Author Archives: deilers

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Kam the Motoring Elephant Poster on eBay

January 9, 2024 • CATEGORIES: Features • TAGS: . This site contains affiliate links for which I may be compensated.
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UPDATE: An original post for Bertram Mills Circus featuring Kim the jeep-riding elephant is currently on eBay for $510.08.

View all the information on eBay

1950s-Kam-elephant-riding-bertram-mills-circus-20inx30in-poster

“Origional Bertram Mills Circus poster illustrated with KAM the elephant driving his Jeep, a great Jeep man cave item.
51cm x 74 cm. (20″ x 30″)”

In addition, a new search brought up this old photo from 1957:

1957-Kam-elephant-riding-bertram-mills-circus-photo

And, finally, after the jeep Kam drove e a Landcruiser. Here’s a short video of Kim at work:

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Originally posted December 18, 2012: 

1957-kam-motoring-elephant-poster

Kam the elephant starred for the Bertram Mills Circus during the 1950s and into the 1960s.  Initially, Kam drove a modified MB/GPW.  It looks like it had an updated motor.  Unfortunately, the only images I have found of Kam on the jeep are from the above poster and from page 240 of “The Jeep” book (a black and white photo which I don’t show). In the photo, as in the poster, there is a hump in the hood, which I assume is the result of the engine swap.  The jeep has the usual WWII attributes: tool indents, rear floating hubs and other details. Unlike the poster, the photo shows the fenders were left stock and flat, rather than rounded as shown in the poster.

Eventually, according to the site Silodrome, the circus bought a 1959 Series 1 Land Rover and modified it with a “central steering wheel and a huge, padded seat over the rear axle”.  The picture below is also from Silodrome. Here is a very short video of him driving it.  Kam’s customized Land Rover has been found and is being rebuilt.

kam-an-elephant-from-Bertram-Mills-circus-“drives”-a-Land-Rover-November-1959

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Israel-Kaiser Compact Tender Literature

January 7, 2024 • CATEGORIES: Advertising & Brochures, Features, Willys Trucks, Willys Wagons • TAGS: . This site contains affiliate links for which I may be compensated.
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UPDATE: I found what I believe is another Israel Kaiser brochure which highlights the Compact Tender design. This truck looks more like a modified wagon than a truck. The bed does not appear independent of the cab.

1950s-israel-brochure-compact-pickup1 1950s-israel-brochure-compact-pickup2 1950s-israel-brochure-compact-pickup3

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Original Published Dec 05, 2010: Congrats to Or who spotted some information from a “Kaizer-Ilin Industrys Ltd” marketing document at the Israel Cars forum.   He and I have both searched for any official piece of evidence that the vehicles we were seeing were really produced and this represents the first step in that process.  We still don’t know how many were produced, nor how many years they were produced, nor in how many countries they were produced (though they have appeared in both Israel and the US).

The document below is from 1963.  Or translates it the following way:

1. Tender Willys
2. “Station Car”
3. Compact Tender
4. c’hamp 1963

Moreover, Or spoke with some of the folks at the Israel Cars forum and discovered that the Compact Tender is built on the Panel/Wagon frame (104.5″ wheelbase) rather than the long pickup frame (118″ wheelbase).

Thanks to the guys at the Israel Cars forum for posting this Ad:

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1956 Truck Newspaper Metal Print Block Stamp on eBay

January 4, 2024 • CATEGORIES: Advertising & Brochures, Features, Willys Trucks This site contains affiliate links for which I may be compensated.
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UPDATE: At bottom is a printed version of the plate listed on eBay. A few of the pics show the truck with the high middle cross piece on the grille, which helps date it.

View all the information on eBay

1956-truck-newspaper-metal-block-print

“8 x 6 x 1 inch
“Let us demonstrate America’s lowest priced 4-wheel drive truck”
“4-Wheel Drive Jeep Truck”
“Willys…world’s largest makers of 4-wheel drive vehicles”

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Originally published April 14, 2013: The ad is from 1956.

“Original newspaper ad , 8 x 8 .”

1956-truck-maine-newspaper-ad

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Arboretum Jeep Train Postcard and Slide

November 11, 2023 • CATEGORIES: Features • TAGS: . This site contains affiliate links for which I may be compensated.
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Apparently, the arboretum had at least two different colors of jeep trains. Here’s a slide then of an orange one. It is currently priced at $12.99.

View all the information on eBay

la-arboretum-slide-jeep-tram1 la-arboretum-slide-jeep-tram2

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(Originally posted May 2015)  This was sold on eBay.

This postcard depicts how tram visitors used to tour the former Santa Anita ranch of “Lucky Baldwin”, who made millions in silver.  According to the website, “Occupying the heart of the historic Rancho Santa Anita, The Los Angeles County Arboretum & Botanic Garden is a unique 127 acre botanical garden and historical site jointly operated by the Los Angeles Arboretum Foundation and the Los Angeles County Department of Parks and Recreation and located in the city of Arcadia.”

The park is located here.

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1945 Yank Magazine Article

November 7, 2023 • CATEGORIES: Features, Magazine This site contains affiliate links for which I may be compensated.
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UPDATE: I originally posted this July 2, 2014. Thanks to Barry Thomas for the idea.

I’ve seen the cover of this September 21, 1945, issue numerous times, but never the interior story. So, here it is. Click on the story photo for a much larger version.

1945-09-21-yank-magazine1

1945-09-21-yank-magazine-civilianjeep-lores

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