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September 2010 'Editor in the Chief'

Jeep Action Magazine Editor Michael Bowen   One of our subscribers sent me in a motoring magazine from 1960 featuring a 2000 mile outback road test on a CJ6 hard top.

  Reading the article I realized how things have changed in 50 years. The journalist mentions that the sight of a four wheel drive within the city limits is a rarity.

  Optional extras provided on the CJ6 were a winch and free wheeling hubs. Willys had kindly fitted a couple of seat belts and a spot lamp for the trip. Through the rear doors there was plenty of room for camping equipment, fishing gear, food and guns.

  Door windows were the sliding type but sufficiently large enough to permit hand signals. The two piece windscreen was hinged from the top and in the open position was most useful for shooting from the Jeep on the move. They found the handling of the Jeep to be good and to really test it out they chased a Kangaroo flat out across the plains at night and apart from hopping they could do everything the Kangaroo could.

  They went on to use the Jeep on a farm and complete their 10 day trip.

  There was no mention of air conditioning, CD players or traction control. They didn’t complain about hard to reach dials or gauge positioning. No mention of rattles, squeaks or leaks. The ride was what was expected from a four wheel drive, it wasn’t a car.

  They tested and enjoyed the Jeep for its intended purpose.


Enjoy,
Michael Bowen


1955 CJ-5 Jeep