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Welcome to eWillys.com, a website for vintage jeep enthusiasts. I update this website nearly every day with jeep deals, jeep history, interesting reader projects, jeep related info, and more.
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Importantly, the allure of buying a project jeep can be romantic. The reality of restoring a jeep can be quite different, expensive and overwhelming without the right tools and resources. So, tread carefully when purchasing a "project". If you have any concerns about buying a vintage jeep, or run across a scam, feel free to contact me for help, comments or concerns .
Buz spotted a variety of photos from the Library of Congress. Here are two of them.
1) Fort Benning Jeep Driver: Fort Benning. Jeeps. Jeep driver — and it takes a good man to put a jeep through all the fancy paces that are in it. This driver is near graduation from the training school at Fort Benning, Georgia.
http://www.loc.gov/pictures/resource/fsa.8b02766/
2) Loading a jeep onto a transport trailer in Detroit, Michigan. April 1943.
http://hdl.loc.gov/loc.pnp/fsa.8d15688
I ran across this photo of a Ford GP at the LIbrary of Congress.
http://www.loc.gov/pictures/resource/fsa.8b09264/
Alex spotted this pic.
Manchester (vicinity), Tennessee. Soldiers of headquarters company of the Armored Corps lifting a jeep to repair it at their bivouac area during Second Army maneuvers. Left to right: Private William Lowe, Captain Frank Yung, Private Sam Salen, and Private J.J. Nay. Reproduction Number: LC-USW33-027840-ZC.
From the Library of Congress comes these images I haven’t seen previously.
1. Heavy weapons combat car showing arrangements for gun and shells in New Caledonia. Permanent Link. Reproduction Number: LC-USW33-027842-ZC.
2. A one-and-a-half ton truck with wrecker mount pulling in a jeep during maneuvers somewhere in New Caledonia. Permanent Link. Reproduction Number: LC-USW33-027852-Z
UPDATE: Brendan noted that this is indeed a LOC image. Here is a link to this image and others http://www.history.army.mil/photos/Holiday/wwii.htm.
I suspect it was just easier to stick the tree in the MA rather than his sleigh? It’s a great pic. I found this during an image search, but I could not locate the source. It looks like a Library of Congress type of image. If anyone knows of the source, please let me know so I can properly credit it.
Here’s a couple images from the Library of Congress showing President Roosevelt cruising the American troops in Morocco.
Here’s one image: http://hdl.loc.gov/loc.pnp/fsa.8e01227
Here’s a second image: morocco2: http://hdl.loc.gov/loc.pnp/fsa.8e01229
In this image, a large number of jeeps have been parked on a baseball field. The headlights display a V for victory. I searched for other pics or other information about these rallies, but didn’t stumble onto anything.
According to the Library of Congress, this is an Anthracite rally. The Jeep headlights form V for victory at a night rally for Pennsylvania anthracite miners in Wilkes-Barre on September 29th, 1942. Similar rallies were held in other anthracite area cities from September 28th through October 1st 1942.
I really like the composition of this image. One thing I had not seen before was a gun mounted to the windshield. I guess they didn’t drop the windshield?
“Four men in a jeep at the Dusty Hollow Training Center included the following members of an airfield security detachment in Hawaii. Front seat (left to right): Private Lester H. Howell, Statesville, North Carolina and Private First Class Thomas Irvin, North Ashville, Tennessee. And rear: Private Arthur W. Blakemore, Saint Louis, Missouri and Private First Class Donald Wilson, Sanford, Florida” — Library of Congress
These images of maneuvers out of Fort Riley, Kansas, are some of the most calvary-like jeep pics I think I’ve seen. I suppose the older army cavalry hats contribute to that, too. These are all shot by photographer Jack Delano and hosted at the Library of Congress.
I seem to have the wrong LOC links, so I’ll have to grab them tomorrow and add them.
According to the Library of Congress, there was a serious scarcity of crude rubber, so reclaimed rubber made from scrap was required to meet demands. All Americans were encouraged to donate used or worn out rubber articles to the nation’s scrap piles.
As part of that campaign, Judy Canova, star of stage and screen, opened her personal salvage drive for scrap rubber in September 1942 by donating her personal slingshot to the drive. Behind here is an image I’ve seen before, but I’ve never seen it used as part of the ‘Save Rubber’ campaign.
Here’s an interesting modification. A Willys modifie to simulate a Gas Attack. According to the details of the image, this image was taken at Geiger Field, Washington (which would be Spokane, Washington, if I’m not mistaken). “Officers and men are taught to be on the alert for a gas attack at any time. This jeep appears at unexpected places and sends out a charge of tear gas from the ingenious device attached to the muffler. Those in the vicinity, to protect themselves from the irritating gas, must be able to don their masks instantaneously.”
Here are 3 images taken by Alfred Palmer in December of 1941. These three photographs were taken at the Toledo Willys Plant. There are other images that show the machines used to manufacture parts, but I didn’t really find them very interesting.
Library of Congress Link for the below photo
Library of Congress link for the below photo
Library of Congress link for the below photo
Here some pics of Australian Troops during WWII from the Library of Congress.
Taken in March, 1943, In New Guinea. This Willys serves as an ambulance for Australian troops in New Guinea. Library of Congress
Here’s some troops navigating through some muck. This convoy is carrying military chiefs and cabinet ministers on a visit to battle areas in New Guinea. Air Vice-Marshall G. Jones is shown in the leading vehicle during the tour of the convoy. Library of Congress
This image might not be Australian Troops, but it is supposed to be taken in October of 1942 in Australia. Library of Congress.
Soldiers, wounded in the fighting in New Guniea, are carried to a base. Library of Congress.
This was taken in March of 1943. Australian troops and supplies go to the front line at Buna. Library of Congress.
I haven’t seen too many Coast Guard Willys Pics. According to the Library of Congress, here’s one from April 1943.
The Library of Congress’ caption to this photo is: Coast Guard anti-saboteur patrol. Vital cargoes of war supplies for America’s far-flung battle lines must also be protected on the docks and piers from enemy attempts at sabotage. The Coast Guard now uses jeeps with armed Coast Guardsmen maintaining vigilant waterfront patrols.
Paul (of stainless M-38 friend) told me a couple days ago that he has a friend (whom he calls Crazy Ralphie) who has been restoring a GPA. He’s promised to provide us with some pics once the Alaska winter subsides a bit. In the meantime, here are some SEEP images I found at the Library of Congress. I have seen a few of these in books, but none as crisp as below.
Ice is no barrier to this prototype Ford-built amphibian car. According to Mark Askew in his book Rare WW2 Photo Archive 1940 – 1945 which shows this image and other prototypes of the SEEP, this photo was taken in February 1941 near the Ford Plant in Dearborn, Mi. Library of Congress
After breaking through the shore ice, the Ford-built amphibian car makes its way through ice floes and water at a good speed. Library of Congress
The Ford-built amphibian car can handle itself on rough ground. This picture shows a test driver putting one of them through its paces. Mark also features this image in his book. Library of Congress
Here’s a photo of tests on the Rogue River near the Ford Plant. Library of Congress
Here’s another shot from the Rogue River. Library of Congress
Below is a production SEEP. Note the ribs on the side. I believe this photo is from maneuvers held in the Detroit area, when soldiers from Fort Wayne in full combat dress manned the machines Library of Congress
The picture below shows maneuvers held in the Detroit area, when soldiers from Fort Wayne in full combat dress manned the machines. Library of Congress
The two photos below were taken by Arthur Siegel. During WWII he worked for the Office of War Information (OWI). These two were taken in April of 1943. Library of Congress
UPDATE: Here is an updated link to Denver’s collection of Bingham’s pics.
Photographer Roy O. Bingham followed the 10th Mountain Division through at least part of Italy during World War II. I searched for some information on Bingham and though I found photos, I haven’t found any biography information yet.
During World War II, the 10th Mountain Division trained in Colorado in anticipation of fighting in the Italian Alps.
The following photo was snapped by Bingham and the 2nd is of Bingham himself.
Roy O Bingham. Library of Congress
This photo was taken by Richard A. Rocker, who was also a photographer with the 10th Mountain Division. You can see a variety of his pics at the Denver Library’s online collection of Western History and Genealogy,
The soldiers in this photo were likely parked amongst the rubble of a shelled town called Pietra Colora. According to the photographer, they are listening to the sound of German artillery falling nearby and preparing to take cover if the rounds start falling closer.
