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Fourteen Jeep Adventures 1940s-1960s

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

I’ve been compiling a list of jeep adventures. These are just some that I’ve documented. There’s  few more to add to the list, but this is good for starters. If you know of others, let me know.

  1. Bantam BRC in 1940: The earliest documented trip occurred September 29th, 1940. That was the day the very first jeep—the original Bantam BRC constructed in only 49 days—was driven 270 miles from Butler, Pennsylvania, to the testing ground in Holabird, Maryland. It was an amazing accomplishment given the newly designed vehicle had been barely assembled, let alone tested.
  2. Wolf Blint in 1945: Near the end of World War II, Wolff Blint escaped fighting on the eastern front by driving across Europe to Paris. He documented his story in his memoir, By Jeep To Freedom. The book is out of print and difficult to find.
  3. Soldier and Bride Return from Europe circa 1945: An unconfirmed event, the story unfolds with a U.S. soldier marrying a woman in Europe following WWII. Somehow, he is able to secure a jeep. Together, the pair drive to a port in France or Germany, have the jeep shipped to America, and then drive the remainder of the route to the man’s hometown in Illinois.
  4. Ben Carlin in 1948-1958: In 1948, Australian Ben Carlin began a trek around the world by heading east over the Atlantic Ocean in a modified 1943 Ford GPA (a jeep made to float over water) named ‘Half-Safe’. Over the succeeding ten years, Ben and Half-Safe traveled 50,000 miles over a period of ten years. His exploits filled three books, each book covering his voyage in different ways. Half-Safe can be seen in action in this video: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=z-Gqi-RlbO0
  5. Helen & Frank Schreider in 1954-1955. Helen & Frank Schreider first jeep ended in a failed attempt to cross Panama in a Willys wagon when their jeep was beat to death as they drove across a long train trestle. For their 1954-55 attempt, they purchased and customized a Ford GPA, naming it La Tortuga. Starting in Alaska, the pair traveled all the way to South America. Subsequently, they wrote a book called 20,000 Miles South: A Pan American Adventure in a Seagoing Jeep From the Arctic (A nearly identical version is published under the name La Tortuga). They also filmed some of their trip and toured the United States giving lectures about their experiences.
  6. Three Boy Scouts Travel 44,000 Miles in 1955: Dubbed Operation Pineapple, three Sao Paulo Boy Scouts—Hugo Vidal, Charles Downey, and Jan Stekly—drove from South America to Alaska and back as part of their effort to attend the 8th World Scout Jamboree in Canada. The CJ-3B Page has an excellent overview of their trip.
  7. Dorothy Rogers & Louise Ostberg in 1955-1956: Dorothy and Louise were two college professors from New York who met while traveling in Europe. They successfully circumvented Africa in a jeep wagon. Dorothy later wrote a book about their adventure called Jeopardy and a Jeep.
  8. Joe Ceurvorst in 1956: Joe wrote a book called Africa in a Jeep about driving around the northern part of the African continent.
  9. Roy Follows and Noel Dudgeon in 1958: Joe and Roy were two Colonial Police officers fighting Chinese Communists near the end of the Malayan Emergency. Ready to head home, the pair bought a Willys MB in February of 1958, then begin a long journey home full of obstacles, broken parts, encounters with unfriendlies and more. Their tale from Singapore to the United Kingdom unfolds in their book about the trip: The First Overland: Four Wheels and Frontier.
  10. Jack & Doreen Shakespeare in 1958: Jack and Doreen drove their early wagon from Australia to England. Lucky for us, they filmed their trip. You can relive their adventures on youtube.
  11. Helen and Frank Schreider in 1960: Ready to his the road again, Helen and Frank rebuild a second Ford GPA that they use to float the Ganges River in India. Their five month 1960 India adventure from the mouth of the Ganges to its source filled forty-two pages of the October, 1960, issue of National Geographic.
  12. Helen and Frank Schreider in 1960-1961: On the heels of their India trip, the Schrieders, again with National Geographic support, tackled the breadth of Indonesia, a 17,000 island archipelago, going to places and completing a trip that few, if anyone, has replicated. Their 4,000 mile trip lasted a year. Their ability to shuttle between islands and over land took them to places no vehicles had gone. Helen and Frank wrote two subsequent articles for National Geographic (May 1961 & August 1962) and a second book, the Drums of Tonkin: An Adventure In Indonesia. They went on to work regularly for National Geographic, though their jeeping days ended.
  13. Harold Stephens in the mid-1960s: Harold drove around the world in a CJ-5 and Toyota Landcruiser. He wrote about his experience in Who Needs a Road? Harold went on to become a travel author.
  14. Dorothy Rogers & Louise Ostberg in the mid-1960s: In the late 1950s, Willys Motors introduced two Forward Control jeep trucks called the FC-150 & FC-170s. Dorthy and Louise thought the latter would make a great vehicle to tour the world. So, they bought one and set off on their second major jeep trip. Dorothy later wrote about their experiences in Highways Across the Horizon.
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Willys Overland Mechanics Binder on eBay

• CATEGORIES: Advertising & Brochures, Books, Features This site contains affiliate links for which I may be compensated.

There’s a bunch of information inside this. I’m not sure how much jeep information there is or not.

“Purchased from an estate sale of a Vietnam veteran that was a mechanic there…as the story goes. This binder is in very good condition for it’s age. No breaks or signs of visual wear. It is packed full, as seen in the last picture, of all different types of service type manuals from the mid 60’s to early 70’s as best as I can tell. There are some Willys, Chrysler, Ford, Jeep, Renault, Chevrolet, tons of other service information. So much information that would be impossible to list it all. All pages are also in very good condition. Very interesting piece of history!”

View all the information on eBay

willys-overland-mechanics-manual1

willys-overland-mechanics-manual2

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Year? M-38A1 Waldorf, MD No Price

• CATEGORIES: M-38A1 • TAGS: , This site contains affiliate links for which I may be compensated.

This one is listed as a 1945 ….

“Year: 1945
Make: JEEP
Model: CJ 4WD
Series: CJ7
VIN: 1GJKKJLLLOD3666
Stock #: WA1181
Condition: Used
Exterior: Green
Interior: Graphite
Body: (US)
Transmission: Manual
Engine: 8 Cylinder”

http://washingtondc.craigslist.org/doc/ctd/5953305051.html

year-m38a1-dc

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1946 CJ-2A Shipshewana, IN **SOLD**

• CATEGORIES: CJ-2A This site contains affiliate links for which I may be compensated.

UPDATE: **SOLD** Was on eBay.

Nick’s got this late column shift 2A for sale.

“This is a rare 1946 column shift CJ2A. I have a title.

The Jeep is serial #35221 and complete with a proper “go devil” l-head engine mated to a T90 transmission. Along with the body tag I have the 3 original dash tags. The previous owner stated the engine ran with an external gas tank. I hooked up a battery and with a spray bottle of gas, and I had it running for a few seconds.

-rebuilt starter
-new battery terminals (not pictured)
-new key switch

I’ve never owned a column shift and did not attempt to get the Jeep driving due to a lack of time. Things I know it will need: clutch linkage connected, passenger rear axle nut, oil filter gasket. All four tires are dryrotted but hold air well. It rolls and steers very easy. Body is rough as seen in the detailed pictures. Front frame horns have been repaired but as a whole the frame is sturdy. With all the column shift linkage intact, it’s a great restoration candidate.”

1946-cj2a-vec-in

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1948 CJ-2A McMinnville, OR $2000

• CATEGORIES: CJ-2A This site contains affiliate links for which I may be compensated.

It runs (with an inline 6).

“Has a Lil rust on the bottom side. It has a 1963 ford falcon straight six with a original jeep transmission 3 speed. This is a running driving jeep. Probably will have to trailer home because top speed is about 40 miles per hour. Headlights work horn works. 4 wheel drive works. Everything works. Wheels like nobodys fucking business. I just used it to run up in the hills cause I live 10 min from the hills and to take the girlfriend on a date down on main street. Really nice Lil toy. I have a cummins and toyota now so I don’t use it anymore. It’s time to let someone else have fun with it now”

http://portland.craigslist.org/yam/cto/5963390997.html

1948-cj2a-mcminnville-or

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1952 M-38 Sanford, FL **SOLD**

• CATEGORIES: M-38 This site contains affiliate links for which I may be compensated.

UPDATE: **SOLD** Was $4000.

Runs and drives. Steps have been replaced and the side patched.

“I have a 1952 Willys M38 Military Flatfender Jeep. Has a L-head (flathead) 4 cylinder in it, motor was rebuilt several years ago at Glenn Joiner and Son in Winter Garden. Has a rebuilt transmission that was just done a couple months ago. Runs and drives but has a leaking hard brake line so pedal is spongy. New hoses and shoes all the way around. Custom Stainless Steel gas tank. I also have a windshield and frame (not pictured) but the glass has a crack in it. Also have the rear bumper and tail lights but they are currently sitting in the back of the jeep along with a tow hitch. Fun little jeep to drive on the weekends or take camping. Has a clean title. ”

1952-m38-sanford-fl1 1952-m38-sanford-fl2

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1946 CJ-2A Body/Frame/Parts Waxahachie, TX **SOLD**

• CATEGORIES: CJ-2A This site contains affiliate links for which I may be compensated.

UPDATE: **SOLD** Was $400.

Maybe some value here?

“I have a 1946 willys jeep body for sale. Comes with body ,frame, and windshield frame. Has good hood that’s worth the asking price. Has original tailgate, gauges, finders etc. Also have a vin plate so you could file for lost title. Body has some rusted through places and bondo places on right side. Will part out if needed. ”

1946-cj2a-body-tx

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Year? Engine/Tranny/TC Depew, NY **SOLD**

• CATEGORIES: Engine This site contains affiliate links for which I may be compensated.

UPDATE: **SOLD** Was $100.

Listed as a 1944, it isn’t. Looks more like an early 1950s to me based on the transmission cross member.

“1944 Willy’s Jeep Motor and Trans asking $100.00.”

engine-tranny-tc-depew-ny

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