An article in the June 22, 1978, issue of the Longview Daily News highlighted an upcoming Road Rebels jeep club payday. The reference to 199 trophies to be awarded reminded me of just how big of an event the Sunday evening trophy awards could be. They could last hours. People usually lumped together by clubs in one large group. Each name would be called. Imagine it takes one minute to hand out each trophy; in the case of this event you’d be looking at over three hours for 199 trophies.
Features Research Archives
Warn Belt Buckle
Thanks to Dave for sending me this custom Warn hub belt buckle that he made! I’ll have this one on a belt next week. If you are interested in one, he charges $50, but can reduce the price a little if you can donate a hub.

1950 Willys Makes Sense Postcard
This oversize 5″x7″ postcard arrived as part of a multiple postcards from eBay. The postcard was part of the 1950-1951 Willys Makes Sense campaign and was the first image published in magazines as part of the campaign.
It’s unclear to me just how many different images were used from the campaign for Willys Makes Sense postcards, but beware that there are a variety of newly printed postcards on eBay and Etsy.
The Mufflermobile Fredericton, NB, Canada **SOLD**
UPDATE II: If you thought this was the only vehicle to be built in a muffler shape, think again. One Art Car website has pics of a variety of muffler-themed vehicles:
http://artcarcentral.com/muffler-mobiles-and-the-muffler-shops-that-made-them/
That site also had an additional photo of the yellow muffler mobile built on a CJ-2A body, which had been posted to Flickr:
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Originally posted September 03, 2012: Like the Oscar Meyer Mobile (on a FC), this is built on a jeep platform (CJ-2A). This sold on eBay in 2012.
“The Mufflermobile! What is The Mufflermobile? It’s a fully-functional four wheel drive 1948 Willys Jeep CJ2A that’s licensed for the road. The body has been replaced with a custom made wood framed, aluminum skinned replica of a muffler that’s 8 feet high and 11 feet long. This is the most unique advertising vehicle since the Oscar Meyer Weinermobile!
Purchase The Mufflermobile, wrap it with your company’s advertising message, park it around town or show it off at different events, and people will come to your business just to tell you that they saw it! They’ll tell their friends about it; they’ll post pictures of it on facebook and twitter. They will promote your business for you! You can’t buy advertising like that! Oh wait, yes you can! Bid to win or Buy It Now!
The Mufflermobile is located in the Fredericton, NB area and is being sold as-is, where-is, no warranty expressed or implied. It is, after all, a 64 year old muffler.”
1953 Photo of American Relief for Poland Wagon on eBay
This 7″x5″ photo shows a Jeep Station painted up for an American Relief of Poland campaign.
” US Shipping is $4 per photo/lot as listed. Photo shipped in archival plastic sleeve & in greeting card w/ stamp.”
Happy Thanksgiving
Thanksgiving is a sign that 2020 is almost over …
Mark shared this photo of a CJ-2A and a successful turkey hunt. Per a website about Texas license plate history, the plate indicates this is a 1950 plate, meaning it is likely a 1950 photo. Unfortunately, the KT on the left side of the plate is not a county abbreviation or code.
Early Tractor Race Video
They aren’t jeeps, but they are definitely off road (and through buildings). Thanks to Roger Martin for sharing this unusual video. The race took place in 1920s New Zealand according to youtube.
CJ-2 Fire Jeep Photos
This nice little nugget of Willys history has been posted since 2011, but somehow I missed it. The Kaiser Willys blog has three photos of a CJ-2 (not CJ-2A) Fire Jeep that includes the “JEEP” plate across the front of the windshield.
https://blog.kaiserwillys.com/the-postwar-willys-cj-2-fire-jeep
1945 Photo of Rocket Launcher
UPDATE: The press photo at bottom was published in several newspapers, including the February 04, 1945, issue of the Knoxville News-Sentinel:
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Originally Posted May 14, 2016:
“1945- Barrage rockets are readied for firing from an experimental rocket firing jeep at test range in Inyokern, California. Photos measure approx. 7″ x 9”.
Perfect Jeep and Parts Co. Catalog on eBay
I’ve seen a Perjeco catalog (note that name is the cable address), but not a Perfect Jeep catalog. I’m not sure how those two companies are related (or maybe one is just a DBA). The catalog is probably not worth much.
View all the information on eBay
“Vintage 1950s Perfect Jeep and Parts Co. Willy’s Jeep Parts Catalogue”

















