David EilersJune 24, 2017

Exploring the Santa Fe Trail in 1950 by Jeep

The January 1950 issue of Popular Mechanics featured a story about airline pilot Heath Proctor and his trip by CJ-2A along the Old Santa Fe Trail. I've included a few pics below. I'm not sure what's on the front bumper? Are those push bumpers?

Here's a link to the entire story online: https://books.google.com/books?id=vtgDAAAAMBAJ&pg=PA88&source=gbs_toc_r&cad=2#v=onepage&q&f=false (Page 88).

1950-01-popular-mechanics-santa-fe-trail1

1950-01-popular-mechanics-santa-fe-trail2

1950-01-popular-mechanics-santa-fe-trail3

7 Comments

Barry WestJune 24, 2017 at 12:58 PM
A Lefty? Bumperettes, from an older Willy's car or other makes maybe. Why, I don't know.
David EilersJune 24, 2017 at 3:32 PM
You are right. I missed that.
Gayland LeddyJune 24, 2017 at 6:08 PM
Page 104-105 has an article on Jeep powered circus/trolleys.
David EilersJune 24, 2017 at 6:24 PM
Nuts! I missed that, too. I'll have to do a separate post on that one.
Niels PedersenJune 24, 2017 at 9:50 PM
I bet there were a lot of old antique bottles that were tossed out along that trail. Be cool to try to find a few of the old camp sites and locate their trash pits.....
Colin PeabodyJune 26, 2017 at 1:41 AM
Those look like the bumperettes off a Willys wagon or Jeepster from 46 on through 62 or 63.
Barry WestJune 26, 2017 at 1:55 AM
Colin I would normally agree but this trip was in 1950. So that gives them a 5 year time frame. But they are wider, taller and deeper than ones off of trucks and wagons I have from that time frame. Plus there is no where to attach the upper beauty guard. I'm thinking earlier WO maybe car or another make. IMO. I can only think of two reasons they on there. Extra protection or for pushing.