I won this rare early (first) Gala Brochure off of eBay. It is Form H1-3-59. The marketing document appears aimed at resorts and other tourist businesses. Interestingly, it appears conceptual in scope and doesn’t show any of the actual models available, other than what Las Brisas had done with DJ-3As. Note that on the back page it encourages interested parties to write to “Gala Plan, Willys Export Corp., Toledo 1, Ohio, U.S.A.”

UPDATE: Here is what looks to be a Champion Doo-All Roll-Dump trailer for sale for $500. Thanks to Gary for spotting it. Gary contacted the seller and he is willing to transport it to Gary’s place for $50 in case anyone might be interested in this rare trailer. 

https://hudsonvalley.craigslist.org/tro/d/saugerties-side-dump-mining-trailer/7542727821.html

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I can find no date for this Champion Company Doo-All ‘Jeep” Trailer brochure. Give only CJ-2As are shown, I initially thought this was published around 1948. However, the lack of Jeep wagons or trucks may indicate the brochure was published earlier than that. The from number is S-3-T.

This first 8″x11.5″ page is the front page:

The brochure opens horizontally to review a second page.

The right page opens horizontally again, to reveal a trip-fold:

This is the back of the brochure:

Continue reading →

This keepsake brochure lacks any date, but I presume to be the second tour of jeeps around part of the country, probably in 1948. The brochure cover page shows a Mahl Loader attached to one jeep and a Blue Star hardtop on another jeep. I wonder if a similar brochure was made for the first Cavalcade.

Barney Goodwin shared the exciting news that his parts business acquired an early neon Willys Jeep sign to hang in his Waverly, Ohio, store. It is 80″ long and 30″ tall.

Barney is hoping to learn more about this sign’s place in Willys-Overland history. I shared with him my thoughts on it, but he is hoping to find documentable evidence about the sign. So, he figured he would reach out here.

In my opinion, he has two challenges. One, finding evidence for a date of manufacture would help place the sign in context (though there is plenty of physical circumstantial evidence in my opinion) and, two, finding documentation that indicates this was an OFFICIAL design offered and promoted by Willys-Overland (and not some dealer-created custom item).

I will update this post with the thoughts I shared with Barney at a later point, but I hoped to get some input from others before then.

Barney wrote, “I had wanted to announce this last summer but life got in the way. Last Spring we purchased this 1946 Willys Jeep neon sign to display inside our business.

We found it at the nation’s largest indoor antique mall in Springfield Ohio, and after 6 months was able to negotiate a price.

After we do more research, we hope to have an article in the Dispatcher Magazine about it.

In the meantime, we wanted to share it with the forum and invite comments about it, perhaps helping our research.

We believe, and have been told by the sign collecting world. That his is Willy’s first dealership marque sign from 1946. Notice that it does not have “CARS” or “TRUCKS” on it like the later ones did.

One sign collector said it was the only one of 2 known to still exist and the only one operational.

It is a 2-sided, bull-nosed, neon sign. It’s about 80” long and over 30” high.

The can is original paint – much more valuable than repainting it. The neon has been completely restored by a neon professional here in Ohio.

For our research, we are especially looking for comments with verifiable details.

With over 50 personal years involved with Jeep since high school, the appreciation of owning this cannot be overstated.”

Barney,

Barney’s Jeep Parts LLC

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To the best of the my knowledge, the only other sign like this that I’ve documented on eWillys is this one: http://www.ewillys.com/2015/10/29/rare-jeep-sign-bloomington-in-4500/