Features Research Archives

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Tate’s “New” Ford GP

May 3, 2019 • CATEGORIES: Bantam-FordGP-WillysMA-EarlyJPs, Features This site contains affiliate links for which I may be compensated.

Tate and I behind his Ford GP. On the right of the pic is his Willys MB.

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 →

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Portable Derrick Crane Patent

May 3, 2019 • CATEGORIES: Documents, Features • TAGS: patents. This site contains affiliate links for which I may be compensated.

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,”

1947-09-26-portable-crane-patent2

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1945 Photo of First CJ-2A to Reach Miami SOLD

May 3, 2019 • CATEGORIES: Features, Old Images This site contains affiliate links for which I may be compensated.

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.”

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1956 Photo of WI National Guardsman Washing Jeep on eBay

May 3, 2019 • CATEGORIES: Features, Old Images This site contains affiliate links for which I may be compensated.

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.”

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1948 CJ-2A Leavenworth, WA Make Offer

May 3, 2019 • CATEGORIES: Advertising & Brochures, CJ-2A, Features • TAGS: Bobcat. This site contains affiliate links for which I may be compensated.

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.”

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1960 Wood CJ-5ish Jeep Medina, OH Status Unknown

May 3, 2019 • CATEGORIES: CJ5, Features, Unusual, Wood bodies This site contains affiliate links for which I may be compensated.

UPDATE: Price now $10,000 (and old pics back up). This was for sale back in 2015 You can see a very similar 1966 CJ-5 posted at Cherrybronco.com.

“Custom 1960 Willy’s Jeep. One of a Kind. Will Consider trades of equal value.”

Current Pics:

Continue reading →

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1949 Borg-Warner Jeepster Ad

May 2, 2019 • CATEGORIES: Advertising & Brochures, Features This site contains affiliate links for which I may be compensated.

Borg-Warner had this March 19, 1949, ad published in the Saturday Evening Post, page 49. Looks more like a Jeepster ad than a BW ad.

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1954 Photo of Aero Jeep Airborne Prototype

May 2, 2019 • CATEGORIES: Airborne Lightweight Jeeps, Features, Old Images This site contains affiliate links for which I may be compensated.

UPDATE: These two pics are currently on eBay.

1954 Willys Aero (Bobcat) Airborne prototype (From front):
1954 Willys Aero (Bobcat) Airborne prototype (From rear):
(Reproduction) Aero Bobcat Spec Sheet.

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Original post 2014: This is a collection of Aero Bobcat Airport jeep photos. A couple may still be on eBay

1. “A vintage 1954 original photo depicting Willy’s Aero Jeep undergoing test at the proving grounds at Aberdeen MD. Original press stamp and caption with a JAN 8 1954 stamp date are on the verso.”

Continue reading →

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Mini-Jeep Naselle, WA $2347

May 2, 2019 • CATEGORIES: Features, Other 4x4s • TAGS: Mower. This site contains affiliate links for which I may be compensated.

TJ spotted this neat little mini-jeep.

https://www.facebook.com/marketplace/item/2571199966283496/?ref=messenger_share

“You have to see it. Lights Horn and Siren all work. Built on a Riding Mower Chassis. This would be great for Parades and shows. 6 speeds forward and 1 reverse. I know the right person is out there and wants it.”

Continue reading →

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1942 Flattie Ellensburg, WA SOLD

May 2, 2019 • CATEGORIES: Features • TAGS: Bobcat. This site contains affiliate links for which I may be compensated.

UPDATE: **SOLD** Was $3500

(03/15/2019) Marty spotted this old school build with a Bobcat hood and some min-terra tires.

“42 willys with a 350 fiberglass front end, runs good, needs tinkering with finishing touches”

1942-flattie-ellensburg-wa1

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1949 Triple-AAA Article W/ Jeep Pics

May 1, 2019 • CATEGORIES: Features, Magazine, Old Images This site contains affiliate links for which I may be compensated.

A November 11, 1949, article in the Saturday Evening Post included these two pics of an Auto Club of Southern California CJ-2A.

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1948 Ad For the Nickel (found in Steel)

May 1, 2019 • CATEGORIES: Advertising & Brochures, Artists/Drawings, Features This site contains affiliate links for which I may be compensated.

This ad for Nickel (as in the Nickel in steel the contributes to strength) appeared in the February 21, 1948, issue of the Saturday Evening Post, page 78.

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1958 FC-170 Dually Press Photo on eBay

May 1, 2019 • CATEGORIES: Features, Old Images This site contains affiliate links for which I may be compensated.

No photo of the back included.

View all the information on eBay

“1958 Willys Jeep Truck Press Photo.
Condition: Shows edges of transparency used for reproduction and is fairly washed out (over-exposed).
Pages: 1
Details: W 10 x H 8 x D 0.1 Weight 1

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1955 Barbed Wire Distribution Patent

April 30, 2019 • CATEGORIES: Documents, Features • TAGS: patents. This site contains affiliate links for which I may be compensated.

A patent for the distribution of barbed metal band from a short wheel base vehicle, preferably a jeep or jeep-like vehicle, was filed in 1955 by the Acme Steel Company.

“The purpose of the present invention is to provide novel apparatus by which barbed metal band may be formed in a continuous process and distributed as it is formed in the place and arrangement in which it is to be used. A further object of the invention is to provide apparatus for distributing barbed metal band according to a prearranged plan and supporting it in the arrangement in which it is distributed. Another object is to provide portable apparatus having means for forming barbed metal band from a supply of fiat strip ma terial and for distributing the barbed band and arranging it during the travel of the apparatus. Other objects relate to various features of construction and arrangement which will appear more fully hereinafter.”

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1957 ‘Jeep’ Vehicles Help fight Disease! Brochure

April 30, 2019 • CATEGORIES: Advertising & Brochures, Features This site contains affiliate links for which I may be compensated.

This August of 1957 ‘Jeep’ Vehicles Help fight Disease! brochure was another one I hadn’t seen. It amazes me how many little known brochures are still out there. It’s an export form, with form number MFS-8-57-X

The next three pages unfold into a single page. But, I’ve separated them for easier reading:

1957-08-jeep-vehicles-help-fight-disease-brochure8-3pane-lores

Continue reading →

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1953 Wagon & Trophy Fish Hole Ad

April 30, 2019 • CATEGORIES: Advertising & Brochures, Features This site contains affiliate links for which I may be compensated.

I like this Trophy Fish Holes ad for the Willys Station Wagon published in the May 1953 issue of Field and Stream, page 69.

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FOUND: The 1947 Movie “Revolution in Pleasantville”

April 29, 2019 • CATEGORIES: Features, videos This site contains affiliate links for which I may be compensated.

UPDATE: Barry Thomas managed to hunt down a copy of the movie in Paris. He is hoping to share it at a couple of jeep events this spring. Learn more at his farm jeep.com website: https://www.farmjeep.com/revolution-in-farming-and-in-pleasentville/

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Original Post Dec. 14, 2012: An issue of the “American Farm Youth” (1947 Volumes 13-14 Page 34) mentioned this movie.

Revolution in Pleasantville, a motion picture describing the role of the Jeep in farm mechanization, has just been produced and made available for showing to farm groups. The revolution depicted in the film is one taking place all over the . . .

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“Bless This Mess” FC-170

April 29, 2019 • CATEGORIES: Features This site contains affiliate links for which I may be compensated.

Jeff spotted this FC-170 lurking in the background of the TV show “Bless This Mess“. The premise of the show is, “Newlyweds Rio and Mike make the decision to change the course of their life together and move from the relentless pace of big city New York to what they think will be a more relaxed existence in rural Nebraska.”

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Large Two-sided Jeep Sign Saint Joseph, MO eBay

April 29, 2019 • CATEGORIES: Advertising & Brochures, Features This site contains affiliate links for which I may be compensated.

Maury spotted this sign on eBay. The neon has been removed, but still a neat sign. The seller believe this was a temporary sign created just after WWII, but given the post WWII signs I’ve seen, I’d guess early 1950s or later would be more likely.

View all the information on eBay

“Vintage Jeep Willys Sales Service Auto Dealer Neon Sign 1940s 1950s USA . Condition is Used. This is a truly authentic, post-war Willys Jeep dealership sign that was was created fresh after the end of WWII. This sign is hand painted, not porcelain and was more than likely used for the dealership here in St. Joseph for a short time right after the war as a ‘fill-in’ then shortly retired. I say this because the paint is remarkably bright and not faded.
Continue reading →

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Year? Photo of DJ-3As on eBay

April 28, 2019 • CATEGORIES: Features, Old Images This site contains affiliate links for which I may be compensated.

The seller listed this as a 1950 photo, but that’s clearly wrong. Perhaps it is 1960.

View all the information on eBay

“1950 Willys Jeep Press Photo. Original.
Pages: 1
Details: W 10 x H 8 x D 0.1 Weight 1”

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1957 Coffee and ‘Jeep’ Vehicles Brochure

April 27, 2019 • CATEGORIES: Advertising & Brochures, Features • TAGS: Coffee. This site contains affiliate links for which I may be compensated.

This August of 1957 Coffee and ‘Jeep’ Vehicles brochure was one I didn’t know existed until it appeared on eBay two weeks ago. That CJ-2A dump jeep is pretty interesting.

The next three pages foldout into a single page. But, I’ve separated them for easier reading:

Continue reading →

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1944 Photo of MPs Rounding Up Nazi Soldiers w/ Jeep

April 27, 2019 • CATEGORIES: Features, Old Images This site contains affiliate links for which I may be compensated.

This photo and caption appears in the June 02, 1944, issue of the Saturday Evening Post.

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Be Your Own Inspector M-38/M-38A1 Booklet

April 26, 2019 • CATEGORIES: Books, Features This site contains affiliate links for which I may be compensated.

UPDATE: You can now download a high resolution PDF here (25mb):

http://www.deilers.com/be-your-own-inspector-m38-m38a1-booklet.pdf

One reader asked about a donation in exchange for the PDF. You are welcome to download it for free, but If you want, you can donate a few bucks via PayPal: payment@ewillys.com. The money goes toward the purchase of more brochures (and the documentation/sharing of them).

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Original Post April 26, 2019: Here’s the booklet I won off of eBay.

Continue reading →

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Early Station Wagon Ad

April 25, 2019 • CATEGORIES: Features, videos This site contains affiliate links for which I may be compensated.

This youtube video for the jeep station wagon has been around for more than a decade, but it’s the first time I’ve seen it.

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BOOK: The Last American CEO

April 25, 2019 • CATEGORIES: Books, Features This site contains affiliate links for which I may be compensated.

I just finished reading The Last American CEO, a book about the transition of ‘Jeep’ from Kaiser-Jeep, to AMC, to Chrysler. The principal character and source of most of the material was Joe Cappy, who was the final AMC CEO before AMC was bought by Chrysler.

Among the book’s more interesting revelations, it argues that if it weren’t for an assassination, that Chrysler might never have purchased AMC.

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