Fire/Police/Industry Vehicles Research Archives

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Reason #63 for a trip to Italy

January 24, 2010 • CATEGORIES: Features, Fire/Police/Industry Vehicles, Museums, Old Images, Website This site contains affiliate links for which I may be compensated.
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Some of the folks over at the ww2talk.com website had a discussion regarding the Museo Storico Piana delle Orme – Latina (Italy).    The museum describes itself as a “historical theme park designed to accommodate one of the largest and most diverse collections in the world: planes, tanks, locomotives, wagons, radio, weapons and hundreds of military vehicles, agricultural tractors, threshers, trams and coaches, tools and thousands of objects of all types and sizes. Dedicated to the twentieth century, the Museum is a journey through 50 years of Italian history. 14 themed to tell the traditions and culture of the peasant, the great works of improvement, the Second World War but also to show the vehicles and means at the dawn of industrialization and great toys with which children entertained themselves.”

For the purposes of ewillys, the highlight of the trip might just be the opportunity to check out these two modified flatties a little closer (ok, hopefully we could find many more highlights as well!)

In the foreground, we have a MB that has been converted into a tow truck.  Behind, and to the left, is a jeep with a water tank(?) on the back of it.  Maybe a water transporter?  This photo was taken by “Captain Bill”.

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Art’s 1946 CJ-2A Fire Willys and Trailer

January 21, 2010 • CATEGORIES: CJ-2A, Fire/Police/Industry Vehicles, trailer • TAGS: , . This site contains affiliate links for which I may be compensated.
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Bruce surprised me today with some pics of a Fire Jeep.  He noted that after reading the section that includes Fire Jeeps, he thought I might be interested in seeing a couple pics of Art’s Jeep.  After reviewing the pics, I asked him for permission to publish them.  Bruce was kind enough to contact Art, who in turn has been nice enough to let me share them with you.  If you haven’t seen Art’s Jeep on the CJ-3B page or at one of the Willy’s reunions, then you are in for a treat.

One of the more interesting factoids I ran across while doing a search for Art’s Jeep on the internet was a discussion on the CJ-2A Page Forum regarding Bill’s effort to include Art’s Jeep in a Calendar of Fire Vehicles.  It turns out that Daimler Chrysler wants a piece of any Calendar pie for showing a Jeep Grille (specifically, a $500 guarantee and 12% royalties).

So, that got me thinking. What about Jeeps on pay websites?  Could Daimler, for example, begin asking for royalties from a site like the Jeep Forum, which has paying members, on which plenty of images of a Jeep Grille exist?  At this point, my opinion is they can’t, because they haven’t enforced their rights (if they even have them) to do so.  But, I’m gonna research this more.

Anyway, here’s some pics of Art’s Willys.  Thanks for sharing Art 🙂

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Book: Willy – The Little Jeep

January 10, 2010 • CATEGORIES: Books, Features, Fire/Police/Industry Vehicles This site contains affiliate links for which I may be compensated.
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Here’s a kid’s book called Willy:  The Little Jeep Who Wanted to Be a Fire Truck.  I haven’t read it yet, but it’s supposed to be based loosely on a real event and a real 1947 CJ-2A.  The book has its own website.

From Amazon.com, “Join Willy as his dream of becoming a fire truck takes some surprising twists and turns. Travel with him on an adventure that brings him from the sidelines to center stage and safely back home again.

Written originally as a Christmas present for a friend, WILLY has already captivated children of all ages. As one reviewer noted, “The book is written for a child, but has so much meaning for adults as well. I don’t mind admitting that a tear of joy rolled down my ‘headlight’ too!” Others have described Willy as “lovable,” “endearing,” and “plain ol’ fun.”

The story, penned by volunteer firefighter Don Estes, is based on actual events that happened in Clinton Corners, New York and Clinton, Connecticut.”

View all the information at Amazon

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1955 Fire Truck Vidalia, La **Status Unknown**

January 4, 2010 • CATEGORIES: Fire/Police/Industry Vehicles, Unusual, Willys Trucks • TAGS: . This site contains affiliate links for which I may be compensated.
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UPDATE: Status Unknown. Was listed at $2100

I’d like a closer look at the bed to see what makes this a fire truck.

“1955 Willys / Jeep FIRE TRUCK, Kaiser Supersonic 6 cylinder, 4X4 works, runs well, Needs brakes bled and new home.”

1955_truck_vidalia

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Ebro Trucks from a Jeep Pickups website

October 23, 2009 • CATEGORIES: Features, Fire/Police/Industry Vehicles, International, Unusual This site contains affiliate links for which I may be compensated.
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Here’s some a couple great pics of an early Ebro Cameador.  You can view more images at http://www.angelfire.com/nb2/jeeppickups/Ebro.html.

Jeeps first started being assembled in Spain in 1952 by a company called VIASA, which means Vehículos Industriales y Agrícolas, S.A in spanish. I am not sure if VIASA ever made pickups, as I cannot find any records of them being produced. However, in the late 1970’s VIASA was absorbed into EBRO, another spanish company. The only pickup that I know of produced by EBRO was called the Campeador. It was a forward control pickup available in either single or double cab version, which was called the Duplex, as well as a van, called the Toledo/Furgon. At some time, Hotchkiss in France also produced these vehicles, but I can’t find any pictures of them. Production of these vehicles was from 1971-1985 in France.  The Ebro name was discontinued in 1980.

ebro_jeeps

brochure_ebro_van

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The White Mice

August 21, 2009 • CATEGORIES: Features, Fire/Police/Industry Vehicles, MB This site contains affiliate links for which I may be compensated.
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This excerpt is from an article title White Mice, which is about policing European highways during and after the war.  Included is a MB painted in the distinctive colors:  White vehicle with a black hood.  If you go to the website article,  you will see a variety of cars with this motif.  This would make an unusual restoration project.

“The 62nd Military Police Company was created on November 30, 1943 and activated in North Africa a day later. Originally, it was a standard combat MP unit, and participated in the campaigns in France, the Rhineland and Ardennes-Alsace. Following the end of the war, the unit was reorganized twice, first as the 62nd Military Police Service Company in June 1948 and then as the 62nd Military Police Highway Patrol Company on September 20, 1951, when it was reattached to the regular Army forces occupying American Zone of Germany.

Corporal Edward Olson in a Highway Patrol Willys MB. Note the permanent roof and the large combination siren-warning light on the fender.

Unlike standard military police units, the Highway Patrol was created not only to enforce laws and regulations, but to handle other duties typically handled by civilian police agencies. These included assisting motorists and promoting traffic safety. On a given day, a trooper might work traffic, investigate a crime, or perform escort duty for a convoy. Or all three, just like his civilian counterpart.”

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1946 VEC CJ-2A Vista, Ca **SOLD**

August 17, 2009 • CATEGORIES: CJ-2A, Features, Fire/Police/Industry Vehicles • TAGS: , . This site contains affiliate links for which I may be compensated.
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UPDATE:  This seller also restored this CJ-2A with a similar theme.

A well executed and creative build.  These are exactly the kinds of non traditional restorations I’d like to see more of that properly record the wide and varied deployment of the jeep.

The builder/seller writes, “1946 Willys V.E.C. CJ2A #14, 422 – County Sheriff  Patrol Jeep: I’m relisting this beautiful Willys with a lower reserve. However, don’t make the mistake of believing that I’m giving it away!  I just recognize that the market is soft right now.  I know what I have put into this restoration.  This is my fourth and final restoration of a 1946 Willys Civilian Jeep (CJ) 2A.

I became interested in the 1946 CJ-2A because it was the first production 4 wheel drive vehicle available to the public and is the grandfather of all modern SUVs.  This particular CJ-2A restored as a Sheriff Patrol Jeep was restored as a tribute to my own Grandfather who was a deputy sheriff in Southern California during the 1940’s and early 1950’s.  This CJ-2A is a faithful restoration of the type patrol vehicle that may have been used by the sheriff in the California, Nevada, Utah and Arizona back-country. The Federal siren and all Unity lights are period vintage police equipment.  The STOP light on the left front fender is a vintage Griffin model used by Military Police on jeeps during the Second World War.

1946_cj2a_sheriff_vista

Continue reading →

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1959 Tow Truck Colorado Springs, Co $3500

June 25, 2009 • CATEGORIES: Fire/Police/Industry Vehicles, Willys Trucks This site contains affiliate links for which I may be compensated.
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1959_willystruck_coloradospringsUPDATE:  Still available

I think this is cool.

“I have a 1959 Willys good condoition for the year it is. Ive put 3500 into it the engine needs some work this i a one of a kind truck im selling due to layoff and need the money. Asking 3500 or best offer you can call for more info or arange a time to come and look at call 475-1841 between 5pm and 8pm Thank you for looking and have a good day.”

http://denver.craigslist.org/cto/1238786823.html

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