These two negatives from 1945 might interest GPW collectors.
2 1945 Negatives of GPWs on eBay
January 12, 2023 • CATEGORIES: Features, GPW (Ford MB), Old Images This site contains affiliate links for which I may be compensated.
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Features Research Archives
Sportif, Dispatcher, Beach Comber, Commuter & DJ-6A
UPDATE: Roger Jordan posted this rare photo of a DJ-6A concept vehicle on Facebook. It reminds me of the Dispatcher-100 and Sportif models, so I’ll add it to this page
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Originally posted April 8, 2019:
As most folks know, Brooks Stevens was instrumental in numerous production and concept car designs. One of the lesser known projects was, apparently, an offshoot of the DJ-3A 2WD line. There are four documented designs, two of which became concept vehicles.
The Dispatcher and the Sportif concept cars.
- The Sportif: This DJ-3A-like vehicle appears to use the DJ-3A convertible windshield and hood, to which some stylistic designs have been added. There are a variety of undated pics at the Milwaukee Art Museum’s website which tags the images as being prototypes for the Canadian Market. A March-April 1995 Willys World article dates the pics to 1959. Brook Stevens is pictured in both images.
Link to Milwaukee Art Museum
- The Dispatcher (aka Dispatcher Sportif) and Dispatcher 100: The Milwaukee Art Museum labels this simply as the Dispatcher, but other placed identify this as the Dispatcher 100 or Dispatcher Sportif. You can see all the pics at the Museum’s website.
Dispatcher 100: Derek Redmond published a slightly different version of this concept at the CJ-3B page. It’s titled the Dispatcher 100 (has an insignia with the name on the passenger door) and it may represent a slight update or next evolution of the “Dispatcher” above. The cover on the passenger side cowl suggests this might have been made from the later model DJ-3A body (which used the hole for a heater vent).
- Jeep Beach Comber: This fanciful 2WD vehicle looks inspired by the DJ-3A Surrey, one designs for beaches and vacation rentals. There’s only one image of it at the Milwaukee Art Museum. This appears to use the later model Willys hubcaps seen on the Surreys.
- Jeep Commuter 100: It looks to be a roomier version of the other vehicles, but with a top that allowed lots of visibility. There’s only one image of it at the Milwaukee Art Museum. This jeep also appears to use the later model Willys hubcaps seen on the Surreys. I can attest that the low windshield and low soft top (if that is a soft top) would have made it difficult for 6-footers like me to climb back into the rear seat.
2023 Willys Jeep Rally June 2-3 2023
This year’s Willys Jeep Rally will be held June 2-3 2023 at its usual location in Houston Woods, College Corner, Ohio. Thanks to Russ for letting me know! You can learn more here: http://www.mw-willysjeep.com
Unusual Windshield on MB
January 10, 2023 • CATEGORIES: Features • TAGS: Windshield. This site contains affiliate links for which I may be compensated.
UPDATE: As Barney notes in the comments, it appears to be a windshield adapted from a Mighty Mite. You can see an example here: http://www.ewillys.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/11/year-m422a1-imperial-ca1.jpg
Buz just acquired this MB that has an unusual windshield setup. I have seen some bubba jobs similar to this windshield, but someone did this much better than most. It does not appear to be an M-38A1 windshield (too narrow), but it doesn’t appear to be a CJ-3A/DJ-3A windshield (curved top holder). Anyone recognize it?
He described the windshield this way:
I bought this 1943 Willys MB with this unusual style M38A1 windshield assembly. It is narrower than the M38A1 windshield and this one has not been cut and welded. Also a very precise adaptation to the cowl to mount the windshield. No doubt it probably harms the value of the 1943 model, but it has to have been some sort of factory modification, it’s not a home brew bubba job. Have you ever seen anything similar to this? I have the history of this jeep back to 1947. The first civilian registration was issued in 1947 to E. W. Worrell who paid $800 for it in Hillsville, VA.
Here are some pics.
Back to the Racer
January 9, 2023 • CATEGORIES: Builds, Features • TAGS: Leftovers-racer. This site contains affiliate links for which I may be compensated.
After an unexpected detour of 6 months, I finally had a chance to return to working on the racer.
My first project was to create the side bars by reusing the 2 1/2″ side bars from the yellow racer. You can see them mounted on the old racer here (my finger is accidentally pointing out the driver’s sidebar in this pic). I cut both of them off this chassis.
Here is a side view of the old chassis. These sidebars are angled upward to attach at the angled portion of the frame near the engine mounts. I liked the look of them, so figured I’d reuse them. At this point, I also plan to build the new racer cage similar to what you see blow, but with a few changes.
Somehow, I managed not to take many pics of this process, but I started with my new metal saw by cutting the side bars so they’d sit flat (I removed the sidebars from the other chassis with a sawz-it-all, so the cuts weren’t great).
Trying to get this angle just right on the front portion of the bars was tricky. So, I cut the back bar first to the optimal length, then dropped the front of the bar over the edge of the table until the tube was level. Then used the flat edge of a carpenter square to draw a straight edge on the bar.
Here, the cut has been finished.
Next, I welded plates to each tube end. Then, I clamped the tubes to the sides of the frame. With that done, Ann and I put the body in place to make sure it fit over the angled side bar, which it does.
Since it looks like things will fit correctly, I will pull the body back off, pull the side bars off, clean off the paint where I need to weld on the frame, and attach the sidebars.
Next, I’ll spend some time determining how the floor, cage, firewall, and the seats will mount, and how the side of the body will attach to the cage (the body sides are weak rather flimsy, so it needs a good mounting system).
Best Top(?) Tire Carrier Reno, NV $250
January 9, 2023 • CATEGORIES: Features This site contains affiliate links for which I may be compensated.
This looks like a Best Top tire carrier in good shape (see different kinds here). It was mounted on a CJ-2A.
https://reno.craigslist.org/pts/d/reno-willys-jeep-tire-carrier/7575975309.html
“Willys Jeep rear swing out tire and gas can carrier. Holds 2 jerry cans.
Hard to find , very good condition. Came off CJ2A”
1951 DeAnza Trail Jeep Cavalcade
UPDATE: Originally posted Feb 1, 2018:
The May 1951 issue of Motor Trend captured the 3rd Annual DeAnza Trail Jeep Cavalcade. The author, Ernest Reshovsky, titled the article “Jeep Gymkhana”, possibly attempting to reference timed automobile or equestrian contents designed to test driving skill, though to my knowledge the Cavalcade was not a timed event.
Postcard & 1942 Photo of Ford GP “Super Jeep” 6×6
January 5, 2023 • CATEGORIES: Bantam-FordGP-WillysMA-EarlyJPs, Features, Old Images • TAGS: 6x6. This site contains affiliate links for which I may be compensated.
UPDATE II: There’s no date on this rare 6×6 Super Jeep postcard that I just picked up from eBay. I imagine this was published around 1942 or 43. It looks like the postcard was based on this press photo at the bottom of this post.
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Originally poste on February 13, 2014:
Craig spotted this rare photo. It shows a Ford GP 6×6, which also appears to be called a Ford GP T14 37mm. I’m not clear on how many were made, but this one (or something very similar) can be seen here: http://www.imcdb.org/vehicle_465000-Ford-GP-T14-37mm-GMC-1941.html
1960 Wooden Nickel w/ CJ-5 on eBay
January 5, 2023 • CATEGORIES: Advertising & Brochures, Features This site contains affiliate links for which I may be compensated.
Starting bid is $10. I’ve not listed another one of these, so I suspect they aren’t too common.
View all the information on eBay
“This is a vintage Wooden Nickel.
It’s from the Toledo Coin Club, Ohio.
1935-1960 Silver Anniversary
On the back is an advertisement for ‘Willys Motors, Inc’
Shows a topless Jeep in the center with ‘Beware of Imitations’ and ‘JEEP Universal’
It’s a real wood ‘coin’ .
It shows some color variation, either due to light staining or just the natural variations in the wood. (see photos)”
2 FC-170 w/ Dump Bed Photos on eBay
January 5, 2023 • CATEGORIES: Features, Old Images This site contains affiliate links for which I may be compensated.
There are two photos of this FC from a 1959 show in Australia. Both are 8×10 photos.
