Although the CJ-2A was a forerunner rather than a true sibling of the CJ-3B, I thought it was fair to include the original Nellybelle here with the "Siblings of the CJ-3B" since she was a TV star during the 3B era. -- Derek Redmond

The real Nellybelle was displayed for many years at the Roy Rogers - Dale Evans Museum (right) which moved from California to Missouri in 2003, and closed in late 2009.

The Jeep was sold at auction in New York on 14 July 2010 for $116,500 to a private museum. Colin Peabody wrote to The CJ3B Page: "I hope Nellybelle goes to someone who will treat her with love and respect! With the Museum closing, and the sale of all the memorabilia, another American legend will pass from us. How unfortunate."

Luckily Nellybelle's new owners Pam Weidel and John Haines have not only been treating her well, but making her accessible to the public. She was photographed on 12 June 2011 at the Great Willys Picnic (60K JPEG) in Pennsylvania, by Bob Westerman.
 

The Roy Rogers Show, broadcast on television between 1951 and 1957, developed out of the series of B-movies made in the 1930's and 40's starring the "King of the Cowboys". It featured a 1946 Willys CJ-2A Jeep named Nellybelle, which had some unusual bodywork. It was in fact owned by Roy, but was driven in the show by his comic sidekick, Pat Brady. The name apparently developed out of Pat riding an ornery mule in the earlier movies, and addressing it with phrases like "Whoa, Nelly!"

A contest advertised in the June 1, 1954 issue of Look magazine (see Win a Willys Jeep) indicates that Roy and Willys (and Post Cereals) had made some kind of arrangement to promote the new Willys CJ-3B. But in response to a question from The CJ3B Page in March 2003, Roy Rogers Jr. said he is certain that his father used only the original 1946 Jeep on the television show.
 

Ralph Perry has noted that in most episodes of the show, Nellybelle's name is painted on her doors, but "in the early episodes the name did not appear on the doors. Would you know what year the name was added?"

Well, I have seen at least one 1951 episode where it does appear, and one 1954 episode where it doesn't, so perhaps it's a case of the Jeep being repainted, or perhaps replaced, rather than simply the name being added at some point.

The "Bad Company" episode seen here is from 1954, and finds Nellybelle as usual in some kind of disrepair -- this time it's her brakes. After waving to Roy (above), Pat has difficulty stopping to chat. See also a shot from behind which shows Nellybelle's rear end details.

In this episode, the bad guys who have stolen the box of gold produced by the gold mine, kidnap both Dale Evans ("Queen of the West") and Nellybelle during their getaway.
 

After everybody is rescued, Pat drives two of the villains back down to town in handcuffs, but of course loses his brakes again. See a closeup of the wild ride, and the final result with Nellybelle upended in the brush.

Roy Rogers Jr. says the Jeep was painted grey so she would appear a consistent shade in the black & white film used for the show.
 

Roy Jr. says he is too young to know the details of the origin of his father's Jeep. Despite the apparent armor plating around the front, which bears a strong similarity to the U.S. Army armor installation kit seen here, he says he is not aware of Nellybelle having been military surplus.

Steve Davis points out that according to the IMDB, Pat Brady was a tank crewman in World War II, so that may have influenced the decision to armor the Jeep.
 

In "Hard Luck Story," an episode about an insurance scam, Nellybelle is suffering from engine problems. At one point Pat has to resort to kicking a tire to get her started (hear it in QuickTime audio, 70K), and at another point he refers to her as a "moving junkpile!"

Note some differences on the Jeep in this episode -- the spare tire is gone, and a tow bar, rear fender flares, and a set of what look like dual wheel adapters have been added. For a better look at those details, see a shot taken outside the jail where Roy is being mistakenly held. Pat has to get Nellybelle to backfire (hear it in QuickTime audio, 110K) to cover up the sound of Dale shooting the lock off the jail door to rescue Roy.
 

This same episode begins with a wild stunt in which Nellybelle starts rolling down a hill by herself, and Roy chases her on Trigger and leaps from his saddle into the Jeep to bring her to a safe stop.

Dale says, "Roy, you shouldn't have taken a chance like that for Nellybelle!" But Roy replies "Well, she's part of the family, Dale."
 

See also Nellybelle Toys on The CJ3B Page. -- Derek Redmond

Return to Siblings of the CJ-3B, or to The CJ-3B in the Movies for more Jeeps on the silver screen.

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