This February 1962 issue of Jeep News includes two good photos on page four of the DJ-3A-based mobile bar that was at the Las Brisas resort in Mexico. I have a color photo of that, too. It might be fun to recreate one of those.

Page three shares a little info on a twenty-eight page dealer booklet entitled, “Your Ten Major Retail Markets”. That’s a book I’ve yet to see anywhere.

This December 1960 Jeep Service and Parts News is sixty years old this month!

Barney from Barney’s Jeep Parts sent November 1961 edition of the Jeep News our direction. The FJ-3A makes a big splash with a variety of images on page 4. Several Jeep Clubs, including California’s Auburn Jeep Club, Denver’s Mile-High Jeep Club, and Washington’s Trailer Breakers Jeep Club get  mentioned. One article highlight’s Buddy’s win of a Surrey and Sailboat from the Del Monte Contest and includes an image.

There’s also a mention of photos and writeup about the Jeep Jamboree in the December 1961 issue of Argosy Magazine, but I cannot seem to find the issue on eBay.

I have a two year gap between my 1961 issues of Jeep News and this one from late 1963. During that period, the name was changed from Jeep News to Jeep News International. The use of months as part of the dating system were dropped in favor of using a volume and issue number.

Not surprisingly, the introduction of Wagoneers and Gladiators changed the focus to the full-size jeeps, but there are still legacy jeep photos and articles.

This issue of Jeep News is packed full of items. One curious article is about the Longview Trailbreakers on the last page. The article claims the Trailbreakers were launched in April 1960, but the Tacoma Webfooters page claims the club had originated prior to mid-1958. The only thing I can think of is that the Trailerbreakers incorporated the club in April of 1960?

Also, on page 6 the Del-Monte Contest for a Jeep Surrey was something I hadn’t seen elsewhere (learn about the winning store here). Meanwhile, on page 2 the paper announced the Gotham City contest winner, one Mrs. Edwin C. Sly of Buffalo, New York.

On page one is a great photo and article about the Hong Kong exhibit at the Chicago Auto Show. And, on page one, are eight of nine mailers used in 1961 (the ninth is shown on page 2). I’ve shared eight of them on eWillys, but have yet to locate the “operation Zebra, or” brochure. Anyone have a copy of that? (Busy Bee; willing worker; To get the Lion’s Share …; You Can’t Hide…; don’t get taken for a ride!; best for all short hops; Big Family!; and need a friend?)

This three-page spread was unusual for Jeep News.

Buddies’ Market in Pottstown, Pennsylvania, announced in the April 27, 1961, issue of the The Mercury newspaper that it was the winner in a Readers Digest / Del-Monte contest for a “Pink Jeep and a polka dot sailboat”.

Below is a contest poster that was distributed to stores nation-wide (and printed in the March-April 1961 issue of Jeep News):

This is the announcement by Buddies’ Market:

This issue of Willys News shows that Jeep dealers were experience continued growth. This issue also suggests that the ashtrays and cuff-tie-links were introduced in 1960. Anyone have the full page 1959 Nieman Marcus catalog ad of the newly introduced DJ-3A Surrey mentioned on the last page?

In the ‘sometimes it’s better to be lucky’ department, eBay blessed me with a huge win the other day: 10 Willys News issues from 1960 and 1961 for only $20 (and free shipping)! Here’s the first one. It includes a lot of DJ-3A Surrey articles, a note about future President Lyndon Johnson checking out a Willys truck for his ranch, and more. The 1/4 ton jeeps (CJ-5s and CJ-3Bs) take a back seat to the FCs, Wagons, and DJs in this issue. There’s also articles demonstrating how dealers felt TV shows were helping to drive sales, which is likely why Willys Motors moved forward with other TV show and movie tie-ins.

The January 1958 issue of Willys News includes a rare article on the Willys Economy Delivery Truck, which was new for 1958.