Getting only the best of the best, the Ohio eWillys Bureau filed this report despite high winds, drenching rains, and hurricane-like end-of-the-world conditions that would prevent even the sturdiest postal delivery specialists from completing their rounds.  As I look up at the clock, I see it’s midnight at the reunion, so many kudos to Bob for his beyond-the-call-of-duty images (Bob, just make sure to keep the camera dry!). Many Thanks!

Bob writes, “we’ve had violent thunderstorms down here for the Willys Reunion and the internet was down until now [editor’s note — the internet goes down?].  Here are 4 photos from today. We got here about 2 pm after driving through rain most of the way. The rain around 5-6 pm was like a typhon.

There seems to be about 40 jeeps here now of all stripes. I’ll send more images tomorrow. The green 3b with the Eugene spare tire cover is mine.”

Don’t forget that the Midwest Willys Spring 2010 Reunion and Swapmeet will be occuring this weekend, May 21-23 in Mason, Ohio!

This could be a fun trade.

“1967 porsche 912 that i would like to trade for a jeep wrangler or willys jeep or a full-size truck 4+4 manual transmission no automatic trade or $5.000 cash”

http://wenatchee.craigslist.org/cto/1748244285.html

UPDATE:  Chris has provided some valuable insight into this mod.  He writes, “There was a retired Ford mechanic in Rancho Cordova, Ca. that was building flatfenders for a while as a hobby. Back in the early 90’s he had built closed to 40. When he picked up a willys that didn’t have a a good windshield,the large windshield is what he put on. He has since passed away.“

As its basic premise, the early jeeps were promoted as a utility vehicle. As such, they were modified in ways limited only to one’s imagination. Some of these modification strategies I have seen; Others I had not seen until I launched eWillys. The modification of the windshield is one of those I hadn’t seen. It is a rare modification, but it has been done a variety of times. I can’t say whether there was an aftermarket product created or if this was simply something that a few folks tried on their own.

After finally gathering enough examples of windshield modifications, and finding the time, I have created a Windshield Modifications section.  Enjoy!

As I read through the Hemmings Blog version of the Wally Cohn story (which I thought was very well done), I saw a picture that referenced a car similar to the Wally Cohn vehicle, but was created in 1942, and called the “Victory Car”, a design suggested by Brooks Stevens.  It turns out, Stevens wrote an article for Popular Mechanics in December 1942 that envisions a variety of victory models, including the Wally-looking vehicle shown in the pics to the left.  One of Brooks’ most prescient predictions was his belief that plastics would be used widely in future vehicles.

In another set of images, which is shown below and is the one highlighted by Hemmings, a Brazilian auto website appears to track the development of Aero Willys starting with the Brooks Stevens vision through both prose and images.  Unfortunately, my Portuguese isn’t best!

After some research, I came across an article from the Sarasota Herald-Tribune, dated January 14, 1942 (thanks to the new(?) google news archive search) that covers a meeting which might have launched the entire “Victory Car” discussion.

Here it is in its entirety, written by W.F. Arbogast:

“WASHINGTON, Jan. 14 –AP — A civilian counterpart of the army “jeep” — with certain refinements as a concession to comfort — was suggested today by officials of the National Automobile Dealers association as a possible answer to the new car shortage.

The suggestion came from L. Clar Cargile, Texarkana, Tx., president of the association, and Aurthur Center, Springfield, Mass, it secretary, as a house committee resumed hearings on the effects of new car production curtailment on the nation’s 44,000 dealers.

The small, rough-and-ready vehicle — the answer to any college freshman’s prayer — would probably be called the “victory car” and be produced by leading automobile manufacturers under no trade name.

It would be large enough for five passengers, maybe with a little crowding, and would devoid of costly accessories, nicle or chrome trim and other gadgets adding to cost.

But if built to the specifications of its brothers, it coudl climb most any hill with a top to it, splash fearlessly through the deepest mud, and in general negotiate terrain usually shunned by everything without fur or feathers.

I would be built primarly for service, not for looks, and to meet a need for transportation when present cars wear out and comparable replacements are not available, ” said Center. ” It would be strictly an economy car, with six cylinders and low upkeep.”

Cargile said the automobile industry, despite the conversion of much of its machinery for the production of airplanes and other defense material, could make enough victory cars to meet essential needs, and still not interfere with defense requirements.”