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1943 GPW Hays, KS $3500

• CATEGORIES: GPW (Ford MB) This site contains affiliate links for which I may be compensated.

UPDATE: Still Available.

(9/21//2023) I expect the seller is offering to sell a title left over from another jeep for $300.

https://www.facebook.com/marketplace/item/165495793196397

“1943 Ford GPW with a stuck ford 6cyl. Original body frame and data plates. Comes with bill of sale, title available for an extra 300”

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Happy New Year 2024!!

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

Welcome to 2024!

This upcoming year of the Dragon marks the seventeenth year of eWillys; it continues to be the longest ‘job’ I’ve ever had. The site seems to have its own inertia that pulls me along. Despite all the posts, approaching 65,000, interesting new stories still appear, which keeps me energized, as I think it does you all.

To that point, in 2023 I spent more money on old docs than ever before, mostly in the form of Willys and Jeep News issues. I’ll be publishing more issues throughout January, into February. Most of the issues are early to mid 1960s, so you’ll see more full-size jeeps, but most still contain information on the older jeep models as well.

My goal for 2024 will be to continue on the every-two-day or three-day-update schedule. Now that I have so many Willys Jeep News issues, my hope is to weave together interesting stories that span across the various issues. Two post that I know I will do are 1) a post on the range of custom campers built from FC-170s and 2) the wide range of ice cream jeeps. I also hope to create more of an index, so that jeep news, brochures and other documents can be arranged along a timeline. Again, we’ll see how things go.

With the chaos of family illnesses and death behind us for now (fingers crossed) over the last six years, I had more free time to read in 2023. At six hundred pages, “And The Band Played On” by Randy Shilts, a book about how HIV and AIDs unfolded in the 1980s, is one I just finished and proved the most interesting book of the year, even though it was written in 1987. Another fascinating book is a new one by Kashmir Hill called “Your Face Belongs to Us”, which highlights the scary way in a company called Clearview can locate your image in videos based on the company’s ENORMOUS database of video and still images (I can guarantee it is worse than you think it is). Big Kibble was another interesting book, this one covering the history of dog food (I like history-of-food books). Other books I read include Deluge, Zoobiquity, Paradise: One Town’s Struggle to Survive and American Wildfire, Sedition Hunters, Angle of Repose, among others.

Speaking of books, it’s crazy that this year will mark thirteen years since I published my first book, Finding Virginia, and seven years since my last one, Slag. I have returned to researching my next book about Rossiter Raymond, once the pre-eminent mining engineer in the world. I’m still looking for the right narrative to tell his story (maybe I can sneak in a jeep?). We’ll see how things go.

On the jeep front, work has begun on the FC Tour Jeep. I’ve removed all the rear seating and carpet. Given I want to raise the rear bed to a point that more closely reflects the original tour bed, I must decide whether to build atop what’s there or remove all the rear bed and build a new rear floor altogether, then reimplement the existing sides and rollbars. Also, I was able to secure a set of original FC-170 seats (thanks to Craig) that can be reupholstered, so that’s one less thing to worry about!
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Meanwhile, the race jeep gets started and run once a week. It still needs some graphics, but that’s pretty trivial. I hope this spring to take it somewhere local to give it a few workouts. When I was driving it around our pasture last fall, it seemed to be missing slightly in the high end, so I want to test it a little more to explore that more once the weather warms.

As for 2024 trips, Ann will likely be in DC at some point in January. She has spent the last two months working on a bill for the existing victims of state sponsored terrorism, which attempts to fix and tighten an original bill passed by Congress in 2015. Later in the year we may be in Sea Cliff, New York, so that I can give a presentation as part of a museum exhibit related to my family’s history in Sea Cliff. Of course, we also plan to attend a few weekend jeep races here in the Washington State this summer. Depending on what happens over the next couple of months, we are considering a trip to Europe, but we’ll see how that goes. If we don’t go to Europe, and if the FC Tour Jeep gets done in time, we may take it to one or more summer events. However, finding someone to stay and manage our property, and especially our dogs, is our biggest hurdle to travel.

That’s all for now. Stay safe and have a wonderful 2024.

 
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March 1960 Jeep News

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

This eight-page Jeep News was published in March of 1960. On the front page, the company announced the 1960 ‘Jeep’ Approved Equipment Sales Program to further push third party equipment sales, which rose 33% in 1959 vs 1958. Willys Motors also welcomed a new Jeep Approved Equipment sign.

In addition, the front page highlighted the Surrey, noting that Pepsi had purchased 100 surreys, making it the largest Surrey purchase to date. Eighteen of those went to Tulsa in custom colors of Code N-57 Pepsi-Cola Yellow and Pepsi-Cola Creamed Striped Vinyl, but it is less clear to me what colors were used for the other surreys. Finally, the front page noted that the Surrey would appear in “Seventeen” Magazine on April 04, 1960 (see full ad in black and white here).

Page two referenced three different brochures. The first brochure was highlighted to announce that an updated version of the value-rater with 1960 data had been published (view the 1959 version here). The second two brochures were intended as mailers for a targeted audience of contractors, engineers, and other building trades people. The first mailer was titled “When The Weather Outside Is Frightful” (DM60-01), while the second one was “Building Up? Or Down?” (DM60-02). At least nine 1960 DM60-XX brochures were produced, though I am still missing DM60-05, DM60-07, and DM60-08.

A story on page three describes the use of a Surrey by the fashionable “Togs for Women” stores as “a trailing fashion show, with a trailer loaded of the latest in women’s clothing.” Pages four and five cover the rise of jeep clubs from across the country, both for fun and for community service. Pages six and seven have a variety of FC stories.

Page eight has another Bonners Willys story, this time highlighting a DJ-3A Dispatcher, though the hardtop on the dispatcher looks most like a very early Willys Overland top like this one. Meanwhile, a different article shared the news of a thirty-two Dispatcher purchase by Sommers Drugs, a San Antonio, Texas, drug store chain.

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March 1960 Seventeen Magazine Swingy Surrey Stripes

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

Page 140 of the April 1960 issue of Seventeen Magazine included a photoshoot titled ‘Swingy Surrey Stripes’ that used a jeep Surrey (as reported in the March 1960 issue of Jeep News). I looked into buying a copy of that issue on eBay, but it would have been $50 with shipping. Instead, I found a black and white version from archive.org. In August of 1960, a contest ad for a Surrey-give-away would appear in a  Seventeen Magazine ad for Miss Gotham.

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Jan(?) 1960 Weather Outside Is Frightful Brochure

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

These are photos from eBay of a 1960 brochure, though I can’t tell the exact form number. My guess is that it is Form DM60-01, based on this March 1960  Jeep News issue. I had a chance to buy this once on ebay, but missed out on it.

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Feb 1960 Building Up? Or Down? Jeep Brochure

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

This February 1960 Building Up? Or Down? brochure had some older photos, so I’ve updated them.

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Custom Stage Coach on T-Bucket Frame Rawlins, WY $5000

• CATEGORIES: Other 4x4s This site contains affiliate links for which I may be compensated.

Need a new project for 2024 and want something really different? Look no further than this custom stagecoach atop a T-bucket frame.

https://www.facebook.com/marketplace/item/739762921012958/

“Custom stagecoach on T bucket frame, small block ford motor with a three speed automatic. Open to offers.”

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1947 CJ-2A Billings, MT $8000

• CATEGORIES: CJ-2A This site contains affiliate links for which I may be compensated.

Unclear why I haven’t seen this one pop up on FB Marketplace prior to today. Looks solid.

https://www.facebook.com/marketplace/item/2232677643610140

“1947 Jeep Willys. Clean title. Great shape. Runs great. Tires have very few miles on them. $8,000 OBO”

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1953 CJ-3B Golden, CO $10,000

• CATEGORIES: CJ-3B This site contains affiliate links for which I may be compensated.

UPDATE: Still Available.

(11/21/2023) Looks in good shape.

https://www.facebook.com/marketplace/item/633305172066353

“Original 134ci 4 cylinder. 2 inch lift. New hubs and new overdrive. 3 speed manual transmission”

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1994? Flattie Shawnee, KS $22,000

• CATEGORIES: Other 4x4s • TAGS: This site contains affiliate links for which I may be compensated.

Here’s an unusual build.

https://www.facebook.com/marketplace/item/3408199159443713

“1994 willys fully restored with Toyota c3  turbo  engine With NON HIGHWAY TITlE!!!!!! shipping on me anywhere in the USA”

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1974 CJ-5 Arcadia, NE $4000

• CATEGORIES: CJ5 This site contains affiliate links for which I may be compensated.

Seems like a good price for a running, driving later model CJ-5.

https://www.facebook.com/marketplace/item/595385569293050

“1974 Jeep CJ5. Fairly clean rig. Don’t drive it as much as we thought we would. PM for more questions!”

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1953 Wagon Springfield, MO $10,000

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

Might be worth a look.

https://www.facebook.com/marketplace/item/1026951955020164

“New fuel lines , brakes gas tank Hot rod glass windshield new headliner needs cleaned original wood floor new floor pan new tires hurricane 6 cylinder high low 4 wheel drive new tires new muffler 10000 cash firm getting ready to put on a national market then the price goes up”

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1957 CJ-5 & 1999 Wrangler Meeker, OK $8600

• CATEGORIES: CJ5 • TAGS: This site contains affiliate links for which I may be compensated.

The CJ-5 looks solid. It has a Kelly hardtop. This could be a good price for the right person.

https://www.facebook.com/marketplace/item/1411409753118463

“1957 willys jeep partially restored runs and drives under original motor and transmission 4 wheel drive 4 cylinder manual transmission 1999 jeep wrangler runs and drives extremely rough but has been fun in the mountains and mud 4 wheelbdrive 4 cylinder manual transmission”

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1976 CJ-5 St. Joseph, MO $1000

• CATEGORIES: CJ5 This site contains affiliate links for which I may be compensated.

Seems like a good parts jeep.

https://www.facebook.com/marketplace/item/1901753830220850

“No title . Was going to use it for parts need to clear out some projects. Body had rust engine missing parts . Would be good parts or build a trail rig or mud unit”

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Year? Panel Truck Trailer Lennox, SD $800 OBO

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

This would making an interesting trailer behind a jeep.

https://www.facebook.com/marketplace/item/7075302085910845/

“1950’s bell telephone service panel truck trailer. Has original roof rack. Works good as trailer or could be put back on truck. No title. Newer tires. $800 obo”

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1947 CJ-2A Fort Collins, CO $4000

• CATEGORIES: CJ-2A This site contains affiliate links for which I may be compensated.

UPDATE: Price dropped to $4000.

(12/30/2023) This appears to have a replacement body.

https://www.facebook.com/marketplace/item/215770208239465

“Tub has no rust. Original drive train works. F-head motor. Starts and stops. Needs gas tank cleaned and new supply line. Mileage unknown. Serious inquiries only. No trades.”

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1949? CJ-2A Dallas Center, IA $2500

• CATEGORIES: CJ-2A • TAGS: This site contains affiliate links for which I may be compensated.

This is likely a 1948. It’s got a rough Porter & Reed hardtop. Body is in tough shape, but does include a 6′ Meyer snowplow.

https://www.facebook.com/marketplace/item/1093217518572388

“Body is in bad shape. Early chevy V8 255 Cubic inch transplant motor. Current Iowa title. Comes with a 72 inch Meyer snow plow. I can load on a trailer”

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1968 CJ-6 Luebbering, MO $450

• CATEGORIES: CJ-6 This site contains affiliate links for which I may be compensated.

UPDATE: Price dropped to $450.

(08/21/2023) Unclear how much value is here.

https://www.facebook.com/marketplace/item/239448831861494

“No motor but still has trans. I lost the title”

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1959 FC-150 Holdredge, NE $2500

• CATEGORIES: FC150-FC170-M677 This site contains affiliate links for which I may be compensated.

UPDATE: Still Available.

(11/25/2023) This is a project.

https://www.facebook.com/marketplace/item/794686425748217

“1959 fc150. The cab is in ruff shape but workable. Glass is good except for a passenger window that has a crack. The bed is original and so is the tailgate. Both are in good shape with a little surface rust. The frame is also original and in decent shape. Comes with a chevy 307 that need some work. Has the original transmission and transfer case, also comes with an extra transfer case and another t90 transmission but it is top shift. The fenders for the bed are in great shape. Has a clear title.”

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1949 CJ-3A Caledonia, MN $1000

• CATEGORIES: CJ-3A This site contains affiliate links for which I may be compensated.

Not a whole lot of value here. Appears to have some Cutlas hubs.

https://www.facebook.com/marketplace/item/3647374178869339/

“1949 cj-3a for parts, engine stuck, tub is rough. Rolls fine NO TITLE 1000$ obo”

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January 1959 Jeep News

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

This six-page January 1959 issue of Jeep News is only six pages.

Page one shares dealer news, as does much of page two. Page two (and page six) also has a ‘history’ of the jeep, which at that point was only eighteen or nineteen years old, depending on the start date of 1941 or 1940. Page three devotes a whole page to Jarvis Jeep out of Portland, Oregon. An article on page four tells the story of an FC-170, with an unusual bed, that was used as part of a Christmas tree business. Page seven has a story about an FC-170 out of Hutchinson, Kansas, with a variety of extras. Page eight covers the newly formed Tulare County Four-Wheel Drive Club.

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The Willys-Overland Forge Booklet

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

UPDATE: Colin estimates 1949 on this brochure, figuring there were new forges installed for some 1950 products.

I won this odd ball item as part of a 3-item auction where nobody else bidded! This twenty-eight-page Willys-Overland Forge booklet provides some background and highlights about the company’s forging process. My guess, based on the last page, is that Willys-Overland was attempting to find corporate customers that needed parts or other items forged, suggesting that the forge may not have been running at full capacity making jeep parts. There’s no date on this, but my guess is that this was produced around 1950.

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Continue reading

 
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1960s Postcard with a DJ-3A Surrey at Tides Motel in NH

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

This is a second card sent by Chris. There’s no date on it, but given the Surrey top looks in good shape, I’d guess mid to late 1960s. The Tides Motel, still at the same location, sits in Hampton Beach, New Hampshire. I suspect the jeep is no longer there …1960s-postcard-dj3a-tides-motel-chris1 1960s-postcard-dj3a-tides-motel-chris2

 

 
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Postcard: 1940s Motor Pool at Camp Banding, Florida

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

Chris sent this postcard with a Christmas letter. It shows one of the motor pools and Camp Landing. The postcard describes Army life as “busy” and “never a dull moment”. At the end, the author Bob asks how deer hunting was. It’s dated December 8, 1943. Many thanks Chris!

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1949 CJ-3A Colorado Springs, CO $6800

• CATEGORIES: CJ-3A This site contains affiliate links for which I may be compensated.

This looks like a good price.

https://www.facebook.com/marketplace/item/908214397616270/

“1949 cj3a. Chevy 350 (38,000 miles) Turbo 400 transmiss Runs and drives”

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