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The Meyer Hardtop Built by Orroville

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

A Mark III Meyer hardtop for a CJ-5

A couple days ago a reader named Jeremy asked me about his top (above), referring to it as an “Orville Meyers” top. As I read that, I thought … hmmm … I’d never heard of an “Orville Meyers” hardtop.

While I had heard of a Meyer (without an “s”) hardtop (like the one above) and I’d heard of a Meyers (with an s) hardtop, better known as the manufacturer of the Allstate/Sears hardtops, I had never encountered a “Orville Meyers” top. I thought I’d better do a search, because I figure Jeremy must have gotten the name from somewhere.

The search results revealed that some of the folks over at the earlyCJ5 forum use various iterations of Orville Meyer(s) to describe what was marketed in the 60s as a Meyer hardtop. The addition of Orville made me think that the Orville connection must have originated from somewhere given its prevalence over there.

Several searches later, I learned how Orrville (2 “r”s and 2 “l”s) Body Company, was connected with the Meyer Products company.

At some point in the late 1950s or early 1960s, the Meyer Products company, from Cleveland, Ohio, chose to enter the hardtop market for the jeep. Up to that point, Meyer was known more for its snow plows, a product Meyer had built for vehicles before the jeep ever existed.

 

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The Short History of Orrville Body Works (read the long history here): The Orrville Body Works seems to have gotten it’s name from the city of Orrville, Ohio, a city southwest of Akron. Started as a small cabinet shop under a different name, by 1925 it had become the Orrville Body Works that produced a variety of truck cabs. Soon the name changed to the Oroville Body Company.

Meyer buys Orrville: Fast forwarding to the early 1960s, at some unknown time, Meyer contracted with Orrville to build custom jeeps cabs, though it’s not clear what tops Orrville initially built. What we do know is that the president and owner of Oroville died in September of 1964. A year later, in late 1965, Orrville was purchased by Meyer and was made a subsidiary of Meyer for the purpose of adding a line of jeep hardtops to Orrville’s portfolio of product, but with the tops marketed under the Meyer brand. The name of the company was changed from the Orrville Body Company to Orrville products, Inc.

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The Meyer Mark III jeep cab on a Meyer CJ-5, possibly a tux park.

Meyer introduces the new hardtops: A year after the purchase, Meyer introduced it’s new line of hardtops. According to the December 16, 1966, issue of the Orrville Courier Crescent,

“Jeep News, a publication of the Kaiser-Jeep Corp. of Toledo, is featuring in its current issue a new all-steel ‘M-III’ cab designed especially for its famous four-wheel vehicle by the Meyer Products Co., Inc., of Cleveland which is now being built here in the Orrville Products Co. plant, a subsidiary of Meyer Products.

“Built-in standard features of the cab include sound deadening, streamlined appearance, almost complete visibility in every direction and snug cold-weather comfort for owners of Jeep Universal. Two styles are available; each custom engineered for either the CJ 5 or CJ 6 model.

“The ‘owner-designed’ Meyer cab has welded and sealed drip moldings for maximum water run-off, and a four-step baked enamel finish for utmost durability. All components are steam cleaned, phosphate – coated and primed with a special rust-preventing coating before painting. The hard enamel finish coat is precision-baked in a special oven under close temperature control. Lustrous glacier white enamel is standard but other colors are available on quantity orders.

“Optional accessories provide Meyer cab users additional comfort and convenience. A two-position air vent gives the driver finger-tip control for drawing in fresh air or exhausting stale air. A roof-mounted tire rack assembly puts the spare tire up out of the way, yet easily accessible when needed. Continue reading

 
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My New “Monopoly” Jeep

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

I picked up this tiny little jeep on eBay. It was made in France, most likely recently. I bought it because it seemed a perfect size for a Monopoly piece, a game my kids and I still play on occasion. Unfortunately, they’ve figured out some of my strategies for beating them, so I don’t win as often!

View all the information on eBay

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AVM Automatic Hub

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

avm-brazil-automatic-hub-hugo-vidal

This photo showing an AVM Automatic hub popped up on the ECJ5 forum the other day. You’ll note it makes a reference to Warn. While I’ve yet to confirm this with Hugo Vidal, this looks to be a great example of an AVM automatic hub that was patterned after the Warn automatic hub, a brief and failed experiment by Warn to have hubs that didn’t require manual engagement.

For those that don’t know, AVM was started by Hugo Vidal in 1957 (AVM) after a handshake-deal with Arthur Warn while Hugo and his two friends were driving a CJ-3B around the Americas (Brasil to Alaska, 1955 on CJ3B.info). Using Warn’s specs, Hugo was able to resell Warn tech under the AVM brand. Eventually, AVM expanded outside of Brazil. After 50 years, Hugo retired from AVM. Hugo and Warn (and his son) never had an actual contract. It was always a handshake deal built on trust.

Hugo was so important to Brazil’s jeep history that FCA Brazil called him First Citizen of Jeep Nation in a 2018 video that can be seen here: Post Alaska Or Rust Item: FCA Brazil’s Video of Hugo Vidal

 
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2 Jeepster Jacket Patches on eBay

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

These two Jeepster patches are on eBay. According to the seller, they may be from the 1980s, but someone else might be able to give a more accurate date.

  1. 5 1/2″ wide Willys Yellow Jeepster unused jacket patch:
    eepster-jacket-patch-yellow
  2. 5 1/2″ wide Willys red Jeepster unused jacket patch:
    jeepster-jacket-patch-red
 
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2 Different Willys-Overland Jeepster Club Jacket Patches on eBay

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

These two patches are on eBay. According to the seller, they may be from the 1980s, but someone else might be able to give a more accurate date.

  1. 5″x6″ Willys-Overland Jeepster Club Jacket Patch
    willys-overland-jeepster-club-patch1
  2. 4 1/8″ Willys-Overland Midstates Jeepster Association Jacket Patch:
    willys-overland-jeepster-club-patch2
 
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1986 Land Rover LR2 Walhalla, SC $9500

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

I’m not familiar with this model (not that I’m all that familiar with any of the models, but this one even less so).

https://www.facebook.com/marketplace/item/221153606360789

“Rare Lightweight ex- British Military, right hand drive. Excellent mechanically with the exception of second gear which jumps out sometimes. Many new parts – brakes, suspension, seats, canvas top, paintwork.”

1968-land-rover-lrw-walhalla-sc02 1968-land-rover-lrw-walhalla-sc0 1968-land-rover-lrw-walhalla-sc1 1968-land-rover-lrw-walhalla-sc2

Continue reading

 
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1968 CJ-6 Winchester, KY **SOLD**

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

UPDATE: **SOLD** Was $3500.

Tom spotted this CJ-6. It needs some work, but seems worth a look. It doesn’t run.

“1968 Jeep CJ6 – not a Renegade as FB would not let me list CJ6 – I have owned this Jeep for over five years – I bought it to restore however I have too many projects. The good… complete original unmolested Jeep including seats, engine is free – I have not tried to start it – rare Meyer hardtop – pretty solid body – rust in driver floor as pictured – I do have a title in my name. The bad – it’s an old Jeep that needs love”

1968-cj6-winchester-ky5 1968-cj6-winchester-ky6 1968-cj6-winchester-ky7 1968-cj6-winchester-ky8 1968-cj6-winchester-ky9

 
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1952 M-38 Dacula, GA **SOLD**

• CATEGORIES: M-38 This site contains affiliate links for which I may be compensated.

UPDATE: **SOLD** Was $10,000.

This does not have a title.

1953-m38-dacula-ga0 1953-m38-dacula-ga1 1953-m38-dacula-ga2 1953-m38-dacula-ga3 1953-m38-dacula-ga4

“This Jeep does not have a title. It will be sold with a bill of sale only. Don’t read any further if you can’t deal with buying it on a bill of sale only. Getting a title is possible through a title company or through the DMV in your state once you purchase it depending on the laws in your state. A title is not required to register this in GA.

This is a running and driving 1952 M38. It was pretty much unmolested when I rescued it from a farm in North Carolina. I replaced all the missing parts and corrected some of the civilianized stuff.
It has original body tub and all sheet metal and original drive train. Engine runs strong but smokes a little. New Solex carburetor, wiring, lights, brakes, battery, alternator, gauges (not all working) and electric wiring. Misc. body hardware new and new gas tank. Original seat frames sand blasted and painted with new canvas. Older original canvas top. New windshield. All fluids checked and replaced. New brakes all four wheels. Picture on trailer is when I got it a while back. . Other pictures are current.”

 
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1948 CJ-2A Salinas, CA **SOLD**

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

UPDATE: **SOLD** Was $5500.

It’s a project with a variety of updates.

“For sale 1948 Willy’s Jeep CJ3 a work in progress almost to many things to list GM 4.3 Vortec engine,new wheel bearings,new rear brakes, front brake converted to disc brakes, new springs,updated tie rods, power steering, transfer case and transmission new bearings and seals. Comes with new new steel hood and fiberglass body.”

1948-cj2a-salina-ks1 2 1948-cj2a-salina-ks3 1948-cj2a-salina-ks4

 
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1958 CJ-3B Callahan, FL $2000

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

UPDATE: Still Available.

(01/24/2021) I’m not sure how many parts are included with this project.

https://www.facebook.com/CJ-3B/item/1887476538067956

“1958 willys,,,have to sell project….motor already pulled and chassis off frame…have to sell bad health…lot of new parts,,,great project”

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1947 CJ-2A Yakima, WA $4500

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

This needs finishing, but unclear what work is left.

https://www.facebook.com/marketplace/item/450386672678992

“327 v8 auto matic Runs good need finished posting for a friend”

1947-cj2a-yakima-wa41 1947-cj2a-yakima-wa42 1947-cj2a-yakima-wa43 1947-cj2a-yakima-wa4

 
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1953 Jeep Buggy Fort Lauderdale, FL eBay

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

UPDATE: This is back on eBay. It’s priced at $3500 or make offer.

(09/28/2020) This buggy has a feature I’ve not see previously. The shifter knob is a tow ball.

View all the information on eBay

“jeep willys 1953 . Condition is Used.”

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1947 CJ-2A Carthage, TN $2200

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

UPDATE: Price dropped to $2200.

(01/19/2021) Not sure how much value is here.

https://www.facebook.com/marketplace/item/438013297398642

“1947 Willys CJ2A for sale. Mostly complete but needs full restoration. Clear title and all body and frame tags are on the Willys. Makes a great conversation starter and women dig it!”

1947-cj2a-carthage-tn1 1947-cj2a-carthage-tn2 1947-cj2a-carthage-tn3 1947-cj2a-carthage-tn4

 
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1948 CJ-2A Bend, OR $4000

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

This could be worth a look. Not running at the moment, but it all looks pretty solid.

https://www.facebook.com/marketplace/item/271841414558901

“1948 Willlies Jeep, has not been run in years. Was running driving before stored. Newer motor and wiring was installed less than Year before stored. Has original motor and parts as well. Had metal hardtop and two non matching doors, never actually ever put on. Was torn apart sanded and repainted before stored. Paint currently in poor shape. This was purchased by grandfather and given to son, then grandson, then great grandson who is not interested in restoring or keeping.”

1948-cj2a-bend-or-1 1948-cj2a-bend-or-2 1948-cj2a-bend-or-3 1948-cj2a-bend-or-9

 
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Ten-Passenger Personnel Carrier

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

On eBay the other day there were these two different technical sheets from Willys of Canada Limited. The truck spec seems pretty straight forward, though the company labeled it a 126″ Jeep Truck (named for the wheelbase length … why wasn’t it the standard 118″ wheelbase?). But, the wagon had me scratching my head. Given the split windshield of wagon (I can’t tell if the truck has it), my instant thought was that these were both pre-1960 vehicles, especially given they both used the Superhurricane L-head.

As we learned yesterday, Canada didn’t have it’s own production plant until mid-1959, so if these personnel carriers are earlier than that, then they must have been made in the US and imported into Canada. The lack of the ‘hockey stick’ trim suggests they were earlier than the Traveller. Are they a precursor to the Traveller or were they concurrent to the Traveller? If the latter, why the split windshield and why wouldn’t they have been named ‘Traveller’?

Meanwhile, searches for any reference to the 126″ Jeep Truck or the Ten-Passenger Personnel Carrier haven’t yielded any newspaper ads or brochures.

Here is the Ten-Passenger Personnel Carrier spect sheet:
year-ten-passenger-personnel-wagon-canada1-lores year-ten-passenger-personnel-wagon-canada2-lores

Here is the 126″ Jeep Truck spec sheet. Was it a coincidence that the J-300 truck introduced in 1962 was also had a 126″ wheel base?

Over the years I’ve heard about two Willys truck bed sizes, a shorter one and a longer one, but all the info I’ve read indicated the Willys Jeep truck beds were all the same size. If a bed was made to fit this longer wheelbase, it may have meant the creation of a longer bed. This might explain the rumor of the longer beds?

year-126-jeep-truck-canada1-lores

 
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1942 Jeep Figment to Fact Article

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

This “Figment to Face” article about the jeep’s conception-to-reality story landed in a variety of newspapers across the US, though this is the best scan of it so far (which doesn’t speak too highly of the other scans, as it shouldn’t). I wondered how many other drawings were made that weren’t realized with the standardization of the jeep.

The article appeared in the Daily Reporter out of Greenfield, Indiana, on October 19, 1942:

1942-10-19-daily-reporter-greenfield-in-jeep-drawings-vs-reality-lores

 
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WANTED: Pics of the 25V 60amp M-38A1 Alternator Conversion

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

David wants to convert his 1952 M-38A1 from a generator to a 25v 60 amp alternator. He can be contacted at ddelamar35 @ gmail.com (remove the spaces around the @ before emailing).

He writes,  “I am trying to convert the generator system on my ’52 M38A1 to a 25v 60amp alternator. I have the alternator and the conversion wiring harness, but I would appreciate seeing pictures of such a conversion and/or speaking to someone who has done it. I know that the m38a1’s manufactured by Ford in Canada had this feature”

He’s already done his research and is familiar with this post on the topic from the WillysMJeeps.com forum here, here,  and the G503 forum, but is hoping to find more pics or even discuss it with someone who has made the conversion.

 
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Gold-Plated FC-170 Ashtray with Box **SOLD**

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

UPDATE: **SOLD** Was listed at $175.

(03/01/2021) This rare package includes a plaque and the original box (pretty cool box). The starting bid is $175.

“THIS AUCTION IS FOR A WILLYS JEEP MODEL FC 170 GOLD PLATED ASH TRAY IN ITS ORIGINAL BOX AND INCLUDES “CARE” INSERT.
WILLYS MOTORS INC. OF TOLEDO, OHIO
GOLD PLATED WITH 22K GOLD PLATE
THE ASHTRAY IS IN GREAT SHAPE WITH MINIMAL WEAR.
THE BOX IS IN GODD SHAPE ALSO WITH GOOD COLOR AND GRAPHICS.
50’S VINTAGE
A NICE, RARE, JEEP TOY”

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Continue reading

 
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1949 CJ-3A Motley, MN $8200

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

UPDATE: Price dropped to $8200.

(03/05/2021) The hubs look interesting; maybe Thor Automatic hubs?

https://www.facebook.com/marketplace/item/1117322162065006

“Runs and drives 12 Volt 134 F Head Motor/Engine Lots of new parts…… Suspension Springs, Shocks, and Shackles Brakes Brake lines Master Cylinder Wheel Cylinder Pads Wheel Bearings Tires Battery Some Wiring Muffler and Tailpipe Gas Tank Gas line Side Steps Tabs good till September Good Title”

1949-cj3a-motley-mn1 1949-cj3a-motley-mn2 1949-cj3a-motley-mn3 1949-cj3a-motley-mn4

 
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1958 CJ-5 Batesville, AR $6500

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

UPDATE: Still Available.

(12/31/2020) This has a dual PTO with a Ramsey winch in the front and a rear PTO gearbox in the back. It’s topped by a Koenig hardtop.

https://www.facebook.com/marketplace/item/454676592168935

1958-cj5-batesville-ar0 1958-cj5-batesville-ar1 1958-cj5-batesville-ar2 1958-cj5-batesville-ar3 1958-cj5-batesville-ar4

“1958 Willy’s Jeep CJ5 (Serial # [hidden information])
-Starts/Runs/Drives
-RARE Dauntless Buick V6
-Front PTO drives working RAMSEY WINCH.
-rear PTO spins/works perfectly.
-Hard Top from KOENIG IRON WORKS and Hard Doors
-Dualmatic Locking Hubs
-New Tires/Rims

CONS
-some rust spots
-seats need reupholstered
-loud exhaust (dual glass packs I believe)
-no heat/air
-a lot of play in steering wheel”

 
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CJ-5 and Scout II for Sale on Long Island

• CATEGORIES: CJ5, Other 4x4s This site contains affiliate links for which I may be compensated.

Nick spotted these two vehicles near Glen Cove in case anyone’s interested. My email issues with my main account delay our connection, so he can’t be sure if they are still available.

1974-cj5-ny1 1974-cj5-ny2 1974-cj5-ny3 1974-cj5-ny4 scout-ii-ny0

Continue reading

 
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1974 CJ-6 Bayfield, CO **SOLD**

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

UPDATE: **SOLD** Was $10,000.

Runs and drives.

“Posting for a friend. He’s selling his Rare 1974 jeep CJ 6. It has the 258 inline 6 that runs like a top. 3spd manual. Has dana 30 front axles and Dana 44 in the rear with limit slip. It is in very restore able shape or to be customized. Has 85584 original miles on it. New fuel tank and fairly new tires mounted on the orignal wheels radiator was replaced about a year ago. New windshield also. He’s asking 10k.”

1974-cj6-bayfield-co1 1974-cj6-bayfield-co2 1974-cj6-bayfield-co3 1974-cj6-bayfield-co4

 
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1948 CJ-2A Fort Collins, CO $13,500

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

UPDATE: Still Available.

(01/29/2021) Has a some minor updates.

https://www.facebook.com/marketplace/item/225126065875711

“12volt electric conversion Soft top/ rollover bar/ bench back seat Reupholstered seats/ front seat belts. Locking glove box. Liberty tires/plus spare tire Been kept in garage.”

1948-cj2a-fortcollins-co-81 1948-cj2a-fortcollins-co-82 1948-cj2a-fortcollins-co-83 1948-cj2a-fortcollins-co-84

 
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CJ-3B & CJ-3A Long Grove, IA $1000

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

Seller wants these projects gone. The Koenig hardtop on the 3B looks restorable. The 3A body appears to be sitting on a later model CJ chassis.

https://www.facebook.com/marketplace/item/1178423975921503

“1940 Jeep Willys · Sedan · Driven 3,000 miles Two jeep Willys! Best for parts NO TITLES AND DO NOT RUN! Got them and was going to build mud toys out of them had to have surgery and can’t do it! $1000 or best want gone!”

2-jeeps-longgrove-ia1 2-jeeps-longgrove-ia2

 
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1947 CJ-2A Lyle, MN $1700

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

No engine.

https://www.facebook.com/marketplace/item/915041835706287

“No motor no top or doors I was told it was non-military no title bill of sale”

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