The October 1961 issue of Jeep News was eight pages. Page one included a couple photos of the FJ-3A from different angles. Willys Motors also announced that eleven TV commercials would hit the airwaves over the coming months. I am not sure sure if all these commercials have been saved to YouTube or not.

Page two shows the results of the second annual Las Cruces Jeepathon. The event featured fifteen racers and 8500 spectators. An article on page two also noted that the October 1961 issue of United Airlines Mainliner magazine featured four images of jeeps, including “a lavatory truck, Surrey, FC-170, and a conventional one-ton pickup truck”.

Page three shows a small elephant in the back of an FC-170 along with Joan Crawford with an DJ-3A Surrey. Page four shows two ‘comparison-data’ brochures, one for the truck and one for the wagon. Another of these was published for the CJ-5 and DJ-3A and is available on eBay.

Pages five and six are mostly dealer information. Page seven is highlighted by Rock Hudson and Gina Lollobrigida and their movie ‘Come September’.

Page eight shares the story of Evie Durant, a church worker who uses her jeep for a variety of tasks in Alabama. Also on the page is a surprisingly robust rebuild of a CJ-6 into a swamp maneuvering, oil searching rig. Finally, there’s a short story of some college graduates and their training with the Audio-Visual wagons prior to their departure of Africa.

The June-July 1961 issue of Jeep News is only six pages.

Page one shares news about the FJ-3A, which the company planned to introduce in the fall of 1961. Interestingly, the paper refers to it as The Commercial ‘Jeep’ Fleetvan. Page two includes another example of an FC-170 with a custom camper on the back.

An articles on page three highlight the use of jeeps at Lake Placid, New York, and the continued use of DJ-3A Dispatcher surreys as part of the Pepe movie promotion. Page four shows how an FC-170 was converted into a horse carrier. Page five is all dealer news.

Page six shows some images from a jeep club meet at Kaiser Steel, while a pic at the bottom shows a militarized FC-170 with it’s top removed.

This six-page January 1959 issue of Jeep News is only six pages.

Page one shares dealer news, as does much of page two. Page two (and page six) also has a ‘history’ of the jeep, which at that point was only eighteen or nineteen years old, depending on the start date of 1941 or 1940. Page three devotes a whole page to Jarvis Jeep out of Portland, Oregon. An article on page four tells the story of an FC-170, with an unusual bed, that was used as part of a Christmas tree business. Page seven has a story about an FC-170 out of Hutchinson, Kansas, with a variety of extras. Page eight covers the newly formed Tulare County Four-Wheel Drive Club.

I thought I had posted this issue a few years ago, but somehow I missed it. So, here is the 8-page May 1956 issue of Willys News.

Page one highlights that thousands of feet of film was taken as part of creating new promo films for Willys Motors. No doubt that film is long gone. Page two has an article explaining the importance of jeeps to rural readers of North Carolina’s Statesville Record and Landmark newspaper. Page two also claims that the first registered CJ-2A appeared in Mt. Kisco, New York, a claim debated on this post.

Page three has a great photo of Bonner’s Willys Motors out of Texas, a part of which eventually became Barney’s Jeep Parts in Ohio. Page five indicates that at least 100 audio-visual wagons (though the paper calls them ‘trucks’) had been assembled. An article on Page six shares the news that Dispatchers were proving popular as delivery vehicles, with an accompanying testimonial from Carolina Tool.

Page seven highlights “Miss Maude”, an excerpt of which I posted back in 2014. Page eight covers the April 1956 Truth or Consequences “Journal de Jeeps” cross-country race.

The December 1961 issue of Jeep News was only six pages, but still packed into a few interesting items. In the center column of the front page you can see the California Association of ‘Jeep’ Clubs had already come up with rules for jeeping on publics lands. Here in the PNW, we’ve seen a small contingent of folks doing stupid things that ruins it for everyone else. Such is life. Also note the bottom of page one showing the two giant billboards. I’ve never seen pics of these.

An article on page two references a 28-page two-color booklet titled “Your Ten Major Retail Markets”. That’s not one I’ve seen. Anyone else run across it? There’s also a reference to a Fleetvan comparison brochure. You can see pics of that here: http://www.ewillys.com/2016/03/29/1961-fleet-van-c…brochure-on-ebay/ (Not sure if I have a copy).

Page three contains something really unique: An Army FC-170 with a camper! The FC camper, an Army FC-170 with a Stahl bed, and an Army Traveller wagon were all headed to Alaska. Page three also has pics from a Billings, Montana, Rough Riders Jeep Club road event.

Page five and six contain a variety of stories, with several photos of FC-170 Fire trucks. Page seven shares the story of a New Jersey firm that operated pizza delivery wagons. Anything you can add to that story Mike?

UPDATE: This was supposed to publish Friday morning, but didn’t for some reason… just discover this Friday night!

This eight-page February 1959 issue of Jeep News begins with a recap of the 1960 Chicago Autoshow, where the all-white jeep lineup on display was called, by some industry veterans, the most attractive commercial display at the show. Page three shows several different FCs adapted to various speciality tasks.

Page four and five share a report and multiple images from the auto show. There’s also a reference to two films played at the show. One was Jeep Frolics, a video shown in the post below, and another video showing a wide variety of tasks jeeps could perform (not sure which video this might be).

Page six contains an article about Warn’s successful hub sales. the article estimated that by 1959 there were 135,000 jeeps using Warn hubs. Page seven covers the use of jeeps in Detroit’s underground salt mines (also captured in pics from this post). Page eight features several stories, including another example of a custom FC camping unit.

This September 1958 four-page issue of Jeep News is devoted to the Maverick show.

The May 1958 issue of Jeep News was only four pages, but the marketing managed to pack in some interesting tidbits. On page one the company discussed the new 3/4 mechanical mule-like prototype. Included is a pic of a model; I wonder what happend to the model? Also on page one, in the lower right of the page is a story about Hugh Smith purposefully driving a jeep through a garage wall to save his brother from a burning garage.

Page two features several FCs, but the one that looks the most interesting (to me) is the unit with the  “Samp-O-Rama” traveling meat counter built for Armour and Company in Atlanta.

Page three has a few DJ-3As. Page four features a story about Mr. S. W. Christie, whose contracting company owned 24 jeeps. Despite all the jeeps he owned, he decided to build his young boys a toy jeep of their own.

Because the May 1958 issue was so short, I figured it made sense to include the July 1958 Jeep News issue, which is also short at only six pages. I guess some folks at Willys Motors took some time off during the summer of 1958?

Page one explains some of the improvements made to the new line of Forward Control Jeeps. Page three includes multiple photos of the rare Leveloader FC. Page five shows a couple FCs that were customized to meet particular needs. Page six covers the Jeep Roadeo races in Yakima.

This eight-page issue of Willys News is the last “Willys News”. In March of 1958, the name was changed to “Jeep News”, though under the banner the “Willys Motors, Inc.” moniker remains unchanged over subsequent years.

The first page makes a reference to a commercial that ran in 1958 highlighting the new M-274 Mechanical Mule. I tried to find that commercial on YouTube, but didn’t have any success.

Pages two and three is dominated by dealer news. Pages four and five covers the use of jeep vehicles by ATT and its affiliates. Page six features an article on the new Sacramento Jeep Club. Page seven is a potpourri of stories, while page eight discusses “wetter water” and its use with jeeps against red ants.

This May 1959 issue of Jeep News announced that Willys agreed to continue co-sponsoring the Maverick show obviously dominated the headlines, but it is interesting to see that photos from the 1959 Truth or Consequences race also landed on the front page.

Page two contains dealer news. Page three includes a photo of two DJ-3As with unusual nylon tops, presumably custom made, that are owned by the Sheraton Terrace Motel in San Antonio.

Page five includes a full-page report with photos from the Truth Or Consequences, NM, ‘Jeep’ Vehicle Derby. Page six includes a rare photo of a civil defense wagon. Page seven has an almost full-page report on the eleventh annual Hemet to Borrego cavalcade.

Finally, page eight tells the story of a scout troop that raised money to replace their tired CJ-2A, though they replaced it with a non-jeep station wagon, the scouts noted it wasn’t as capable as the jeep. So, why didn’t a dealer step in to help these scouts get a jeep? ??

This June 1958 Jeep News issue is only four pages.  There are a variety of stories, including an announcement on the front page indicating the Jeep Jamboree would be starting in July. The back page highlights the Maricopa County Jeep Posse, one of the more storied jeep posse’s in the country.

This four-page July 1964 Jeep Service and Parts News highlights. Note the directions on page one for removing protective wax from new vehicles after they arrive at a dealer. On page four, the bulletin announces a new Tornado Engine break-in methodology. I wonder what was wrong with the old, original one?

Good news. I’ve done a deal to purchase thirty issues of Jeep News, along with around 70+ Jeep Service and Parts News. Some are late 1950s, but most are from the early to mid 1960s.

Page one of the April 1958 eight-page issue of Jeep News highlights the introduction of the Mule, though calling is “space age” seems over the top. The front page also includes an announcement for the third-annual jeep rodeo in Yakima, hosted by the Yakima Ridgerunners.

Page three shares the news from the recently completed Jeep Cavalcade from Hemet to Borrego Springs, California. Page four announced the third-annual Truth or Consequences, New Mexico, Jeep Derby. Page five has some images for the Lake Erie hunting club.

On page six, don’t miss the modified jeep used to transport mobile homes (and attempt to meet some local laws. Speaking of transport, lower on page two is a modified buggy and trailer that carried hunters through and over local swamps. Page seven is a full page article on jeeps and salt water anglers.

This four-page Jeep Service and Parts News bulletin is dated June 1964.

Sadly, this is the last issue from the batch of Jeep News issues purchased last month. I’ll watch for more to hit eBay …

The eight pages of the November 1962 issue of Jeep News directs most of its pages to the new jeep models, which isn’t too surprising. Apart from that, page six covers the 3rd Annual Jeepathon race at Las Cruces, New Mexico, while page seven highlights more support for the Hatari movie.

This September 1962 eight-page issue of Jeep News begins with Lloyd Bridges. He headlined a half-hour show called “Kaiser Presents The Lloyd Bridges Show”; not exactly a catchy name!

I was surprised to see on page two that it wasn’t until mid 1962 that the Go-For-Digger trencher officially became a ‘Jeep’-approved special equipment item (other official ‘Jeep’ trencher being the Jeep-A-Trench). Page five highlights the second annual Jeeporama, held in Denver.

Page six re-highlights the Hatari craze, encouraging dealers to continue promoting the movie.

Note the CJ-5 in the upper right of Page seven. The top looks someone like a Koenig hardtop, but the rear side glass appears to be a custom size. I don’t recognize this top. Anyone else? Lower on Page seven is the 1962 World’s Fair Jeep Surrey. Two days ago I found my mother’s caricature drawing made for her at the ’62 fair. I’ll ask my aunt if she remembers this jeep.

Page eight shares a pic from the 10th annual Jeepers Jamboree, along with announcing the 4×4 Explorers, a ‘jeep’ club organized in Missouri.

This eight-page issue published for June of 1962 starts with the movie Hatari! Pages two and three are all about dealers (and some love for Tornado engines). Most of pages four through seven cover more Hatari info. Page eight highlights the seventh annual Truth or Consequences (NM) ‘Jeep’ Derby. I plan to go back at some point and figure out when the ‘Jeep’ News began covering club and race information. At some point during the late 1950s – early 1960s the notion of jeeps as “fun”, rather than just utility workhorses, enters both the ‘Jeep’ news and Jeep’s advertising. I’m want to learn more about that subtle shift.

The first few pages of this twelve-page issue cover the introduction of the Tornado engine. For some reason, there’s a small portion of page 3-4 that’s been cut out. I’m not exactly sure why. Page five highlights a row of FCs delivered to the New Jersey Turnpike, while another article discusses Mrs. Delta Burrece’s use of four jeeps to deliver aid tosome Cherokee Indians. Page eight introduces the movie “Magic Tide“, which included a Surrey. The movie was a featurette that seems to have disappeared into obscurity. Page nine shares more information on Kentucky nurses, something covered by these news articles I originally shared in 2018 (or see post below). On page twelve is an article about jeeps operating on a Hawaiian Ranch.

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This Issue has another foldout, awkward center-page full of congrats this time dedicated to dealers who enjoyed a Nassau vacation. There is also a page celebrating the 51 jeeps used in the 1961 Presidential Inauguration parade. Another page is dedicated to Surreys. Finally, on the last page you’ll find a warning about a scam involving $90 Army jeeps!

This wide shot shows page 2 (from above) plus pages 3-5 (Nassau dealer holiday):

The Surreys appear on page 6:

The $90 jeep scam pulls on page 8: