David EilersFebruary 17, 2021

1944 January Drive in a Ford GP

944-01-30-minneapolis-star-tribune-ford-gps-wilensky3-lores — A side photo of Smiley, John Henkels 'new' Ford GP.

The January 30, 1944, Sunday issue of the Minneapolis Star-Tribune made John Henkels and his son front page news for the purchase of their 1941 Ford GP from Wilensky's auto parts. What a cold drive back to Fulda, Minnesota, that must have been!

944-01-30-minneapolis-star-tribune-ford-gps-wilensky2-lores

Clipping from Star Tribune - Newspapers.com

3 Comments

Joe in MesaFebruary 17, 2021 at 2:03 PM
That's a great article, Dave. Maybe a bit dubious in parts... not sure I believe 30 miles per gallon unless it was downhill with a tail wind. And I didn't understand "five speeds forward"; did the Ford GP have a different transmission and transfer case set up? Still, I could certainly relate to the attention they got. Both my GPW and MB still turn heads and get waves, and people typically come over for a closer look when I park anywhere. I just don't have to freeze in Arizona like they did (do) in Minnesota :-).
Ill ChrisFebruary 17, 2021 at 2:45 PM
Joe, I was thinking the same thing about the gas mileage. I feel lucky if I get 15.
David EilersFebruary 17, 2021 at 4:28 PM
Yes, some dubious MPG and transmission-gear-option numbers. It just demonstrates how little the general populace understood these new fangled machines.