UPDATE: Terry pointed out that this same vehicle, a SPEN self-sustaining motion picture unit, appears in a Willys Industrial Equipment book brochure. Here it is below:
Talk about a rare jeep. Anyone ever seen one of these (if there are any left). It’s a specially outfitted jeep for the State Department for carrying the story of America to the world. The first pics below were from a September 1949 issue of Popular Science, while the newspaper article was carried in the Sunday Star on Sunday, April 17, 1949.
From the September 1949 issue of Popular Science:
From the Sunday Star, April 17, 1949:
I wonder if this truck’s body was derived from the Jeep 4×2 Economy Delivery / 4×2 Ambulance, or was completely custom?:
http://www.cherokee-fr.com/~jeepfamily/AmeriqueNord/USA/Truck473et475/Truck473et673.htm
The shortwave receiver is likely the Hallicrafters SX-28 Super Skyrider / AN/GRR-2.
This unit was made by Henry Spen and Co . ,Brooklyn NY , makers of the SPEN trailer .
Terry,
How did you conclude the Spen observation? Is that documented somewhere? Thanks!
Page E-13 Willys Industrial Equipment Book circa 1949 .Spen Movie Truck, same photo as in magazine .
Good thinking Terry. I’ll check it out and add it.
– Dave
I had a copy of that brochure and added it to the post. I was surprised to learn that I’ve not posted it on eWillys (I thought I had).
That is amazing…very cool and lots and lots of equipment on board that one.