This eight-page holiday issue is the final issue of 1965 (only 6 issues produced). Page one introduces the first luxury Wagoneer, the Jeep Super Wagoneer. Page two highlights the growing demand for contract plowing. Page three continues the luxury wagon discussion, while also noting that parts can make an “attractive store display”; so, when you start hanging parts in the living room, just show your partner this article and how it can be actually attractive (good luck with that, lol).
Pages four and five share more on Gladiator and Wagoneer vehicles. Page six shows off an unusual display in Peru, while the new Kaiser Argentina Model 101 four-door jeep is depicted. Page seven shares news on the Afton Canyon excursion in Southern California, which is the first I’ve heard of this annual trip. It drew 398 vehicles in 1965.
Page eight includes a story on a New Jersey M-38 fire jeep. Also on the page is a photo of Col. Dave Harbour, an outdoor writer who drove his wagon 100,000 miles, being presented with a model jeep, but I can’t tell what kind of model it is.
I do find it interesting that the Jeep News reported on a surplus Army Jeep without calling it surplus but a Universal. In the mid 60s the govt Property Disposal Offices (PDOs) were starting to sell off the M38s as well as give them to fire departments and Civil Air Patrol chapters. They had a rebuild program for them in the 60s involving galvanized body parts, but don’t know how extensive or the exact years. We have an NOS hood from that program in our collection. A great, overweight and underpowered Jeep for it’s time.
I would imagine more than a few Jeep dealers weren’t happy with the govt. selling surplus units…just like in the late ’40s.
To make the story more palatable, they called it a Universal.
Just my guess.
Interesting article on the deluxe Wagoneer. They were about a decade early.
In the late ’70s, I had a boss with a very fancy Wagoneer, so, a “luxury” Wagoneer predated the Chrysler buyout…though Chrysler certainly marketed it as a luxury vehicle in the ’80s.
JohnB – I think you’re spot on. I also think it was political pressure from Jeep to try to keep M151s from the surplus market and later DJ5 Postal Jeeps also. Yes, parking lots full of the last of the postal Jeeps were also crushed due to a change in policy.
On page five is the Portland Jeep dealer. I got curious as to “where?” In the background I see signage that says “Olsen Storage”. I googled that and come up with this picture: https://vintageportland.wordpress.com/2018/01/25/e-burnside-street-1953/
Now I see in the lower right the same building in 1953 as a Nash dealer. Now I know where to look. Here is in 2014: https://www.google.com/maps/@45.5228882,-122.6506076,3a,75y,47.78h,76.81t/data=!3m6!1e1!3m4!1sWvigGir0WwF3vHWzrGLD4A!2e0!7i13312!8i6656?entry=ttu
There are several buildings in the area that must have had the same architect. The Olsen Storage building is still there without the tall sign and is now a self-storage.