Jeep-Willys-News Research Archives

To Top

October 1954 Optimism at Willys Motors

• CATEGORIES: Advertising & Brochures, Features, Old Images, Old News Articles • TAGS: .

This October 1954 photo and caption from Kaiser Willys News underscores how confident Willys Motors was about the coming year and their new CJ-5 model. About this time there was an explosion of new brochures and mailers, so Willys Motors did what it could to generate excitement about the commercial and utility market.

1954-10-kaiser-willys-news-cj5-optomism

 
To Top

Kaiser Willys News Vs. Willys News

• CATEGORIES: Features • TAGS: .

Not too long after Kaiser acquired Willys-Overland the company introduced a dealer news periodical. What I learned recently is that initially the periodical was called Kaiser Willys News. It wasn’t until March of 1955 that the Kaiser name was dropped and it was renamed Willys News. Apparently, it was felt that the jeep dealers needed different information and support from that of the auto dealers? I don’t know for sure, but it makes sense.

Here are examples of each periodical.

kaiser-willys-news-example

willys-news-example

 
To Top

April 1955 Issue of Willys News on eBay

• CATEGORIES: Features, Old Images, Old News Articles • TAGS: .

UPDATE: The starting price on this is $8.95. That’s a good price! This issue includes an article on the jeepcade with 284 entries.

View all the information on eBay

1955-04-willys-news1

1955-04-willys-news2

1955-04-willys-news3

 
To Top

1947 CJ-2A Fredonia, PA $1800

• CATEGORIES: CJ-2A • TAGS: , .

UPDATE: Barry worked the phone on this. See his comments below.

Is this the gravity dump bed highlighted in a 1955 Willys News article?  It’s not an exact copy, but it’s similar. Both tilt to about 45 degrees.  Here’s the article.

1955-06-willys-news-gravity-dump1Read the rest of the article here.

“Dumpbed Willys , snow plow lift , hydraulic pump and valve , pretty much all there , just rusty, does not run . Also has a clear PA title .”

https://pittsburgh.craigslist.org/cto/d/1947-willys-cj2a/6315198226.html

1947-cj2a-fredonia-p0 1947-cj2a-fredonia-p1 1947-cj2a-fredonia-p2 1947-cj2a-fredonia-p3 1947-cj2a-fredonia-pa4

 
To Top

August 1961 Issue of the Jeep Merchandiser **SOLD**

• CATEGORIES: Advertising & Brochures, Features • TAGS: .

UPDATE: **SOLD** Was on eBay.

This looks to be a four-page news piece directed at salespeople.

“original non color folder , 8.5 x 11 folded , 17 x 11 unfolded , this is volume 1 #3 of “Jeep Merchandiser” . Published by the merchandising and advertising department for Jeep salesman”

1961-08-merchandiser2 1961-08-merchandiser3 1961-08-merchandiser4

 
To Top

May 1961 Jeep Merchandiser Package **SOLD**

• CATEGORIES: Advertising & Brochures, Features • TAGS: .

UPDATE: **SOLD** Was on eBay.

This package introduces the Merchandiser to the Jeep sales staff. I can’t tell how many pages it is.

“Original dealer’s part color folder , 8.5 x 11 folded , 17 x 11 unfolded , this is volume 1 #1 of “Jeep Merchandiser”. Published by the merchandising and advertising department for Jeep salesman , also included are two advertising bulletins introducing the Jeep Merchandiser , all items are in the original cardboard binder , 9 x 11.5.”

1961-05-merchandiser1

1961-05-merchandiser2

1961-05-merchandiser3

1961-05-merchandiser4

Continue reading

 
To Top

Jeeps From Venezuela

• CATEGORIES: Features, Old Images, Old News Articles • TAGS: .

These photos were published in the February 1956 issue of Globetrotter Magazine.

1956-02-globetrotter-venezuela5 1956-02-globetrotter-venezuela6 1956-02-globetrotter-venezuela7 1956-02-globetrotter-venezuela8 1956-02-globetrotter-venezuela9

 
To Top

Feb. 1957 Willys News Magazine $25

• CATEGORIES: Features, Magazine • TAGS: .

I accidentally ordered an issue of Willys News I already had. So, I’m putting this one up for sale. It has eight pages of pictures and information. These sell for between $28 – $38 on eBay. 1957-02-willys-news1

1957-02-willys-news2

1957-02-willys-news3

1957-02-willys-news4

 
To Top

CJ-3Bs Delivered to Manila

• CATEGORIES: Features, Old Images • TAGS: .

This photo appeared in the February 1956 issue of Globetrotter. The jeeps were purchased by Manila’s Labor Law Commission.

1956-02-globetrotter-manila-cj3bs

 
To Top

1956 Article on Searchlights for Jeeps

• CATEGORIES: Features, Old Images, Old News Articles • TAGS: .

This article appeared in the February 1956 issue of Globetrotter. A similar article, with just one photo, appeared in the April 1956 issue of Willys News.

1956-02-globetrotter-searchlight9

1956-02-globetrotter-searchlight4 1956-02-globetrotter-searchlight5 1956-02-globetrotter-searchlight6 1956-02-globetrotter-searchlight7

Continue reading

 
To Top

1956 Harney Peak Article & Photos

• CATEGORIES: Features, Old Images, Old News Articles • TAGS: , , .

The February 1956 issue of Globetrotter featured a short article about using jeeps to take tourists to Harney Peak in South Dakota. You can see more pics and information about Harney Peak jeeps on a couple other posts.

1956-02-globetrotter-harney-peak4 1956-02-globetrotter-harney-peak5 1956-02-globetrotter-harney-peak6 1956-02-globetrotter-harney-peak7

Continue reading

 
To Top

Sailing Sahara’s Sands by J. Mortimer Sheppard

• CATEGORIES: Features, Old Images, Old News Articles • TAGS: .

1956-02-globetrotter-african-sail-jeep0

When loose deep sand was encountered, the ‘Jeep’ had to pull both the yacht and the sedan. [ed note … this caption was included in the original article]

This article by J. Mortimer Sheppard appeared in a 1956 issue of the Globetrotter magazine. An author of multiple books, Shepard spent three years traveling around the globe on behalf of Willys as a correspondent in the mid 1950s. On one occasion, described herein, he pulled a land yacht behind a jeep to the Sahara desert so he could sail across parts of Africa, accompanied by his wife and children.

Shepard went on to write an article for Wide World Magazine titled First to Sail the Sahara. An 1800 mile journey with his wife and family in a sand yacht over the Desert in 1956 (it’s also been republished as a book, but this may be a modern item). The second, Sahara Adventure, is an actual book and probably a more complete account of the trip. I’ve just bought it, so I’ll report on it once I read it.

1956-02-globetrotter-african-sail-jeep-title

1956-02-globetrotter-african-sail-jeep1

In many places the ‘Jeep’ was the center of attraction.

1956-02-globetrotter-african-sail-jeep-text1

1956-02-globetrotter-african-sail-jeep2

A typical camp scene—time for oiling the rifle and catching up on correspondence.

Continue reading

 
To Top

1956 Photo of Dispatcher at an Airport

• CATEGORIES: Features, Fire/Police/Industry Vehicles, Old Images • TAGS: .

This photo of a DJ-3A Dispatcher at an airfield shows they went to work for the airlines not long after they began production. This was published in a 1956 issue of Globetrotter Magazine.

1956-02-globetrotter-dispatcher

 
To Top

Photos Circa 1956 From Colombia

• CATEGORIES: Features, Magazine • TAGS: .

These photos appeared in the February 1956 issue of Globe-trotter. I especially like the CJ-5 with the ice cream maker!

1956-02-globetrotter-Colombian-ice-cream-cj5-2 1956-02-globetrotter-Colombian-ice-cream-cj5

1956-02-globetrotter-colombian-jeeps2

1956-02-globetrotter-colombian-jeeps

 
To Top

Jeeps at a Ranch in Mississippi

• CATEGORIES: Features, Old Images, Old News Articles • TAGS: .

This article from the January 1958 issue of Willys News highlights the Holly-Bluff-on-the-Jordan ranch at Bay Saint Louis, Mississippi, owned by James L. Crump.

1958-01-willys-news-crump-ranch2
1958-01-willys-news-crump-ranch3

1958-01-willys-news-crump-ranch1

Continue reading

 
To Top

1958 Chicago Auto Show

• CATEGORIES: Features, Old Images, Old News Articles • TAGS: .

This article from the January 1968 issue of Willys News shared news from the 1958 Chicago auto show. To the left is a rare photo of Willys’ Economy Delivery Truck. Here are other photos from past Chicago shows related to jeeps. And this one from the 1959 show.

1958-01-willys-news-chicago-show1 1958-01-willys-news-chicago-show2 1958-01-willys-news-chicago-show3

 
To Top

Creative Way to Sell FCs

• CATEGORIES: Features, Old Images, Old News Articles • TAGS: .

Mr. H. E. George found a creative way to sell FCs by taking them to livestock auctions. This article was featured in the January 1958 issue of Willys News.

1958-01-willys-news-auction-fc-sale

 
To Top

Climbing Colorado’s Storm Mountain in a Jeep

• CATEGORIES: Features, Old Images, Old News Articles • TAGS: .

This article was published in the January 1958 issue of Willys News.

1958-01-willys-news-mountain-10000ft 1958-01-willys-news-mountain-10000ft-2

 
To Top

Riggins’ Volunteer Fire Department

This January 1958 article from Willys News highlighted a group of teen boys who provided the small town of Riggins, Idaho, with fire protection using a fire jeep.

1958-01-willys-news-firejeep-idaho-title
1958-01-willys-news-firejeep-idaho2

1958-01-willys-news-firejeep-idaho-text3

1958-01-willys-news-firejeep-idaho3

1958-01-willys-news-firejeep-idaho-text2 Continue reading

 
To Top

FC-170 Pipe Organ Delivery Service

• CATEGORIES: FC150-FC170-M677, Features, Old Images, Old News Articles • TAGS: .

Hmm … wonder if he delivered any Wurlitzers in this? This article was published in the January 1958 issue of Willys News.

1958-01-willys-news-pipe-organ-delivery

 
To Top

Economy Delivery Truck Article

• CATEGORIES: Features, Old Images, Old News Articles • TAGS: , .

The January 1958 issue of Willys News included this article about the Economy Delivery Truck.

1958-01-willys-news-economy-delivery-truck2
1958-01-willys-news-economy-delivery-truck1

 
To Top

1958 Article About an FC-170 as Boat Deliverer

• CATEGORIES: Features • TAGS: .

This January 1958 article highlights Captain Gifford Markeson’s Fc-170 and its use as a boat delivery vehicle. Markeson owned Mark’s Sporting and Marine Supply Shop in McHenry, Illinois.

1958-01-willys-news-fc170-boating-firm1 1958-01-willys-news-fc170-boating-firm2
1958-01-willys-news-fc170-boating-firm3

 
To Top

Uranium Hunters Using Willys Trucks

• CATEGORIES: Features, Old Images • TAGS: .

The January 1958 issue of Willys News included a photo of two intrepid uranium hunters using Willys trucks.

1958-01-willys-news-uranium-hunting

 
To Top

FC-170 Owner Gives Thanks for his Jeep

• CATEGORIES: Features, Old News Articles • TAGS: .

This January 1958 article in Willys News shares the story of Gordon Kohl and his satisfaction with his FC-170.

1958-01-willys-news-fc170-owner-gives-thanks

 
To Top

‘Jeep’ Fun Clubs

• CATEGORIES: Features, Old News Articles • TAGS: .

The March 1956 issue of Willys News alerted sales people and dealers to the rising interest in jeep clubs. They recommended getting involved and encouraging the growing phenomenen.

1956-03-willys-news-jeep-clubs