UPDATE: **SOLD** for $6000.
(08/04/2018) It’s missing a few minor things, but over all is in pretty good shape. Has an odd set of hubcaps. As usual, it lacks the soft top. I’m beginning to wonder if people hated the soft top (the visibility would have been worse than a standard soft top), so they simply got rid of the soft tops. It’s listed as a 1957, but the serial number puts it as an early 1956.
“THIS IS A 1957 WILLYS DJ-3A. IT IS PART OF A LARGE COLLECTION OF EARLY WILLYS JEEPS THAT WERE ALL STORED AWAY OVER 33 YEARS AGO.
THIS JEEP IS ALL ORIGINAL WITH EXCEPTION OF THE SEATS. IT HAS A SOLID BODY, 4 CYLINDER 134 CI MOTOR, 3 SPEED TRANS WITH COLUMN SHIFT, AND 2WD.
THIS JEEP HAS BEEN UNUSED FOR MANY YEARS NOW. I PURCHASED IT MAINLY BECAUSE OF THE CONDITION OF THE BODY, VERY STRAIGHT WITH NO RUST. THIS IS THE MOST IMPORTANT FACTOR IN ANY RESTORATION. THIS JEEP RUNS GREAT, HOWEVER MAY NEED A NEW FUEL PUMP. 56337 10252”
Bid is up to $1825 already with 5 days to go. I agree with the “blind spot” idea, as it sure would be a concern for me. I’m also thinking, that with the doors off and the rear window in place, it would be like riding in a “wind sock” which may have stretched the canvas, and/or strained the mounting bracket from all the vibration from turbulence. It would great to hear from someone some day who actually had experienced one for the real ‘truths”.
Just some insight on the missing top controversy, you would experience the same kind of conditions riding in any model Jeep, DJ or CJ. Maybe this, maybe that, maybe the top was so old and deteriorated, it wasn’t worth saving. That sounds like a more plausible explanation.
Mike,
Certainly wear and age plays a part in the lack of DJ-3A convertible tops out there. But, in ten years of searching, I’ve never seen a convertible top in person nor have I seen on for sale independently of a jeep. And we only know of 3 or 4 in existence. That’s what got me thinking that there may be more to it than them just being old tops. I think there’s wasn’t much incentive to keep them on in the first place.
Patterson was supposed to have it’s original top, but it got lost during the estate sale. I was told it was still in good shape. So why not have it installed on the jeep or sitting in it? Probably because they didn’t have much use for it.
The DJ-3A top had no side windows, unlike most other soft tops. So, it had a much larger blind side. Due to the the shorter stature of the convertible windshield (several inches shorter than standard), the top would have made getting into the jeep more difficult even for folks under 6ft. The fast back top also made it impossible to have folks in the back seat.
So, for a number of reasons, it was an impractical top (and arguably, not all that good looking either).
Dave, Point well made, point well taken, always preferred the hardtop version anyway. Why this is a topic of discussion escapes me.
Those odd hubcaps possibly signal a wheel change from the very hard to find 15″ to the very common 14″ Falcon / Mustang. If you are playing, ask the tire size.
lol @ Mike .. maybe it’s a just a slow day 🙂
Glenn, I hadn’t thought of that.
The hub caps appear to be early 60’s Mopar
Very nice jeep but that gas line over the exhaust manifold sure looks extra scary to me.
Good point Joe. The entry point on that carb should be from the front of the engine, not the side. This shows my DJ-3A Carb (YF2392S) http://www.ewillys.com/wp-content/uploads2/2018/08/2017-05-16-aircleaner-bottom2.jpg (another look at one https://www.thecj2apage.com/forums/carter-yf-2392s-or-sa-carburetor_topic33057.html)
I see “reserve not met” at $3800. Market slump?
As far as the top discussion goes, why not? “something for everybody” was the Willys effort. Uncovering the history of all the options has been the challenge and fun of DJs. The one DJ I’ve seen pics of with a custom two piece top to be able to turn it into a Half Top style, was interesting and different, but I couldn’t help but wonder what it would be like riding in the back seat with the window part removed as they pictured it? That seems like it would be a bit drafty right in the face. Dave, Patterson’s rear folding seat is an interesting design I haven’t seen otherwise. It is really too bad that the estate management didn’t keep the pieces available for “history purposes”. As you said, why not just throw it in the jeep for “removal”? There is a light blue CJ5 in your records, Dave, that has a folding top with two side windows, that if I were to have a convertible top “made’, I have to go that route to fix the blind spot, but I’m not a “restorer” type.
Found the link… http://www.ewillys.com/2018/06/15/1955-cj-5-clinton-tn-7000-2/
Steve,
Thanks for the links and thoughts. There are a handful of other fastback tops on eWillys, but I think the one you link to is the only one I have seen with side windows.
– Dave
This same DJ3A is on eBay right now with a bid of $3800 – Reserve Not met, but is listed as a 1957. Something strange going on here. 56337-10252 is an early ’56 built unit with the “8” speedometer.
https://www.ebay.com/itm/142908117709?_trksid=p11021.c100851.m5053&_trkparms=aid%3D222007%26algo%3DSIM.MBE%26ao%3D1%26asc%3D20170803121420%26meid%3Dc6df5302eaf047678a15c163c51051fd%26pid%3D100851%26rk%3D2%26rkt%3D4%26mehot%3Dpp%26b%3D1%26sd%3D283119155412%26itm%3D142908117709&ul_noapp=true
This jeep was on eBay a few weeks ago and was bid to $3800 but did not reach reserve; now it’s back on. I e-mailed some questions to the seller the first time the Jeep was listed. The first time they replied but when I asked in a later inquiry about what components were working and what wasn’t working, I got no reply.
I can only guess there is a typo in the price, but not sure which number was typoed.
Ebay has become a very difficult place to sell or buy a vehicle, you don’t know who to trust, this wasn’t true in the early years of Ebay Motors. My own experience with selling vehicles on Ebay, not worth the effort. You never know what to expect. I have found that selling or buying on vehicle specific web sites bring more positive results with fewer page views.
EBAY IS THE EVIL EMPIRE — I’M SELLING A *** LOAD OF RARE NAME BRAND OUTDOOR CAMPING AND CLIMBING EQUIPTMENT — AND EBAY SHUT ME DOWN — ALL VERY DESIRABLE AND VINTAGE — MUSEUM STUFF SOME OF IT — I BOUGHT THE STUFF ON EBAY — NOW THEY WONT LET ME SELL — LAWSUIT ?? — SURE , CLASS ACTION …
Post now shows $6500, but still describes it as a “wagon”??? Buyer Beware!
Thanks Steve. I’ve updated the post. I believe the is from the same seller who’s been selling out a jeep collection in Salt Lake. He has sold several DJs and Surreys, among other jeeps (and has been a good guy to deal with based on what another buyer of one of his DJ-3As said to me). So, I think the seller is legit, they just made a mistake on the listing. As for the ‘wagon’, that I’m not sure, but the description shows the seller is aware it is a DJ-3A, so I still think it is a reflection of the listing process.
sure like to find one of these running with a rotten body that I could pair up with my Sarao Jeepney. It would be a match made in heaven for me…