ask any questions, or request special photos prior to purchase. Thanks!

My Father obtained this pen holder while working in fleet sales for Willys in the Caribbean and Central & South America in the 50’s and early 60’s.”

cj5-pen-holder0

cj5-pen-holder1

cj5-pen-holder2

Continue reading

 
To Top

Photo of Custom WWII Jeep in Japan on eBay

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

Here’s another customized jeep. This one was photographed in Japan after WWII.

View all the information on eBay

“Post WWII Willys Jeep Camp Zama US Army Base Japan Vintage Snapshot Photo….actual date not known”

fancy-jeep-no-date