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May 1956 Willys Service and Parts News

• CATEGORIES: Advertising & Brochures, Features • TAGS: This site contains affiliate links for which I may be compensated.

After a few dud issues, this one has a few interesting items. Page two devotes almost half a page to Vacuum Power Brake Kits, like the kind that was installed on the DJ-3A when we bought it. This article shows that their installation was more common than I suspected.

On page four, there’s an article about the new “Fresh-Air” heater and cab ventilator and some of its advantages, along with a kit number. Also on page four, there’s an interesting article about the top bow rear brackets. First, their installation was cancelled in late 1955, but then Willys reversed that decision and added them again. So, there are some stock models made 1955 that didn’t have them.

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Pedal Jeep Sells for $10,500

• CATEGORIES: Features, toys This site contains affiliate links for which I may be compensated.

UPDATE: The buyer backed out of the $8100 price, so it was reauctioned. The second time it sold for $10,500.

Thanks to Blaine for sharing this BaT Auction. This Sherwood pedal jeep sold for $8100!

 
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Old Photo with Jeep Pulling Floats

• CATEGORIES: Features, Old Images • TAGS: , , This site contains affiliate links for which I may be compensated.

Roberto Flores shared this image from another group of an older jeep pulling floats. The hardtop is unusual and was usually seen in Europe, but it’s my guess that this was taken in California somewhere. I was able to use Google search to locate the same pic on Jalopy Journal.

https://www.facebook.com/RobertoFloresCartoonist/posts/pfbid0ZC2Nw6vQDX5Yx33kAHY8tLJ28sWcxUknxLMifPtPwWxkzGCDgu1CjKd9JiAt9onHl

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MB: From Jack’s Gov Surplus to Toledo Fest

• CATEGORIES: Features, wanted This site contains affiliate links for which I may be compensated.

Thanks to Bill for sharing this news. Back in 2013 Ann and I drove by Jack’s Government Surplus outside of Tucson. We photographed this jeep. I assumed it was junk:

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I’m sure others of you have seen the jeep as well. Well, that jeep was acquired and restored. Here it is at the 2024 Toledo Fest:

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You can watch a video (that I can’t seem to embed) and read more here: https://www.wtol.com/article/life/automotive/jeep/toledoan-restores-wwii-era-jeep-for-showcase-at-toledo-jeep-fest/

 
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More Progress on the FC & New Mobile eWillys HQ

• CATEGORIES: Builds, Features • TAGS: This site contains affiliate links for which I may be compensated.

We’ve spent the past couple of weeks researching and viewing motorhomes (so much learned). We have decided upon one we like (powerful, 10k towing, easier to maintain, strong resell market, locally made, plentiful solar power), which I’ll unveil later this week, assuming everything goes well (we have a bit of a drive to go get it). I’ll discuss this more later.

It’s first ‘event’ will be in two weeks at the PNW4WDA summer convention. Here is a sneak peak (again, if all goes well);2003-alpine-38ft-coach-1

All that time and research, plus more heat and Ann’s short vacation, definitely slowed progress on the FC. But, I was able to get most of the wires labeled using Ann’s label maker, though I didn’t realize until half-way through that I could create multiple lines (insert head exploding emoji here); so, for example, “Bat-to-Ign” on one line could be better labeled “Battery to Ignition” on three lines.

Once I complete that task, then I can bind the wires up more tightly and cleanly and begin testing systems. As you can kind of see below (not the best pic), the wiper knob, the light switch, the ignition switch, the dash-turn blinkers, and the speedometer are all connected using plugs. They all have labels, so identifying their corresponding plug should be easy. In addition, I tried to use different types of plugs so that plugging something incorrectly would be nearly impossible. The lighter is also easy to unplug. More difficult is the three gauges under the dash, as two of them are mechanical (I couldn’t find 1.5″ electric temp and oil gauges). So, the gauge panel has to be unbolted if the dash is completely removed.

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Here, most of the wires have been labeled. I can’t wait to clean up the spaghetti!

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April 1956 Willys Service and Parts News

• CATEGORIES: Advertising & Brochures, Features This site contains affiliate links for which I may be compensated.

This four-page service news has an interesting article on page two about one potential cause of driving vibration when traveling down grade. Page three includes an axle gear gauge block guide for various models. Finally, page four documents recommended service station colors, which isn’t something I’ve ever encountered.

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1955ish? Postcard of Wentworth Motors in Alabama on eBay

• CATEGORIES: Advertising & Brochures, Features, Postcards This site contains affiliate links for which I may be compensated.

This postcard from Wentworth motors of Alabama appears to show a CJ-5 with a PTO supporting a posthole digger. So, I *think* this is from around 1955-56, given the lack of DJs or FCs. Note the Willys Bermuda in the parking lot. This would also suggest post 1955.

View all the information on eBay

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VIDEO: Driving a 1945 MB Through LA

• CATEGORIES: Features, videos This site contains affiliate links for which I may be compensated.

Steve shared this video of a couple guys driving through the LA area. Good luck to them!

 
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March 1956 Willys Service and Parts News

• CATEGORIES: Advertising & Brochures, Features • TAGS: This site contains affiliate links for which I may be compensated.

I really didn’t find much of anything in this issue that interested me.

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1955? Hardtop Brochure on eBay

• CATEGORIES: Advertising & Brochures, Features • TAGS: This site contains affiliate links for which I may be compensated.

UPDATE II: Here is a color version of the CJ-5 w/hardtop that appears in the brochure below. I found this on Flickr. One commenter there noted that, “Reinforced Plastics Corporation was in operation on Martha’s Vineyard from 1952 to 1959. They made these tops as well as other fiberglass items.”

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UPDATE from October 26, 2017: Here’s another one of these rare brochures for sale. Thanks to Bill Norris and Derek Redmond for the extra pics. This brochure has been for sale on the same eBay pager for four years. It’s on sale at the moment.

This unusual fiberglass hardtop was created by the Reinforced Plastics Corp.  I have yet to see one in the wild. Two journal articles (Chemical Week 1957, Volume 81 and National Defense Transportation Journal 1957, Volumes 13-14) both have announcements for the new top, pegging its inception around mid-1957. Unfortunately, Google will only provide snipped views of these University of Michigan scanned journals. The date of these journals suggests the lister of this brochure is probably wrong about the 1955 date for the brochure.

View all the information on eBay

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