A few weeks ago a commenter requested some vintage Jeep images. Not many had come in my searches, a fact that didn’t surprise me since Jeep products sold modestly in their early days. Still, I had found a few Marlins and even a couple of Willys Aeros. Certainly, a few Jeep images would show up.
And surely they did. So here we have a brief gallery of early Jeep products, with a few even performing some work. Not all of these individuals look as rugged as their vehicles are, but some of the landscapes truly do. The great appeal of the marque.
A few images are in rather poor quality, but the Jeepster was rare enough to share, even if missing some bits. Also, look for the Jeep behind the Mercury in that flowery driveway.
Young man & woman in front of jeep:
Based on the height of her skirt, I’d say 1968 or 1969. Can’t get a fix on the license plate which would help identify the date.
My older sisters were part of that mini skirt craze. Mom was not pleased!!
My first close-up exposure to a privately owned Jeep, was in the Spring of 1974. Ironically, it was a Mr. Baron who owned it. John Baron, was a retired, ex-military, friend of my dad. He owned a large hobby farm outside Perth, Ontario. Whenever we visited him, he worked hard to convince my dad to retire to that area. Part of Mr. Baron’s regular sales pitch, was to give dad and us kids, rides around his farm in his old military jeep. Great memories of holding on for our lives, as he sped across grassy fields. Or bounced over log piles. It was a farm Jeep, not registered for the road. But he did take it out on Otty Lake Road occasionally, when checking his property.
The scenes with houses are clearly small towns. The houses are sparse and the streets are informal and disorganized. Most Willys dealers were in small towns serving farmers. When I owned a Willys pickup I lived in Enid, pop 50k. I had to drive down to Landwehr Jeep in little Waukomis for parts. Landwehr was mainly a Case farm equipment dealer, with Jeep as a sideline.
I read a number of Beat-era books this past couple of years, mostly by Jack Kerouac. The Willys/Jeep wagon was quite obviously the car to have for the in crowd in the SF Bay Area at the time. In “Big Sur” he describes several, including Neil Cassady’s, all arriving for a weekend gathering at Lawrence Ferlinghetti’s cabin at Big Sur.
It seems that they pretty much all had no rear seat, but just a mattress or such behind the front seats, to accommodate those that rode back there in whatever position they wanted to be in.
It’s a pretty clear indication that the Beats’ influence on popular culture extended even to cars. The Willys/Jeep wagon was the automotive reflection of their lifestyle, one that would soon be superseded by the classic VW hippie bus.
My mom’s first landlady when she moved to Berkeley during WWII, later had a Jeepster. I definitely remember meeting the woman, and going to her house 15-20 years later and I think I remember the Jeep, but it maybe just that I heard mention of it enough times that I’ve started believing that I’d seen it. The woman was a generation older than the Beats but very much part of the Berkeley Bohemian intellectual scene.
“Just like a Willys in four-wheel drive”
For once I’m choosing my favorite shot based on the background (and not necessarily the vehicle). I really like the cabin behind the Willys pickup in shot #3. That stonework is incredible. The guy on the fender seems to be carrying a man-purse, so maybe he was a rural letter carrier?
Takes the wheel when I’m seeing double…pays my ticket when I speed. 🙂
I think that another great Jeep-related song from a year later (and a different genre from the Dead) is:
You know I loved that song 50+ years ago, and still do. But I never understood why it used the Jeepster name. Now the girl he sings about, who was a Jaguar, that I understand.
I think it’s just that “I’m just a Jeepster for your love” sings well. What other vehicle would have worked better? The song isn’t about Jeepsters any more than “Little Red Corvette” is about Corvettes, but somehow both are better for it.
I think I must have had the Polecats version of this from about ’81. Not that it could compete with the mighty Marc.
And to dman’s point, I would suggest “Jaguar” from The Who Sell Out. I’m sure he’s heard it. Totally awesome.
Just finished watching “it’s a Mad, Mad, Mad World”. Jeep was a star!
I love the two tone Willys station wagon .
The CJ3B in the second photo has something large sticking out the back, I remember more than a few Jeeps with PTO driven pumps used by rural fire departments back in the day .
The girl in the blue mini dress made me think of Sally Struthers before she got fat .
The one hiding behind the Merc. looks like a CJ2A or MB .
My step mother bought a new Jeepster in 1947 in Rochester, New York and pined for it so much pops bought her a new on in 1969 .
I bet you could make a really good article about military Jeeps and derivatives .
-Nate
I swear, that lady sitting on the hood of the jeep in the first photo looks like my first wife (split up in 1094). I always wonder what happened to her! If that Jeep has Connecticut plates on it, that’s her!
Woops, split up in 1974!
The initial photo – with the woman on the hood of the Willys wagon – has that great country glamor vibe. Sort of like a classic Ralph Lauren ad.
It makes me wonder what her other car – the non-weekend/country car – was.
And to Anthony A.’s point, if that photo wasn’t taken in Connecticut, it darn well should have been.
Jeepster.. growing up our second car was a 1949 Jeepster.. flathead six and three on the tree.. windshield wipers had a mind of their own so they were “rigged” to be on all of the time.. on-off was connecting the vacuum line under the hood.
In about 1960 we lived In Norfolk Virginia.. my dad , a Marine, was assigned to a school at Ft Bragg in Fayetteville NC.. graduation was a big event so my mom took the train (or bus) down to attend.. driving the Jeepster home, in February, in the middle of a serious cold front ..
The center section of the convertible top separated from the Jeepster..
I can’t say that my dad never stopped hearing about the 100 plus mile trip in 30 degree weather with the top down.. But we did hear about it for over 10 years..
There is a great Willys station wagon in my town, like the blue one in 4th photo, but kind of olive drab colour. It is in great shape, but it appears to be technically original (as far as I can tell).
When I was in high school (mid 60s) a girl a year or 2 older than me drove a Jeepster. It is the only one I remember seeing.
My friend, Kurt, a high school buddy, bought a 1947-49 RWD-only jeep station wagon. I helped him remove the 4 or 6 cylinder engine and transmission and install a used Chevy V8. We tested it on an unfinished 4 lane highway called “road to nowhere “. Kurt got the screaming engine to 100 mph. The rear axle must have been a 4:11 to 1 ratio. That truck was so noisy we had to yell at each other when driving around. It was a chick magnet though. Maybe it was just us hanging out the windows just cruising around burger joints and miniature golf establishments. Impractical boy-toy jeep.
Jeep’s have been in my family all my life. My Grandfather had a Willy’s Panel Wagon. My Brother had a Willy’s Wagon. My Sister had a late 70’s CJ Renegade & I had a late 70’s Wagoneer. A Relative in Colorado had a Willy’s Pick Up. I believe most all of them were 4 Wheel Drive. Jeep’s are Really Cool. Nice Pic’s, I enjoy these articles!
My dad and I around 1965. Early cj2a.
I saw this one in my neighbourhood a few years back, but never found it in a situation for a clear photo. A period license plate suggests it’s a 1947.
Oops…not a Jeep but Willys.
I like the one with the guy splayed out on the front fender looking like one of those recliner chairs where the ottoman pops out when you lean back.
Thanks for posting these. Much appreciated.
The last one (the b&w one of the boys and Wagon in the snow) was taken by my grandpa. Location is SE Humboldt County east of Bridgeville in NW California. That’s my dad’s Boy Scout patrol.