Bill shared this video about the origins of the Land Rover. The early footage is particularly interesting.
Features Research Archives
Camping in the 1970s
Blaine shared this post showing a vintage camping thread from the 1970s. If like me, you camped with a motor home, I expect this will feel very nostalgic. There are even a few jeep pictured. There’s some great Utah/Colorado scenery as well.
https://www.coastresorts.com/cforum/index.cfm/fuseaction/thread/tid/26221472/print/true.cfm
1944 VMail Letter With a Jeep Drawing on eBay
This 1944 letter looks like it appeared in a newspaper. The eBay description isn’t very helpful.
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“WWII
Army
Christmas V-Mail
Art Letter
63rd Signal Battalion
Willys Jeep
Named: T4 Robert Glashauser
Look over pictures to see the exact item you will receive and to determine the overall condition of this item.:
Cool Lego Jeep Video
Cool lego jeep, but things didn’t quite go as planned….
The Commando “Farm Hand” jeep?
Barry shared this June 1971 Ad from “The Progressive Farmer”. It touts the Jeepster Commando as a “Farm Hand” jeep, a term used as far back as the February 03, 1945, Willys-Overland Ad (at bottom). While off-road capable, I never pictured this model being used regularly as a Farm Jeep (maybe it was?).
From February, 1945:
Anyone Know This Under/Overdrive? Gear Box
UPDATE: The consensus seems to be that this bolts to the back fo the transfercase like a type of PTO, but no one has recognized it yet.
David picked up this gear box at RFJP’s shop. Anyone recognize it?
1944 Schramm W-O Powered Generator Booklet on eBay
I haven’t run across many Schramm generators for sale. I’m not sure how many are left. But, I imagine this booklet could be useful for someone.
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“WW II Portable Engine Driven Generator manual. WIllys jeep engine. This one book contains the Operations manual, maintenance manual and parts list. 64 pages total. size is 9″ x 6″. My favorite part is the price list, oil pump were listed for $5.50 for replacement cost while the entire engine block was $49.00! LOL You need this book for your MB/GPW or WWII manual collection.”
Printing 3D Car Parts for Restorations
Bill shared this Hemmings article that discusses the use of an iPhone as a scanner for car 3D parts. I know that for several years there have been some Willys wagon knobs and other items 3D printed and available for purchase.
But, to take that from a hobbyist endeavor to a commercial scale, with mechanics or parts resellers producing parts with 3D printers in-house is an intriguing idea. Practical? Certainly not now for multiple reasons, but it’s not a stretch to believe that car parts for vintage vehicles will only become more difficult to find. So, I’m hoping that some magnitudinal advances can occur in this arena.
Ringling Bros. Circus Jeep **SOLD**
I tried to win this unusual Ringling Brothers circus jeep (here are a couple real-life examples of a Ringling circus jeep and Charlton Heston in one here), but I was out bid (it went for $31.99 and I bid $31). This has some nice details on it as you can see in the pics.
Archer Motor Company Floating Jeep Pencil on eBay
Here’s a rare floating jeep mechanical pencil with an engraving of Archer Motor Company from Burlington, Iowa.
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“RARE!!WILLY’S OVERLAND*Archer Motor Co.*Burlington,IA”FLOATING JEEP”Pencil/Works. This is very close to mint if not. I didn’t find anything really wrong with it.This is for the most discriminating collector or someone looking for a center piece for a Jeep display, it’s the origin of the JEEP.”