Text by Patrick Bell.
We are viewing Jeeps and their operators for today’s feature. Some of these folks got to know the Jeep through their service in World War II, so if they had a need for one, it was probably an easy choice. They were (and still are) very popular in my home state of Alaska in my growing up years. I encountered many, and drove several. They were tough, reliable, and slow, but they got you where you needed to go. I am sure this will trigger memories for many of you as well.
Our first image is Les Schwab in safety red, of Tire Center fame in the western states. It is dated in 1955, and the location was central Oregon at a hunting camp. He was using his CJ-2A, which was the first civilian Jeep and built from ’45-’49. It looks like he was not afraid to use it. He passed away in 2007 at the age of 89.
Here is a ’48 or ’49 Willys-Overland Jeepster, a model introduced to fill a gap in their line up between the CJ and the Station Wagon. It was not very popular, and lasted only three years, through model year ’50.
It had no roll up windows, only snap in side curtains, and at first it was powered by a 134 cubic inch four cylinder, with a 148 cubic inch six cylinder offered in ’49. Both of them were upgraded slightly in ’50, and it came in two wheel drive only.
This one appears to be a family on a hiking trip in the desert. This DeLuxe model is hard to date from this view, it could be between a ’52 and ’59 model. It was well equipped with two tone paint, chrome moldings, and whitewall tires.
Another Jeepster, this one a ’50 model showing the new V shaped grille and sculptured front fenders. It looks close to new, and the gentleman seems pleased with it.
Now we are at the Dunes Hotel and Casino in Las Vegas, Nevada. A lady is posing with a ’50-’53 DeLuxe Station Wagon from California. The newest car I see in the parking lot is a blue ’59 Cadillac parked nose in to the right of the yellow over white ’55 or ’56 Buick heading to the right. That would mean this Jeep is at least six years old. It looked in very good condition.
A couple of cuties sitting on the fenders of a ’46-’49 Station Wagon with a New Hampshire license plate from Hillsborough County. I can’t quite make out the name on the market in the background, and further down the road was a gas station.
The Hemet Jeep Club is based in Hemet, California, and was established in 1948. Their website is operational, but I didn’t see any posts within the last two years. The image appears to be one of their outings in the early sixties. “Fearless” looks to be a ’53-’64 CJ-3B with a tow bar, and the one in the center a CJ-5, a version that was built from ’55-’83 with improvements along the way. It was dressed up with an extended chrome bumper, chrome jerry cans, a storage box, plus both of them had whitewall tires. You sure don’t see any of that in today’s world. In the background was a ’60 or ’61 GMC pickup with a V6 and a cabover camper.
We likely have a government official here, such as a game warden. His ’54-’59 Utility Wagon has a whip antenna, roof mounted spotlight, fog lamps, plus an official looking seal on the door. The green and white color combination plus the scenery make me think of Colorado, but I may be way off. It did look like a beautiful summer day.
Camping alongside of the railroad tracks in a ’46-49 Station Wagon with a utility type trailer for their gear (which was also used for meal preparation) and a tent for sleeping quarters. I don’t see a front axle hub sticking out through the hub cap so this likely was a two wheel drive model. The warm clothing perhaps indicates an early fall day.
A lady was walking and talking at the same time near a 70’s CJ-5 with chrome wheels and wide tires in a trailer park. To the left was a ’74 Chrysler New Yorker with perhaps an Ohio license plate, and to the right a ’72 Chevrolet El Camino with a vinyl roof. The trailer house in the background has a permanent awning, and the complete rig looks like it has been there for at least twenty years.
Somewhere in Colorado in 1978 is what the image search reveals. This lady was posing on a ’72 or ’73 Commando Roadster with a V8, custom bumper with a winch, and a soft top. The Commando was in production from ’66-’73 and was replaced by the full size Cherokee. Other notables were a Datsun 1200 in the lower left, a silver first generation Honda Civic along the upper right edge, and behind it a white over turquoise first gen International Scout.
Here was a hard working FC-170 with tire chains all around, towing a camp trailer, and wearing an Utah license plate issued in ’61. The “FC” stands for Forward Control, and it was also available in a short wheelbase model called the FC-150. They were produced from ’57-’65, and were not all that good of a seller with just over 30,000 units produced in total. It looks like a late fall day after the first snowfall, and this may have been a hunting rig.
And one more ’50-’53 Station Wagon with a tow bar, aftermarket turn signals mounted on the fenders, later style wagon wheels, and a spotlight. It was still working in its element, a fresh wet snowfall.
Thanks for joining us and have a great day!
Nice shots here. Mr Schwab’s hunting outfit reminds me of the clothing my Dad and his friends wore in the bush during hunting season when I was a kid. You don’t need to look like a commando to get a deer if you know what you are doing, and being visible was important to avoid being shot at by some guy from the big city who got a hunting rifle for Christmas and couldn’t wait to try it out!
Nice pix .
My late and sorely missed stepmother bought a new Jeepster in 1948 as there was still a lot of price gouging and other new car B.S. and the Jeepster was a walk in and buy it deal, she loved it so much that in 1969 my father bought her another one, eventually it was given to me .
Here in So. Cal. the FC 150’s & 170’s were very much sought after by nurseries for their ability to navigate the narrow rows between the plants .
-Nate
And Mahindra in India saw more possibilities when they acquired the rights to build the FC150 & FC170 and added a FC160 who was an India exclusivity.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jeep_Forward_Control#India
These were all hardcore trucks. You bought one because you *needed* to. Well, maybe with the exception of the Jeepsters, which I assume still had a pretty truck-like ride. Probably why they didn’t sell all that well.
I am a proud Toledoan, home of Willys – Jeep!
I would venture a guess that the red/white wagon is from the early 60’s. It appears to have a one piece windshield and the “Maverick ” style side trim. One piece windshield started with 60 model. One piece tailgate window was a little later.
My in- laws lived in Ft. Scott KS in the 60’s. There were five of the original Jeepsters in that small town. I am assuming there was a good Willy’s dealer there at one point. My FIL purchased a 1950 Jeepster from the Ford dealership there in 1962. It served many years as the family second car and my wife drove it to high school. We have that car to this day and I cannot imagine using it as a daily driver – especially in winter. It is certainly unique.
Did cj owners say “thats not a real jeep” back then?
Hah! As far as I’m concerned, the original jeep culture died when the 4-door was released. It went from a purpose-built utility vehicle with a rough road ride to a grocery getter and soccer mobile.
I always loved the CJs, but even as a kid they were unaffordable second-hand ($2800 for a 1981 CJ5 with the iron duke, no top, no doors, circa 2002). Years later, I bought my 1987 YJ, which is soon to be receiving a built 304 engine from a 1977 CJ7.
My father’s pride and joy was his 1956 willys jeep wagon my brother and I and my dad would hop in the jeep at 4am to head to our farm that was a little over an hour ride to go hunting and what a ride it was it rode like a tractor and I remember it seemed like the am radio very scratchy it was always playing Jim Morrison of the doors we spent many hours in that green jeep we carried my first buck home in her I’m blessed behond words for those amazing early mornings and those rough rides home at night .
Had a ’74 CJ-7 on Hawaii island. Full time 4×4 was hard on u-joints, but otherwise a great vehicle for adventures, from snow-capped Mauna Kea to Waipio Valley. Some beaches still had no road access back then.
Thanks for the Les Schwab story. Heard of the tire chain, but had no idea who he was.
Love me some yj’s