Search: Porter & Reed

It's been sitting about 30 years. Might have a Porter & Reed Top.

"1942 Willys Jeep for sale. It is a 4 cylinder. Jeep has been kept under a car port since 1987. 40,397miles and 90 percent of those miles are pull miles. Would be a great project for someone, or just a cool piece of history to have around."

http://memphis.craigslist.org/cto/5849751079.html

UPDATE: **SOLD** Was $3900.

That's a Porter & Reed hardtop. Note the sideways rear door. Is that the exhaust just above the driver's side rear brake light?

"1948 willys jeep. "" original condition"". Colorado jeep . very little rust. 4 cyl flathead engine. good clean CO title. runs. been sitting for some time. '' Cash'' "phone calls only""or email....Im too old to text"

UPDATE: Price dropped to $1500.

*(05/02/2018) Looks like a Porter & Reed top with custom windows.

https://seattle.craigslist.org/tac/cto/d/jeep-cj2a/6606761543.html

"I'm posting this for my mom. The jeep is left over from my Uncle's estate and has been sitting for several years. A trailer would be needed for transport. Most likely needs a new engine. The jeep has several areas of rust. Would be a good project for restoration. $2000 obo."

UPDATE II (01/22/2024):  A puzzle has been solved. It was the Transport Motor Company that offered a full-width body extension that we've seen on several jeeps over the years.

This excerpt is from this document on Farmjeep.com: https://www.farmjeep.com/lifts/other-hydraulic-lifts/transport-motor-company-tmc-hydraulic-lift/

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UPDATE (09/13/2020): This DENCO body extension brochure appeared as part of the 10/01/1949 Second Supplement of the Willys-Overland Equipment Book brochures.

Interestingly, the 1948 First Supplement of brochures showed a Newgren collapsible body extension (see a few brochures down or click here) very similar (identical?) to this 1949 DENCO Body Extension brochure. Both extensions offer 7 cubic feet of space and note that a spare tire can be mounted to the side. They also both seem to have the same style of stabilizer bar that connects to the PTO bar. I wonder if Newgren sold this design to Denco in late 1948 or early 1949?

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UPDATE 04/28/2020: Someone in Georgia is selling newly built beds.

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Originally published in 2016: This may come as a surprise (not) that early jeeps weren't known for their vast amounts of space. We've all seen military photos showing jeeps packed full of stuff, like this SAS desert fighter:

When the war ended and CJ-2As were introduced, a couple companies recognized the need for more room and solved the problem by creating add-on bed extensions (also known as bed extenders and body extensions). These bolted to the back and, usually, had supports that dropped to the PTO bar to help support the extra weight. Then, the tailgate was fixed to the very rear of the extension. The goal of this post is an effort to identify the different companies and their products.

As early as August and September of 1946, two different patents were filed, both by the same people.I have been unable to discover if that first patent model was ever built, but the second one has two sides that fold down similar to the Newgren (shown in #2).

See more patent pages here

Various Bed Extensions identified so far:

1. Porter Reed Bed Extension: One of the earliest known bed extensions was produced by Porter & Reed. It was marked along with a half top, creating a truck out of a jeep.

1. Newgren Bed Extensions: The Newgren Company also entered the bed extension field in the later 1940s with two different versions. The first was their standard bed extension:

1. The second model Newgren offered was a collapsable version.

1. S & B Corporation's Jeep Panel Body: About the same time Newgren and Porter & Reed introduced their extensions, the S & B Corporation made their own spin on adding more room by selling a kit that converted the jeep into a panel van.

1. Koenig Bed Extensions: By 1955, Koenig had entered the market. Whether the company designed their own or bought out one of their competitors isn't know (to me), but Koenig sold the extensions for at least a decade. This first ad is from 1955, the second from 1960, and the third from the mid-1960s.

1. Here is an example of a Koenig data plate:

1. Wall & Borg Bed Extender: In the 1960s, a Lake Tahoe, California, company called Wahl & Borg introduced a unique bed extension. Rather than bolt on to the rear of the jeep, theirs slid out.

There have been a number of bed extensions that have resold over the last ten years on Craigslist and eBay, some attached to jeeps and some by themselves. I have found it difficult to distinguish between them, never having owned or seen that many up close. You can see all the ones documents thus far on eWillys: http://www.ewillys.com/tag/bed-extension/

Derek Redmond also has some excellent information on extensions over at the CJ-3B Page. https://cj3b.info/Tech/BodyExtension.html

UPDATE: Still Available.

(09/16/2022) This is a project whose value isn't clear. The top was made by Porter & Reed.

https://www.facebook.com/marketplace/item/1213574532828620

"This Jeep has a great frame and the axles and suspensions are all there. The body has some good panels around it. A CJ2A windshield comes with it. I should have tires and wheels to put on it. I’m asking $525 for the jeep and parts."

Includes extra parts. This might have a rare CJ-3B Porter & Reed hardtop.

https://www.facebook.com/marketplace/item/1361935120883902

"1953 Willys CJ3B - been stored for 45 years $3500 CASH ONLY Posting for a family friend Sale includes: Extra Motor (pictures not available now) Extra Transmission (pictures not available now) Extra Transfer case (pictures not available now) This is a Metal Cab And includes a new soft top and doors (pictures not available now) High Flat Hood - overhead 4 cylinder motor"

Looks like a Porter & Reed hardtop.

https://easttexas.craigslist.org/cto/d/1947-willys-jeep/6573882219.html

"1947 willys! All original. Runs and drives too! Is it Brandew? Nope!!! Not at all. It's pretty good shape though!!! As stated it runs and drives and has a title. Even comes with an artic top. Seats aren't original. Even has a spare. Call or text with questions. Thanks and have a great day!!!
Looking to get 5500 but will listen to offers or trades."

UPDATE: **SOLD** Was $8500.

Looks like it has a Porter & Reed hardtop.

"I have a 1947 willys jeep. In pretty good condition for a 47. New oil change new oil and air filter new spark plugs new battery new gasket for oil pan and new headlights and front marker lights plenty more. Starts on first turn of the key and drives and shifts very nice. Hard top and doors are in good condition as well."

This 2A includes a Porter & Reed hardtop and plow, so there seems to be some value here.

https://boise.craigslist.org/cto/d/boise-flat-fender-jeep-cj2a/7494048918.html

"Cj 2a old jeep, no title, hard cab, home made snow plow, complete and pretty straight. Floor pans look OK from on top but cross members and floor rusted out underneath. Engine turns by hand but have never tried to start it."

UPDATE:  **SOLD** Was $2500.

It's a project. I thought at first the hardtop was a Porter & Reed model, but the curved rear of the roof isn't standard for that model, unless this is some later version that we don't have documented.

"Rough but a good starting point. No drivetrain. No title but will do a bill of sale, bonded title should be easy on this. Comes with aluminum hardtop and steel doors with glass....."