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Roger W. Hofheins’ Aqua Cheetah

February 13, 2014 • CATEGORIES: Features, GPA (SEEP), Old Images This site contains affiliate links for which I may be compensated.
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Thanks to several readers who alerted me to some Ford GPA photos on eBay. After closer inspection (and a little studying) I learned this is not a SEEP and not built on the jeep chassis, but rather a vehicle called the Aqua Chetah built on a half-ton chassis and called a G552.

According to this Australian website, Roger W. Hofheins approached the US Military just prior to the US involvement in WWII about building an amphibious assault vehicle. Hofheins proceeded to create some designs and the Amphibian Car Corporation built them. According to Amphibiousvehicles.com, only four prototypes were built utilizing three different designs. As you can see in the photos below, its smooth front and cowl are quite a bit different than the GPAs.  Its side profile isn’t as refined either.

There’s a neat video of one being tested in 1942 in Holabird, MD: http://www.criticalpast.com/video/65675068957_aqua-cheetah_moves-in-water_moves-on-a-road_a-sea-jeep

The Amphibian Car Co. was based in Buffalo, New York. At the Buffalo & Erie County Library is an eight page book published by the company. According to World Cat, there are also some archive information, including a newspaper article from 1941. If anyone has some time, it might be interesting to see what’s there.

1) First Photo for sale. View all the information on eBay

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2) Second photo for sale. View all the information on eBay

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3) Third photo for sale. View all the information on eBay:

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More links, photos and information:

  1. Video: http://www.criticalpast.com/video/65675068957_aqua-cheetah_moves-in-water_moves-on-a-road_a-sea-jeep
  2. Amphibious Vehicles Website: http://www.amphibiousvehicle.net/amphi/Ao_Az.html
  3. The book Camp Edwards and Otis Air Force Base has some photos and information.
  4. The G503 site has a picture of one prototype being moved that was originally posted at photobucket.
  5. This site from the Netherlands has more information: http://forum.ktr.nl/index.php?topic=235.0
  6. Rotorua Duck Tours: http://www.rotoruaducktours.co.nz/dukw-history
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Hawaiian Jeep Shirt Size Large on eBay

February 13, 2014 • CATEGORIES: Features, Unusual This site contains affiliate links for which I may be compensated.
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Perfect for your next trip to Hawaii! This one is tempting. It’s just unusual enough . . . It reminds me of my Ford GP shirt.

“TORI RICHARD Rare Vintage Safari Jeep Lion Puma Mens Hawaiian Camp Shirt L
Short Sleeve – Button Down
Material: 100% Rayon
Color: Green, Brown, White, Other
1 Pocket on the chest
Care instructions: Machine washable
Pre-owned and in Very good to Excellent condition
Measurements were taken while laying flat – Approximate
Tag Size: L
Chest armpit to armpit: 25″
Length collar seam to bottom seam: 30.5″
Please see photos for more details
Comes from a smoke free environment”

View all the information on ebay

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Go Kart Penitas, TX **SOLD**

February 12, 2014 • CATEGORIES: Features, toys This site contains affiliate links for which I may be compensated.
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UPDATE: **SOLD** Was No Price

“Here I leave a novelty Exxxtreme cycles, this is a willys jeep as 1941.
Really, it’s like the same jeep, comes with spare tire, spare fuel tank, this Jeep has a 125cc engine is 3-speed, but it is not standard, is semi automatic, has very comfortable seats, light brake, front light, HYDRAULIC brakes, 4 stroke, do not have to mix gasoline with oil. Here we offer a one year warranty, is included engine, transmission, parts and labor. In addition, we have layaway plan, and financing.”

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545th Military Police Vehicle History

February 11, 2014 • CATEGORIES: Features, Website • TAGS: . This site contains affiliate links for which I may be compensated.
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The 545th Military Police Company has seen action in a variety of places. Some of this history is captured in a “Pictorial History of Vehicles” page they’ve assembled. Naturally, there is a section on jeeps. Below are a few of the photos. See all the photos here: http://www.545thmpassn.com/Vehicles.htm

This 1949 color photo shows the yellow and black paint scheme:

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545th MP Co. Yellow Jeep, Camp McNair, Japan 1949

I think the purpose of this vehicle is pretty obvious:

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This jeep was utilized exclusively to escort VIPs’ and General Officers at Camp Drake Note the abundance of red lights and the siren

This photo shows a good view of the black striped hood:

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545th MP Co yellow jeep at Camp Drake, Japan circa 1949

Some of the M-38A1s had an unusual paint scheme:

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545th MP Co. Willys Jeep near Mt. Fuji, Japan 1954 – 1955 — M-38A1

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Doron’s 1942 GPW Tribute to his Father

February 11, 2014 • CATEGORIES: Features, International • TAGS: . This site contains affiliate links for which I may be compensated.
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Doron Segal from Israel shared these photos. In memory of his father, Doron has rebuilt a 1942 GPW with the number “4062”.  His father served in the “Samson Foxes“.

The two photos below are from a fifteenth club event in Israel, 2010 (see more current photos here).  Doron can be seen driving his GPW in the first one:

doron-segal-1942-gpwdoron-segal-1942-gpw2Here are some vintage photos. They jeeps shown are a mix of MB/GPWs, CJ-2As and a Lefty CJ-2A. It looks like the rear extension was a must-have modification. Note the number on the jeep in the first photo.

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Business Card for Bean’s Garage in Pennsylvania

February 11, 2014 • CATEGORIES: Advertising & Brochures, Features • TAGS: . This site contains affiliate links for which I may be compensated.
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David Silberman forwarded this vintage jeep business card. He writes, “Here is a scan of a business card from a Willys dealer in the area. They (brothers Ike and Joe) were an associate dealer and were very good with parts and repair. They also had a Koenig backhoe on a Jeep truck, which they used to dig graves, among other uses.

We bought a 1953 Aero Ace from them in 1955, and in 1958 bought a 1947 CJ2A. The Aero cost $1,000 and we got 200,000 miles out of it. The CJ was $300. We kept it until we traded it for a new CJ5 in 1960. They went out of the Jeep business in the early 60’s. I attended the auction of the place about 8 years ago. Joe was still alive at that time.

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