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Laurel C. Worman and the Worman Products for Early Jeeps

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

UPDATE II: More history on the Worman company in the January 1948 issue of Wilys Overland Sales News.

UPDATE: This article appeared in the 2016 Winter edition of Dispatcher Magazine. The original of this was posted in October of 2106 as a series of notes, but is now updated with text from that article along with some additional photos.

Willys-Overland equipment manufacturers experienced a range of successes and failures. One of those who entered the market at the dawn of the CJ-2A to achieve the former was Laurel C. Worman, a businessman who created the first set of jeep hardtops for different applications, most sold under the brand Jee-Cab.

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Early Willys-Overland branded Laurel C. Worman built hardtop.

EARLY YEARS OF LAUREL C. WORMAN:
Laurel C. Worman was born in 1898 in Toledo, Ohio, to Ernest and Clara Worman. He was the younger of two children. The boy’s father Ernest was a self-made man, who developed a large hardwood lumber business, something Laurel must have watched with fascination. When he was old enough, Laurel married Muriel Florence Jackson. The pair had two sons, Ernest “Ernie” William and Lester Lee Worman. The couple later divorced. By 1940, Laurel had remarried a woman named Ruth.

Perhaps Laurel’s father’s entrepreneurial influence led him to become a self-made man himself. While his early employment history has yet to be unearthed, by 1941, Laurel was president of Packard Toledo, Inc. Well known in Toledo automotive circles, Laurel later that year became a northwestern Ohio distributor for the new Willys Americar. It may have been the car that interested him most, but more likely it was the potential of the jeep, which had garnered automotive interest for more than a year.

About this time in 1941, Laurel C. Worman incorporated a company by the same name, under which he placed the Willys dealership. It was only one of several companies he would co-found. In December 1941, he went to Washington, D. C., as a dealer representative and gathered with other auto industry to reps to establish a ceiling on car prices, perhaps in anticipation of war. Four days after returning from his D. C. meeting, the Japanese struck Pearl Harbor.

The war doesn’t appear to have slowed Worman down. By 1942, he was placing ads in the Toledo Blade, arguing how “Willys Truck Owners Are Lucky!” Laurel noted that Willys-Overland had produced the most economical line of trucks. He told potential customers they would be well-served by the truck’s low use of gasoline and their rugged nature, two characteristics important for enduring war time challenges. Worman also made sure to note that Willys was the producer of the jeep, already famous by September of 1942.

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As an automotive dealer seemingly in the thick of things in Toledo during WWII, there’s no evidence he formed plans for any jeep equipment. But, as a Willys dealer in Toledo, he certainly would have stayed abreast of the CJ’s progress and must have saw potential in the jeep following the war.

THE CJ-2A ARRIVES:
When the CJ-2A was introduced to the public in July of 1945, options included a front soft top ($55) and rear soft top ($39). The first civilian hardtop half-cab, according to Fred Coldwell in his Preproduction Civilian Jeep book, didn’t go into production until the fall of 1945. Somewhere around that time, the Army asked Willys-Overland to design a full steel cab for the late 1945 MBs. The result was a stretched version of the half cab, but it never went into production. One probable reason was that steel was in short supply. Another reason was that they were heavy.

In August 1945, Worman invited prospective buyers to visit his dealership and see the new “Universal ‘Jeep’” for themselves. The amazing “4-in-1” vehicle was advertised as a light truck, a light tractor, a runabout, and a mobile power unit. But, it still lacked the comfort of a full cab, a fact that must have been apparent to Worman as he engaged customers and sold jeeps through ’45 and into ’46.

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Perhaps after hearing from dealers and customers that they’d prefer a hard top over the canvas front and rear tops, the Willys-Overland decided to contract with Laurel C. Worman to produce a line of hardtops. The hardtops would be made of aluminum, which, unlike steel, was amply available and light.

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Koenig Hardtop Brochure

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

This Koenig brochure highlights the early tops made by the company. This brochure was produced circa 1948.

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1947 CJ-2A Bremerton, WA $4300

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

I wonder if that Big Block is hooked to a T-90?

“1947 Jeep CJ-2A, original PTO winch, 401 Big Block, Flowmaster dual exhaust, full roll cage, aluminum Arctic Top, new starter solenoid, rebuilt starter, military front end, custom gas tank, brake rebuild (hard/soft lines, pads, etc), POR-15 interior coating, stock wheels on it now, also set of 31″ (non-matching). Jeep has collector plates ($200 value), never register again. Clean title. Driver door included, just not shown in photo.”

https://seattle.craigslist.org/kit/cto/d/1947-willys-jeep-cj-2a-4×4/6327777870.html

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1948 CJ-2A Loveland, CO **SOLD**

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

UPDATE: **SOLD** Was $1500.

Doesn’t run, but there’s some value here.

“1948 JEEP CJ2A civilian 4X4. Good condition to restore, little rust, light metal damage. No holes cut in dash.Very original. Seat frames without upholstery. Koenig steel top. Koenig pto winch. Free turning six cylinder flathead Studebaker engine, not running. Referbished radiator. 15″ wheels with fair tires. Six original 5″x16″ steel wheels without tires”

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1964 CJ-6 Florence, AL **Status Unknown**

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

UPDATE: **Status Unknown** Was $3500

(10/04/2015) Needs gas tank, but looks like a good price.

“1974 jeep cj6 304 v8,3speed,winch,good tires,full hardtop,needs gas tank”

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CJ-6 Hardtop Longwood, FL $375

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

UPDATE: Still Available.

(06/07/2017) Seller notes it needs some work.

“We have a jeep hardtop that came off of a 1974 Jeep CJ6 which is pretty rare. This hardtop needs work and has some rust but rare, can send more pics if interested”

https://orlando.craigslist.org/pts/d/hardtop-for-jeep-cj6-rare/6310240137.html

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Steel Hardtop New Florence, Pa **SOLD**

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

UPDATE: **SOLD** Was $700.

(09/19/2017) Looks in good shape.

“Kelly all steel hard top and doors. Great condition. All glass in tact and everything works. Came off a 1963 CJ5. This will fit 1955-1975 CJ5s OR a 1976 and later CJ5 with a pre-1976 windshield frame (the tub perimeter didn’t change, just the windshield frame).”

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1946 CJ-2A Sauk Center, MN $700

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

Rolling chassis.

“1946 willys jeep – needs engine”

https://stcloud.craigslist.org/cto/d/1946-willys-jeep/6318418220.html

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1970 Kelly Manufacturing Brochure

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

Will asked if I’d scan this brochure for him. In a post a couple days ago I thought the Bonanza III hardtop had wide glass pieces where the brown indents are, but it turns out those are just indents with dark brown simulated walnut stickers. This also shows that Kelly made Jeepster Commando and Bronco hardtops.

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1955 CJ-5 Grandview, Tx $7500

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

Looks in good shape. Has a Kelly Hardtop.

“Perfect Texas Hunting Jeep
1955 Willys with detachable hard top, tow bar on front, gun rack
Repainted 2010- good condition”

https://dallas.craigslist.org/ftw/cto/d/perfect-texas-hunting-jeep/6301322952.html

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Unusual Hardtop from Uruguay

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

Hugo, our eWillys correspondent from Uruguay, filed this report. He spotted this strange jeep, possibly a CJ-3A, with an unusual hardtop. He would have taken more pics, but its proximity behind the US embassy made snapping photos a little uncomfortable. So, he was in and out quickly!

I shared the photos with Fernando Vidal. He wrote back, “Actually, you can see ANY of weird adapting on vehicles in Uruguay… Uruguayans are customization specialists! Everyday on the roads and streets of Montevideo we use to spot many strange things on wheels of every kind. Uruguay never produced cars or trucks, which have always been imported as an expensive commodity, and its replacement parts were usually hard to find. The long term result is that they were used to the maximum (it’s common to find vehicles from the 40`s and 50`s being used as daily drivers). Creativity led to some horrendous (sometimes really funny) “frankensteins”, of vehicles from different decades stitched together on the most bizarre ways… “

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1967 CJ-5 Santa Rosa, CA $1500

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

Bill shared this project. It looks like a cross between the Bonanza III and the standard cab. The Bonanza III had windows where the those horizontal indentations were located.

“I have a 1967 Jeep metal top metal doors body good shape been sitting on a ranch for a long time sold on a bill of sale”

https://sfbay.craigslist.org/nby/cto/6273560897.html

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Ad for an Autodyne Hardtop

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

UPDATE: A search revealed a second ad, this time in the December 1968 issue of Desert Magazine (pg 34). That same issue also included ad for VW fenders by the same company (pg 42). 
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This fiberglass hardtop for CJ-5s was advertised in the November 1968 issue of Four Wheeler. I’ve never run crossed one.

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1968 Desert Magazine Ad of the VW fenders:

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Koenig Hardtop Brochure

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

This was another good score off of eBay. I’ve seen the first few pages before, but not the last page with the all steel grain boxes.

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1948 CJ-2A Laramie, WY $4800

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

Might be worth a look. Has a Koenig hardtop.

“Classic Jeep in great running order, just in time for hunting season. Top on or top off, you choose. This Jeep is a classic, fun to drive, fun to own. Call today and make an offer.”

https://denver.craigslist.org/cto/d/1948-willys-jeep-cj2a/6310240406.html

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1962 Kelly Hardtop Brochure

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

I snatched this awesome Kelly hardtop brochure off of eBay for a good price. It includes information on the Kelly Safari hardtop. What I like is that the brochure also documents the models numbers.

Also included was the price list (one that includes two different types of dispatchers) and an original order envelope. I also didn’t know that Kelly interacted with Kayline tops at one point. Based on a Kayline brochure, it appears that Kayline handled the territory west of the Mississippi, while Kelly sold Kayline tops east of the Mississippi.

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1946 CJ-2A Maryland **SOLD**

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

UPDATE: **SOLD** Was $1000.

Looks rough.That’s a taller hardtop. I’m not certain what brand it is.

“1946 CJ-2A, clear title. Frame tag and cowl tag are present, matching, and match the title. The engine is RMC-marked on the top of the deck in front. The engine supposedly turns, but I have not tried to make it turn due to harmonic balancer being removed. There are extra parts included with this jeep. $1000.00. Located in MD near Baltimore”

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Sears CJ-3B Hardtop Wilkes Barre, PA $100

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

Could use some paint.

“Have the hardtop and doors off a cj3b. Needs work. First $100 takes it. It will not last and it is aluminum.”

https://scranton.craigslist.org/pts/d/cj3b-hardtop/6292943518.html

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CJ-3B Hardtop Cuddlebackville, NY $250

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

I can’t tell what brand this is.

“Hard top off 1954 CJ-3B $250”

https://hudsonvalley.craigslist.org/pts/d/willys-jeep-parts/6311378641.html

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Sears Hardtop Newark, NJ **SOLD**

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

UPDATE: **SOLD** Was $649.

Appears to be aluminum.

“up sale is a 1940’s Jeep Willy’s top and doors”

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Sears Hardtop Jersey Shore, PA **SOLD**

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

UPDATE: **SOLD** Was $350.

Seller does not have the tailgate for it.

“This is a Sears Roebuck Aluminum Hard top for a cj2a. Includes everything except the tailgate. I do not have it. Doors have hinges and latches.”

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1957 CJ-5 Butte, MT $9995

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

It’s very red, but looks in good shape.

“This is your chance to own a Vintage Classic Jeep. 1957 Willys CJ5 2 door 4×4 with a back seat. manual transmission, manual windows, New tires, runs and drives great. This Jeep is in excellent condition and priced to sell. ”

https://butte.craigslist.org/ctd/d/1957-willys-jeep/6289537128.html

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1951 CJ-3A Post Falls, ID No Price

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

Has the Cab Enclosure hardtop.

“Jeep 1951 CJ3A Korean war radio cab, Small Block Chevy engine, Ford transmission, overdrive. Rear ends regeared with positrack (same gear ratio as 4 wheel drive Chevy pickup). Mopar brakes, 8000 lb. Warn wench (like new) and Warn hubs. Set up for dual batteries.”

https://spokane.craigslist.org/cto/d/jeep-1951-cj3a/6308699087.html

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1966 CJ-6 Denver, CO $4100

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

They sent most of these to Africa??

“1966 Kaiser Willys Jeep CJ6. This is basically the CJ5 but 20 inches longer. Most of these went to Africa to be used as safari vehicles, so they’re not as prevalent as the CJ5. This one has been in our family for 30 years and kept in a barn on our mountain property for most of that time. There is some rust on the sides and undercarriage, but not nearly as bad as most. My uncle replaced the front seats, dash, and steering column with ones out of a Buick. I’m not sure about the actual mileage, but the V6 Dauntless runs great with no smoke. It has a 3 speed manual tranny with the Warn overdrive and dual exhaust. It is 4 wheel drive and has the factory Meyers hard top, but the previous owner mounted the rear lights on the back. Please feel free to email any questions. ”

https://denver.craigslist.org/cto/d/1966-jeep-cj6/6308839739.html

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1946 CJ-2A El Dorado Hills, CA $4000

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

Has the Cab Enclosure hardtop. No description provided.

https://goldcountry.craigslist.org/cto/d/awesome-1946-jeep-willys/6308408622.html

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