UPDATE: This article originally appeared in 2016.
This April 21, 1944, article in Canada’s The Maple Leaf theorized how the post-war jeep just might help you warm up together in the “slip trench”!
Dreaming About the Post-War Jeep
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Features Research Archives
1951 Truck Forest Service-themed Sells for $28,500 at Auction
Bill pointed out the sale of this truck that was Forest Service-themed. It sold for the crazy auction price of $28,500.
https://www.hemmings.com/auction/1951-willys-pickup-644110
“Now finished as a tribute to the U.S. Forest Service, this 1951 Willys pickup is described as a “longtime farm truck,” owned by one family for its first 70 years, that “underwent considerable mechanical and cosmetic refurbishment to prepare it for sale.” Besides new paint and a bed liner, the Willys is said to have received renewed interior electricals, heater refurbishment, and steering work. According to the selling dealer, the finish is about three months old, and any needed rust repair was completed. Because of its previous farm service, the Willys is also equipped with a power takeoff for running implements.”
1970s Gravelrama Articles
These three articles share info about the Gravelrama. This first one is dated August 23, 1974, from the Cincinnati Enquirer:
This second article was published two years later on September 19, 1976, in the Journal News:
The last article is from August 25, 1980, from the Cincinnati Enquirer:
Jeep-Branded Tool Set
February 3, 2022 • CATEGORIES: Features
Barney spotted this incomplete Jeep-branded tool set on eBay.
View all the information on eBay
“For sale is a Jeep tool kit to carry in your vehicle. It consists of a hard plastic case and a set of hand tools. There is a small hammer, a screwdriver reversal to hold hex tools, and a set of hex sockets with a hex tool (One of the sockets may be missing). As you can see the kit is missing the pliers, as well as a few other unidentifiable items. The case is in good condition though dirty, and the latch doesn’t hold strongly- the previous owner used tape to keep it closed. The AMC Jeep logo is in good shape.”
Green Army’s Wood Body Reproduction
Here’s a good bit of history on the efforts to create a wood body for the WWII jeep. This group built a wood body replica, which, given the lack of specific info, was a good challenge. Check out the finished body using the link below:
https://www.greenarmyproductions.com/wooden-jeep-body-project/
Various Pics
Roger has shared these pics over the last week.
This former Army Corps of Engineers Wausau Iron Works plow is cool. It was shared on G503. You can see a brochure for the plow here.
Morihisa shared this photo of a Willys MA on Facebook:
Morihisa also shared this one on Facebook:
Willys Wagon or Prius?
January 29, 2022 • CATEGORIES: Features
Christian Hazel had some fun with this article that appears on moto trend.com about buying a modified Willys wagon. Thanks to Barry for sharing it.
https://www.motortrend.com/features/1957-willys-wagon-vs-toyota-prius/
M-38A1 Toy Jeep Still Made
John’s mother purchased this plastic M-38A1 toy for him in the 1960s for $.79. He was surprised to learn that it was still being made and sold, though the price is now $17.90:
https://timmeeusa.com/products/jl-timmee-big-jeep-olive
You can also buy it on a certain online store. I won’t mention them…they have enough money.
As I recall, I eventually got the gun out and painted it white. It’s just a coincidence that 30 years later I bought a very nice restored stock CJ-5, it was also white.
Anyway, I’ll probably pick one up and give it to the shop that is restoring my A1. If I can find a flexible blue paint, I may even paint one in USAF blue like mine.
1956 Jeepers Jamboree Booklet on eBay
The buy-it-now price is $55. I’m sure it’s a rare one; I’ve never seen another copy. It looks to be around 20 pages(?).
View all the information on eBay
“Up for auction is an incredibly rare very early Jeep collectible: a 1956 Jeepers Jamboree booklet in excellent condition! The booklet talks about the drive through from Lake Tahoe via Georgetown. I’ve looked online and these are extremely rare and I only found a couple other examples and none close to this old. This is truly a one-of-a-kind Jeep item.”
Mile High Jeep Club Buckle and Patch on eBay
January 29, 2022 • CATEGORIES: Features
These are two separate auctions, both involving the Mile High Jeep Club.
Toledo Stack Brick on eBay
January 29, 2022 • CATEGORIES: Features
Not too surprising, the cost of shipping ($16.10) is more than the initial bid price ($10).
“Listed is a rare #294 of 1000 Limited edition smoke stack brick from Willys Overland Jeep Chrysler headquarters in Toledo, Ohio. for those that don’t know. Willys Overland was known for their triple smoke stacks. This is number 294 of the 1000 bricks that were kept and auctioned off to help their local boy scout troop years ago when they knocked down the infamous stacks to build a bigger factory to build the new 4 door Jeep Wranglers. It’s a rare item! TY for looking!”
Jeep Pens and Pencils on eBay
January 29, 2022 • CATEGORIES: Features
Here’s a collection of jeep pens and pencils. There’s one Willys Overland Motors pencil, too.
View all the information on eBay
1948 CJ-2A Test Drive Video
Here’s a video of a drive in a rusted CJ-2A. The driver made a few minor mistakes in describing it. At least he had fun driving it.
Jeep Parts Collection $20,000
Art is selling his parts collection. Below is a taste of what he has. If you are interested, contact him at art.carey @ gmail.com (remove spaces around the @) and he will send a complete list and a link to photos of most of the items. Serious inquiries only please. Price is for everything. Will NOT sell items separately. (Art didn’t include a location with his email, so I’m awaiting that info …).
“Price is for everything. Will NOT sell items separately.
I am selling my collection of jeep parts accumulated over the past 34 years, including several rare items, such as capstan winches and PTO gear. A partial description:
2 capstan winches with complete linkage and running gear and roller fairleads; 2 power takeoffs with intact drums; beautifully rebuilt engine still in its packing crate; engine block; 2 transmissions with levers; 4 transfer cases; 3 starter motors; 3 generators; 2 carburetors; 2 distributors; 4 cylinder heads; 5 Willys heaters, (one NOS, two restored with new cores);; 2 grills; 4 tailgates; 2 CJ-2A windshield frames; 1 CJ-3A windshield frame; driver-side front-seat frame; passenger-side front-seat frame; rear seat frame; 2 gas tanks;; 2 Sparton turn-signal switches; steering rods; steering-knuckle gasket set; bumpers; spare tire mount; several brake drums and brake shoes; several boxes filled with old and new miscellaneous jeep parts, including speedometers and many gauges, too numerous to list.”
Video Covering Restoration of a Bantam BRC-40 Fire Jeep
Shane mentioned the existence of this video about a Bantam Fire Jeep Restoration by Duncan Rolls, who is well known for his other Bantam recreations (such as the original BRC). For some reason, the video won’t appear within the post, so follow the link below.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aXbx2MS5GOA
Here is an older photo of a Bantam fire jeep:
29th Annual Spring Willys Reunion May 20-21, 2022
Art let me know that the Spring Willys Reunion is on schedule for May 20-21. This is always a great event.
http://www.willysreunion.com/swr22.htm
CycleKart Video
January 26, 2022 • CATEGORIES: Features
This throwback sport to early racing carts was sent to me by Bill. This ‘large’ turnout of these race carts happens only an hour north of me and, coincidently, is where I bought my racing jeep last spring.
Part 2: Epic Willys Oregon Trail Adventure
Here’s the just-released second video from the Epic Willys Adventure this past summer.
January 22nd Auction w/Jeeps
This auction video was shared by Grant. It includes a CJ-2A trencher jeep and a GPW. Start around the 10:30 mark.
Receiving a Ticket in an M-38
January 25, 2022 • CATEGORIES: Features
Bill shared this odd story of a jeep owner getting a ticket. The comments are odd/amusing, too. The writer claimed the jeep is a WWII jeep, but it looks like an M-38.
Kaiser SV-102 H Military Audio/Visual Wagoneer on eBay
Bill spotted this highly unusual audio/visual jeep called an SV-102 H.
View all the information on ebay
“Available for you to consider is a 1967 Kaiser Jeep 4×4 6cyl w/3spd manual 3 on the tree. This vehicle has been stored away indoors for years. Engine spins freely and will run you will need a radiator , carb rebuilt, 2) 12 v batteries (24volt system) most likely clean up brakes and will need fuel system flushed with new fuel. This is a very rare unique vehicle. This Jeep was used in Vietnam for Audio Visual. This Jeep is out of Fort Knox. I really know nothing of this particular history of actual usage and very little information to be found on the web.
I understand it was a very low production vehicle with very few left inexistence. What I do know it is a great conversation piece. It really grabs attention. Check underneath pics. Floors, frame all very solid. Floorboards all solid, rust free….The patina is awesome. Has not been touched since back in the day….Rear barn doors… Seat in great shape as well as dash. Just a unique vehicle..”
Anyone Recognize This CJ-5 Toy?
This jeep toy appears at around the 4:30 mark of the video at the bottom of the post. Anyone know what company produced this toy jeep?
Some Days, An Inch is a Mile!
January 22, 2022 • CATEGORIES: Features
UPDATE: I got things turned around and mounted the headers. I also got the sliding door done correctly, the first time :-). I think I measured about 17 times, lol.
Slider before trim:
Slider after trim:
==========
As mentioned, I’ve been working on trim for our master bedroom. Ann wanted a Craftsman look to the trim, so I put together this look to the header, constructed out of four pieces, two of which require the table saw and planer to meet the right specs (I love having the wood working equipment at the ready!!). The first iteration of this turned out great on Wednesday.
Still needing to finish two other doors, both 36″ wide (closet was only 29″ wide), I decided to do both headers at the same time on Thursday. I measured. I remeasured. I cut. I painted. Everything seemed to be assembling fine. But, somehow, I wrote down the wrong initial measurement, one inch too narrow, which led to this foul up (albeit, much stronger language was used when I set the header atop the boards in this photo!
Yep, I was exactly one inch short! *%@*@!! So, I spent Friday rebuilding another set of headers exactly one inch wider, lol …
On the bright side, it turns out, after walking through the house measuring doorways, that we have two different doors in the future tv/office that have 35″ doorways, so the now-extra headers will work perfectly in there … whew!
2021 Fall Colors Tour Video
Here’s a neat look at a video from the Fall Colors Tour.
Video on Rebuilding Headlight Rings
Jason put together this video on how he, just for the challenge of it, rebuilt a set of headlight rings. You can see his other videos here.