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1944 Photo & Caption of Model Jeep

• CATEGORIES: Features, Models, Old News Articles This site contains affiliate links for which I may be compensated.

The June 24, 1944, issue of the Detroit Tribune shared the below caption and photo. I do with the picture is better. I was unable to discover any more about George Carr or the Jeep. Because the text is hard to read, I’ve transcribed it below.

1944-06-24-detroit-trib-jeep-model-george-carr-one-twentieth

YES, YOU’RE WRONG AGAIN!–But you’re correct when you say it’s a Jeep. The model of the famous 1/4 ton Army vehicle Brough two first prizes to Private George Carr, of Des Moines, Iowa, Negro member of a Quartermaster Trucking Company of the 13th Army Air Force at an “Ingenuity Contest” sponsored by the American Red Cross in New Caledonia, South Pacific. About one-twentieth the size of a real Jeep, this model has a hood that raises and latches, real springs, transmission, and rear differential, a windshield which may be raised and lowered, and a steering gear that actually moves the front wheels. (U.S. Army Signal Corps Photo.)

 
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Kaiser Jeep Order Pad on eBay

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

Maury shared this unusual item.

View all the information on eBay

“NOS 1969-70 KAISER JEEP CHEROKEE FAST ORDER PAD DEALERSHIP ADVERTISING NEW RARE
THIS AUCTION IS FOR A 1970 JEEP DEALERSHIP ORDER PAD
THIS ORDER PAD IS IN GOOD SHAPE BUT DOES HAVE SOME WATER DAMAGE TO THE PAGES
VERY RARE TO FIND ONE
THESE ARE HARD TO FIND

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dealer-order-pad1 dealer-order-pad01 dealer-order-pad2 dealer-order-pad3 dealer-order-pad4

 
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1957 Mobile Bumper Brochure

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

This explains the origin of some bumpers we’ve seen on trucks. I *think* I’ve also seen that winch a few times. Also, it appears that Kelly Manufacturing was a reseller of them.

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“”Mobile Bumper Inc.” Brochures for Willys, Jeep and all Pickup Truck lines, by the writers and illustrators of Mobile Bumper Inc., Indianapolis Indiana. No copyright date, but the a Price List included is effective February 15, 1957. Published by Mobile Bumper Inc. NOT Ex-Library. No ISBN – there were none in those years. Note – the photos you see are of thess brochures – no ‘Stock Photos’.

Three splendid brochures and a price sheet, various sizes, drilled for a 3-post binder (binder not included). A trifle of roughening around those holes after 2/3 Century. Lots of good Illustrations, splendid information for these 1950s-era Jeep and other brand aftermarket accessories. Here was the equipment you needed, and a bit of ‘How-To’ for improving that vehicle.

The marketer, Mobile Bumper, advertised these items for sale – interestingly, the price list is titled ‘Mobile Bumper’ but was printed by Kelly Sales, Charleston WV. In many cases equipment for aftermarket Jeep applications was made in Toledo Ohio, home of Jeep, and was marketed by other companies. Not sure if that’s the case here.

Mobile Bumper Accessories – Truck bumpers for Farm, Delivery and Service trucks with many additions beyond just the bumper. 8 1/2″ x 11″, two-sided;
A new Truck Bumper – Combination Rear bumper – Step – and Trailer Hitch, Ring or Ball, 17″ x 11″, folding down to a 4-page brochure, 8 1/2″ x 11″, advertising equipment for Willys, Ford, Chevrolet, GMC, International, Dodge and Studebaker. Heavy steel, lots of extras;
Price list, blue-purple ditto printing, parts for Jeep, Willys, Chevrolet, International, Studebaker, Ford, Dodge – GMC & Chevy are interchangeable. One page, 8 1/2″ x 11″;
Mobile All-Purpose Winch advertising from Mobile Bumper Inc. Well pictured, heavy-duty, red accents, 8 1/2″ x 11″, one side.”

 
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1963 Condensed Jeep Specs Brochure

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

As I recovered in bed on Sunday, I forgot all about a host of items I was hoping to win on eBay. While this was not one that interested me, there were others …

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Day 23 – Apr. 11th: Vintage Cars and Campers

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

<– Day 22 – Apr. 10th: Balboa Island and Pier | OVERVIEW | Day 24 – Apr. 12th: Dan’s FCs and The Lost Romanian –>

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Restored 1903 Olds built to replicate one driven across the United States in 1903 from New York to San Francisco.I’m checking out the flywheel.

On Friday we left Fullerton to spend a couple nights in Thousand Oaks. Before we got to the hotel, we drove out to Oxnard to visit Murphy’s Auto Museum.

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Today we travelled from Fullerton to Oxnard, before stopping at Thousand Oaks, California.

The museum began as a private collection. However, that collection was mostly sold off and replaced by individuals who wanted to store their vehicles at the museum. For the next few weeks, Murphy’s is having a vintage camper display.

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Custom camper with a display that includes items found inside it. Okay, maybe the fake little girl wasn’t inside it, but the items (you can’t see well behind me) were in it.

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This bright trailer includes a model that must be set up with the trailer any time it appears in public.

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1949? Universal Jeep Brochure

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

This 24-page Universal Jeep Brochure provides a look at both the CJ-2A and CJ-3A, with pics of both. That led me to believe this was most likely published in early 1949. Most of this appears to be images/info that we’ve seen bundled in other brochures and documents.

Photos

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1943 Photo of Joe Louis Driving a Jeep

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

This photo and caption about boxing champ Joe Louis driving a jeep made the Detroit Tribune newspaper on October 02, 1943.

The biographical book Joe Lewis: The Life of a Heavyweight includes a short look (pages 193-196) at his time in the military during WWII. The book explains that he had a unique opportunity to advocate for black troops, due to his substantial connection inside the War Department. He took advantage of his connections to overcome discriminatory practices that he witnessed.

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2002 “M-151A2” Carolina Growler Little Rock, AR **SOLD**

• CATEGORIES: Features, M-151, Other 4x4s This site contains affiliate links for which I may be compensated.

UPDATE: **SOLD** Was $9250.

Sold by Growler Manufacturing and Engineering in the early 00s, this 4×4 tactical vehicle was designed atop a new M-151A2 chassis and sold, at least for a while, in kit form. You can view an old version of the website from 2001 via Archive.org: Carolina Growler.

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Feb 03, 2001, snapshot of the website from Archive.org

**SOLD** “For Sale M 151A2 Jeep, 2002 by Carolina Growler. Full cab, roll cage, seatbelts, heater, 5 New Hancock tires, no rust, runs as it should, Great condition. Clear AR title. Asking $9250 Located in Little Rock, AR” **SOLD**

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February 1957 Willys News

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

The last issue of Willys News I posted was from the summer of 1956. I don’t have any others for 1956. I also don’t have the January 1957 issue, but I do have some eBay pics (from 2013). It looks like a good one (see post below this one).

Photos Photos Photos Photos Photos

 
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January 1957 Willys News

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

UPDATE: This was on eBay.

Some good DJ-3A & FC-150 photos and some rare early swamp racing photos.

“Original salesman’s non color catalog , 11 x 17 , 8 pages , includes salesman’s messages , salesman’s contests , shows some models , etc.”

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Jalopnik Story About a CJ-2A

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

This jeep was up for sale earlier this year. Somehow, I missed this David Tracy story about it on Jalopnik.

https://jalopnik.com/this-one-owner-1946-farm-jeep-has-a-fascinating-but-mys-1841002113

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Year? Photo of Johnny Shoemaker Conducting Tour in Berlin on eBay

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

Note all the bullet pitting on the pedestals.

View all the information on eBay

“Press Photo Pfc. Johnny Shoemaker conducts Berlin tour in jeep to nurses. This is an original press photo. Pfc. Johnny Shoemaker, of Hattiesburg, Mississippi, shows points of interest to four American nurses making a sightseeing tour of Berlin in a jeep. In the background is the “Dome” famous cathedral, and on either sides are the horses in front of the Imperial Palace.Photo measures 8.5 x 7inches. Photo is dated –none.”

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1951 Photo of CJ-2A w/ Wood Hardtop

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

UPDATE: Rather than a V-7, this might be a Woodie Top.

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Originally posted 04/09/2020: 

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John spotted this CJ-2A in a Westchester, NY, local history book. As he read through it, he spotted the jeep with it’s unusual hardtop. He was wondering if I knew what it was. (is that possibly the Yorktown Heights train station?)

My best guess is that it is a modified V-7 Body Works hardtop (modified on the lower door along with the front corner extension that appears to go down to the step). Here are some links and photos for comparison:

V-7 hardtop http://www.ewillys.com/2013/04/28/v-7-body-works-out-of-chicago/ which first went on sale in 1948, so the timeline works.

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These two tops look to be V-7 tops:

http://www.ewillys.com/2016/07/12/cj-2a-custom-wood-top-sullivan-pa-ebay/:
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http://www.ewillys.com/2013/08/17/1964-usaf-photo-cj-3a-with-body-v7-works-top/
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These two links have characteristics of Woodie Tops:
http://www.ewillys.com/2012/08/10/letter-about-woodies-by-station-wagons-inc-on-ebay/
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http://www.ewillys.com/2017/02/12/1946-cj-2a-yuma-az-ebay/:
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Unusual Dualmatic/Selectro-Like Hub

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

More on Dualmatic/Selectro hubs here.

As part of a discussion on hubs on Facebook, someone from Australia posted a photo of his CJ-6 that came with these unusual hubs. They are similar in external design to the Dualmatic/Selectro, have only 3 “bumps” or “tabs” rather than the standard six around the side of the hub. There’s no brand name on the hub or any other identifying characteristics. A search on Australian 4WD sites and on the Australian patent site did not reveal any information.

Anyone ever seen these?

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For comparison, this is a Sears private branded Dualmatic/Selectro (sears branded) hub in the first pic and a Free-lock branded hub in the second pic.

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A Jeep Rambler on Flickr

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

UPDATE: Originally posted to Flickr in 2012 (https://www.flickr.com/…/71473…/in/set-72157629836314396 )
According to the photographer:

This was taken in Durkee, Oregon – about 1 block from the Durkee, Post Office. (I am not sure if the Post Office is still open). You can actually see this vehicle in Google Street View if you look in the field at the southeast portion of the intersection of Old US Highway 30 and Oxman Ranch Road in Durkee. ….

Link to Google (you can see all sides of it pretty well): https://www.google.com/maps/@44.5810948,-117.4643278,3a,75y,91.3h,96.26t/data=!3m6!1e1!3m4!1syRerHg5QL0Xrk9L1y8brfg!2e0!7i13312!8i6656

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Originally posted in 2014:

Doug sent this beautiful photo of a Jeep Rambler hybrid he spotted on Flickr. One commenter called it a Jambler. All-in-all, this combo could have looked a lot worse! Note the builder even stenciled ‘JEEP’ onto the back tailgate.

The photo was taken by ‘Old White Truck’. There are some beautiful photos and some humorous captions on his Flickr photostream.

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1942 Photo of General Krueger on eBay

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

This is a great photo of General Walter Krueger, Commander of the Third Army.

View all the information on eBay

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“1942 Press Photo Army Commander Lieutenant General Walter Krueger in “War” Jeep. This is an original press photo. When a three star general roams the maneuver country, no cushioned limousine will do the job. Lieutenant General Walter Krueger tries out the two way radio with which his “war” Jeep is equipped. As commander of the Third Army, General Krueger will use the Jeep directing the strenuous maneuvers in the battle-tough Louisiana area.Photo measures 8.5 x 7inches. Photo is dated 07-29-1942.”

 
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The 1959 Willys Malibu Prototype

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

Websites Macs Motor City and Curbside Classic shared information on this 1959 Willys prototype that looks quite a bit like a Ford Falcon station wagon. You can see additional jeep/car prototypes on the CJ-3B Page: https://cj3b.info/Factory/FactoryDesign.html

I’m sure someone else has more info on this Willys Malibu.

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Ford developed the Falcon Station Wagon in 1959, so it’s possible that the Malibu and the Falcon were developed completely independently, but it sure looks like one could have influenced the other.

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In 1961, this prototype was considered (was an actual vehicle ever built?) with a CJ-5 looking grille:

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In 1961, Willys Motors came out with a different prototype wagon, the J-100, with a more familiar face.

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However, the original Malibu grill concept wasn’t completely abandoned. In 1966 (Thanks Mike), the luxurious Super Wagoneer was introduced with a grille very similar to the 1959 Malibu prototype (with a small hood bump as a nod to the Wagoneer styling).:

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Later, in 1974, AMC Jeep used the same look on the new Jeep Cherokee line.

 
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M-Series(Military FC) Operator Manual

• CATEGORIES: Documents, FC150-FC170-M677, Features This site contains affiliate links for which I may be compensated.

This rare manual was up for sale on eBay last week. It sold for $82.25!

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Dan Details the Thor “Lectro-Matic” Hub

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

UPDATE: I posted this Thor post over a decade ago (how times flies). Below is a look at the switch used to engage the Thor “Lectro-Matic” Hub, which came from this post. Since the below post was first published, there’s also been some history about Thor Products on a shared on another post.

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Originally posted January 2010: 

Dan dropped this into my inbox this evening.  It’s a detailed look at the Thor “Lectro-Matic” Hub (or lectromatic hub). Dan completed this 18 page document, with disassembling the hubs and discussing each step.  You can download the PDF here Great work Dan!

Dan writes, The Thor “Lectro-Matic” hubs off of my 1955 CJ-5 were a bit of a mystery. These must have been some of the first “push button” 4WD systems to come out. There was little to no information on them so I decided to take them apart and see just how they work. Here is what I have learned.

When my Dad said that they were electric, I assumed that they had a little motor that would “spin” them in or out of engagement. What I realized was that they were more like a solenoid or electromagnet.

There is a coil of wire on the wheel side of the hub. When power is applied to the coil it becomes a magnet and draws itself to the axle side of the hub. There are little “teeth” machined into the facing sides of the hub. These teeth engage and the axle side of the hub turns the wheel or magnet side of the hub. A wire is ran through the back of the backing plate through a hole and provides the electricity to the magnetic coil. A contact mounted on a spring transmits this electric power through a slip ring inside the brake drum to the hub.

I imagine that the hubs could be engaged while the vehicle is moving, but I think this would cause the teeth to slip for a moment and lead to premature wear of the teeth. A toggle switch or a maintained push button could be used to turn the hubs on and off. One could even use a limit switch on the 4WD lever of the transfer case to automatically turn them on when the vehicle was shifted into 4WD. The hubs would only remain engaged as long as power is applied to the magnetic coil. If you left the switch on and had run power directly off of the battery to the switch, it would eventually drain your battery after the engine is shut off. If you ran power from the ignition switch to the on/off switch, your hubs would automatically disengage as soon as you shut off your engine.

If for some reason they didn’t want to work, there was a little screw on the outside face of the hub that you could turn to manually engage or disengage the hubs (as you can see below).


On the top of the hub you can see the wire that passes through the brake drum to power the magnetic coil.

Download and read the entire document here

 
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CJ-5 Cuff Links and Tie Clip

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

These sold on eBay a few days ago for $16. It’s the second set that has sold on eBay in as many weeks.

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“Offered is a Vintage Willys Overland Jeep 3 Pc Cufflink & Tie Clip Set … This set is NOS and was part of a lifelong Willys Overland Jeep executive’s estate. It is marked/made by Mercury Industries on the back of the tie clip. Crisp and clean! Sorry, no box”

 
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Ames Single Bottom Plow Plymouth, MA **SOLD**

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

UPDATE: Price dropped to $400.

(10/28/2019) John shared this ad. The plow was used behind a CJ-2A.

“Ames Plow Company 45 antique single bottom plow. It was used on the rear of a Jeep CJ2A back in the mid 40s. Its been stored indoors for 70+ years.
Good condition $650”

ames-single-bottom-plow1 ames-single-bottom-plow2

 
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Tagging A Jeep

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

Chattanooga Times reporter Marion Coleman wrote a piece on jeep tagging in July of 1943, which was then syndicated to at least one newspaper, appearing in the Key West Citizen on July 20, 1943, under the title “Tagging a Jeep”. The problem is that the scan is horrible. Moreover, I can’t find any other copy of the article nor are the Chattanooga News-Free Press archives online, which is where I suspect it was also published.

The reason I found the article interesting is that she underscores the primary purpose of naming (or tagging) a jeep wasn’t for sentimental/inspirational reasons. Instead, it was so drivers could identify their individual jeeps. Given drivers were responsible for their jeeps, creatively marking their jeeps was one way of safe-guarding them. Of course, snagging the distributor when parked was another way to help keep it from being stolen.

I suspect the only way to get a good copy of the article is to visit the local library in either state, which likely won’t be happening anytime soon!

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Terrible online scan from the July 20, 1943, issue of the Key West Citizen.

 

 
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1949 Meyer Snow Plow Brochure

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

This early Meyer snow plow brochure sold on eBay. I was busy buying a few other things yesterday, so decided to let this one go. If someone out there purchased it, feel free to send me some lo res scans (d @ dealers.com) that I can share with folks.

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Tux Park III Parts List

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

This was also on eBay. I assume one of the Tux Park guys hopped on this unique resource. Unfortunately, only a couple photos were provided on eBay.

1962-tux-park-III-package1 1962-tux-park-III-package2

 
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1943 Photos of Two Named Jeeps

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

This May 02, 1943, article in the Evening Star excerpt shares the news of two newly-named jeeps:  “Al Neale” and “Mount Vernon Spitfire”.

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