Author Archives: deilers

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Mechanix Illustrated Magazine: Jiving up the Jeep, Articles 1-4

• CATEGORIES: Features, Magazine, Old News Articles • TAGS: This site contains affiliate links for which I may be compensated.

UPDATE: Steve obtained copies of article #2, so now this list is complete!

Nine years ago there was a post about “Jivin up the Jeep”, which referenced a series of articles in Mechanix Illustrated Magazine. At that time, I could only locate articles #3 and #4. Steve Zamell just shared the earliest of the four with me (Thanks!). And, I found a poor image of article #2 So, below you’ll find information about all four articles.

According to the information on this Modern Mechanic Post, the October and November 1946 issues of Modern Mechanic magazine each included an article titled “Jivin up the Jeep” that shares various modifications. Those articles were a big hit across the US, as readers from all over sent in follow up suggestions and ideas. That led to an additional two articles, one in April of 1947 and one in November of 1947. I’ve shown the pictorial portions of the articles below. There’s additional content on the 1947 links.

From October 1946 Part I – A few Jeep ideas:
1946-10-mechanix-ill-jivin-up-jeep-pt1-lores

1946-10-mechanix-ill-jivin-up-jeep-pt1-pg2-lores

From November 1946 Part II – I just bought a cheap issue of this magazine. I’ll update these poor pics found on a current  eBay ad once I receive my copy of the magazine. Looks like this article covers the creation of a custom hardtop:

1946-11-mechanix-illustrating-jivin-jeep1-lores 1946-11-mechanix-illustrating-jivin-jeep2-lores

From April 1947: Custom Tops

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Joe Donham Willys Dealership near Oakland, Ca

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

UPDATE: Blaine spotted a post that provides more background on the Joe Donham and a pic of how it looked as of 2006.

http://berkeleyheritage.com/eastbay_then-now/roadside.html

donham-dealership-eastbay-ca

According to the website post,

Joseph B. Donham (1895–1982), who followed Warren at this location, was general sales manager for the Val Strough organization in the 1930s before striking out on his own. After running a used car dealership in Oakland, he opened an authorized Willys dealership at 2747 San Pablo Avenue, being the first tenant to lease the new showroom. Donham’s Willys dealership operated here from 1953 through 1956. After the car maker ceased production, Donham switched to selling used cars at this location and ran the Dalton & Norton Chrysler dealership in San Leandro. According to his son, Joseph Donham, Jr., Donham owned several East Bay used car dealerships while working as general manager of S&C Ford in San Francisco.

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Originally published in Feb of 2012:  This image shows a Willys Dealership in the East Bay area near Oakland, Ca.  Donham’s Willys dealership operated from 1953 through 1956.

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1946 CJ-2A Concord, WI $3800

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

UPDATE: Price dropped to $3800.

(02/11/2015) Has an f-head.

https://milwaukee.craigslist.org/for/d/sullivan-1946-willys-jeep-hard-top/7100671414.html

“**vehicle is located in Wisconsin, running the ad this way because we receive lots of calls from out west.**

1946 Willys Jeep with hard top & Title. First production post WWII available to retail sale.
CJ2A civilian jeep w/1965 4 cylinder F head. (Willys F 134 hurricane inline 4-cylinder)

This particular Jeep is a good runner, just no time to continue the project. CLEAN TITLE, odometer reads 70,356.
Not interested in selling it to be stripped for parts, it is for a good home only!

Needs an electric starter bendix (pinion gear).
The Engine is equipped with the early style point & condenser.. All original, other than the newer 1965 engine, shock/springs and scoop hood. The original hood comes with the package.”

1946-cj2a-concord-wi1 1946-cj2a-concord-wi2 1946-cj2a-concord-wi3 1946-cj2a-concord-wi4

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2005 Traveling Jeep Exhibit

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

UPDATE: A reader named Jim actually served on the USS Slater. He spotted this post from 2013 and had some insights into the real history behind the USS Slater jeep:

I was pursuing the many facets of ewillys when I found a page with our jeep (the USS Slater jeep) ! I got a good laugh when I got to the last picture of it (the plaque).

This is why:

First, this is our jeep a number of years ago in a parade.

us-slater-jeep
Way back when, some “idiot” member of the board thought it would be an idea to auction off the jeep. No one knew what happened to it after that. Then, several years ago I went on a hunt for it. I found it! Where? The Chrysler Traveling Museum”! Apparently, the auction winner had sold it. (to a museum?)

Then, in the picture on eWillys I see on the plaque (last pic below) where it says “This particular vehicle was owned by the US Navy and served on the USS Slater”(during Korea).

Well just to correct their version of history, during the Korean War the Slater had already been given to Greece where she served for the next 45 years in the Hellenic Navy! DE’s (Destroyer Escorts) did not usually have jeeps. because they couldn’t fit them onboard!

My search for the jeep got me to Chrysler and I emailed them. Not that I would expect them to give it back, but…. Then I get this email back:

us-slater-jeep2

The funny thing is all this is happening just months after the posting on your site in October of 2013! I especially like how a so-called “historian” believed how it came to be!

Well, according to this letter they were still touring the country in 2014 (which answers your “where is it now” question from 2013)!

When I am finished with my jeep and she is all lettered up as the USS Slater jeep, I think Chrysler may have a little competition!

Ciao for now,
Jim

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Originally Published 2013:

Joe shot these photos back in May of 2005. He writes, “I visited this DiamlerChrysler Corp. traveling exhibit in Virginia Beach, VA back in 2005, photographed it and posted the story on the G503.com website back then. (when the ewillys.com concept was but a dream for sometime in the future.) I’ve included the link for you to read as background and to share with your readers. I found the follow-up comments by other G503 members the most interesting based on their expert knowledge/experience of the subject.”

Anyone know if they still run the traveling exhibit?

http://g503.com/forums/viewtopic.php?f=105&t=61931

slater 1 slater 2 slater 3 slater 4 slater 5

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1978 Jeep Expedition of the Americas

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

Mark Smith was the leader of the 1978 Jeep Expedition of the Americas (also known as the Expedicion de Las America), a 20,000-mile, 120 day odyssey that covered the Americas. Much of the trip was on roads, with the offloading of the the Darien Gap, the section of land between Colombia and Panama, the focus of the trip.

The narrator in the movie notes, rather dramatically and erroneously, that the Gap had only been crossed once before by the British Army. In fact, the Darien Gap had been crossed at least once before in 1960 by a group in a Landrover and a Willys truck, the story of which was published in National Geographic and clearly titled “We Drove Panama’s Darien Gap“. Though Frank and Helen Schreider drove the entire length of the Americas in their SEEP, Tortuga, in 1954, one place they didn’t attempt to drive, but instead floated around, was the Darien Gap.

Fortunately for us, the 1978 trip was captured on video, so we can enjoy some of what they saw during their adventure. Vimeo currently has a twenty-seven minute video of the trip. It’s a little dated at times, but still interesting to watch:

expedition-darien-gap

 

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1950 CJ-3A Woodinville, WA $4995

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

UPDATE: Still Available .

(04/04/2015) Nice looking jeep. Front brakes currently disassembled.

https://seattle.craigslist.org/sno/cto/d/bothell-1950-willys-cj3a-flatfender-jeep/7092899656.html

“1950 Willys CJ3A Civilian Flatfender. 95% stock, Flathead 4 cyl. 4 wheel drive, stored for 20+ years, few new improvements, Koeniq “Tin Top”, half roll cage, Diamond Plate corners and steps. Willys ready for restoration back to original or modify to whatever level. Has heavy duty detachable tow bar included. Have more photos, send email address if serious restorer / collector / hunter. Vehicle has not been started in 15 years. Was running when last parked. Front brake system currently partially dissembled. $4,995″

1950-cj3a-woodinville-wa0 1950-cj3a-woodinville-wa1 1950-cj3a-woodinville-wa2
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“Jesse James” MB-like Tractor Puller Chandler, AZ **SOLD**

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

UPDATE: **SOLD** Was $5000.

Funny how these builds end up sometimes. This one is a shadow of what it was.

“I’m the current owner of the “Army Jeep Tractor Puller” that was built by Jesse James and a group of guys on the tv show Monster Garage. It aired in 2003 and is episode 3. Forty two various vehicles were built during the run of the series. This vehicle was later sold at Barrett Jackson in 2008 for $18,000. The engines were removed by the previous owner. What you see is what you get. If you do a search on youtube you can find the episode and watch the Jeep being built. This crazy ride could be built as a promo vehicle, a raffle prize, a collector could display it, or a builder could get it back on the road and show it. I can help ship it, will help load it, and can possibly deliver it on your dime. It’s located in Chandler, Az. Asking price is $5,000”

jesse-james-tractor-puller-chandler-az

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Originally published April 2011:

If Jesse James and West Coast Choppers were to build a jeep, what kind of jeep would he build?  Well, we have the answer from remarkablecars.com. This unusual build was available for auction in 2008.  I can’t tell if it sold or not.  He did manage to use some original parts.  For example, that left fender sure looks like a WWII fender and there’s some original frame used too (you can make out the transfercase undercarriage mount near the rear tire).

SUMMARY: This authentic WWII Willys Jeep transformed into a twin-engined tractor-pulling behemoth is sure to bring home the Big “V” both on the race track and the front lines. Sold on a Bill of Sale only. Special conditions apply.

DESCRIPTION: In the Summer of 2003, Jesse James accompanied Kid Rock to a USO Show for the troops overseas in Iraq. While there, Jesse was bit by the inspiration bug and set his mind towards his next build, the transition of an authentic WWII Willys Jeep into a twin-engined tractor-pulling behemoth using a team composed entirely of Army gearheads (well, with the exception of a couple of civilian experts). It wasn’t just a walk through the park, or even a walk through the front lines. Nearly every piece had to be fabricated for this build. Plus, the rear end and rims had to be modified for pulling. The biggest modification was comprised of extending the Jeep frame from 86″ to 180″. Over twice it’s original length.

THE DESIGNERS: Jesse James, custom-bike builder/designer, West Coast Choppers in Long Beach, CA, Joe Eder, multi-engine tractor-pull builder from North Collins, NY, Keith Kaucher, industrial designer, Kaucher Design Werks in Santa Monica, CA, Chief Warrant Officer 3 Kevin Sargent, utilities operations and maintenance technician, Headquarters Company/1st Engineer Brigade in Fort Leonard Wood, MO, 2nd Lt. Brian Johnson, armor officer, 1st Battalion/16th Cavalry Regiment in Fort Knox, KY.

THE BUILDERS:
Jesse James, custom-bike builder/designer, West Coast Choppers in Long Beach, CA, Joe Eder, multi-engine tractor-pull builder from North Collins, NY, Pfc. Jesse Dugan, wheel vehicle mechanic, D Company/801st Main Support Brigade in Fort Campbell, KY, 2nd Lt. Brian Johnson/2LT, armor officer, 1st Battalion/16th Cavalry Regiment in Fort Knox, KY, Staff Sgt. Jeffrey Morin, light-wheeled vehicle mechanic, Headquarters Company/187 Ordnance Battalion in Fort Jackson, SC, Tim Porter, single-engine tractor-pull builder from Louisberg, KY, Master Sgt. Darrick Preston, mechanical maintenance supervisor, 16th Ordnance Battalion/Aberdeen Proving Ground in Abingdon, MD, Chief Warrant Officer 3 Kevin Sargent, utilities operations and maintenance technician, Headquarters Company/1st Engineer Brigade in Ft. Leonard Wood, MO and Spc. Benjamin Smith, metalworker, D Company/801st Mechanical Support Brigade in Fort Campbell, KY.

VEHICLE SPECS:
Make: Willys Model: Jeep MB Year: 1943 Height: 64″ Width: 85″ (including rear tires) Length: 211″ Ground Clearance: 6″ to headers (1′ to frame) Horsepower/Torque: approximately 2,000hp /2,1000 torque Moving Parts: Includes the engine coupler, primary transmission, secondary gearbox and dual supercharged 502 engines. Special Welds: The guys performed heavy-duty welds on the body-frame extension and towing hitch. Additional Acquired or Machined Parts: The team fabricated the engine coupler, towing hitch and straight rims.”

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1950 PNW Racer Chassis Gig Harbor, WA $900

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

UPDATE: Price dropped to $900. This was Steve Carter’s old racer, and before that El Coyote. The rollcage has been removed. 

https://seattle.craigslist.org/tac/for/d/jeep-cj-2-3a-pnw-barrel-racer-willys/7066298790.html

“44 tapered offset rear. dana 44 front with 30 ends and axels, New Master cylinder with 11″ brakes, brakes worked good when i bought it. Two desert dogs on super offset wheels, buckshots in the front. Fiberglass willys body and nose, both need some fiberglass work. Roll cage ready to weld back in as soon as you throw on the body. ”

Current pics:

pnw-racer-gigharbor-wa0 pnw-racer-gigharbor-wa1 pnw-racer-gigharbor-wa2

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Ford GP Wild Ride Photographs

• CATEGORIES: Bantam-FordGP-WillysMA-EarlyJPs, Features, Old Images This site contains affiliate links for which I may be compensated.

UPDATE: **SOLD**

Great action photo of a Ford GP.

1941-07-16-ford-gp-fort-bliss1

1941-07-16-ford-gp-fort-bliss2

“1941 Press Photo Army lieutenants give new jeeps test drive at Fort Bliss, Texas. This is an original press photo. Fort Bliss, Texas. Under modern conditions of mechanized war, the once lumbering and awkward tank has emerged as a machine of many types and variations, from small steel speedsters to the huge 80-ton land battleships which flatten trees and grind buildings to powder. These have created new problems in defense, and Uncle Sam’s new army is not going to be caught napping in this department.

One outfit devoted to blasting the blitz battle-wagons is the new anti-tank troop of the First Cavalry Division at Fort Bliss. Formed only last January with 31 regular Army men, the troop now has 4 commissioned officers, 31 non-coms, and 121 men, all of whom are draftees from Michigan, Illinois and Wisconsin. Most of the men have had mechanical experience working in automobile plants, which stand them in good stead in operating and caring for the scout cars and motorcycles with which the troop is equipped.

These pictures show the outfit in action during a recent tactical problem. Lieutenant Jack Berg (left) and Lieutenant M. M. Roland send one of the new jeep reconnaissance cars hurtling over a bump on a test drive. The baby blitz buggy is a Ford-built Bantam with four-wheel drive. Photo measures 9 x 7.25 inches. Photo is dated 07-16-1941.

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Originally Published Feb 11, 2013. 

“This is an “ORIGINAL PERIOD GLOSSY PHOTO BY ACME” of THE BABY BLITZ BUGGY IS A FORD-BUILT BANTAM FOUR-WHEEL DRIVE GP JEEP WITH THE FIRST CAVALRY DIVISION AT FT. BLISS TEX., photo date – 1941. The condition is very good and measures 7″ x 9″.

fordgp-photograph

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