You may remember that a few months ago a document called The Willys Story went up for sale on eBay. Well, fortunately for all of us, that document sold to an eWillys reader who asked if I would make a high-resolution version available to anyone who wants it. Given the document was a pricey purchase, it’s a very generous offer. So, a big thank you is in order for that anonymous benefactor!
The document is 85 pages and purports to show all the different aspect of the Willys-Overland Company from 1940 to 1954. You’ll see that Willys had their hands into a variety of things, not just jeeps.
I’ve uploaded the file to my google drive, so downloading it should be a snap. It is just under 400MB, so it’s not a small PDF file.
DOWNLOAD HERE: https://drive.google.com/file/d/1An2t8AWJccU9UcEFkfdFizaaVFUvqiZl/view?usp=sharing
(I have never used by google drive space. My test of the download worked. But, the internet sometimes works in mysterious ways, so if you have problems, please let me know!)
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Below are some low res pictures of some of the jeep-related images:
Only started going through it… every picture is a flood of period correct details 🙂 much appreciated!
This is what the Internet was supposed to be about. The sharing of information. I sincerely wish to thank both eWillys and the owner for giving us all the chance to see this document. I truly believe this will spark new interest and more research.
Successfully downloaded it. Thank to both of you.
I am amazed by all the variety of items they made. At the first sight I though : “There is a lot of error in this book”. The CJ production must be higher but then I started to read it. Oh wait, This is for military! The civilian section is on page 18. Ok, I need to go through it. See y’a later
Downloaded without a Hitch. And it is amazing. The production numbers of the CJ models are interesting. I would like to note that the CJV35/U 1000 units is omitted from the numbers or maybe included in the MC numbers. Speaking of the MC does anyone notice that picture of the MC is interesting. That Jeep is a mix of CJV35/U and M38. Wonder what that picture was of? Maybe a test mule that they had on hand at the factory. Its certainly unique and interesting. Thanks to both of you for doing this. I would love to be able to have a professionally printed version with photo quality pages to hold in my hand.
Thanks to you Dave and the donator of this information. Im sure this was no small effort or expense.
Did not know the two-wheel drive pickup was only rated 1/2 ton. Also, check out the very cool Kaiser Utility Sedan. Seems like that should have really sold well. Sorry, back to the book…
Just FYI: it was pointed out to me that some of the numbers related to the military vehicle production might not be accurate. I have not been given specific reasons for why that is, but take the productions numbers as ball park numbers.
Mike: I too was fascinated by the M-38 shown. It’s the first time I have seen that photo and the first time I’ve seen an M-38/CJ-V35 blend of parts. It certainly is possible the CJ-V35 production numbers were mixed into the MC numbers. It probably depends on whether the jeep was ordered through the military side or the civilian side?
Dave, does it mention anywhere why this document was created? Was there a specific purpose why it was put together, and any names of people given credit for working on it?
Thank you for taking the time to share this with all of us! Both ewillys as well as the information donor. You both have reaffirmed my faith in my fellow man.
Steve: I do not have that information, only guesses.
Thad: Glad to hear you are enjoying it!
Wow Dave!.. This is great, thank you (and who ever else was involved) for scanning and uploading this for us. I know what I’ll be doing later!
This is a huge part of the Willy’s history and I think I can safely say that all of us that stop by eWillys everyday are very glad this is now available to all.
Thanks again and have a great weekend everyone.
Never saw that version of the Jeep tractor! Kinda cool.
One more thanks to you Dave, and the unknown donor, for sharing this informative piece of Jeep and Kaiser Corp. history!
WOW! AND THANK YOU! Most would not have been so considerate. Thank you isn’t enough for such a kind gesture, but that is all I can say!
To our kind ewillys brother, all I can say is that this embodies the spirit behind our common love for our favorite little hard working willys.
Best Regards,
LT
Thank you for time and effort, this is a fantastic reference!
Thank you EWillys and Mr./Ms. Mysteriuous Benefactor. Amazing info. Really appreciate the generosity.
Fantastic stuff! Thank you!
Hello Dave,
I downloaded The Willys Story too. Our family has always been fans of Willys and Jeep, having owned a more than a few. I follow your website and like the content.
The first few pages of the doc carries a picture of the jeep adaptation that first got me hooked. After high school I got a job with a company that serviced airlines that didn’t have dedicated ground crews. These airlines had only one or two flights a day at our airport. This employer hired and trained people to service the airplanes just like a fulltime ground crew would. Every “ramp rat” was going to be something else after college except for me. I would learn to fly with the meager pay and get employed using friendships and connections made there.
Anyway, Butler Aviation had a Jeep Baggage Loader and I would drive it on any mission that came up. Summer and winter or rain or snow, I volunteered to position the belt loader and loved each time I drove it. It wasn’t uncommon to reposition that Jeep from one side of the airport to the other. Four or five miles at a time.
It was a 4 cylinder, 2-wheel drive, three on the tree with the giant loader and hydraulics attached above the center of gravity. The endless belt loader was fixed in the back and raised and lowered in the front. Had a huge rubber bumper on the front of the belt to prevent damage to the airplanes. It only went about 30 mph but, combined with the unstable loader, it could get scary. We use to fill it up with ramp rats and drive across the airport in the summer and get a nice breeze. But in the winter, I was all by myself.
I have attached a couple of fotos of the actual loader that I have found on another website. These pictures were taken in the spring of 1970 and I am no doubt somewhere on the BOAC VC-10. Or I maybe flying the “bucket truck” in the back of the plane cleaning the lavatories… What, and leave aviation?
Good Luck,
Randy Langford