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1956 DJ-3A Press Photo on eBay

• CATEGORIES: DJ-3A, Features, Old Images This site contains affiliate links for which I may be compensated.

Great DJ-3A press photo.

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“This is an original press photo. Autos-Willy’s. Willys Jeep Dispatcher, above, designed for light delivery work particularly in congested traffic areas, is now being introduced by Willy’s Motors, Incorporated. Highly maneuverable and economical to operate, the Dispatcher is offered in a hardtop model (illustrated) a convertible canvas soft-top, and a basic open model. All models are powered by the Jeep four-cylinder 60 horsepower engine.Photo measures 10 x 8.25inches. Photo is dated 6-3-1956.”

1956-06-03-dj3a-press-photo1

1956-06-03-dj3a-press-photo2

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1953 Photo and Article from a Jeep Playday

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

This photo and article appeared in the July 09, 1973, issue of the Longview Daily News. I don’t remember the Road Rebels Jeep Club nor can I remember its insignia. The tow bar on the front suggests this jeep was likely a trail and race jeep, if not also a road jeep. It was common to see the family jeep show up at races into the early 1980s. It doesn’t take too many breakdowns of the family jeep while racing to convince owners to build race-only jeeps.
Clipping from Longview Daily News - Newspapers.com

“A hearty crowd turned out for the Jeep Play Day put on by the Road Rebels Jeep Club this weekend in conjunction with Kelso’s Hilander Summer Festival. The unidentified driver has all four wheels slinging mud, sand and water during his run over the course. Photographer Dave Fox captured the action with a camera setting of f16 at 500th of a second, which is considerably slower than the speed he used to get out of the way.”

Clipping from Longview Daily News - Newspapers.com

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Four CJ-5-oriented Questions

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

Four CJ-5 Questions for you all:

  1. Anyone know when (month/year or vin) that the CJ-5 switched from the side tank to the rear? I’ve seen dates between mid 1970 through early 1972.
  2. Similarly, when was the PTO draw bar dropped (month/year or vin)?
  3. When did the CJ-5 spare tire mount move from the side to the back (month/year or vin)?
  4. When was JEEP changed to Jeep on the side of the CJ-5 cowl (month/year or vin)? (somewhere on eWillys I’ve answered this question, as I remember doing the research, but now I can’t find it!)
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3D Jeep Puzzle on eBay

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

This tiny 3D Jeep puzzle reminds me of a wooden one I have. This plastic version is currently priced at $39.

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“This JEEP keychain puzzle was made by J&L Randall company in UK in the early 50s. It comes with its original card which has the solution on the back. The card has a punch through or tear top middle and some bending’folds.

The 2 holes punched in the center of the card were used to attach the puzzle onto the card with a rubber band.

The puzzles are all complete, unbroken and in very good to excellent condition with any exceptions clearly specified.”

jeep-3d-puzzle01

jeep-3d-puzzle4 jeep-3d-puzzle3 jeep-3d-puzzle2 jeep-3d-puzzle1

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BOOK: The Mystery in The Jeep by Ernie Rydberg

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

Free-lance writer Ernie Rydberg wrote the Mystery in The Jeep, one of at least eleven books, hundreds of short stories, screen plays, and more over his lifetime (1901-1990). I’ve ordered an inexpensive copy of the book and will report on it when I get a chance.There’s a first edition of the book on eBay for $63.74 and another edition on Amazon for only $19.

According to the synopsis from Goodreads.com, “A pretty librarian helps two high school students, Lefty and Gloria, track down a gang of diabolical confidence men. Their clue is a book, which starts them on the track of illicit real estate deals and other unsavory enterprises.”

Here are two examples of the book cover:

1959-the-mystery-in-the-jeep2 1959-the-mystery-in-the-jeep1

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BOOK: The Mystery of the Amphibious Jeep

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

Author Paul Moxham, an Australian writer, has published The Mystery of the Amphibious Jeep on Kindle. At 4.61 stars on Goodreads, it seems to be a popular kids story. Where the referenced ‘jeep’ is a Ford GPA SEEP or a DUKW (or something else), isn’t clear. Given the author’s Australian background and Australian Ben Carlin’s fame, I’m leaning towards it being a GPA.

the-mystery-of-the-amphibious-jeep

According to the synopsis on Goodreads:

“After meeting an American adventurer who is travelling around the world in an amphibious jeep, the Mystery Kids invite him to spend the evening at Rose Cottage. However, the night has barely began when the jeep is stolen by two men.

What do the men plan to do with the jeep? Who are the stowaways? Why does the jeep go round in circles?

Set in 1950’s Britain, this adventure story will suit anyone who enjoys Nancy Drew, the Hardy Boys or the Famous Five”

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Pat Brady, Dale Evans & NellyBelle Slide on eBay

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

UPDATE: Thanks to Colin for the corrections

Great photo of Roy Rogers Pat Brady at the helm of NellyBelle with Dale Evans beside him.

View all the information on eBay

roy-rogers-nellybelle-negative

“For sale is this original and vintage slide, Roy Rogers in Nelly Belle Willys Jeep in early 1950’s

The first number in the listing title is the year the slide is from.

Slide Brand: red border Kodachrome from the early 1950’s”

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Monarch Airlines Rental Willys Jeep Wagons

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

There’s a neat postcard from what I believe is the late 1940s that shows a line of Willys Wagons ready to be rented by passengers of Monarch Airlines. a regional carrier based in Colorado. This postcard is available on eBay:

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“Post card shows a great SHOT OF ABOUT A DOZEN NEW WILLY’S JEEP STATION WAGONS AT STAPLETON AIRPORT IN DENVER, COLORADO.”

1940s-monarch-lines-willys-wagon-postcard1 1940s-monarch-lines-willys-wagon-postcard2

My guess is that the idea for the wagon rentals coincided with the introduction in early 1949 of Monarch Airlines’ “family-fare” program, as reported in the February 11, 1949, issue of the Daily Sentinel out of Grand Junction, Colorado. The head of the family paid full price for a ticket, while the remaining family members could fly at half-price. Unfortunately, I have been unable to find a news report that confirms when the wagons were purchased for rental.

Below are two subsequent newspaper ads highlight the program:

May 20, 1949, ad in the Daily Sentinel, Grand Junction, Colorado

May 20, 1949, ad in the Daily Sentinel, Grand Junction, Colorado

April 08,, 1949, ad in the Daily Sentinel, Grand Junction, Colorado

April 08,, 1949, ad in the Daily Sentinel, Grand Junction, Colorado

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