M274 die-cast replicas

[LTCB]

I'm new to this forum (first post).

I'm trying to find any information possible on the die-cast models either made by Willys or a toy company for Willys in the mid to late 1950s. Best guess is that these were produced around 1957 and may have been used as a sales tool. These models are approximately 10 1/2 inches long, 4 3/4 inches wide and weigh about 3 1/2 pounds. My research has only found one official photo of a die-cast. It was a 1958 issue of Leatherneck magaize with a Marine Lt Col holding one.

I plan to place an article in Army Motors magazine winter issue on this subject and would like to colaborate any info provided here with my other findings.

If you know of, heard or seen anything at all about these models please let me know.

Thanks in advance!

 

[Brant]

There was one on eBay a year or two ago. Just as you described, don't know about the weight but the length is correct. It went for over $200.00 as I remember.


Brant







www.m274.info

 

[LTCB]

Brant,

You are correct. It's likely the one you see here. I just about went nuts when I first saw this die-cast after seeing the picture of one in the Leatherneck magazine. It was at that time I decided to do a little research.

The problem is that so little is officially known about them. Researched the web for nearly 2 years with little luck. I have been fortunate enough to speak to a couple of fellows that shared what they recalled or were told. I'll spell this out in the article later.

Although Al-Toys were made for Willys around that era I don't believe these were mass produced as toys. There are no casting markings that I can find that would indicate manufacturer or date. The detail is excellent on the die-casts. The undercarriage shows nice detail of the 4 cyl engine, tranny, transfer, steering linkage, brake and drop axels. With that type of detail I would expect they were used as a sales tool.

In the meantime the search continues.

 

[Brant]

I was lucky to get ahold of not one, but two 1959 Army trading cards featureing the m274. The mule was the m274xm. The pre-production model.
Not as cool as the die-cast mule, but über cool just the same.

 

[Brant]

I was lucky to get ahold of not one, but two 1959 Army trading cards featureing the m274. The mule was the m274xm. The pre-production model.
Not as cool as the die-cast mule, but über cool just the same.

 

[LTCB]

Trading cards??? That's a new one to me! No doubt that is awesome!

I've been searching for about 2 1/2 years for anything mule and have never seen nor heard of a trading card. They must be extremely rare and you are one lucky owner!

Were they made by Willys? Any chance we can see it here? (Pic)

I found a couple of sales brochures some time ago. One had the name "Maj Gen Rush B. Lincoln, Jr" hand printed on the top and another that was rubber stamped "Weinmann's Sales Co, Inc. Trenton, N.J."on the back. Did some research on this one and found it was a Nash dealership.

Here is another piece of trivia. I found a Willys News periodical (January 195 that mentioned Willy's displaying an M274 in the American Stock Exchange visitor gallery after the vehicle was introduced. It also mentioned a TV commercial of the Mechanical Mule run during an episode of the TV series "Maverick". It reads: "Millions of other people also have seen the mule on television, as it appeared in commercials on "Maverick" show recently."

Wouldn't it be neat to find that episode with the commercial??

 

[Brant]

Army Trading Card

this is a trading card produced by the military in 1954. There are other cards featuring different equipment, vevicles, ect. Shown on this card is the
m274XM. "Experimental Model" ( see: http://www.m274.info/history.html ). On the reverse side is....something. Can't remember off the top. Thats about all I know about it.

 

[LTCB]

Congratulations. That is a very nice collector's item. First one I've ever seen. The fact it is dated is important too. Something I'm not quite certain of with the die-cast models. Just guessing they were made around 1957.

Really appreciate you posting this picture. I'm sure that more than just one of us will now be looking for one of these treasures.