These ladies were helping raise money for European reconstruction by giving nickel jeep rides.
Features Research Archives
Risqué Matchbook Cover on eBay
Maury spotted this unusually risqué Matchbook cover from a dealer that sold jeeps and other vehicles.
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“Vintage Unstruck Matchbook cover :
KAISER WILLYS Station Wagons & Jeep Automobiles
KOUPAL’S MOTOR SALES 8640 S. Commercial Ave Chicago IL
” Open from 9 to 9 “
1944 Photo From the Invasion of Wakde Island on eBay
Wakde Island is in Indonesia (At first I thought it was Wake Island misspelled).
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“Size is 7.25″ x 8.5” We always combine shipping. Please wait for our invoice before paying. The photographs are Originals taken from file archives used by different news/media agencies. They are not perfect or reprints, if they are printed at a later time we labeled them “2nd Generation Restrike” or “Vtg 2nd Gen Restrike” The photographs are in various conditions, some cut to different sizes. Some may have dates and/or descriptions written/typed/stamped on the back or the front. They could have bent corners, tears or light stains.”
Sun Carnival Jeep Derby in El Paso, Texas
In the autumn of 1962, the Sun Carnival organization in El Paso, Texas, decided to add the Sun Carnival Jeep Derby, one of only four derby’s held in the US, to it’s late December events calendar (the other ‘derbies’ were held in Las Cruces, Truth or Consequences, and Denver). The grand prize was a brand new 1963 CJ-5 donated by the Willys Manufacturing Company (I think they meant Willys Motors).
Before being presented to the race winner, Carnival manage Bruce Brooks planned to use it by carnival staff to carry tickets between the four branch offices.
Ted C. Brewer of Roswell, New Mexico, went on to win the Inaugural Sun Carnival Jeep Derby.
The next year, the Sun Carnival volunteers put together another course.
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Spanish Matchbook w/ Jeep on it on eBay
There are two vintage matchbooks in this auction, one from Peru and one possibly from Peru that has a jeep on it. The jeep matchbook is cool, but the asking price is $89.99 (at least they include with matches).
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“Rare WWII Era WILLYS ARMY JEEP Matchbooks Peru Indian Spanish
Incredibly rare
Great graphics and color
A few matches have been used
Books are in great shape
This auction is for both matchbooks, you get two!=
Feel free to ask questions”
Photo of WWII Overloaded Jeep on eBay
That is one loaded jeep!
“Offered for bid is a portrait sized original US wartime photograph (see scan), printed on large wartime photopaper that measures to be approximately 5″ x 4″ inches in size. Guaranteed original wartime lot; No reproductions or postwar copies!”
June 1948 Monroe Lift Brochure
Photos from the 2020 FC Jamboree
Congrats to Dan for successfully staging the 2020 FC Jamboree. He had a good showing despite 2020’s challenges. Here are some pics from the event (and more can be seen on Facebook).
WANTED: Mate for This Mud Flap
Chris has this rare mud flap, which Barney believes is for the Gladiator Stake bed truck with dual wheels (Or used on an FC dually as well?). Chris is hoping to find a mate for it. Anyone have one?
Willys-Overland Equipment Book
On Friday I received a Willys-Overland Equipment Book binder that I won on eBay. The book contained a few surprises, such as a 4-page Monroe brochure and a number of early Newgren brochures that rarely hit eBay. The main part of the binder, a collection of 1947 equipment brochures, appears to be as complete as I’ve seen. In addition, at the back of the book, are second-supplement 10-1-1949 brochures that are either updated versions or new brochures. It is so packed with brochures that I will need to remove some to make sure none get damaged. I ended up pay $128.50 and that proved to be a good value.
The biggest surprise was the inclusion of a note from the seller, Nancy, mentioning how this booklet came from her father. The note was thoughtful enough that I reached out to learn more about him.
I learned that Richard H. Malone was from Westport Island, Maine. He received his bachelors at the University of Pennsylvania, then served in Vietnam. After the war, he raced cars and motorcycles. He and his wife were so passionate about motorcycles that they owned Honda dealerships in Brunswick and in Portland, Maine. They were also both passionate about jeeps, owning jeeps from Willys to modern jeeps and all models in-between. Before her death, Nancy’s mother sold a “panel-sided” jeep, which I’d guess was a Willys Delivery Sedan, under the condition that the new owner had to have a garage for it! Nancy still has her mother’s 2001 Grand Cherokee.
So, as the temporary custodian for this binder, I’ll add a note to it about it belonging to Richard H. Malone, as he deserves credit for preserving this history for us.
A few pics from the book:
Body Extensions For Early 1/4 Ton Jeeps
UPDATE II (01/22/2024): A puzzle has been solved. It was the Transport Motor Company that offered a full-width body extension that we’ve seen on several jeeps over the years.
This excerpt is from this document on Farmjeep.com: https://www.farmjeep.com/lifts/other-hydraulic-lifts/transport-motor-company-tmc-hydraulic-lift/
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UPDATE (09/13/2020): This DENCO body extension brochure appeared as part of the 10/01/1949 Second Supplement of the Willys-Overland Equipment Book brochures.
Interestingly, the 1948 First Supplement of brochures showed a Newgren collapsible body extension (see a few brochures down or click here) very similar (identical?) to this 1949 DENCO Body Extension brochure. Both extensions offer 7 cubic feet of space and note that a spare tire can be mounted to the side. They also both seem to have the same style of stabilizer bar that connects to the PTO bar. I wonder if Newgren sold this design to Denco in late 1948 or early 1949?
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UPDATE 04/28/2020: Someone in Georgia is selling newly built beds.
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Originally published in 2016: This may come as a surprise (not) that early jeeps weren’t known for their vast amounts of space. We’ve all seen military photos showing jeeps packed full of stuff, like this SAS desert fighter:
When the war ended and CJ-2As were introduced, a couple companies recognized the need for more room and solved the problem by creating add-on bed extensions (also known as bed extenders and body extensions). These bolted to the back and, usually, had supports that dropped to the PTO bar to help support the extra weight. Then, the tailgate was fixed to the very rear of the extension. The goal of this post is an effort to identify the different companies and their products.
As early as August and September of 1946, two different patents were filed, both by the same people.I have been unable to discover if that first patent model was ever built, but the second one has two sides that fold down similar to the Newgren (shown in #2).
Various Bed Extensions identified so far:
- Porter Reed Bed Extension: One of the earliest known bed extensions was produced by Porter & Reed. It was marked along with a half top, creating a truck out of a jeep.
- Newgren Bed Extensions: The Newgren Company also entered the bed extension field in the later 1940s with two different versions. The first was their standard bed extension:
The second model Newgren offered was a collapsable version.
- S & B Corporation’s Jeep Panel Body: About the same time Newgren and Porter & Reed introduced their extensions, the S & B Corporation made their own spin on adding more room by selling a kit that converted the jeep into a panel van.
- Koenig Bed Extensions: By 1955, Koenig had entered the market. Whether the company designed their own or bought out one of their competitors isn’t know (to me), but Koenig sold the extensions for at least a decade. This first ad is from 1955, the second from 1960, and the third from the mid-1960s.
Here is an example of a Koenig data plate:
- Wall & Borg Bed Extender: In the 1960s, a Lake Tahoe, California, company called Wahl & Borg introduced a unique bed extension. Rather than bolt on to the rear of the jeep, theirs slid out.
There have been a number of bed extensions that have resold over the last ten years on Craigslist and eBay, some attached to jeeps and some by themselves. I have found it difficult to distinguish between them, never having owned or seen that many up close. You can see all the ones documents thus far on eWillys: http://www.ewillys.com/tag/bed-extension/
Derek Redmond also has some excellent information on extensions over at the CJ-3B Page. https://cj3b.info/Tech/BodyExtension.html
1943 Article on Jeep Jumping
I was surprised to see that this June 24, 1943, article from the Colfax County Call out of Schulter, Nebraska, preceded Dick Ryan’s traveling jeep rodeo where jeeping jumping was also performed. This article appeared in multiple Nebraska newspapers in June of 1943.
Shown in this photo is Robert H. Storz, who is in the jeep, while watching is Lt. Col. Scruby. I can’t tell if Storz is a passenger or the photo is reversed. It looks to me that Storz may be a passenger, based solely on the placement of the tie-rods. But then, who is the driver?
Who was the driver if not Storz? I’m not quite sure, other than according to the article the driver was a former member of Jimmy Lynch’s Death Dodge drivers. Jimmy Lynch’s Death Dodge drivers performed car stunts at fairs and other events prior to WWII.
According to Youtube, “Lynch’s shows for Dodge served to advertise the many advanced design features that made the 1939 Plymouth his choice to survive the severe abuse inflicted on the cars in those performances, including the famous “Roll of Death” in which the car did a full roll over the roof. Lynch would remain loyal to the Chrysler Corporation throughout his career as a daredevil as can be seen in this very entertaining film.”
You can see Jimmy himself in this short video (to see the car stunts go straight to the 7:15 mark).
There are more video examples of Jimmy and hit Dodge exploits on youtube.
eWillys Sticker Spotted in the Wild
Eagle-eyed reader Chuck spotted an eWillys sticker on the cowl of an M-38. The still image below was captured from the video at bottom of the August 23, 2020, Jeep Invasion.
Jeep Victims of the California Wildfires
Jerry shared these images from the California wildfires showing burnt jeeps.
Sure, It’s Possible
Steve forwarded this photo found on Flickr and posted to the Just a Car Guy website. It features a CJ-3A parked (?) in front of a rickety bridge. Now, whether is a bridge or more of a pier-like platform for dumping stuff isn’t clear to me.
1944 Photos and Article Brig. Gen. Theodore Roosevelt, Jr.
UPDATE: here’s another version of the Brig. Gen. Theodore Roosevelt, Jr., Rough Rider jeep press photo that is now on eBay:
View all the information on eBay
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Originally Published June 26, 2016: This 1943 article shares news about Theodore Roosevelt Jr. and his jeep “Rough Rider”. A year after this article, at age 56, Roosevelt became the oldest service member to land on D-Day, winning the Medal of Honor for his efforts. He was later portrayed by Henry Fonda in the Longest Day. It is also claimed that Roosevelt was a part of the only father-son duo to land on D-Day, as his son Quentin II landed on June 6th also. Here’s a synopsis of his life. He died from a heart attack a few months after D-Day.
Here is a photo from an eBay listing:
“This is an original press photo. Brig. Gen. Theodore Roosevelt, son of the famous “Rough Rider” rests on the bumper of his jeep, dubbed “Rough Rider,” and reads his mail. Brig. Gen. Roosevelt is director of Liaison to the Cef.Photo measures 8.5 x 6.75inches. Photo is dated 1-18-1944.”
A Little Jeep Goes A Long Way Poster $279
This “A LITTLE JEEP GOES A LONG WAY”, if you take care of it framed poster was spotted in an antique store. It’s priced at $279 and claimed by the seller to be a prototype poster. How the seller would know this isn’t clear to me, but it looks like a pretty good sized and unique item.
There’s no size listed (and it might already be gone), but I’d estimate the size at about 30″ wide by 24″ tall (if the peg board holes are 1″ apart).
https://www.facebook.com/groups/1641202336209808/permalink/2543053809357985
June 1951 Salesbuilder Magazine
This June 1951 Salesbuilder Magazine was volume 3, number 6. This issue includes a three page look at the Farm Jeep and Jeep Tractor vehicles and the Jeep-branded farm equipment. A large number of 1951 wagon-related advertising pieces are shown on the first few pages.
There’s also a number of Laurel C. Worman dealership photos, include pics of his Willys wagons on the front page and examples of his wagons stenciled with “Welcome Wagon” on the back page. Finally, thanks go to Barry Thomas for helping me snag this issue.
1955 Press Photo of a Wagon on eBay
There’s no pic of the back of this press photo nor any credit for the agency/company that shot it. It appears to have dealer plates. Free shipping and the seller will consider offers.
1965 Articles on the Phoenix Jeep Club
This first article about the Phoenix Jeep Club was published on February 04, 1965, in the Arizona Daily Star. It gave some background information on the club, it’s family friendly attitude, and shared some of the good works the club performed.
This second article was published six months later on August 15, 1965, in the Arizona Republic. It discusses the work the club was doing to help fight the screw worm.
Jeep Herders License Plate Topper on eBay
It listing price of $295 ain’t cheap, but you can make an offer. There is more info about the club here.
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“eldorado-jeep-herders-sign”
“El Dorado California Jeep Herders Club 12″ x 4″.
Marty’s Race Jeep
Marty was able to complete the work on his race jeep in time to make it to this weekend’s jeep race in Glenwood, Washington. This is a pic from the property where the race was held (beautiful setting). His kids, Ian, Emerson, and Miranda, look like they are having a great time.
He reports there were a few glitches, but he got them worked out enough to make some runs.
2020 FC Jamboree Still on Track to Be Held Sept 11-12
UPDATE: This weekend is the FC Jamboree. The theme is “sick” FCs; some dark humor for some these pandemic-days.
1950’s Special Equipment Booklet on eBay
Seller is accepting offers on this late 1950’s Special Equipment booklet.
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“5 1/2 X 8 1/2 inch booklet. All pages shown, soiling and wear to covers, inside pretty clean.”
1959 Jeep Trip to Walden’s Ridge in Tennessee
Buss Walker, the author of this July 28, 1959, article published in the Chattanooga Daily Times, learned an important lesson on his first attempt to jeep onto Walden’s Ridge: never jeep without tools. The lesson was learned and our intrepid travelers were more successful on their second attempt.