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Welcome to eWillys.com, a website for vintage jeep enthusiasts. I update this website nearly every day with jeep deals, jeep history, interesting reader projects, jeep related info, and more.
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Importantly, the allure of buying a project jeep can be romantic. The reality of restoring a jeep can be quite different, expensive and overwhelming without the right tools and resources. So, tread carefully when purchasing a "project". If you have any concerns about buying a vintage jeep, or run across a scam, feel free to contact me for help, comments or concerns .
This Desert News Magazine August 14, 1949, article titled “Knights of the Jeep” highlights the Bountiful Jeep Posse. Unfortunately, I could only find a scanned version with readable text in black and white. The scanned photos are poor. I did manage to locate a couple small colored photos of the article, so I’ve cobbled all the information together.
Here’s the link to the original article in Google News
This is back on eBay.
“1947 Press Photo Bountiful Jeep Posse Volunteer Org. serves the City and County
This is an original press photo. In Emergency Duty. At Bountiful Utah.Photo measures 9.25 x 7inches. Photo is dated 09-30-1947.”
View all the information on eBay
Frank shared this original Bountiful Jeep Posse Badge that’s painted on a red CJ-3A he bought from an early founder of the Posse.
There is some great Bountiful Jeep Posse info at the Utah State Historical archives.
1. Early video of Jeep Posse in action. Unfortunately, there seems to be no way to embed the video on this page, so …. Click on the photo below. A play button will appear. Click on that and a popup window with the video will appear. Neat video worth a view.
2. http://content.lib.utah.edu/cdm/singleitem/collection/USHS_Morton/id/87/rec/7
This great color photo shows, “Members of the Jeep Posse stationed in Bountiful, Utah. Two individuals identified as Koziol and Merk.”
3. http://content.lib.utah.edu/cdm/singleitem/collection/USHS_Morton/id/461/rec/8
Not the best photo of the posse.
“1947 Press Photo Bountiful Utah Jeep posse of deputy sheriffs check for fires
This is an original press photo. Photo measures 9.25 x 7inches. Photo is dated 09-30-1947.”
View all the information on eBay
Here’s a great press photo that shows members of the Bountiful Jeep Posse all lined up and ready to go.
“1947 Press Photo Merk Christensen, President of Bountiful Jeep Posse”
This photo was from the May 1955 issue of Willys News. At first I thought these jeeps were involved in the annual jeep derby, but these are Sheriff’s Posse jeeps from Truth or Consequences, New Mexico.
First published 09/02/2012: The February 1948 Issue of Popular Mechanics Magazine published this fascinating look at the Bountiful City Jeep Posse, an organization that worked as a volunteer Search and Rescue and Fire Fighting group out of Bountiful, Utah. Started in 1946, the organization is still in existence.
I found this article that provides additional history from the 2006 in the Deseret News. Though they own fewer jeeps and have more trucks, they are still helping their community. I’ve contacted the newspaper to see if I can communicate with the members to get some more information about them and, possibly, some additional jeep pictures.
The Images below all come from the Popular Mechanics Magazine article. Note the jeep in the background of the bottom image on page 3 has a full cage, the earliest example of a full cage I’ve seen.
Following the article, I’ve included pics of two ads, too.
Page 1:
UPDATE: **SOLD** Was on eBay.
We can add Bear Lake County, Idaho, to the list of Jeep Patrol or Jeep Posse groups.
“Vintage Bear Lake County Idaho Sheriff’s Jeep Patrol Patch
This is a vintage Bear Lake County, Idaho Sheriff’s Jeep Patrol Patch. The patch measures 4 3/8 inches in height by 3 5/8 inches in width. The patch is unused, shows medium wear and is in good condition.
Shipping is $.80 Will combine shipping with other items.”
Having lived in Salt Lake City for ten years, I know the area pretty well. So, I’m surprised by just how active the four wheel drive clubs were in the valley. For example, I just read a short article about the Utah County Jeepettes, a group of women (I think wives of jeepers) that organized events. In addition, there were Jeep Posses in Utah County, Salt Lake City, and Sevier County, Utah.
As you can see in this picture, taken at the 1970 Pioneer Jeep Rally in Bountiful, held by the Bountiful Jeep Posse, this wasn’t just about Search and Rescue. Racing had become popular, too, just as it had taken hold in many other places. The first Pioneer Jeep Rally was held in 1965. By 1970, the event attracted racers from several intermountain states. Two main events were held at the Pioneer Jeep Rallys, a hill climb and an obstacle course.
The article and picture below were published by Four Wheeler Magazine in July, 1971. To me this picture could easily have been taken above the city of Bountiful or Centerville. It looks like the staging and parking was done along the valley’s bench.
