Magazine Research Archives

Jeeps filled magazines in various ways. Some magazines reported on brand new ‘Blitz Buggy’ and other important develops about the jeep during WWII. Others reported on the changing models during its civilian life. Still others showcased how jeeps were used and the modifications done to them.

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Mechanix Illustrated Magazine: Jiving up the Jeep, Articles 1-4

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

UPDATE: Steve obtained copies of article #2, so now this list is complete!

Nine years ago there was a post about “Jivin up the Jeep”, which referenced a series of articles in Mechanix Illustrated Magazine. At that time, I could only locate articles #3 and #4. Steve Zamell just shared the earliest of the four with me (Thanks!). And, I found a poor image of article #2 So, below you’ll find information about all four articles.

According to the information on this Modern Mechanic Post, the October and November 1946 issues of Modern Mechanic magazine each included an article titled “Jivin up the Jeep” that shares various modifications. Those articles were a big hit across the US, as readers from all over sent in follow up suggestions and ideas. That led to an additional two articles, one in April of 1947 and one in November of 1947. I’ve shown the pictorial portions of the articles below. There’s additional content on the 1947 links.

From October 1946 Part I – A few Jeep ideas:
1946-10-mechanix-ill-jivin-up-jeep-pt1-lores

1946-10-mechanix-ill-jivin-up-jeep-pt1-pg2-lores

From November 1946 Part II – I just bought a cheap issue of this magazine. I’ll update these poor pics found on a current  eBay ad once I receive my copy of the magazine. Looks like this article covers the creation of a custom hardtop:

1946-11-mechanix-illustrating-jivin-jeep1-lores 1946-11-mechanix-illustrating-jivin-jeep2-lores

From April 1947: Custom Tops

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2019-2020 Winter Issue Dispatcher Magazine

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

The newest issue of the Dispatcher Magazine landed in my mailbox today. This issue includes a look at Bob Christy’s Empire Tractor “Rena”, along with a pre-jeep look at history thanks to Jim Allen. Dan Fucella continues describing his 10,000 mile journey in a wagon, while Eric Jarvis shares his D-Day-related journey to France.

2019-2020-winter-dispatcher-magazine

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1962 Article on a Mobile CP

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

Steve forwarded this article about the development of a mobile CP. The photos show how such a modification might have been done.

1965-07-08-infantry-mag-mobile-cp

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1955 Willys History in Air Trails Hobbies For Young Men

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

Air Trails Hobbies was a ‘how to’ magazine that provided news, reports, designs, and ‘how to’s’ on a range of hobbies. It’s intellectual bent on science and design just makes it more odd that it’s overview of the Willys History seems so lacking, especially in the 4WD jeep department. Given that, by February 1955 (the date of the issue below) the CJ-5 was already introduced, it seems a bit odd to ignore the latest jeep!

1955-02-air-trails-hobbies-willys-history-1-lores 1955-02-air-trails-hobbies-willys-history-2-lores 1955-02-air-trails-hobbies-willys-history-3-lores

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1951 Yakima Ridge Runners’ Life Article

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

This May 14, 1951, article “Life Goes Ridgerunning” from Life Magazine used to be posted in full on the Yakima Ridge Runner’s website, but that site appears to be no longer active. So, you’ll find it below.

If you’ve never seen the color footage of the Ridge Runners jeeping in the Cascade Mountains, that’s worth a throwback look: http://www.ewillys.com/2011/03/29/2-more-videos-from-jpzombie-com/

And, there’s the widely circulated set of two videos that may have been filmed at the same time the writers of the magazine article were visiting Yakima (video 1 and video 2)

1951-05-14-life-magazine-ridge-runners-article1-lores Scannable Document Scannable Document Scannable Document

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