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1942 Press Photo of MT Tug

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

UPDATE: This photo of an MT Tug (aka “Super Jeep”) with the Ford GP grille was published March 16, 1942, in the Roseville Press out of California. Richard C. Fitch also designed this Victory Car.

1942-03-16-roseville-press-mt-tug-6x6-lores

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Update Posted on March 2, 2017: Here’s another MT Tug Press Photo. See one sold on eBay in 2014 at the bottom of the post.

“1942- Very rare example of a 6×6 Ford MT Tug “Super Jeep” designed by Captain Richard Fitch of the 2nd Regiment Mechanized Cavalry Reserve. The MT Tug was built in 1941 experimentally for units of the U.S. Army’s Tank Destroyer Command as a light fast vehicle capable of mounting the 37mm anti tank gun..unfortunately series production of this Jeep was not eventually authorized as the gun needed two people to operate it, and the vehicle with gun fitted, could only carry two men so the driver had to act as gunner, which did not make the vehicle a good idea ”

1942-03-09-mt-tug-superjeep1

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1950 “Get The Facts, Mr. Farmer!” Ad

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

These “Get The Facts, Mr. Farmer!” ads published in 1950 shared the results of the Nebraska Tractor Test of The Universal ‘Jeep’. It was test No. 432.

The ad appeared in the March of 1950 issue of Farm Journal. It measured 8.5″ x 11″.

1950-03-farm-journal-get-the-facts-mr-farmer-lores

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(Originally Published in July of 2012): This ad was featured in the April 1950 issue of the Country Gentleman. It showed the results of the Nebraska Tractor Test of The Universal ‘Jeep’. It was test No. 432. The same ad appeared in the March 1950 issue of the Farm Journal.  Because Country Gentleman was an oversize magazine, the ad measured approximately 13.75″ x 10.25″:

 
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CJ-2A Body Storage Rack/Jib Jordan, MN $155

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

Here’s a good option for storing your tub, whether you buy this one or make your own.

https://minneapolis.craigslist.org/dak/cto/d/jordan-cj2a-body-tub-storage-cart-jig/7140078068.html

“This storage rack was used to locate/ drill tub attach bolt holes to frame. It also allows storage of tub in vertical position saving garage floor space. Once tub is mounted all body parts fit nicely inside tub or strapped to rack. Worked very well.”

Body-rack-sd2 Body-rack-sd

 
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May 1951 Jeep-Tractor Farm-Jeep Ad

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

This May 1951 AD differs slightly from the April 1951 ad on the CJ-3A page here. So, I’d guess there were at least two version of this ad. The differences are primarily related to minor changes in font sizes and styles, along with a shadow and different tilt of the “Milestones” box on the upper left.

1951-jeep-tractor-farm-jeep-magazine-ad-lores

 
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1959 Hemet De Anza Borrego Cavalcade

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

1959 marked the 11th annual Hemet to Borrego via De Anza trail Cavalcade. That year over 400 vehicles joined the adventure. The author and photographer of the below article, Del Schrader, was transported over the trail via two German DKWs. The article was published in the March 22, 1959, issue of the Los Angeles Times.

1959-03-22-los-angeles-times-boreggo-calvacade-lores

 
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Fire Brigade Trucks From Australia

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

Cool photos. I would guess these were Personnel Carriers converted into fire trucks. However, they may also have been a cab-only chassis as well. The serial numbers would tell us more. You can see a few more photos at the bottom of this CJ-3B page.

https://www.alamy.com/st-george-fire-brigade-car-1-july-1962-st-george-fire-brigades-car-1-converted-from-a-willys-jeep-truck-the-queensland-government-supplied-these-units-to-small-rural-towns-in-1961-the-chassis-were-built-by-willys-motors-australia-pty-in-brisbane-and-the-bodies-by-enoggera-motor-body-works-image188710782.html

“St George Fire Brigade Car 1, July 1962. St George Fire Brigade’s Car 1 converted from a Willys Jeep Truck. The Queensland Government supplied these units to small rural towns in 1961. The chassis were built by Willys Motors Australia Pty in Brisbane and the bodies by Enoggera Motor Body Works.”

This example calls Mattaburra, Australia, home:

mattaburra-australia-fire-jeep-lores

Here’s another example. The pic is small.

1962-photo-fire-brigade-australia

 
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The Four Large Speedo Clusters for Universal Jeeps

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

I thought I’d posted this graphic a while ago, but I cannot find it. So, here are four examples of the different large four-speedometer clusters used from 1955-1957 (and later). The transition dates are approximate (I haven’t studied them too closely).

Each of these four appeared in CJ-5s, CJ-6s, and DJ-3As (as documented here https://www.cj3b.info/Siblings/DJDetails/DJ3ASpeedometer.html). According to the CJ-3B page, only the latter two speedometers (the KS 0-9 and the SW 0-9) appeared CJ-3Bs.

The first three were manufactured by King-Seeley, while the last and most common one with the orange coloring was made by Steward Warner. I have seen a 0-9 with an orange needle, but I don’t know if that was a custom styling or not.

The first speedometer shown sits in my early 1956 DJ-3A “Patterson”. The second one was in my 1956 DJ-3A Rusty that I sold last year (only 200 units later than Patterson). The third speedometer was a replacement I bought. The fourth is from an image on the CJ-3B page.

speedometers-comparison-lores

 

 
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1953 Postcard of a Delahaye VLR(?) 4×4 Working a Field on eBay

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

Probably a rare postcard of a French Delahaye 4×4. It might be a VLR model, but I don’t know these well enough.

View all the information on eBay

“Attention : Collage réalisé il y a +- 15 ans
à partir d’une photo d’un d’article issu d’un Magazine
collé sur un dos de carte postale
8.7 x 14cm”

1953-delahaye-field-postcard1-lores 1953-delahaye-field-postcard2-lores

 
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1959 Meyer Snow Plow and Dozer Brochures

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

This first four-page brochure blends pages two and three into a single, poster like image. It could make for a good poster.

This is a four-page brochure:

1959-meyer-plow-brochure1-lores 1959-meyer-plow-brochure2-3-lores 1959-meyer-plow-brochure4-lores

This is a single sheet, two-sided brochure for Meyer’s Offset Angledozer showing flat fender jeeps:

1959-meyer-plow-brochure-form-j200-1-lores

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1945 Life Magazine Superglue Example

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

This photo from the March 05, 1945, issue of Life Magazine shows a jeep being used as a guinea pig for a superglue test.

1945-03-05-life-magazine-superglue-lores

 
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French La ‘Jeep” Universelle Ad on eBay

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

This approximately 5″ x 7″ ad is a pretty reasonable price given it’s shipped from France.

View all the information on eBay

“REAL ADVERTISING
FROM A PERIOD MAGAZINE
format 13x18cm approximately”

french-la-jeep-universal-ad

 
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‘Jeep’ Parts • Service Sign on eBay

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

Bill’s got this sign for sale. It’s got some damage.

View all the information on eBay

jeep-parts-service-sign

“VINTAGE JEEP WILLY DEALERSHIP ADVERTISING SIGN Kaiser AMC PARTS SERVICE. Condition is Used.

Check out this great dealership sign salvaged from an old garage. The sign is 18” x 24” and would have been part of a lighted sign in a metal frame of some sort. This auction includes (1) plastic printed Jeep sign as shown.

See the pics. The sign is cracked and has some pieces missing from the top left corner. While damaged, it does not detract from the coolness of this piece. The color is vibrant, and the graphics are bold.

Build a frame/box for it, and put some LED strip lights behind it and hang it on your wall for a cool effect.”

 
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1969 Vagabond Adventures #1 on eBay

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

UPDATE: A new seller has over 10 issues of Vagabond: Adventures in 4-Wheel Drive issue #1 for sale. I purchased a copy and will post once I receive it. I’ve only documented two issues of this magazine; Here’s issue #2.

View all the information eBay

This is issue #1 Volume 1. Note the great article on the rare CJ-5 camper.

“Original factory magazine , 5.5 x 8.5 , 32 pages . Includes interesting articles showing Jeep Gladiator Camper , CJ5 Universal Camper , Wagoneer in Redwood National Park , many other interesting articles . This magazine was printed by Jeep and sent to the dealers and customers .”

1969-vagabond-magazine-jeep-vol1-1

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1961 Motor Trend Article on the New CJ-5

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

Bob Ames, the author of this September 1961 article in Motor Trend, described his time in a CJ-5 as a “rump” ride.

1961-09-motor-trend-driving-willys-cj5-1-lores 1961-09-motor-trend-driving-willys-cj5-2-lores

 
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March 1949 ‘Jeeps’ say “Can Do” to Tough Jobs Ad on eBay

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

This ad appeared in the March 28, 1949, issue of Time Magazine.

View all the information on eBay

1949-03-28-time-magazine-jeeps-can-do-ad

 
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Berg Truck Jeep Parts Magazine(?) Ad on eBay

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

Given the page number of “78”, I’d guess this ad was in a magazine of some kind. I’m not sure if it was a pre-Berg-catalog ad or just part of its advertising strategy.

View all the information on eBay
berg-newspaper-ad1

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Ride-the-Ducks DUKWs to be Auctioned in July

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

Blaine share this auction of a series of Ride-the-ducks DUKWs (and DUKW-like vehicles) to be auctioned in July. As the video below demonstrates, Ride-the-Ducks was a huge tourist attraction until 2015 when one of the DUKWs suffered a mechanical failure, careened across aurora bridge traffic into bus, then teetered on the edge of the bridge (hanging over a spot is pretty close to my aunt’s houseboat on Lake Union). The accident and the resulting litigation doomed the company, resulting in it declaring bankruptcy in April of 2020.

https://www.murphyauction.com/Auction/Details/8254

Here’s one of the vehicles that’s being auctioned:

OLYMPUS DIGITAL CAMERA

 
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1954 Jeep Calvcade Visits Austin, Texas

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

Two articles in the Austin American shared the news, both with a photo,that a calvacade of jeeps would be visiting Austin, Texas, Calvacades were also planned around the world for 1954, with jeeps visit 25 countries outside the United States.

This first article appeared in the April 21, 1954, issue of the Austin American-Statesman and featured a CJ-3B fire jeep:

1954-04-21-austin-american-texas-jeep-cavalcade-lores

This second article appeared in the April 22, 1954, issue of the Austin American-Statesman and featured a CJ-3B climbing a vertical wall:

1954-04-25-austin-american-texas-jeep-cavalcade-lores

 
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1956 Koenig Brochure for the DJ-3A Dispatcher

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

This was a surprising find. Bulletin 256 by Koenig touted add-ons for the DJ-3A. I can’t imagine many DJ-3A owners purchased a winch. I can’t think of any DJ-3As that I’ve seen with a body extension either.

1956-bulletin-256-koenig-dj3a-brochure1-lores 1956-bulletin-256-koenig-dj3a-brochure2-lores

 

 
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Jeep Funny Cars Article

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

The website carver.wicklocal.com did a post about Jeep Funny cars, referencing the ‘godfather’ of jeep funny cars Ed Length, from Long Beach California (a name unknown to me, but then I haven’t followed the jeep funny car circuit).

https://carver.wickedlocal.com/news/20200525/cars-we-remember-those-wild-incredible-jeep-funny-cars-and-first-ever-consumer-jeep

The writer manages to dodge a reader’s question about what company made the first jeep (my nod is to American Bantam of course); instead the author references the first consumer jeep.

1966-secret-weapon-funny-car-jeep

The “Secret Weapon” built by Ed Length and driven by Bob Wolford.

 
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December 1959 Only 4-Wheel Drive ‘Jeep’ Vehicles Ad on eBay

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

Another ad that includes the “billions of miles of service” phrase. This ad appeared in the December 1959 issue of Successful Farming.

View all the information on ebay

1959-12-successful-farming-jeep-ad

 
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February 1947 “Yes You Can” Ad on eBay

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

This February 1947 ad promises the farmers can use Hydraulic-LIft Implement with the Universal ‘Jeep’.

View all the information on eBay

“THIS IS A LARGE ORIGINAL 1947 ADVERTISEMENT FOR THE UNIVERSAL JEEP THAT YOU CAN USE ON HYDRAULIC LIFT IMPLEMENTS, MANUFACTURED BY WILLYS-OVERLAND MOTORS IN TOLEDO, OHIO. AD IS IN GREAT CONDITION AND HAS EXCELLENT GRAPHICS. AD MEASURES 12 7/8″ X 10″.”

1947-02-yes-hydraulics-ad-pg17-2

 
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M-38A1 Marx Jeep in Box Lexington, KY **SOLD**

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

UPDATE: **SOLD** Was $125.

Tom spotted this toy for sale on Craiglsist. Another of these toys and box sold for $118 (plus an 18% buyers premium). A different version of this toy came with a search light (and sold in 2018 for $92).

“Made for Marx Buddy Charlie, GI Joe, and other 1/6 scale figures.
Jeep is in extremely good condition. Box in very good condition with cardboard inserts. Only real box damage is on a end flap. Tear on corner.
$125 firm.”

m38a1-marx-buddy-jeep-box1 m38a1-marx-buddy-jeep-box2 m38a1-marx-buddy-jeep-box3 m38a1-marx-buddy-jeep-box4

 
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1952 Article “The World’s Most Versatile Car”

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

In the January 14, 1952, Newsweek put out an article about the jeep’s versatility. There are some interesting tidbits, such as the Chinese’s nickname for the jeep was “the vehicle of 10,000 capabilities”. The jeep was used to spear barracudas in the Virgin islands, play tag in Yakima, ski via jeep-joring in New England and Ontario, Canada,, and in Burma it was claimed that a jeep was once used to pull an elephant’s tooth.

1952-01-14-newsweek-worlds-most-versatile-car1-lores

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1952-01-14-newsweek-worlds-most-versatile-car3-lores

1952-01-14-newsweek-worlds-most-versatile-car0-loresThis photo and caption was also included in a seemingly random area of the magazine, despite the fact that the same image appeared within the article.

1952-01-14-newsweek-worlds-most-versatile-car4-lores

 
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The Sport of Jeep-Joring

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

UPDATE: More articles and better images have been added.

Originally published in November of 2014: Winter time means snow and ice for many folks. For people with jeeps, it means time to break out the skis, tow-rope and jeeps for some jeep-joring. Just mount yourself on some skis, tie the rope to the jeep, give a driver thumbs up and you’ll be jeep-joring behind a jeep like several generations before you. After all, how dangerous could it be?? **disclaimer: if you decide to do this and get hurt, this was not my idea. I’m only reporting it ….

Ski-Joring has been around for hundreds of years, though whether it started in Asia or in Europe is less clear.

When did jeep-joring begin? There’s evidence it was occurring as early as the winter of 1946-1947, in Ontario. These three articles suggest that the sport continued for at least seven years. The Violet Grafton image below made the rounds in a large number of papers.

Clipping from St. Joseph News-Press - Newspapers.com

Most of the Violet Grafton images were long and narrow, but this one was cropped differently:

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January 29, 1948, issue of the Chicago Tribune. Violet Grafton from Greenwich, Connecticut, is pictured.