This issue of Speed Mechanics has an article about souping the Willys F-head, according to the description.
Magazine Research Archives
M38a1 vs The Mighty Mite
Here are two different stories from two issues of Popular Mechanics comparing the size of a M-38A1 to the Mighty Mite.
1. Popular Mechanics May 1953 on Google Books | Purchase a copy of the magazine on eBay
2. Popular Mechanics March 1954 Page 140 on Google Books | Purchase a copy of the magazine on eBay
Jeep Dozer Article by E.V. Reyner
Here’s an interesting article published in the May 1953 issue of Popular Mechanics (pg 195). Interesting that they chose to use a VEC CJ-2A rather than a later model jeep. This issue also includes an introduction and comparison between the M-38A1 and the Mighty Mite.
Popular Mechanics – May 1953 – Page 195
(Pg 100 introduces the Mighty Mite)
There is an issue for sale on eBay as well form only $5.25
Photo of Truck Powering a PTO Saw
The September 1947 issue of Popular Science has this cool picture of a truck powering a saw.
March 1944 Popular Science on eBay
The March 1944 issue of Popular Science has an article about the “Seagoing Jeep” and an article about the Tugg.
View all the information on eBay
You can also view this issue at Google books. This is the link to the Sea Going article:
This is the link to the Tugg article:
1970s? Earl Norem Painting on eBay
I like the motion in this illustration.
“Original illustration (painting) on board (not paper). See blue ruler and oatmeal container to estimate size. It’s LARGE, and in nice shape! Probably done for a 1960s or 1970s men’s magazine.”
August 1941 The Ford Dealer News Issue on eBay
The August 1941 issue of The Ford Dealer News includes this image of a Ford Pygmy. There are a variety of articles and other photos also.
1944 Popular Mechanics Fire Jeep Article
I found this February 1944 article on fire-fight testing at Willys Overland. You can view the whole issue on Google.
Alternative Energy for German Cars during WWII
After reading the Blitz Buggy article last night, I read through the remainder of the 1943 Liberty Magazine. I found one of the articles very interesting, though it has nothing to do with jeeps.
Called “Motoring in Germany”, the article describes how gas rationing led to the conversion of automobiles into “gazogenes”, or vehicles powered by wood, gas, charcoal, and coke-burning. The cars either towed trailers or had washing-machine sized attachments added to the back. Here’s the page below.
The Blitz Buggy by Joseph W. Frazer
As promised, I’ve scanned and posted a 1943. I have updated the earlier post with the scans.
I received the June 19, 1943, issue of Liberty Magazine today. The magazine was published in Toronto, Canada from 1924 – 1950. My issue includes an article written by Willys Overland’s President at the time Joseph W. Frazer and titled “The Amazing Blitz Buggy”.
Having read the article, I’m still surprised he claimed the official name of the vehicle was “General Purpose Car”. You can see that claim in the highlighted portion of the article. That explain why the term “General Purpose” has been used in numerous historical descriptions about the jeep.
Click on the images below to get larger, readable versions of each page.
Early PTO Plows for Fighting Forest Fires
Looking for USDA jeeps I found these two different plows used for fire fighting in the late 1940s/early 1950s.
The “V-shape plow” was featured in the August 1949 issue of Popular Mechanics:
This plow was featured in the May 1951 issue of Popular Mechanics on page 151.
The General Purpose Car?
I received the June 19, 1943, issue of Liberty Magazine today. I bought it because it has an article titled “The Amazing Blitz Buggy”. I don’t have time to scan it tonight, but should have it read, scanned and posted in the next couple of days. But, I did want to make a quick comment about it.
Having glanced at the article, two things surprised me. One, it was written by the President of Willys Overland Joseph W. Frazer. Two, he claims the official name of the vehicle was “General Purpose Car”. You can see that claim in the highlighted portion of the article. That could be the reason the term “General Purpose” vehicle has been appeared numerous times.


















