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One of the blurbs this four-page November 1962 issue highlights is the introduction of an electric motor kit for the Forward Control Jeeps.
Form D-119 Parts and Accessories Bulletin: Electric Wiper Kit
Some of you may have seen an image of a CJ-2A setup to pull an Airstream trailer that has gone around Facebook. Unfortunately, there was no history attached to that image. So, that’ got me hunting for more information. Below is my quick education on the Airstream history. I’m sure some of. you folks know more, so correct me if need be.
I was able to find a few more images of that CJ-2A and trailer, which has led me to believe that Airstream founder Wally Byam used that jeep, probably purchased in Europe, to pull his trailer around Europe during Wally’s first trip in 1948, which he used to scout various countries for future caravans. However, I have so far been unable to find anyone explicitly saying that Wally did that. But, the jeep is a CJ-2A, so the timeline fits. The top looks similar to other European tops of the late 1940s, and in Europe I suspect there weren’t many vehicle options at that time. Here are the pics I found, the first being the one circulating on Facebook:
Wally Byam sitting in one of his early trailers. A Cj-2A with a European style top appears to be the pull-rig. I believe this would be 1948.
This photo, clearly in Europe, was posted on this site taken in Turkey, from the 1948 trip:
And this photo posted on this site. I assume this is in Europe, but cannot confirm it:
As the Airstream trailer business grew, Wally began encouraging traveling, leading some international caravans himself.
In 1951, he led a trip into Mexico and Central America, using what looks to be an early Jeep Wagon.
I found this example of a wagon pulling a trailer, but can’t determine when or where this occurred.
Eventually, Wally assembled the first around-the-world Airstream caravan that travelled over the course of 1963-1964 30,000 miles through thirty countries with 104 people in 40 Airstream trailers. Here’s a video about one family’s take on the event.
According to the video’s summary, “Journalist Mac Smith was hired to document the trip and brought along his wife Jackie and their three children, Lorie, Judy, and Scott. Mac would go on to write an account of the Around the World Caravan in his 1966 book, Thank You, Marco Polo: The Story of the First Around-the-World Trailer Caravan [which appears to be out of print].”
So, as you can see, I kind of fell down a rabbit hole of Airstream history.
While researching the Airstream history, I discovered a couple photos of the Ohio State Patrol’s communication trailers and jeeps, purchased in ’46 or ’47. There were several of these combos used for special tasks, such as enforcing aviation offenses.
This photo was posted to Cleveland.com (have to scroll down a bit):
This photo was posted onto LInkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/posts/ohio-state-highway-patrol_oshp90th-activity-7126255477654523905-RtsY?trk=public_profile_like_view
This image used to be on Bruce Again’s JeepSurreyGala website. I figured it would be good to repost them here. They show the serial numbers of DJ-3A Dispatcher and Surrey models over the production period 1956-1965. As you can see, the 1962 year is missing.
UPDATE: Barney added to this discussion. He had a customer who refurbed a military DJ-5.
Barney wrote: “Years ago I sold parts to a customer who had a military DJ5. He restored it to USMC tribute because it had been a Marine Corp vehicle. I have attached 2 photos. Note that it is left hand drive. He said they were used for base runabouts – messengers, delivery, etc. Obviously the graphics are not original but a tribute to his own service with the Corps.
I know the military used CJ5s stateside in the 70s and 80s and even in civilian colors as if they had got it from a dealership. Saw a 73 CJ that was and metallic green with a white Meyers hard top and a blue cherry on top as it was an MP Jeep at Fort Ord CA. I saw it patrolling the Naval Post Graduate School in Monterey”
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Chris was kind enough to share images of his DJ-5 that was purchased my the military. It just shows that the AM General DJ-5s were used by more than just the USPS.
