I found this Canyonlands poster while in Moab last weekend. I bought it there but you can find it online also. It’s 14″ x 22″, so it isn’t a huge poster, but I do like the artwork.
Features Research Archives
Willys Jeeps in the Maze
Graham shared a link to s series of flat fender videos from an unofficial flat fender run in Moab this past April. This is some old school wheeling:
Hudson Steering Modification Pics
Barry Ogletree has been working on another great project, this time has installed a Hudson Steering system on a Willys frame. I’ve seen several jeeps for sale with this system over the years, but I’d never seen the parts up close. According to Barry:
I have found a unique steering conversion on the chassis of the wooden bodied Willys (Woody) that is worth a look. I have tracked down that it is a Hudson Car box. The beauty is that it sits about perfect in the Willys frame rail. 3 bolts and you are done, and it tucks perfectly against the frame for exhaust/pitman arm clearance. This is the best fit that I have seen in years of this kind of work. Regards Barry Ogletree.
Barry was awesome enough to post a bunch of pics at this location: https://texasflatfenders.smugmug.com/STEERING-BOX-HUDSON/
1950 Photo of Soldiers After Ambush on eBay
This occurred early in the war.
View all the information on eBay
“This is an original press photo. An American jeep patrol returns to friendly lines after it was ambushed in the Chungdon-ni area on the Masan battle front. A wounded man sits in the front seat with his head bandaged. Photo measures 8.5 x 7 inches. Photo is dated 08-29-1950.”
1952 Photo of M-38A1 w/ Hardtop on eBay
I don’t recognize that hardtop.
View all the information on eBay
“Here I have a Near Mint 8 x 10 inch Photograph
PROJECT 7461 MODEL MD MILITARY JEEP (M38-A1)
¾ RIGHT FRONT VIEW (HARD METAL TOP)
WILLYS-OVERLAND ENGINEERING NO. 13300-41 4-15-52”
Single Sheet Roper Digger Brochure **SOLD**
UPDATE: **SOLD** Was on eBay.
This single sheet is inexpensive, which seems to be rare these days on eBay.
“ORIGINAL RARE 1960 Roper Diggers to fit JEEP Fact Spec Sheet Folder Brochure, 8-1/2′ x 11″, four page folder”
Odd Aluminum Model Jeep **SOLD**
UPDATE: **SOLD** for $95 on eBay.
The price seems a reach and not sure I’d call it a beauty, but it is interesting.
“HELP DESCRIBING IF ANYONE KNOWS THE BRAND OF THIS RARE BEUTY!!
JEEP HAS STEERING WHEEL THAT WORKS HAS OLD SCREWS DEFENETLY A EARLY CHILDS TOY SUPER RARE HAVE FUN WITH THIS ONE!!! GOOD LUCK
SEE ACTUAL TOY OR COMIC AND GRADE YOURSELF ALL COMICS AND TOYS HAVE SOME DAMAGE BY AGE AND SHELF WARE! SEE MY OTHER ITEMS ANS SAVE ON COMBINED SHIPPING!!! $1.50 for each additional item won…
USA SHIPPING $32.95 INTERNATIONAL SHIPPING $49.95
ALL MY COMIC BOOKS and TOYS ARE GUARANTEED !!! Simply read and return if not satisfied!!!”
G503 Jeep Parody Of Our Hobby
Having done my share of battling jeep misinformation, I can appreciate this fun look at the “hobby” published by Scott Schiller. AKA the World Famous G503 Spokesperson.
Converto Trailer Hub Question
Dean’s working on this Converto Trailer. It’s got hubs with a 5×4.5 bolt pattern. He’s wondering how he might find replacement hubs. Anyone have ideas on what would fit?
Here’s the trailer:
Here are the current hubs:
Year? Military Spec Sheet on eBay
UPDATE: Still Available. but expensive.
(This unusual spec sheet compares the M-38A1 with the M-274 and the XM443E1. The M-38A1D image press photo is available currently on eBay.
Sunday’s Trip Through Canyonlands
On Sunday morning we left for the White Rim trail in Canyonlands National Park. Driving out of Moab, we had a cloudless morning with perfect temperatures in the 60s. As we left, we drove past a jeep hoisted onto a sign for the Expedition Lodge motel in downtown Moab, something that must have been added in the last two years. It’s missing the drive train, but otherwise still has quite a few parts.
In contrast to the yellow jeep, our rental jeep was a white newer 4-door Wrangler. Karson rented it through Canyonlandsjeep, which he said provided the least expensive jeep rentals (the folks there were great). It was slightly lifted and had oversize tires. The one downside of the rental jeep was that we were not allowed to drop the tire pressure. As a result (and as you can imagine) the ride proved to be rougher than it otherwise had to be.
1949 4-Wheel Drive Ad
This December 1949 Ad published in the Saturday Evening Post is interesting in that WILLYS is printed larger than the term ‘Jeep’, the latter being regulated to a small badge near the wagon image.
Dualmatic Hubs Brochure
I won this rare Dualmatic brochure on eBay. I’ll follow up with more detailed pics once I receive the document.
Wanted: Dave’s Dad’s Old CJ-2A
Dave Naylor (kaisercj71 @ yahoo.com) is hoping to locate his Dad’s old 1947 CJ-2A. His story is below:
So, just a long shot here but, please play along. In Grangeville, ID (pretty sure it was Grangeville) around 1951, my dad traded his ’47 2A on a ’51 4×4 Willys truck. I’ve lost all hope of ever finding that old 2A, having no VIN number to work from but, I’m kind of interested if obtaining some old pictures or other artifacts from that dealership, circa late 40’s or early 50’s.
The dealership was Gort Smith Motors or maybe Gortsema Motors, AFAIK, and was still in business several years ago. I called them wondering if any old sales records were still in existence. No luck, as I had imagined.
If anyone stumbles across any period items related to this dealership, I’d be interested in obtaining them. Not sure what all brands they sold as many dealers sold other stuff besides just Willys. I’d be interested in Willys/Jeep items only, of course.
Thanks folks.
Fun, But Long Sunday
It’s late and I’m bushed, so no updates today (and I’m behind on emails). We had a great time jeeping with Karson on Sunday. We drive home from SLC on Monday morning. So, updates will happen on Tuesday.
Just A Few Updates Sunday
Today will be driving part of the White Rim Trail in Canyonlands National Park, at least to the point where the river is currently blocking the trail (the rivers are higher than normal here in Canyonlands right now. We are driving a jeep rented through #Canyonlandsjeep
I’ll report on our adventure on Monday. We’ll be on the road most of Monday, so regular updates will likely not appear until Tuesday morning.
Below are some pics of our test-drive on Saturday night.
1948 Willys Overland ‘City and City’ Ad Campaign
UPDATE: The City and City campaign was introduced to dealers in the January 1948 issue of Willys-Overland Sales News (page 10).
Originally published in 2013, this updated post includes better images (though a few still need better images) along with the dates of publishing (at least the ones I’ve found so far). This campaign appears to have been limited to 1948. There are thirteen ads in all. They appeared in the Saturday Evening Post, Colliers, and Life Magazine (and likely other places).
1) The “A Hit in Boston and Buenos Aires” ad was published in the February 07, 1948, issue of the Saturday Evening Post, page 108.
2) The “At Home in Portland and Paris” ad was published in the March 06, 1948, issue of the Saturday Evening Post, page 115. It was also published in Colliers Magazine, January 24, 1948, page 58.
3) The “Hailed in Minneapolis and Mexico” ad was published in the March 20, 1948, issue of Collier’s Weekly, page 68.
4) The “It’s the Same In San Francisco and Stockholm” ad was published in the April 10, 1948, issue of the Saturday Evening Post, page 111.
Republic Sale Jeep Thermometer on eBay
The price seems nuts, but it’s a neat little item.
View all the information on eBay
“Shows signs of age. Doesn’t look like original pain on the very outsides of frame. Was probably painted when wall it was hanging on was painted. Measures roughly 13″ x 3.75″”
FC-170’s Contribution to Star Trek
Carl spotted this modified FC at the 40-second mark of this behind-the-scenes filming of Star Trek.
Here’s the full video:
Metro Engineering’s Hardtop w/ Wood Doors
Carl pointed out to me that the Cab Enclosure hardtop for the M-38A1 (by Metro Engineering) used plywood doors (all the time? sometimes?). Anyone have insights on this?
Here are two examples.
This video was taken in Salt Lake City (Avenues area) and shows and M-38A1 with plywood doors.
And, This thread on G503 includes the below pics of plywood doors.
Tate’s “New” Ford GP
Ann and I are In Salt Lake City through Saturday morning, then we’ll be heading down to Moab for our Sunday trip on the White Rim Trail.
On Thursday in Salt Lake we met up with Tate, a young man who now owns a Ford GP to go along with his Willys MB. He recently bought it out of Wyoming.
The former owner had been inundated with offers after listing it for sale (no surprise there). He’d owned it for fifty years and wanted it to go to someone who would treasure it for another fifty years. Tate assured him he was the guy, so the owner sold it to him. Given Tate’s passion for jeeps and learning, I have no doubt the owner made a good decision. (By the way, Tate’s looking for a windshield .. if anyone knows of one, feel free to email me at d@ewillys.com and I’ll forward the info to him).
After we spent some time checking out his GP, we took it for a drive. Then, unexpectedly, Tate asked if I wanted to drive it some. Let’s just say he didn’t have to ask twice! There’s a video on Facebook of me returning in the driver’s seat. Continue reading
Portable Derrick Crane Patent
Henry F Illies filed a patent for a portable derrick crane that could fit over a jeep on September 26, 1947.
“This invention relates to a derrick crane adapted to be mounted on a small motor vehicle and while adapted generally for supporting, raising and lowering or conveying heavy objects is especially adapted to provide a support for an’– auger such as is employed for digging post holes and by means of which the auger may be adjusta- -bly supported with respect to the vehicle, lowered gradually as it advances into the ground,”
1945 Photo of First CJ-2A to Reach Miami **SOLD**
UPDATE: In a shocker, this photo SOLD at auction for $230.05! It was on eBay.
This August 08, 1945, photo shows Shirley Watts driving the first CJ-2A to reach Miami.
“1945 Press Photo Mrs. Shirley Watts drives the first civilian jeep. This is an original press photo. Here’s the first Jeep for civilian use and the first new car to arrive in Maimi since limited production of new cars was authorized. Mrs. Shirley Watts gets the feel of the wheel of the car which in its military version made World War II history. Waco Motors, the distributor, expects to be able to make rapid delivery of the civilian Jeep model in about 30 days.Photo measures 8.5 x 6.75inches. Photo is dated 08-08-1945.”
1956 Photo of WI National Guardsman Washing Jeep on eBay
That’s one way to wash a jeep!
View all the information on eBay
“1959 Press Photo Wisconsin national guardsmen washing a jeep, Camp McCoy. This is an original press photo. National guardsmen washed a jeep at Camp McCoy before their homeward convoy trip following a two week training encampment. Private William Feirn (left) and Private Dan Gibson, both of Eau Claire, are of B battery, 175th field artillery. (Camp McCoy Wisconsin) Photo measures 10 x 8.25 inches. Photo is dated 06-29-1959.”
1948 CJ-2A Leavenworth, WA Make Offer
This appears to have a Bobcat fiberglass body and hood.
https://wenatchee.craigslist.org/bar/d/leavenworth-1948-willys-jeep/6878514588.html
“302 Ford engine mildly built with approximately 3,000 MI. Jeep is 98% complete. Needs power steering hooked up, blinkers wired,…but I’ve been driving in the summer this way for the past few years with no issues. Jeep does have black canvas top in great condition. Tires have at least 90% tread left. I seriously only drove this thing 300 miles a year for the past 10 years or so. It’s just at the bottom of my to do list. 4 speed transmission with overdrive upgraded brakes miscellaneous other things shoot me a text of what you have to trade. Hardest off roaring was a gravel logging rd.”