The Surrey Gala Package, produced from 1959 to 1964, was based off the DJ-3A Dispatcher (a flat fender jeep). The DJ-3A was originally used as a postal truck with the US Postal Service until 1959 when the contract ended. The surplus Jeeps and parts were then used to produce the Surrey Galas. Shortly after Henry Kaiser bought Willys-Overland he retired to Hawaii where he owned several businesses including a 1100-room Hawaiian Village Hotel that he later sold to Conrad Hilton and a car rental agency. The car rental agency offered the Surrey Gala Jeeps as a cheap runabout vehicle for resorts and a delivery vehicle for small shops in Hawaii and the Caribbean as well.
The Surrey Gala Jeeps came in a two-tone color option. (Pink) tropical Mist/Coral & Glacier White, Cerulean Blue/Glacier White, and Jade Tint Green/Glacier White. The halfcab canvas tops were striped with a fringe around the edges. Other details included matching steering wheel and white-walled tires with chromed hubcaps.
It is even said that Elvis owned a pink Surrey Gala which is displayed at Graceland. He bought it shortly after returning from a stint in the army in 1960, it was on the set of his first film G.I. Blues and in the film Fun in Acapulco (1963).
Other movies the Surrey Gala Jeep was featured in: The Ambushers (1967), Move Over, Darling (1963), Ride the Wild Surf (1964), Jerry Lewis’s The Nutty Professor (1963), and the television show Gomer Pyle U.S.M.C.
From 1959 to 1964, a little over 1000 Surrey Gala Packages were produced, until 1965, when the DJ-5 was introduced, the model most widely recognized as the “postal jeep”, which continued production through the early 1970s.
Sources for Article Content:
1. Rugged Ridge Offroad: Elvis dug more than just pink Cadillacs…
2. The CJ-3B Page: DJ-3A Surrey Gala…
3. The CJ-3B Page: Fun in Acapulco…
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Hey Rachel, This is fantastic! Appreciate you sharing.
Hey Rachel,
this is amazing. Thanks for sharing.
Willy your pics are awesome.
looking for surry jeep parts hub caps,front seat,bumpers
Hi Michelle,
Give Mike at Kaiser a call toll free 1-888-648-4923 Mon-Fri 9AM-5PM and he will be happy to help you with this! Have a great day!
I am looking for any information on seat upholstery to my 1960 CJ3A pink surrey willys jeep. Trying to restore to original. Any information would be very helpful. I have 4 granddaughters that are very excited about this auto. It has been in our family for 20 years, time to get it going again.
Thank You,
Michelle
looking for someone who has made a surrey top thanks need one made
[…] I don't know the parking pass or the safety sticker year – but here is some more info on the jeeps for other curious. Willys Surrey Gala Jeep 1959-1964 […]
hello I have 1960 DJ3A it all original pink and im work no it hope have it done in a years. let me no if you have a dj3a 1960? thanks