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Dave Morgan shared this video taken by his father. With some research, Dave figured out the video was from the 1960 Gold Country Classic (I like the ‘backing a trailer event’ idea; it’s something different), a jeep event held by the Sacramento Jeepers Jeep Club. There is no sound.
You can learn more here: https://www.oldwillysforum.com/forum/index.php?threads/cool-video-jeep-rally-in-n-california-c-1960.24095/
Cool film! Great rigs and folks having fun. Looks like the film was flipped over when digitized- driver and passenger sides reversed- had some initial cognitive dissonance at first!
Just some small commentary, Date states 1960, right from the start, the wagon with the one piece tailgate window would make this 1961 at the earliest. Same with the CJ5, White with red grill & wheels, early factory color option 61-62.
Great details to see. Airhorns and Mack bulldogs on the hoods. CB antennas whipping violently. Not a roll bar one in the group. Everyone having fun!
Brian: yeah, the reversed film does play with a person’s head!
Mike: Good observation. Maybe the date was more of a guess than he let on.
Barney: Old school jeep fun for sure.
Mike: yes, the 1960 date on the video title was a guess. Good eye on that color combo. It could easily be 61-62.
Barney: my dad and granddad had the Mack truck and yes, the Jeep dealership in Sacramento in the 60s. Called the W.V. Morgan Co. My dad always put bulldogs on the hoods, and I think there were some other jeeps in this movie driven by other employees.
Brian: not sure how that reversal happened, at first I thought this was an event in England 😉 Someone on OWF found a website that fixed the video by reversing it.
Dave,
I had a brand new 73 CJ5 when in California (Stockton) that came from Thorp’s Jeep in Sacramento. Can you provide me any information on Thorp’s. Did it follow Morgan or was it a separate dealership? (I am not sure of the spelling – if Thorp had an e on the end = Thorpe’s). You can contact me through Dave E. Any info would be appreciated.
THIS FILM IS SO BLURRY I CANT TELL IF THOSE ARE JEEPS OR TOYOTAS ?? — I STILL HAVE A BOX FULL OF JEEPSTER JAMBOREE 8MM FILMS — FROM THE 60’S AND 70’S — THEY WERE FROM MY LATE BROTHER IN LAW — HE WAS A BIG TIME DRUNK — HE DROVE A 1959 M-38A1 FOR THE JAMBOREES — 283 CHEBBIE UNDER THE BONNET — FAT FLOTATION TIRES — ROLL BAR — I ENDED UP WITH IT YEARS AGO AFTER HE PASSED — I SOLD IT TO AN OAKLAND A’S PITCHER — AND HE TOOK IT TO HIS ARIZONA RANCH FOR QUAIL HUNTING — I’LL HAVE TO FIND THOSE FILMS AND DIGITIZE THEM — I REMEMBER THEY WERE PRETTY ROWDY — LIKE WHEN THEY WERE CAMPED ON THE RUBICON TRAIL — A LOT OF DRINKING AND WIFE SWAPPING AND NUDITY — I’LL HAVE TO EDIT THEM ..
I may be able to find some info through Newspapers.com. I’ll let you know. (btw, I found one sticker .. still haven’t found the rest)
Vernon: I’d be interested in that footage. Our PNW jeep playday evening dances were pretty rowdy, too, though I only experienced the latter stages of that. They were already calming by the time I was old enough to enjoy the fun.
Barney: W.V. Morgan Co. was sold in about 1970 when my grandfather retired. My family moved to Oregon and I don’t really know what became of the Jeep dealership. It could have easily been picked up by Thorpe…having jeeps and Mack trucks was an odd combination…I think it happened mainly because my dad loved jeeps😊
Dave Morgan – Thank you very much for the reply. It’s always interesting to follow the legacy of these old Jeep dealerships.
Barney: Your memory is good–Thorpe’s was the “exclusive Jeep deal” as of 1971. They had several classified ads in The Sacramento Bee. Alas, W.V. Morgan Co. was no more!
https://www.newspapers.com/clip/104515117/
Dave Morgan – I’m reminded of it every day when I see the framed 8 x 11 color photo of the 73 CJ hanging in our Jeep parts business. And it was a loaded demo also.
Center For Sacramento History has a page dedicated to Thorpe’s Jeep Center with a B&W news photo of their Grand Opening in early 1972. Said it is largest in California and ranked 2nd in the US in sales at that time and listed the principals of the business. Interesting short reading and a photo I’ll purchase from them soon.
Hi Barney and Dave:
Based on a quick search of newspapers.com, it appears that as late as September 1970 there was a Thorpe’s Jeep Parts in Fair Oaks. Meanwhile, seventeen miles away, Morgan Jeep Inc, advertised as Sacramento’s largest jeep dealer, was located at 301 Broadway, Sacramento. Up until June 1970, both entities had classified ads. In July 1970, a deal must have been concluded, because a July 08, 1970, ad was placed by “Motor Truck Distributors Co, Formerly Morgan Jeep”.
A July 23rd, 1970, ad indicates that “Motor Truck” began “Selling Out” the jeep inventory at “Cost Plus 5% or Less!” This is the last ad I found for “Motor Truck” related to jeeps.
In September of 1970, Thorpe’s jeep Parts stopped advertising, because, I’d guess, it opened up a new dealership at 7942 Freeport Blvd (only five miles away from where the Morgan Jeep Center was). So, it seems likely that Thorpe assembled some partners (a 1972 article mentions 4 partners) who helped buy most, if not all, the Morgan Jeep inventory, then opened up a temporary dealership on Freeport Blvd sometime in late 1970 or early 1971, before doing a grand opening at 6020 Freeport Blvd in March of 1972.
1969-11-12: Classified Ads for both Thorpe’s Jeep Parts and Morgan Jeep – https://www.newspapers.com/image/619381601/?terms=Thorpe%20Morgan%20jeep&match=1
1970-07-08: Motor Truck Distributors Formerly Morgan Jeep Ad https://www.newspapers.com/image/619747256/?terms=Thorpe%20Morgan%20jeep&match=1
1970-07-23: Motor Truck ad announcing selling out of jeeps https://www.newspapers.com/image/619737889/?terms=motor%20truck%20distributors&match=1
1971-08-18: Large Ad for Thorpe’s Jeep Center https://www.newspapers.com/image/619769246/?terms=Thorpe%20Morgan%20jeep&match=1
1972-03-17: Thorpe’s Jeep Center opens new facility https://www.newspapers.com/image/620148681/?terms=Thorpe%27s%20Jeep%20Center&match=1