UPDATE: Was $795. **SOLD**
“Willys Jeep – 1956 DJ-A3 – restore, customize or parts. DJ is a Dispatch Jeep made for the postal service. 2510 units made in 1956. 4 cylinder – 2 wheel drive
Old barn find stored for many years . Had it running several years ago.
Asking 795.00 or trade for a motorcycle. Lost Title”
Ooh! Norton motorcycle engine sitting in the back of the jeep!
Spoke with seller. Floors are now made of wood. Frame and body (besides floors) are in good shape.
I would have picked this up if it wasnt for the 10H one way drive… 🙁
Thanks for the update. Sure looks good on the outside.
– Dave
I see very hard to find air cleaner, 60/40 seats, original drive train, easily a great parts vehicle, and probably repairable tailgate bodied DJ3A. Those tires look wide, so maybe the elusive 4 stud 15″ wheels are not there. (Falcon / Mustang 14″ bolt right up) The flip down license plate holder is missing from the tailgate. Somebody needs this and I hope we can get the VIN for our Production/Survivor List.
glennstin-
I saw this Dispatcher yesterday–it’s in pretty good shape. It does have the 4-bolt rims. The tires did look wide, but not too bad. The VIN is in the neighborhood of 104*** (I have a 1956 hard top with VIN 12272). The guy selling it (nice fella) said he had lots of inquiries into it, so if its still there this evening, I’m going down to get it ( I live south of Dayton, OH, which is about a 45 minute drive. One thing I did notice right off is the windshield has the fasteners for the canvas top (you can see them in the first picture) and they all seen to be in good shape. And, of course, like mine, the gas tank is totally shot.
Michael, I also emailed the seller and he provided the VIN for our list. (Which we didn’t have previously) That’s a very early DJ3A, even earlier than my Miss Willy, 56337-10488. I hope you capture it. NOW, about that 56337- 12272 Hardtop DJ3A you have. That’s not on our list either! Please let Colin or I know more. My email is: glenns@tdstelme.net . We want every surviving VIN we can capture, no matter what shape the vehicle or even just an old data plate, title or sales slip.
Yes, Michael, please send us the info on your DJ3A 12272, and photos as well. I have already entered it into our database. Engine number, any other particulars, as a few things changed over the years. Does yours have the small window in the rear door, or does it have a larger window. I believe they changed to the larger window for 1958. 56337 12838 is owned by my son now and it had the small rear window when he got it. The metal sides of the top were totally rusted and not restorable after 50 years of sitting out. The fiberglass survived though! and is living on a later DJ3A hardtop.
My email address is: colins60vette@cox.net in Phoenix. I have 1960 DJ3A Surrey 56337 19170 as well as a 1953 CJ3A and a 1948 Willys Jeepster. Oh yeah, and a 60 Corvette.
Ok, I will shoot an email to both of you in a while. I jus got 10454! As for 12272, I’m not sure what size the rear window is. I have the cab stored in another garage while I work on the frame and motor. The sides are in good shape; the tub needs a lot of work. The engine block # is 3J157569, and I THINK its the original, but it was in the back when I bought it (from a young guy in West Chicago, Il. Look forward to talking to both of you!
What a find and congratulations on the purchase.
That one certainly looks like a real gem to me and I’m ESPECIALLY partial to the early ones!!!
Ps. If you do decide to restore it give me a shout. I’v got an EXTRA correct ‘8’ speedometer complete with external regulator that the hand is froze up on. It ‘might’ just need cleaning up and oiling to work (that’s what I suspect) but I haven’t messed with it at all.
Working or not I would be honored to DONATE it to a worthy cause such as this one.
charles_tate@yahoo.com
Thanks for the offer Charles—I really appreicate it! I’ll let you know if I need it. Its in my plans to restore it, but I need to get my hard-top done first. This one will just be repaired to the point of driving it around until I get the time to work on it.
Just driving it around sure does sound like fun!!!
And if you do need it just let me know, in the meantime it’s not hurting anything stored away.
My thoughts are us DJ guys need to stick together!!!
Now yesterday was an eWillys Day!!! All across America we were cheering this deal on and a previously unknown DJ3A finds a loving home with a cousin we didn’t know of either. Dave’s work for us Willys Nuts at it’s best. Colin and I, 2500 miles apart, get two new babies on our DJ3A Production / Survivor List. And then I’m roaming Ohio C. L. a little deeper and find this old ad:
http://dayton.craigslist.org/pts/4670078627.html
Those are Aero Willys 4 stud 15″ wheels, three very hard to find examples that also fit a DJ3A, and right in Dayton where this buyer is nearby. Hope he gets those also and maybe share with us. Great Day Dave.
Been away from here a few days, but what a great deal on this DJ3A and learning about another early model. Mike, when you find time, shoot us some photos of 12272 and the new towy as well.
Thanks,
Colin
Sorry for the delay in getting back to you two. I’ve been busy with some other stuff. I’ll send you some pictures as soon as possible.