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1991 ‘The First 50 Years’ Jeep Press Packet

July 9, 2020 • CATEGORIES: Bantam-FordGP-WillysMA-EarlyJPs, Documents, Features, Old Images • TAGS: Jeep-Willys-News. This site contains affiliate links for which I may be compensated.

Thanks to Maury, I was able to get this 1991 press packet off ebay and shipped for under $10. That’s a good day. It wasn’t clear to me all that was inside, but it turned out to be a heck of a deal. The three-page tri-fold stores photos, old press releases, histories, and a few miscellaneous items.

Here’s the front of the packet:

These are the materials that are stored inside. There are four press releases, fourteen reproduction 8×10 photos, a 40-page AMC/Chrysler history, a jeep history that’s attached to the binder (see upper right corner), one March 1963 Jeep News front-page reproduction and a late 1940s wagon ad reproduction. Just the reproduction of the Willys Quad photo was worth the cost of this package (I’d never gotten around to getting one).

I haven’t read this history just yet, but wasn’t in a hurry as I’ve already read this book on AMC’s history:

Here’s how the binder looks when opened. The jeep history starts at the page in the middle.

Under the last page of the jeep history is a holder for all the photos and other documents:

Here are two 1990s press releases (I only took photos of the front pages):

These are two 1980s press releases:

The press release on the left is from early 1942 and covers the changing situation with America’s entry into WWII, while the one on the right is from 1965:

The Jeep News reproduction page from March 1963 is shown on the left. It includes a report on the name change from Willys Motors to Kaiser Jeep and the Willys-Overland Export Corp. to Kaiser Jeep International Corp. The reproduction wagon ad on the right is from 1948 and includes details on which magazine and dates it appeared (I wish I had that database of information!).

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1956 DJ-3A Press Photo on eBay

July 9, 2020 • CATEGORIES: DJ-3A, Features, Old Images This site contains affiliate links for which I may be compensated.

Great DJ-3A press photo.

View all the information on eBay

“This is an original press photo. Autos-Willy’s. Willys Jeep Dispatcher, above, designed for light delivery work particularly in congested traffic areas, is now being introduced by Willy’s Motors, Incorporated. Highly maneuverable and economical to operate, the Dispatcher is offered in a hardtop model (illustrated) a convertible canvas soft-top, and a basic open model. All models are powered by the Jeep four-cylinder 60 horsepower engine.Photo measures 10 x 8.25inches. Photo is dated 6-3-1956.”

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1953 Photo and Article from a Jeep Playday

July 8, 2020 • CATEGORIES: Features, Old News Articles, Racing This site contains affiliate links for which I may be compensated.

This photo and article appeared in the July 09, 1973, issue of the Longview Daily News. I don’t remember the Road Rebels Jeep Club nor can I remember its insignia. The tow bar on the front suggests this jeep was likely a trail and race jeep, if not also a road jeep. It was common to see the family jeep show up at races into the early 1980s. It doesn’t take too many breakdowns of the family jeep while racing to convince owners to build race-only jeeps.

“A hearty crowd turned out for the Jeep Play Day put on by the Road Rebels Jeep Club this weekend in conjunction with Kelso’s Hilander Summer Festival. The unidentified driver has all four wheels slinging mud, sand and water during his run over the course. Photographer Dave Fox captured the action with a camera setting of f16 at 500th of a second, which is considerably slower than the speed he used to get out of the way.”

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Four CJ-5-oriented Questions

July 8, 2020 • CATEGORIES: Features, wanted This site contains affiliate links for which I may be compensated.

Four CJ-5 Questions for you all:

Anyone know when (month/year or vin) that the CJ-5 switched from the side tank to the rear? I’ve seen dates between mid 1970 through early 1972.
Similarly, when was the PTO draw bar dropped (month/year or vin)?
When did the CJ-5 spare tire mount move from the side to the back (month/year or vin)?
When was JEEP changed to Jeep on the side of the CJ-5 cowl (month/year or vin)? (somewhere on eWillys I’ve answered this question, as I remember doing the research, but now I can’t find it!)

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October 1948 Willys Truck Brochure

July 8, 2020 • CATEGORIES: Advertising & Brochures, Features This site contains affiliate links for which I may be compensated.

This 1948 Willys Truck brochure is dated October 01, 1948, and highlighted the five different models of trucks available for purchase. These scans were posted to the oldcarmanualprobject.com website by Eddy Jeijer.

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March 1948 “4-Wheel-Drive Power” Ad

July 8, 2020 • CATEGORIES: Advertising & Brochures, Features This site contains affiliate links for which I may be compensated.

This “4-Wheel-Drive Power” advertisement appeared in the March 1948 issue of the Farm Journal.

1948-03-farm-journal-4-wheel-drive-power-ad-lores

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3D Jeep Puzzle on eBay

July 7, 2020 • CATEGORIES: Features, toys This site contains affiliate links for which I may be compensated.

This tiny 3D Jeep puzzle reminds me of a wooden one I have. This plastic version is currently priced at $39.

View all the information on eBay

“This JEEP keychain puzzle was made by J&L Randall company in UK in the early 50s. It comes with its original card which has the solution on the back. The card has a punch through or tear top middle and some bending’folds.

The 2 holes punched in the center of the card were used to attach the puzzle onto the card with a rubber band.

The puzzles are all complete, unbroken and in very good to excellent condition with any exceptions clearly specified.”

jeep-3d-puzzle01

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BOOK: The Mystery in The Jeep by Ernie Rydberg

July 7, 2020 • CATEGORIES: Books, Features This site contains affiliate links for which I may be compensated.

Free-lance writer Ernie Rydberg wrote the Mystery in The Jeep, one of at least eleven books, hundreds of short stories, screen plays, and more over his lifetime (1901-1990). I’ve ordered an inexpensive copy of the book and will report on it when I get a chance.There’s a first edition of the book on eBay for $63.74 and another edition on Amazon for only $19.

According to the synopsis from Goodreads.com, “A pretty librarian helps two high school students, Lefty and Gloria, track down a gang of diabolical confidence men. Their clue is a book, which starts them on the track of illicit real estate deals and other unsavory enterprises.”

Here are two examples of the book cover:

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BOOK: The Mystery of the Amphibious Jeep

July 7, 2020 • CATEGORIES: Books, Features This site contains affiliate links for which I may be compensated.

Author Paul Moxham, an Australian writer, has published The Mystery of the Amphibious Jeep on Kindle. At 4.61 stars on Goodreads, it seems to be a popular kids story. Where the referenced ‘jeep’ is a Ford GPA SEEP or a DUKW (or something else), isn’t clear. Given the author’s Australian background and Australian Ben Carlin’s fame, I’m leaning towards it being a GPA.

According to the synopsis on Goodreads:

“After meeting an American adventurer who is travelling around the world in an amphibious jeep, the Mystery Kids invite him to spend the evening at Rose Cottage. However, the night has barely began when the jeep is stolen by two men.

What do the men plan to do with the jeep? Who are the stowaways? Why does the jeep go round in circles?

Set in 1950’s Britain, this adventure story will suit anyone who enjoys Nancy Drew, the Hardy Boys or the Famous Five”

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Pat Brady, Dale Evans & NellyBelle Slide on eBay

July 7, 2020 • CATEGORIES: Features, Old Images This site contains affiliate links for which I may be compensated.

UPDATE: Thanks to Colin for the corrections

Great photo of ~~Roy Rogers~~ Pat Brady at the helm of NellyBelle with Dale Evans beside him.

View all the information on eBay

“For sale is this original and vintage slide, Roy Rogers in Nelly Belle Willys Jeep in early 1950’s

The first number in the listing title is the year the slide is from.

Slide Brand: red border Kodachrome from the early 1950’s”

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Monarch Airlines Rental Willys Jeep Wagons

July 6, 2020 • CATEGORIES: Features, Postcards This site contains affiliate links for which I may be compensated.

There’s a neat postcard from what I believe is the late 1940s that shows a line of Willys Wagons ready to be rented by passengers of Monarch Airlines. a regional carrier based in Colorado. This postcard is available on eBay:

View all the information on eBay

“Post card shows a great SHOT OF ABOUT A DOZEN NEW WILLY’S JEEP STATION WAGONS AT STAPLETON AIRPORT IN DENVER, COLORADO.”

My guess is that the idea for the wagon rentals coincided with the introduction in early 1949 of Monarch Airlines’ “family-fare” program, as reported in the February 11, 1949, issue of the Daily Sentinel out of Grand Junction, Colorado. The head of the family paid full price for a ticket, while the remaining family members could fly at half-price. Unfortunately, I have been unable to find a news report that confirms when the wagons were purchased for rental.

Below are two subsequent newspaper ads highlight the program:

May 20, 1949, ad in the Daily Sentinel, Grand Junction, Colorado

April 08,, 1949, ad in the Daily Sentinel, Grand Junction, Colorado

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April 1948 “Put Jeep Power to Work on Your Farm” Ad

July 6, 2020 • CATEGORIES: Advertising & Brochures, Features This site contains affiliate links for which I may be compensated.

This April 1948 “Put Jeep Power to Work on Your Farm” advertisement appeared in the Country Gentleman magazine. It also appeared in the May 1948 issue of the Farm Journal.

There’s one of these ads for sale on eBay

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1960s Lockeed Mavericks 4WD Club Sticker on eBay

July 6, 2020 • CATEGORIES: Features, Old Images This site contains affiliate links for which I may be compensated.

This is an original 8″ diameter sticker from the Lockeed Employees Recreation Club (LERC), located in Burbank, California. I don’t know how many jeep clubs were formed out of Lockeed, but there were several Seattle area jeep clubs with members from Boeing (the Wandering Willys Jeep Club was one).

View all the information on eBay

“ONE 8” VINTAGE “MAVERICKS” 4WD CLUB VEHICLE
STICKER – LOCKHEED, BURBANK, CA – Circa 1968

★ 52 Year Old Never-Used Ephemera ~ Outdoor Sticker for Vehicle Front Quarter Panel ★

• Very, very rare collectible Lockheed, Burbank, CA ephemera! In fact, this is probably the only one left in the world!

• One (1) VINTAGE ORIGINAL “MAVERICKS” FOUR WHEEL DRIVE CLUB 8″ VEHICLE EMBLEM STICKER from the Lockheed Employees’ Recreational Club (L.E.R.C.) in Burbank, CA circa 1968. Never used. Still has it’s original kraft paper backing (for peel-&-stick) in very nice condition.

Age:
About 52 Years Old (although it has never been used, the adhesive is not guaranteed due to item’s age).
Original Use:
Typically these were placed on the 4WD vehicle’s front quarter panel to identify club membership.
L.E.R.C. = “Lockheed Employees’ Recreational Club” originally on Empire Road, Burbank, CA in the 1970’s.
Size:
About 8″ in diameter (see photo with measuring tape).
Note:
The ink on this decal is very heavy, almost with a brush texture (see photo #11), to be robust for outdoor use back in the day.
Details:
Has been stored in a file cabinet for about 40 years.

This is the ONLY one on eBay.

Very rare collectible Lockheed, Burbank, CA ephemera!

• Quote from the January 1968 Mavericks BULLHORN newsletter, the description of a four wheel drive club —”A bunch of damn fools driving out across the desert in a wide variety of corrupted vehicles looking for a place they can’t go so they can.” From back in the days when Joe Mokracek & Doug Carter were club presidents.

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Christmas Card Photo w/Jeep on eBay

July 6, 2020 • CATEGORIES: Features, Postcards This site contains affiliate links for which I may be compensated.

Steve spotted this family Christmas Card that included a jeep. Interesting enough, the body already has mods to it, the step area in particular.

View all the information on eBay

“1
VINTAGE
PHOTOGRAPH TYPE CARD
1950’S-60’S ERA?
MIGHT BE BY BROAD RIPPLE, INDIANA?”

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1951 “4-Wheel Drive Takes You There” Brochures

July 6, 2020 • CATEGORIES: Advertising & Brochures, Features This site contains affiliate links for which I may be compensated.

In 1951 Willys-Overland launched a “4-Wheel Drive Takes You There brochure” for the Willys Wagon. Subsequently, there appear to have been two additional versions of the brochure, numbered differently, but with seemingly no additional substantive text changes. Each form folds out to a 17″x11″ large format brochure.

The first example of this brochure is burdened with an unusually long form identifier: Form 4X4735W-M1-100M, a number which leverages the wagon-model-type (4x473SW) as part of the numbering system.

This second version of the brochure is available on eBay. Given the grille style doesn’t change for this iteration, I can only assume that this version of the brochure was also printed in 1951. It has the updated form name of 4X4735W-M2-100M-251. It is possible the “251” at the end of the form number means it was printed in February of 1951.

Continue reading →

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Photos of the Boyerstown-built 2wd Delivery Van

July 6, 2020 • CATEGORIES: Features, Fire/Police/Industry Vehicles, Willys Trucks, Willys Wagons This site contains affiliate links for which I may be compensated.

UPDATE III: A new reprint of the late 1950s Boyerstown-built Delivery Van is on eBay:

View all the information on eBay

“NICE QUALITY LARGE 11 X 17 REPRINTED PICTURE”

====================

UPDATE II: Mike shared a pic of a Boyerstown van from an ebay auction circa 2004.

UPDATE: In 2012 there was a press photo of the front of the van for sale.

2012 Post: “Jeep Utility 1959 4 x 2 Truck Photo Reprint w. Boyertown Body”

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1963? CJ-3B Aiea, Oahu, HI No Price

July 6, 2020 • CATEGORIES: Features This site contains affiliate links for which I may be compensated.

Given the Willys stamps, this 1963 is more likely a 1962 or earlier.

https://honolulu.craigslist.org/oah/cto/d/pearl-city-1963-cj3b-willys-jeep/7162108148.html

“1963 CJ3B WILLYS JEEP ORIGINAL 4 CYL,ORIGINAL PAINT,99.9 RUST FREE RUNS GREAT
HARD TO FIND A JEEP IN THIS COND ON THE ISLAND CALL”

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WWII Windshield Defroster Shelby, NC $70

July 6, 2020 • CATEGORIES: Features, Parts This site contains affiliate links for which I may be compensated.

Mark spotted this one for $70.

https://charlotte.craigslist.org/pts/d/shelby-original-willys-mb-ford-gpw/7147478940.html
“Original Willys MB Ford GPW Dodge Truck Defroster in Unused Condition. Complete 6volt defroster kit. Great display item for a vintage Jeep or Truck. Would probably work but recommend for display due to its age. Pick up in Western NC. Unable to ship.”

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Spokane’s Sandifur Motors Willys Distributor

July 4, 2020 • CATEGORIES: Features, Old Images, Old News Articles This site contains affiliate links for which I may be compensated.

UPDATE: Additional content has been added about Sandifur Motors.

Originally established in 1937, the Sandifur Motor Company out of Spokane, Washington, was operated by Charles and C. Paul Sandifur. Brothers and business partners, by 1938 the two men were involved in taxi cabs, used cars, life Insurance, and other business pursuits in the Spokane region.

The Sandifurs became a Willys distributor in the autumn of 1945 soon after the launch of the CJ-2A. An ad in the October 21, 1945, issue of the Spokesman Review confirms this.

October 21, 1945, ad published in the Spokesman Review

As best as I understand it, being a distributor meant Sandifur Motors could both sell jeeps and signup other dealers.

The company seems to have followed the standard line of advertising, as this 1947 farming ad shows:

As we’ll see in a moment, Sandifur was successful at selling jeeps, but I can’t imagine CJ-2A was very practical for farming in the Spokane region, in part due to the size of the farms. For example, my maternal grandparents obtained a 160 acre farm 35 miles southeast of Spokane on the small banks of Fighting Creek, Idaho, a place they won in a lottery around 1910, then secured by homesteading. In the 1920s they founded the local Fighting Creek store and operated one of the first phones in the area (we still have some of the books that documented the calls). They also made money logging the local forest and, after WWII, electrifying the area. Had they thought a jeep was practical, I believe they could have afforded to purchase one. Instead, they preferred to use tractors.

My family’s decision to abstain from buying a jeep did little to slow the success of Sandifur Motors. It’s possible the company was doing better selling wagons and trucks versus CJ-2As. I could imagine four wheel drive versions of the trucks and wagons being very handy navigating the endless forests and deserts of the Inland Empire area. This may also explain why both long-wheel base CJ-2As (likely the CJ-2Ls) and CJ-2As with 6ft extended beds were available for sale from both Spokane and Montana dealers (more on this in an upcoming post).

Here’s a 1949 ad promoting the wagon:

Clipping from The Spokesman-Review - Newspapers.com

October 17, 1949, Spokesman Review

Whatever the company was selling, it was selling enough of them to justify new digs. In early 1951, the Willys dealer moved from its original location at W419 3rd Avenue, to W228 2nd Avenue in downtown Spokane:

1951-02-27-the-spokesman-review-sandifur-motors-new-location-lores

February 27, 1951, in The Spokesman Review

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1942 Photo Soldiers Preparing For Mustard Gas

July 4, 2020 • CATEGORIES: Features, Old Images This site contains affiliate links for which I may be compensated.

I can only imagine how awful those suits were to wear in the California desert, even in March. My wife tells me that even the modern-day chemical warfare suits are terrible.

View all the information on ebay

“SOMEWHERE IN CALIFORNIA — Even deadly mustard gas holds no qualms for these soldiers in the chemical warfare service who are ready to fight poisonous, skin-burning gas by wearing clothes–treated in a secret solution–which resist and neutralize any dangerous vapor. They’re shown here decontamination a jeep which was sprayed with mustard gas. 03-19-42”

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July 1948 “Jeep — Engine Power” Ad

July 4, 2020 • CATEGORIES: Advertising & Brochures, Features This site contains affiliate links for which I may be compensated.

The July 1948 issue of the Country Gentleman included this “Get more jobs done at lower cost with Jeep–Engine Power” advertisement.

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1949 Article on the Jeep’s Forest Fire Fighting Potential

July 3, 2020 • CATEGORIES: Features, Fire/Police/Industry Vehicles, Old Images, Old News Articles This site contains affiliate links for which I may be compensated.

(Given fireworks have arrived, this article seemed appropriate …) This August 07, 1949, article was published in the Spokesman Review out of Spokane, Washington, but it likely originated from a Wisconsin news report. The article mentions Nicolet National Forest, which is located in Northern Wisconsin, and the event was sponsored by E. W. Schwartz Motors out of Milwaukee, Wisconsin. One interesting statistic noted was that conservative estimates put the number of jeeps in service in state and national forests at over 1,000 jeeps by the summer of 1949.

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1956 Forms W-25X-XX Brochures

July 3, 2020 • CATEGORIES: Advertising & Brochures, Features This site contains affiliate links for which I may be compensated.

UPDATE II: This poster was based on the 1956 W-25X-6 brochures. This also seems to confirm that there was never any Form W-251-6 brochure (which had been a lingering question of mine).

Original Post From Feb 17, 2020 (but with all new text): Below are the front pages from a series of 1956 brochures. I think I’ve got everything sorted out …

Form W-250-6 V1 (CJ-5/CJ-6/CJ-3B):
Form W-250-6 V2 (CJ-5/CJ-6/CJ-3B) … this form replaced the one above:
Form W-250-6X (CJ-5/CJ-6/CJ-3B) Export:
Form W-252-6 V1 (Trucks):
Form W-252-6 V2 (Trucks) This form replacement the green truck form above:
Form W-252-6X (Trucks) Export:
Form W-253-6 (Wagons) (was there an earlier version of this form?):
Form W-253-6X (Wagons) Export: Anyone have this form?

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1956 CJ-5/CJ-6/CJ-3B Domestic Brochure Forms W-250-6

July 3, 2020 • CATEGORIES: Advertising & Brochures, Features This site contains affiliate links for which I may be compensated.

UPDATE: There were two different Form W-250-6’s produced during 1956. The first one shown below is version one I believe. Making the one at the bottom version two. Both differ significantly from the export version of the form, which is Form W-250-6X.

What’s the difference between them? Both forms open up to 11″x17″, so the sizes are the same. However, the front page is completely different. In version #2 of the brochure (at the bottom) you can see that the front page is more harmonious with the Wagon (Form W-253-6) and the Truck (Form W-252-6) brochures. The second page, reached by opening the brochure horizontally, shows part of the vehicle line in version #1, while the vehicle line is absent from version #2 at bottom. Maybe version #1 of this brochure was pulled because Willys Motors’ management wasn’t ready to introduce the FC-170? I can’t say for sure. Finally, you’ll also notice that “WILLYS” is absent from the front of version #1, while “BY WILLYS” is prominent on the front of the bottom brochure.

Because that reasoning, I believe this is Version #1 of Form W-250-6 …

This shows the back of the brochure when opened fully:

==================

This 1956 CJ-5/CJ-6 brochure Form W-250-6 is the domestic version of Form W-250-6X.

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1956 Domestic Truck Brochure Forms W-252-6

July 3, 2020 • CATEGORIES: Advertising & Brochures, Features This site contains affiliate links for which I may be compensated.

xUPDATE: There were actually two different Form W-252-6’s produced during 1956. This green one shown below and the one at the bottom. Both differ significantly from the export version of the form, which is Form W-252-6X.

What’s the difference between them? Well, the text, the fonts, and the font sizes are nearly identical. Both forms open up to 11″x17″. Obviously the front of the bottom version is more colorful and the front color image is certainly different. But, what might be the biggest change and the reason for the alternative version is that the green-themed brochure is printed with the word ‘Jeep’ in a san-serif font in numerous places, while the brochure at the bottom uses the much more standard jeep font. Finally, you’ll also notice that “WILLYS” is absent from the front of the green brochure, while “BY WILLYS” is prominent on the front of the colorful brochure.

Because that reasoning, I believe this is Version #1 of Form W-252-6 …

This is how the back of the brochure looks fully opened…

=========================

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