This June 03,1942, photo shows some men taking a ‘peep’ at the Will Rogers theatre to see if it suited their needs for a show. Whether the writer of the cutesy headline was aware that some folks were calling jeeps ‘peeps’ isn’t clear.
Features Research Archives
Former Kamikaze Yukimasa Nishiyama Goes to College
While doing research on Maynard Roberts I happened upon the story of the first Japanese citizen who attended college after WWII. There’s no jeeps involved in this story, but I thought it was an interesting story and an unusual, gutsy move by the family of Robert Johnstone.
Yukimasa Nishiyama was a former Kamikaze pilot who won a scholarship from a family in Pennsylvania, a scholarship funded by the death of their son, Robert Johnstone, during WWII in the Pacific. It was the family’s way to honor their son by using the insurance money paid to them to fund the scholarship for a Japanese citizen to attend Lafayette College. They wanted to bridge the divide between the two countries.
His story made the news when he first arrived. In 1948 his story made the October 4th issue of Life Magazine, complete with photos. This story about Yukimasa was published in 1950:
After college, Nishiyama went on to work for AMP, a Harrisburg, Pennsylvania, company for three decades before retiring. You can read more about his life and experiences in this 1989 article.
I could not find any more information about his life following 1989.
NOS(?) Willys Stencil Kit Part NO 953049 **SOLD**
UPDATE: **SOLD** Was on eBay.
Chris spotted this cool but pricey Willys stencil kit. Given a couple of these have been used, it doesn’t quite seem like it is an “NOS” kit, but still a rare find.
“NOS WILLYS JEEP STENCIL SET PART # 953049 9 STENCILS FOR TRUCK, WAGON,JEEPSTER AND FORWARD CONTROL TWO STENCILS USED ONCE BUT ALL SERVICABLE AS NEW VERY RARE ITEM!”
Ice Racer “Dirty George” (not for sale)
This image was included as part of the sale of a CJ-6 axle (pumpkin removed). It’s an ice-racer with an extended body and a mustang convertible top (reminiscent of the DJ-3A convertible top). It’s sort of an art-car ice-racer. Nice to see folks just having fun with their rigs.
According to the seller of the axle, “I used the [CJ-6] tub and frame to extend a CJ3B to add a Mustang convertible top.”
Vac-U-Cast Plastic Bantam BRC Model
Here is a rare model of the Bantam BRC I bought a couple months ago on eBay; It is quarter-sized (1/76th scale) produced by Vac-U-Cast Plastics, Inc. On the one hand, I’d really like to assemble it; on the other, I like it’s original condition the way it is. The model number is VS-106 Bantam Jeep Prototype I.

1957 FC-150 Demonstration Drive Salesforce Brochure
Anyone have one of these FC-150 Demonstration Drive Salesforce contest brochures? I can’t remember where I saw/found these pics.
April 1948? Newspaper-like Brochure
This “America’s Most Versatile Farm Tool” newspaper-like advertising piece (though printed on a heavier weight material than newsprint) is marked 484A250, which may mean it was published in April of 1948.
Used Car Dealer Sticker Tags on eBay
It would be really neat if someone has one of these vehicles.
View all the information on eBay
“MY FRIEND BOUGHT OUT AN OLD WILLY’S DEALER MANY YEARS AGO–IT WAS CALLED “BIG ED’S” IN SHEBOYGAN, WI. THESE ARE SOME OF THE ORIGINAL TAGS THAT WERE HUNG ON THE WILLY’S JEEPS FOR SALE. THESE ARE KIND OF COOL FOR THE COLLECTOR. THERE IS A 46, 50, 46, 47, 41″
1951 Photo of Captured Jeeps Korean War
This image appeared in the July 31, 1951, issue of the Wilmington Daily Journal. It shows a soldier checking US Army markings on the jeeps so he can determine from whom they were captured.
June 1960 Photo of LARC Unloading M-38A1 on eBay
This LARC-15 was the first amphibious vehicle to cross Lake Michigan. It’s a pretty good accomplishment given the number of wrecks of larger vessels (estimates put the number of ship wrecked ships in Lake Michigan at approximately 1500).
View all the information on eBay
“1960 Press Photo Jeep unloads from United States Army LARC-15 amphibious vehicle. This is an original press photo. Amphibians – United States. A jeep unloads a rubber rolling liquid transporter off the ramp of a LARC-15, the Army’s newest amphibian which was produced by the Ingersol-Kalamazoo Division of Borg-Warner Corporation in conjunction with the United States Army Transportation Research Command. The LARC crossed Lake Michigan June 22 and became the first wheeled amphibian in history to accomplish such a voyage.Photo measures 10.25 x 8inches. Photo is dated 6-24-1960.



















