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.
Old Images Research Archives
Frank Lloyd Wright’s Jeeps
Tremaine told me he recently visited Frank Lloyd Wright’s Falling Waters and Kentuk Knob homes. At one of the gift shops there was book of Wright’s car collection, as he owned roughly 85 different cars over his life time. The book noted that at he owned three different jeeps over the years: a 1946 CJ-2A, a 1948 CJ-2A ‘Lefty’, and a wagon. While I was unable to locate a pic of the wagon, there is a photo on a Barrett Jackson page showing Wright’s two CJ-2As amongst some Crosleys.
WWII Jeep Photo “Baby Oh” on eBay
Steve shared this WWII photo.
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“This is an original WW2 photo showing 3 soldiers in a jeep.
The jeep is named / painted on the side: Baby Oh!
This photo measures approx. 4 1/2″ x 2 3/4”
Photo of M-170 Medical Exercise on eBay
This photo is undated, so it’s unclear whether this is an original from the time period or a reprint. Still, it’s got some good details in it. The front fender suggests this may have been a CJ-4MA.
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“Estate sale find of a vintage photograph of what appears to be a 1954 or 1955 M170 Frontline Ambulance Jeep being used in a medical emergency exercise, with several “patients” on stretchers inside the vehicle and one helmeted stretcher-bearer carrying one. Original period photo, not a modern copy or reproduction. Approximately 10 inches wide, 8 1/8″ tall. “Plate#79″ handwritten on the back.”
Photo Slide of Ringling Brothers Jeep on eBay
Here’s an interestingly modified Flattie for the Ringling Brothers and Barnum and Bailey Circus.
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“Original slide. Watermark is not on the slide. Raw image. Has been dusted but not cleaned. See pics for damage.”
5 Vintage Jeep Colorado Jeep Slides on eBay
Looks like someone had a good day of jeeping in the Colorado mountains.
Kjolseth and Kohlschutter’s 1957 Trip to South American
On September 11, 1956, President Dwight D. Eisenhower introduced the People-to-People Program, “to enhance international understanding and friendship through educational, cultural and humanitarian activities involving the exchange of ideas and experiences directly among peoples of different countries and diverse cultures.”
Two students out of Colorado University, Rolf Kjolseth, of Boulder, Colorado, and Andreas Kohlschutter, of Berne, Switzerland, decided to put Eisenhower’s idea into action by driving a jeep from the United States to Rio De Janeiro, where they planned to sell the jeep and return to the United State by ship. Along the way, they hoped to meet people from all walks of life. They called their jeep “Columbus II”.
The trip was sponsored by the U.S. Information Agency and the Pan American Union. The two young men were supposed to write about their trip and send their stories to several newspapers, but I can’t find any articles with their by-lines. They even had their photo take with then Vice President Richard Nixon on the steps of the U.S. Capitol, but I haven’t located a copy of that yet.
According to multiple reports, the intrepid explorers drove their early CJ-5 south from Laredo, Texas, through Mexico, into Central America and, probably via boat, made it to South America. The photos below show the pair in Colombia.
I could not locate any information following their stop in Colombia.
At the very least, Rolf made it back to Colorado, becoming an associate professor at the University of Colorado from 1971-2011. I don’t know if Rolf is alive or not, but he does have an email address associated with UC. Whether he monitors it or not, I couldn’t say, but I sent him an email. Hopefully someone will respond.
August 1960 Article on Ouray, Colorado
This August 10, 1960, article in the Daily Sentinal out of Grand Junction highlights Ouray and briefly mentions the jeep tours available. You’ll note the tour-jeep in the pic in the upper left photo.
1961 Article on the Las Cruces Jeepathon Track
This July 30, 1961, article shared the news that the Las Cruces Jeep Club planned to allow non-racers a chance to drive the ‘Jeepathon’ race track before the racers got a chance to race. The photos show Carol McDonald checking the jeep and the track. I wish the photos were clearer. I’m guessing she was a Las Cruces Jeep Club member?
1960 Article on Colorado’s New Industry: Jeep Tourism
An October 11, 1960, article in Grand Junction’s ‘The Daily Sentinel’ introduced many readers to Colorado’s newest industry: Jeep Tourism.
From the article, “Now, for the first time in history, the ordinary tourist and visitor can within a day’s time see some of the nation’s real back country.”
1943 Article Buy A Jeep Campaign
This photo and article appeared in the April 16, 1943, issue of the Los Angeles Times. Kids at the State Street School sold enough war bonds ($12,773) to purchase 14 jeeps, so the Army sent 5 jeeps to the school’s field.
Natalie Mastavoi is pictured climbing into the jeep. She was the first pupil that got to sit in it. Help her into it is Sgt. Louis Gade. Principlal Frank Wells and Mrs. T.D. Harrington of the local P.T.A. are standing to the right of the jeep. I tried to find out more about the young girl and the Sargent, but had no luck.
Photo of a Davis County Utah Jeep Patrol Wagon
UPDATE: JoeB notes that his image is from the family photo collection of Ryan Ward/”Dr Moab”.
See the full collection at: https://www.oldwillysforum.com/forum/index.php?threads/vintage-willys-pictures.2634/page-74#post-158826 and https://www.oldwillysforum.com/forum/index.php?threads/vintage-willys-pictures.2634/page-74#post-158879
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Steve spotted this image that was posted to the Justacarguy website, that originally had been posted to Japlopy Journal, but despite the included link I couldn’t find it at that site. The wagon was likely related to David County, Utah.
1953 & 1956 Auburn Jeep Club Tahoe Trip Articles
These two article show how quickly the Auburn Jeep Club’s annual trek to Tahoe grew in size. The Auburn Jeep Club was founded in 1951 and it’s first trip to Lake Tahoe via Wentworth Springs included seven jeeps and twenty participants. By 1953, reservations were required. By 1956 it had grown to 33 jeeps and 116 people.
April 30, 1953, article in the Auburn Journal:
July 19, 1956, article in the Auburn Journal:
1950 Photo of Soldier Removing Snow in Korea on eBay
I suspect that PFC William Wilson would have rather been back in Arkansas at that moment. That just looks cold. I tried to learn more about William, but had no luck.
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“This is an original press photo. North Korea — PFC William Wilson, Little Rock, Arkansas, jeep driver of the Corps scoops out some of the 5 inches of snow that accumulated overnight on his jeep.Photo measures 6 x 8inches. Photo is dated 12-06-1950.”
July 1955 Article on 5th Annual Tahoe Jeep Trip
This July 14, 1955, article from the Auburn Journal (Auburn, California) highlights the upcoming two day trip from Auburn, to Wentworth Springs and on to Lake Tahoe. It also includes a lists of some of the folks participating in the event. You’ll note there is no mention of it being a Jeep or Jeepers Jamboree.
1952 or 1953 Photo of Billy Graham Korean War on eBay
Though this photo of Billy Graham smiling in a jeep is undated, Billy Graham’s website indicates he arrived for his visit in 1952, then stayed over Christmas into 1953, as another photo of him in Korea is dated 1953. More Billy Graham Korean War pics can be viewed here.
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“This is an original press photo. Graham, Billy. Billy Graham in jeep in Korea.Photo measures 10 x 8.25inches. Photo is dated –none.”
1950 Photo of Chinese Pilots in Jeep on eBay
This is a cool photo of Chinese Nationalist pilots piled on a jeep in front of P51s. Following WWII, the Chinese Nationalist Government renewed it’s civil war against Mao Zedong’s communists. The Nationalists lost enough territory over the succeeding years that in 1949 they were forced to abandon the mainland for the island formerly known as the Formosa Republic (until 1895, when the Japanese took control, not seceding control until 1945). This 1950 photo displays the Nationalists continued effort to thwart control by the Chinese communists.
“1950 Press Photo Chinese pilots ride jeep by P-51 planes at a tarmac in Formosa. This is an original press photo. Formosa (Nationalist air pilots). Kaohsiung, Formosa. The scene might be on a typical United States Army Airfield instead of on the nationalist bastion. A jeep load of P-51 pilots is on the tarmac as the Chinese version of the bright blue yonder boys head for their P-51’s to take off on a mission over the Chinese mainland. Photo measures 9 x 7inches. Photo is dated 6-5-1950.”
1956 FC-150 Introduction
This late 1956 ad introduced the FC-150 its Longview, Washington, audience.
1966 Scenic Tours Photo w/ Flattie on eBay
Cool photo and a nice shot showing Scenic Tours on the back. I imagine this the Ouray area?
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“This is an original press photo. Colorado’s high mountain country is custom made for the rugged individualist who likes to get off the beaten path into areas where man is seldom seen. Many communities rent jeeps, and some schedule jeep cavalcades that take you into areas of breathtaking beauty that have been hidden from the eyes of man since the beginning of time.Photo measures 8 x 10.25inches. Photo is dated 12-30-1966.”
1955 News Article on a Lake Tahoe Jeep Trip
The July 14th, 1955, issue of the Auburn Journal, Auburn California, highlighted events from a recent jeep trip in the Sierra Mountains from Wentworth Springs to Lake Tahoe.
William F. Baggerman’s Trips to Central & South America in a Jeep
Wiliam F. Baggerman was born and raised in the St. Louis, Missouri, area around 1914. He attended Washington University and Edinburgh University. He started Modern Management Co., a real estate management firm, in 1936, and later was employed with Sycamore Investors, Inc., a shopping center development company.
He entered what would become the Air Force right after Pearl Harbor and spent 20 months in the Pacific theatre, stationed for at least part of the time in Guam. While in Guam, for some unknown reason, he decided to travel to Central America after the war.
A year after the war ended, he purchased a jeep and, along with a trailer, headed south to Laredo, Texas, where he began his adventure.
After his trip, he wrote an 60 page book: Driving to Managua, Nicaragua (A Guide to the PanAmerican Highway Through Mexico, Guatemala, El Salvador, Honduras, and Nicaragua).
The book is part guide book and part travelogue, as most of the text describes dryly how to travel through the various countries. Yet, the pics feel far more personal; there are at least 10 photos, almost all of which include the jeep. You can view the entire book online at Hathitrust.org.
The jeep he used appears to have been a VEC with indents and a column shift, but without the rear hubs. So, I’d guess a 15xxx to 30xxx serial number. The trailer is a box on wheels … anyone know what model?
Let’s look at some pics!
This is a map of the Pan American Highway. It’s not clear to me how much he veered off the highway:
This pic shows him just entering Mexico:
Those are some beautiful mountains. But who is looking at the mountains when you can peek inside the cab and see the column shifter:
Apparently, even the jeep couldn’t take William everywhere:
Some eBay Photos
1. This first image shows a Cowboy in front of a CJ-3B with the jeep’s hood serving as a temporary desk. There is no description or date provided.
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2. These next three pics are included within one auction. View all the information on eBay. given the signs in the first photo, it would seem possible to locate where it was originally taken.
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“Original WW2 photos (2.5 x 3.75 inches), curled from age, with some handling wear. These belonged to Corporal Alton Gilbert, a soldier in Company A of the 506th Military Police Battalion.”
3. These three photos were taken near a mine in 1961. Based on the terrain, my off-the-cuff guess is that the scenes remind me of the area around Cripple Creek, Colorado. Anyone who knows the area better have different thoughts?
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“3 1960s 35mm Slides Family Enjoys Off Road Jeep Willys Mining Town Tour 1961”
Don Pratt Jeep Tours
UPDATE: As best as I can tell, it looks like 1963 was when Don Pratt’s Jeep Tours began working with the Kachina Cab company. The article appeared in the August 13, 1963, issue of the Arizona Republic:
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Originally posted June 2019: According to this Pink Jeep Tour site, Pink Jeep Tours is the oldest continuously operating Jeep Tour Company in the United States. It was started in 1958 by a Sedona Realtor named Don Pratt, who would drive clients to see homes at Broken Arrow Estates. The Broken Arrow tour is the original Jeep tour and is still today the most popular tour in Sedona.Why did he make the jeeps pink? Mr. Pratt got the idea while visiting the Royal Hawaiian Hotel on Waikiki Beach, where everything was pink.
But, that’s only part of the story. In her book Echoes of Sedona Past, Mary Lou Keller explains how her and her husband cleared the first trail and how, when Glenn Keller decided not to open a jeep tour business, their friend Don Pratt asked if he could do it instead. Mrs. Keller covers the story in five pages of her book available to read on Google.The book also includes the image below of Mary Lou Keller with her do Pico in her (probably) 1946 CJ-2A:
Negative of MB/GPW w/ External Tank on eBay
The negative of this below image was spotted by Steve. I wonder if the handling felt odd when the tank was full?
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“Original one-of-a-kind amateur 2 1/4″ square negative. Excellent condition. The listing image was created using PhotoShop to make a positive digital image. I did very little adjusting; you should be able to produce a much better print/image than the one shown in this listing.”
1943 Jeep Used For English Stag Hunt
Steve shared this July 2, 1943, article in the South Western Adviser (Perth, WA, Australia) about a couple of soldiers in a jeep who decided to join an English hunt.
https://trove.nla.gov.au/newspaper/article/149800975?
“JEEP HUNT”
THE UNITED STATES ARMY JEEP, ITS DRIVERS SAY, CAN GO ANYWHERE, AND DO ANYTHING, BUT, FOR THE FIRST TIME IN HISTORY, ONE WAS USED TO RIDE TO HOUNDS IN AN ENGLISH | STAG HUNT.
It happened “somewhere in England,” as soldiers developed their shooting eyes for Jerries on a rifle range. A firing group had just taken up places;’ adjust rifle slings, and were aiming, when the officer in charge yelled, “Hold it, men!”
Directly across the row of distant targets bounded a , magnificent stag. Soldiers’ mouths fell open as out of the; woods a Jeep hurtled in hot pursuit. In it rode two yelling, khaki-clad Robin Hoods.
The sergeant driver sent his vehicle bounding across small streams, missing trees by inches. A few seconds later a pack of hounds appeared in full cry. In fourth place, and well out of the
money, dashed mounted huntsmen.
An officer promptly ended the Doughbouys participation in the hunt. Huntsmen made it clear that chasing stags in Jeeps is definitely frowned upon in England. They also added—politely—that hunting is done only by invitation.
—Canadian Press Dispatch. J