The Oakdale Minnesota fire department was formed in 1953 with one old CJ-3A Fire jeep and some Fords. The below poor-quality still was taken from a history video of the Oakdale fire department. It shows the CJ-3A.
Fire/Police/Industry Vehicles Research Archives
Angles National Forest’s New Fire Jeeps
A March 30, 1947, article in the Metropolitan Pasadena Star-News introduced the Forest Service’s ten new CJ-2As to California readers. These vehicles were equipped with two-way radios to aid fire control.
The article notes that a Weasel was being tested, along with the development of a four-wheel-drive vehicle that would be better for forest fire fighting, but I could find no references on the internet to an offload vehicle designed by Ira Funk.
Jeep Tankers Developed by the Forest Service
A niche journal focuses on forest fire fighting called Fire Control Notes published at article in the January 1947 issue concerning quarter-ton-tanker jeeps made from WWII vehicles. You can see the full journal here: https://archive.org/details/firecontrolnotes08unit/page/n5/mode/2up?q=jeep
1947 Fire Jeep Sun Valley, ID Auction
Silver Auctions will be auctioning a CJ-2A Fire Jeep on Saturday, September 5th.
http://www.silverauctions.com/auction_view.php?eventid=322&lotid=97821
“This Willy’s CJ-2A was sold new on April 5th 1949 by West Motor Company, Steubenville, Ohio to the Wheeling Steel Corporation plant also in Steubenville. It was put to use by inside the plant and was outfitted by Howe with a hose reel. Its second life was with the Pleasant Hill Volunteer Fire Dept. They removed the reel and installed an 80-gallon water tank and was used as a brush truck. The third owner acquired it in 2005 and treated this Willys to a restoration. The tank was removed and restored to how you see it photographed, back to an inside plant, pumper Fire Truck. Lot’s of era correct parts we sourced and now this Willys is loaded from bumper to bumper with firefighting equipment. “Next Day Fire Department” is sure to be a hit anywhere it is driven or displayed.”
Albany New York Police Department Jeep Photos
Joe shared these two Albany Police Department police photos posted by Albany’s Times Union online newspaper. The CJ-2A riot jeep is pic #30 of 35. The Wagon is pic #2 of 35.
Original Road Warrior Camera Jeep
Roger Martin shared this photo of, most likely, a CJ-2A or CJ-3A that was modified and outfitted with a camera. He spotted on Facebook. It was used on the set of the original Road Warrior Movie.
I was unable to find another photo of the camera jeep, but I did find a modified CJ-3B used for the Road Warrior (Fury Road) remake.
January 1950 Pop Mechanics Sky-High Painter
Gayland spotted this unusual setup for painting tall places from a jeep. This was published on page 114 of the January 1950 issue of Popular Mechanics. Just hope it isn’t a windy day!
The is a better look at the rigging:
And a close up of the jeep:
January 1950 Popular Mechanics Article on Tinkertown
UPDATE: Jerry contacted me about a locomotive jeep he would like to restored (see near bottom). He noted that it was used at Tinkertown and found this older post while hoping to learn more. So, this post is a complete redo of an early post that focused just on photos in a January 1950 issue of Popular Mechanics.
It is probably no surprise that the Los Angeles metroplitan area was a hotbed of theme parks and carnivals following World War II. In particular, there was Beverly Park, which is claimed to be the park that stimulated Disney’s interests in theme parks.
One of those carnivals was a traveling kiddie carnival called Tinkertown. Articles show it existed at least from 1950 through 1952, operating in Monrovia, Wilmington, Los Angeles, and other LA area towns.
Tinkertown appears to have owned, at one time or another, at least four unusual jeeps. One was a fire jeep made from a CJ-2A, shown below in red.
A second jeep appeared to have been a stretched (probably surplus) WWII jeep made into some kind of fire jeep used to tow a small Ferris wheel.
The article above refers to the jeep as a “fire engine”; perhaps it was modified during WWII? Here’s a better image:
A third jeep-related setup was a train possibly made from a jeep (or jeep-engine-powered at the very least). It is pictured here:
The fourth known jeep was a jeep turned into a locomotive. It’s the one Jerry now owns (along with two of the tram cars), one he’d like to restore. It’s in surprisingly complete condition. He’s hoping to learn more about the manufacturer and/or Tinkertown. Here’s a photo of his train:
Here’s how it looked in 1950:
June 1946 Photo of Merced’s Abatement Jeeps
This June 20, 1946, photo and caption on the Gustine Standard shows six jeeps purchased by the city of Merced for Mosquito Abatement. I didn’t realize jeeps were used so early for anti-mosquito work in California.
Photos of the Boyerstown-built 2wd Delivery Van
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”
1949 Article on the Jeep’s Forest Fire Fighting Potential
(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.
1953 CJ-3B Newport, VT $4000
UPDATE: Still Available.
(06/10/2020) This custom oddity could be worth a look. It might make a good restoration project.
https://www.facebook.com/marketplace/item/1597726797051226/
“Runs & drives great. 30 minutes on new motor. PTO…. Black tank is hydraulics, white tank for gas. Has gauges, etc… This is a one off, custom built by a car restoration company log splitter that was used for many years, then rebuilt & basically stored in the warehouse. Been started every year. This is a badass toy!!! I’ll dig it out from under the new clutter for the serious buyer”
1967 CJ-6 Fire Jeep Tampa, FL eBay
UPDATE: Bidding ended without a sale.
Joe’s selling this former Florence Township (Ohio) CJ-6 Fire Jeep.
View all the information on eBay
“Bidding on a two owner Jeep CJ6 with 6,307 original miles on the original 4 cylinder engine with 3 speed manual transmission with clean Ohio title. It was converted into a fire engine for fighting brush and field fires for a small volunteer fire dept in northern Ohio who owned it until November 2019 when I purchased it from them after being the highest bidder in a sealed bid auction.
Well taken care of mechanically by the FD, was placed out of service in 2018 after being replaced, but not before they upgraded to 15 inch Pro Comp wheels with Super Swamper tires in 2016 (that probably have less than 100 miles on them). The original front drum brakes were also upgraded to disc brakes at the same time (original drums will be included in case buyer wants to restore it to original). Second set of 15 inch steel wheels with Bridgestone Dueller tires (from 2002) also included, as well as the original Goodyear spare tire. Continue reading
Fire Brigade Trucks From Australia
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.
“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:
Here’s another example. The pic is small.
Year? Hobart Welder/Generator Dorchester, WI $650
It runs. Could be a good price.
https://www.facebook.com/marketplace/item/1143669202682808/
“D.C. Generator/ Welder.needs a switch & cables,WILLY’S Jeep motor runs, a definite great buy. Located east of Colby”
Year? CJ-3B Pocomoke City, MD No Price
A later model 3B turned into a golf course jeep, hence the steel mesh.
https://easternshore.craigslist.org/pts/d/pocomoke-city-willys-jeep/7130908868.html
“Willy’s Jeep for sale. Was at a golf course.”
Industrial Engine Nemasket, VA $300
Engine is stuck.
https://washingtondc.craigslist.org/nva/pts/d/alexandria-willys-cj-2a-industrial/7131773512.html
“Complete Willys CJ-2A 4 cylinder flat head engine with all accessories and governor. This item sat in a shed for about 25 years and has been covered by a tarp for a couple of years after originally going out of service for fuel tank reasons. Item is stuck from sitting and is still attached to the arc welder it powered and on the trailer it is transported on. Sold as is.”
1948 CJ-2A Boyer Fire Jeep Utica, NY **SOLD**
UPDATE: **SOLD** Was $25,500.
(03/24/2020) This former Fly Creek fire jeep includes some raised lettering on the side.
“1948 Willy’s CJ-2A Jeep mini-pumper fire truck. In running, driving and pumping condition. Always stored inside when not being used for a fire or in a parade. Shipped from Willy’s to Boyer fire apparatus in Syracuse NY to be up-fitted with the fire equipment for use at Griffiss Air Force base in Rome NY. It stayed at GAFB until 1966 when it was passed on to a small volunteer fire dept here in upstate NY and was used there until the 90’s when it was retired from active fire service. From then on it has had an easy retirement life doing parades, car shows and Fire truck exhibitions.
There are only 7010 original miles on this truck from new. It starts up and purrs like a kitten. It has all the original equipment with it to go to a fire right now, including the original 2 way radios, siren, hand tools, axes and even the helmet worn by the chief engineer who was in charge of this truck until its retirement. The ladder rack is full of all the tools, hoses and ladders that came with it.
1947? Photo of a CJ-2A Spraying in South Dakota
Taken by Jay Higgins on May 28, 1947, and published by the USDA Forest Service, this photo is shared on archive.org. The confusing part is that this is a May 1947 photo, but CJ-2As with passenger side bow holders weren’t supposedly built until 1948. The photo does not appear reversed, as the reflector is on the correct side in the rear.
1958 Fire Truck Philadelphia, PA $13,900
UPDATE: Still Available.
(02/24/2020) I like this one. It serviced the Glen Canyon area, which is pretty cool, too.
“1958 Willy’s Custom (Valley Fire Truck Co.) Fire Truck 4×4, 6 cylinder
Title included
Came from the Lake Powell Glen Canyon Dam National Park Service in Page AZ.
NOS: horn button, rear bearings, rear seals, brakes & studs. Some service records etc.
Engine will be test run condition
Features
Water pump
Hose reel
Sprayer
2 intake hoses
Ax”
CJ-6 Fire Suppression Equipment Wilmington, NC **SOLD**
UPDATE: **SOLD** Was $200.
(01/05/2020) Here’s a chance to buy and install some Fire Suppression equipment on your CJ-6.
“Selling large water tank (48″x35″x38″) , newer Honda gas pump and all hoses. Jeep not for sale”
1954 M-38A1 Scotland, SD $3400
UPDATE: Still Available.
https://www.facebook.com/marketplace/item/584376512323805/
(04/27/2017) Blaine spotted this ex-fire jeep. Engine is stuck at this time.
“Clear SD title. Tires are 90% and jeep is pretty complete. Front bumper and some other odds and ends missing. The engine was stuck when I bought it so I pulled the spark plugs and put some PB blaster in the cylinders to work on freeing them up. Jeep has matching body number to vehicle data plate. Has correct military motor. Some rust in the usual places and a few small spots were cut out in the bed where a fire dept had a water tank mounted. Also have roll cage included, but not pictured. I was going to restore this back to military appearance, but honestly have too many projects so I’m selling it for what I have into it. Here is your chance to own a genuine military army jeep!”
1962 CJ-3B Brush Fire Jeep **SOLD**
UPDATE: SOLD at auction for $15,300 + $1,912.50 buyer’s premium.
Joel alerted me to this auction at GovDeals.com.The auction ends 04/08/2020. The jeep is located in Northeast Ohio. It’s listed in two spots as a 1962 and one spot as a 1963.
“1963 Willy’s Jeep CJ3-B Brush Truck. This truck is a one owner and has served as a grass fighter ever since new. Jeep starts and runs perfectly. Emergency lights and siren will stay. The radio will be county removed. 50 gallon water tank. (2) 3/4″ booster lines. Winch works. 4×4 works. Tires in great shape. Mileage is believed to be accurate. Vehicle serviced regularly.”
1973 CJ-5 Brush Fire Jeep @ Gov Deals Auction
UPDATE: **SOLD** Was auctioned.
Joel alerted me to this auction at GovDeals.com. It is incorrectly listed as a CJ-6. The auction ends 04/08/2020. The jeep is located in Northeast Ohio.
“1973 Jeep Brush Truck. This truck is a one owner and has served as a grass fighter ever since new. Jeep starts and runs perfectly. Emergency lights and siren will stay. The radio will be county removed. 50 gallon water tank. (2) 3/4″ booster lines. Winch works. 4×4 works. Tires in great shape. Mileage is believed to be accurate. Vehicle serviced regularly.”
Powhatan Brass Fire Jeep Ad on eBay
I’m not entirely sure what this ad from the September 1955 issue of Fire Engineering is advertising, but the jeep looks pretty interesting. You can find an archived issue of the magazine online (though you’ll need to pay to access the info).