Thanks for the words of encouragement. Being the "same" from model year to model year is one of the facets of a Jeep that appeals to me. My main goal in determining the year is to try and ensure I'm buying the correct parts for the model year. The folks that sold us the Jeep originally owned two. One was used by the family kids to drive to school (this is the one we purchased). The second Jeep burned up in a fire in the middle of a rice field (they were rice farmers). I am not able to gather any information on the burned Jeep. The previous owner is in her mid 80s and is not to clear on details of things from the mid 1970s. Hopefully I can track down photos from 1954 and 1957 that show some of the distinctions between those model year Willys.