Features Research Archives

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Massimo Mini Jeep

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

Bill shared this video of a guy walking through and driving a Massimo mini-jeep. I’ve seen ads for these posted in various FB and Craigslist ads, but this is the first video I’ve seen. At $2500 through Tractor Supply, they aren’t a trivial purchase, but I have to say they do look kind of fun!

tractor-supply-mini-jeep

 
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Hamilton Pedal Jeep Fresno, CA $650

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

UPDATE: Forgot the link …

Mike shared what appears to be a good price on a nicely restored Hamilton Jeep.

https://www.facebook.com/marketplace/item/7980290038764999/

“Recently restored 1950s Hamilton Jeep pedal car”

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Newest Folk Art “Jeep”

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

Before I return to working on the FC, I am finishing what I started before our Balloonfest event; I am completing a thorough cleaning and organizing of the shop. I even bought one of these nut/bolt organizers to reduce the hunt for nuts and bolt and other items that are stuffed into cans that sit on my table tops. Some of these cans of bolts were ones that I put into cans back in the mid 1980s. Clearly, I’m not going to use some of them, so it’s time to sort, dump and organize!

I picked this folk art “jeep” off of ebay for cheap. I think it is supposed to be a Fiat Campagnola, or some derivation of it. HOWEVER, I later re-discovered these were sold through Hobby Lobby. I even posted about this (thanks to John) back in 2022, but I forgot about it … oh well, at least I didn’t pay much for it!

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Balloonfest 2024

• CATEGORIES: Features This site contains affiliate links for which I may be compensated.
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Ann taking her cousin for a spin in the Race Jeep.

We had our annual family gathering last weekend (hence the lack of updates). I was busy up til folks started arriving on Friday morning and didn’t stop moving until Sunday night. We had around 40 folks camping, tenting, RVing, staying in the house, crashing in the bunk house, and even sleeping in the shop’s extra rooms. The weather was perfect, warm during the day and cool enough at night for some fires.

The balloons launched at 7am Saturday morning, but Sunday proved too windy (the balloons launch about a 2 miles from us). This year the winds took the balloons east, so we didn’t get any close up views from our property (but most relatives went to the airport to watch them). However, most of the time we were all having fun, playing games, eating and hanging out. Here are some random pics from the event.

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We rented a bounce house and obstacle course for the young ones.

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A silly race.

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Using chalk paint, I made four square, hop scotch, and a tic-tac-toe play areas.

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I built a set of corn holes with a balloon theme. These were a bit hit.

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On Friday night, one of the relatives got out his fire dancing items and entertained us at the fire pits. He’s been spinning fire for more than a decade (though he’s only been part of the family for just over a year). So, this is a neat treat.

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DJ-5 Electruck Brochures

• CATEGORIES: Advertising & Brochures, DJ-5 & DJ-6, Features • TAGS: This site contains affiliate links for which I may be compensated.

UPDATE: Bill shared this article about the DJ-5Es, the electric postal jeep. 

https://carbuzz.com/forgotten-jeep-first-electric-fleet-vehicle/

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Originally posted January 21, 2020: Thanks to Gayland for sending me this brochure of the Electruck, an electric powered DJ-5E made by AM General.

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These images were from an eBay auction in 2015:

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One Man’s Afrikan Dream to Own a CJ-2A

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

Bill shared this short story about a man from South Africa who had a life-long dream to own a Willys. FYI: 1 South African Rand is currently equivalent to $17.50 USD. R21,000 = aprox $1,200USD.

https://4x4afrika.com/2024/07/24/a-lifelong-dream-come-true/
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Anyone Recognize this Dually Adapter?

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

Tanner found a set of four of these adapters, but several of us don’t recognize them (Here are some for comparison: http://www.ewillys.com/2017/04/05/dual-wheel-adapters/). They seem closest to the Hickey adapters, but also different front them. Here are the pics:

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History of VIASA

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

JW added a comment to one of the VIASA posts, which led me to do some googling. I landed on this YouTube video that appears to do a good job sketching the history of VIASA and the vehicles.

 
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1969 Viasa Brochure (Spain)

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

I just picked up this Viasa brochure from Egypt via eBay (along with some other 1 sheet brochures). Note that these rigs are all powered by the Perkins Diesel. I’ve dated this using the legal notice at the bottom of page three that ends in “1969”.

This front page is about 8.5″ x 11″ landscape oriented:

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This middle section opens horizontally:

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This is the back page:

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4 1969? Viasa Spanish Jeep Ad Sheets

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

I could not find dates on these, but the models and designs look very similar to the 1969 brochure, so I can only guess these are from around 1969. Each of these models are similar to the M-series forward control designs.

The “Jeep” Campeardo is reflective of the M-676; just a basic forward control truck:

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This “Jeep” Duplex has four doors and a small truck bed, similar to the M-677:

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The “Jeep” Toledo is similar to the M-678:

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This “Jeep” Furgon has few windows than the Toledo model above, sort of like the M-679:

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