David EilersNovember 30, 2022

Brook Stevens' Command Cars

UPDATE: Here's an additional photo. It was posted to the Toledo Region History and Memorabilia Facebook Page by Nelson Shaffer, who found the photo at the UAW Local 12 Office in Toledo.

https://www.facebook.com/groups/1026729948030025/

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Originally posted April 10, 2019: During WWII Brook Stevens developed a couple different Command Car concepts. All the pics of these can be seen at the Milwaukee Art Museum's site.

1. The first one is a 6x6 vehicle. It was made into an actual vehicle. I don't know what happened to it. I'm pretty sure I have a press photo fo this vehicle somewhere, but I can't seem to find it. This very well could be on the same platform as other 6x6s of the era.

1943-05-07-command-car-jeep-concept-illustration

1943-07-command-car-jeep-concept-exterior6

1943-07-command-car-jeep-concept-exterior7

1943-07-command-car-jeep-concept-exterior8

1943-07-command-car-jeep-concept-exterior9

1943-07-command-car-jeep-concept-illustration1

1943-07-command-car-jeep-concept-illustration2

1943-07-command-car-jeep-concept-interior1

1943-07-command-car-jeep-concept-interior2

1943-07-command-car-jeep-concept-interior3

1943-07-command-car-jeep-concept-interior4

2. This Command Car concept vehicle is shorter than the one above. It seems more focused on carrying people rather than organizing and commanding them. What I thought was interesting about this is that the side seats and rear doors reminded me of a Traveller.

1943-08-command-car-jeep-small-version-illustration1

1943-08-command-car-jeep-small-version-illustration2

1943-08-command-car-jeep-small-version-illustration3

1943-08-command-car-jeep-small-version-illustration4

7 Comments

CraigInPANovember 30, 2022 at 1:13 PM
Such sharply pressed uniforms! Those pictures must have been promotional shots.
Colin PeabodyDecember 1, 2022 at 3:45 AM
Easy to see where the body panel styling came from for the Willys station wagons 1946-1962!
KeithDecember 1, 2022 at 4:47 AM
Well the framed photo was stolen from the "JEEP HOUSE" museum.
JohnBDecember 1, 2022 at 6:55 AM
Those uniforms aren't regulation Army...the propeller insignia is Civil Air Patrol emblem, and they have CAP insignia on their collars. Notice the two captains have contrasting uniforms...one green with tan, the other tan with green. The Army has similar combinations. Nice work on getting a woman in the shots too. If the photos were taken in Toledo or Milwaukee, I'd guess the CAP was active doing search and rescue missions on the great lakes. Along the coasts they did anti-submarine patrols, but I don't think they were worried about subs in Lake Michigan or Erie!
Barney GoodwinDecember 1, 2022 at 12:15 PM
Much, if not most of the inventory at the JEEP HOUSE museum was on loan and had to be returned to its owner when it closed.
KeithDecember 1, 2022 at 8:48 PM
Yes, there was an accurate inventory of the material on loan. When Ron S explained to plant Mgr Ed Mercer that more than half the inventory was missing, things didn't go smoothly. The contract included a clause that determined set prices per photo, to be paid if the photos were not returned. The owners estate asked for payment, Ed refused, and RonS was banned from the plant site.
Barney GoodwinDecember 1, 2022 at 8:52 PM
Thanks Keith. I didn't know the backside of the story.