If you have spent any time around unrestored CJs, you have probably seen "4 WHEEL DRIVE" stenciled on a tailgate. What is less well known is that it is not one stencil. It is two, used across different periods, and even the parts catalogs that sell reproductions do not agree on which one belongs on which year and model. Below we separate what a dated factory record actually documents from what is pieced together by researchers and still open to debate.
In this article
- The first stencil, 1947 onward
- The second stencil, mid-1950s onward
- The 1960 Kaiser factory chart
- Why the exact dates are still debated
- Want the look on your own Jeep?
- FAQ
The First Stencil, 1947 Onward
This is the part that rests on dated paperwork. A factory engineering drawing numbered 668718 is dated April 16, 1947, tied to Engineering Release 3069, titled "Name - Tail Gate - Addition of Identification Stencil." The stencil was released for production on June 5, 1947, and placement was specified for the CJ-2A and the 4T pickup truck. This first version reads straight across, with horizontal lines above and below the lettering.
Beyond that drawing, the record is a photographic one rather than a documentary one. The survivor and dealer-literature record collected by CJ3B.info places this first style on the CJ-2A, on a 1951 CJ-3A, and on Jeeps into the mid-1950s. Those are observations of individual vehicles, not a factory statement of a production range, so treat the end of the first stencil's run as approximate.
The Second Stencil, Mid-1950s Onward
At some point the design changed: a larger "4," shifted to the left side, with the horizontal lines dropped. No factory drawing has surfaced that dates the switch. The researchers who have looked hardest at it estimate roughly 1955 from surviving examples and describe the exact changeover as conjecture, and note that commercial sources selling reproductions disagree with each other on which style goes with which year.
For how late it ran, the second style is documented on a CJ-3B as late as 1963. On the CJ-5 the latest example is a truck built in October 1969, a 1970 model, and the researchers state only that the stencil may have been used on CJ-5s of that period up to 1970, when that tailgate style was replaced. From 1971 to 1982 the CJ tailgate carried an oversized stamped "Jeep" instead of a stencil.
The 1960 Kaiser Factory Chart
The clearest primary source is a Kaiser-Willys factory chart dated 1960, distributed to dealers with Parts and Accessories Bulletin No. D-18 in May 1960. It lists part numbers, dimensions, and placement by model, and it settles a detail a lot of reproduction sellers get wrong: a version of the stencil with the word "Jeep" stacked above "4 WHEEL DRIVE" was specified for the Utility Wagon and Utility Delivery models, not for the CJ. On a correct CJ reproduction, that "Jeep" line should be masked off entirely. The complete kit sold through dealers for $2.95.
Why the Exact Dates Are Still Debated
Two real gaps remain even in the most careful research on this. No clear period photos or drawings have surfaced for the transition years between the first and second stencil, so the model year of the switch is an estimate, and researchers are still asking for photos of unrestored CJs from roughly 1955 to 1958. It is also unsettled what stencil, if any, CJ-5s carried between 1971 and 1982. A third open point: not every CJ appears to have received a stencil, and how common the practice was in a given year is unknown. Anyone selling a reproduction who claims total certainty on those points is stating more than the historical record supports.
Want the Look on Your Own Jeep?
If you just want the "4 WHEEL DRIVE" look on the back of your Jeep rather than a museum-correct restoration, we cut it as a vinyl transfer decal. It is cut from ORACAL 651 calendered vinyl in our South Carolina shop and installs with transfer tape, and outdoor life depends on the color you choose: about 6 years for standard colors, 4 years for metallics, and 3 years for brilliant blue. Decals ship within 7 business days, and shipping is free over $59.99.
For a period-correct restoration where the exact letterforms, dimensions, and placement have to match your year and model, our custom orders page lets you describe precisely what you have in mind and we build it from scratch.
FAQ
Are there two different "4 Wheel Drive" tailgate stencils?
Yes. The first version, documented from 1947, reads straight across with horizontal lines above and below the lettering. A second version, appearing sometime in the mid-1950s, has a larger "4" shifted to the left with the lines removed.
What years used the first stencil?
A dated factory drawing and engineering release confirm the first stencil was released for production in June 1947 for the CJ-2A and the 4T truck. After that the evidence is surviving vehicles rather than paperwork, and those show it in use into the mid-1950s. The exact end date is not documented.
Does the "Jeep" wordmark belong above the stencil on a CJ?
No. A 1960 Kaiser-Willys factory chart specifies the "Jeep" over "4 WHEEL DRIVE" version for the Utility Wagon and Utility Delivery models, not the Universal Jeep (CJ) line. On a correct CJ reproduction, the "Jeep" portion should be masked off.
Did all CJs have this stencil?
Apparently not. Historical research on the subject notes that not every CJ received a stencil, and it is unclear how common the practice was in any given year.
When did the tailgate stencil stop being used?
The latest documented CJ-3B with a stencil is a 1963, and the latest CJ-5 example is an October 1969 build. From 1971 to 1982 the CJ tailgate carried an oversized stamped "Jeep" rather than a stencil. Whether CJ-5s wore any stencil during those years is not settled.
Source for the historical record above: research and documentation by Bart McNeil and Derek Redmond, CJ3B.info, "4 Wheel Drive Tailgate Stencils". Jeep is a registered trademark of FCA US LLC. Jeep Decal Store is not affiliated with, sponsored by, or endorsed by FCA US LLC, and we do not sell trademarked names or logos.
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