I was surprised to see this ad published as late at September 3, 1954, because it highlights the CJ-3A-based “Farm Jeep” (see halfway down in the ad). It was printed in the Fort Worth Star-Telegram.
Features Research Archives
Hy-Rails at Curbside Classic
This short article (with far too many ads) shows some of the Hy-Rail jeep examples over the years. Thanks to Bill for sharing it.
1948 CJ-2A with Mahl Loader at Bring-A-Trailer Auction
Glenn spotted this rare and restored Mahl Loader and CJ-2A. There are a ton of detail photos at BaT’s auction page. Note that the serial number used for the title is an engine number and not the original serial number. So, a buyer might want to consider that it your state is extra picky.
https://bringatrailer.com/listing/1948-willys-cj-2a-18/
“This 1948 Willys CJ-2A is powered by a 134ci Go-Devil inline-four paired with a three-speed manual transmission and is fitted with a MAHL Jeep Loader attachment produced by Standard Iron & Wire Works Inc. of Minneapolis, Minnesota. The pair was acquired by the seller around 2010 and subsequently refurbished before installation of the loader in 2016. The truck is finished in black over green vinyl and features white-painted 16″ steel wheels, a fold-flat windshield, a dual-range transfer case, a power take-off unit, a Gre-Sen hydraulic pump, and cab-mounted hydraulic controls. This CJ-2A and Jeep Loader are now offered with an award, articles about the project, and a clean Minnesota title in the name of the seller’s company…..
The factory chassis tag has been replaced with a reproduction unit that shows a blank serial number, and the seller is unable to locate the chassis number on the vehicle itself. The last six digits of the VIN on the title—J172095—are consistent with that of a 1948 Willys CJ-2A.”
Here is a video:
More info on the Mahl Loader from the CJ-2A page: https://www.thecj2apage.com/forums/topic19682_post526669.html#526669
Here’s an article from the Dispatcher Magazine with more info from the auction:
And here are pics:
Jeep Willys Service Sign on eBay
I’ve not run across a sign quite like this one with the text accompanying the round part of the sign in this way.
View all the information on eBay
“The sign is previously displayed it is made of metal not tin its painted measures 48 in width by 24 in height. I am selling it as shown with no claim of originality. An excellent sign to add to your collection if your looking to own a really unique sign. I am selling this item with no reserve.”
1960s(?) Postcard Pete’s Cave “Shepherd of the Hills Farm” on eBay
UPDATE: Here’s another one of these postcards on eBay. Starting bid is .99.
(08/04/2020) I don’t know much about Shepherd of the Hills Farm, but I did learn that it was a book from 1907 by Harold Bell Wright that became a tourist destination that then played some role in the rise of Branson, Missouri, as a tourist destination.
View all the information on eBay
“Vintage Postcard of the Farm Tour pulled by an old Army Jeep at Pete’s Cave in Shepherd of the Hills in Branson MO
Size Standard 3 1/2 by 5 1/2
Circa 1960s”
The J-Bird Fiberglass Hard Top
This ad took me by surprise. I’ve never heard of the J-Bird Fiberglass hard top made by Stanley Aviation. I wonder if there are any left anywhere? I’m guessing it was made in Colorado given this ad was in the Mile-Hi Jeep Club archives.
I was able to find some information about Stanley Aviation, but nothing related to Snaley Aviation and a jeep top.
WANTED: Info For Off-Road Motorsports Hall of Fame
Rick Krueger is hoping to pull together some information for the folks at the Off-Road Motorsports Hall of Fame. So, if you think you might have some information that would help Rick, email him at das.krueg @ gmail.com (remove the spaces around the @).
Rick wrote, “I have a line on Larry Hughes son Cameron. Dean Richards, Lonnie Richards grand father was a friend of my fathers and Gary Lowes. Dean and Gary played an important part in a boating accident I was in. The name Toy Hall has come up as Commander on a certificate I have found for and award to SNORE in the 70s. So any info from Lionel would be great. Also tracking down a ambulance buggy snore donated to the posse in the 70s. The ORMHOF seems interested so I would like to pull as much together as possible.”
MILE-HI Jeep Club History: Among the online collections at the ORMHOF are some great old photos and history from the Mile-Hi Jeep Club (How is there no PNW4WDA history/race-history here?): https://ormhof.org/mile-hi-collection
Here is one example of what is posted there. This photo shows the inaugural issue of the Mile HI Club’s Jeep Club News in December 1956.
November 1944 Photo of Fake Jeep in Australia
Here’s. neat photo of a “dummy jeep” cobbled together in Australia, posted by Morihisa Ochi to G503.
https://www.facebook.com/groups/WWIIG503/permalink/10158341777561046/
Custom CJ-3B Build
Robert Baxter posted this “CJ-3B” to Facebook the other day. He spotted it at a car show in El Segundo, California. The chassis is a deuce-and-a-half. It looks like the body is extra tall and stetted, which gives it an unusual look. Cool rig!
https://www.facebook.com/groups/502884336980336/permalink/1100033907265373
More Updates Later Sunday

Our final view of the motorhome. We sold it on Saturday. We weren’t using it and it would only be declining in value, so we felt it was prudent to let it go. We will eventually buy something else, but unsure whether that will be a slide-in camper (which requires a new, beefier truck, which we need anyway), another motorhome (likely not), or a fifth wheel (maybe).
More updates later today …. It’s been a busy few days. We sold our motorhome to the folks that own the water system company that installed our filtering system (we hadn’t used it to camp in two years). So, as a part of the deal, we are getting a new water system for our house, a new drinking system for the kitchen, and a water filter system for the bunkhouse.
We have rented a bull for our heifers, but there isn’t a whole lot of action (a regular Ferdinand perhaps?), other than chewing down our grass, which has meant getting some hay to supplement their diets. Thankfully, our next-door neighbor just swathed his grass hay yesterday, so we’ll be buying up all his hay.
We are shopping for a squeeze chute and panels so we can build a corral.That way, we can just artificially inseminate them rather than host a bull, which is more expensive than insemination, something another neighbor of ours can do.
The side deck on the bunkhouse is near done, another stretch of triple digits looks behind us now.