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Welcome to eWillys.com, a website for vintage jeep enthusiasts. I update this website nearly every day with jeep deals, jeep history, interesting reader projects, jeep related info, and more.
These quick searches can help you find things on eBay. People list in the wrong categories all the time, so don't be surprised to see brochures in the parts area for example. This section used to be split into jeeps, parts and other categories, but recent changes to eBay will require this information to be recoded.
The links to posts below show jeeps grouped by models, condition, and other ways. Some of these jeeps are for sale and others have been sold. If you are unsure whether a vehicle is still for sale or not, email me at d [at] ewillys.com for more info.
There are plenty of interesting, unusual, historic and surprising stories related to Jeeps and their owners. In addition, some of these features have nothing to do with jeeps. This link will display all featured stories starting from the latest.
Looking for parts and not sure where to go? There are a variety of large and small new and used parts sellers both online and offline.
Importantly, the allure of buying a project jeep can be romantic. The reality of restoring a jeep can be quite different, expensive and overwhelming without the right tools and resources. So, tread carefully when purchasing a "project". If you have any concerns about buying a vintage jeep, or run across a scam, feel free to contact me for help, comments or concerns .
This “honeymoon” jeep was bedecked with whitewall (painted) tires and plenty of wedding finery. Inside the jeep was the price, WAC Cpl. Forence L. Bauer of Lyndhurst, Ohio, and Capt. Wilson W. Hopkins, Jr., of Durham, North Carolina. They spent their honeymoon in the Italian mountains during the late August of 1944.
This photo appeared in the August 20, 1944, in the Sunday News out of Ridgewood New Jersey.
This first article from January 22, 1950, in the Independent Press-Telegram (Long Beach, California) provides purchase numbers and eventual destinations for some Forest Service Jeeps.
This second article, from May 05, 1954, in the Sacramento Bee, notes the sale of 10 USFS jeeps that had been part of the Forest Service since 1947 and 1948.
UPDATE II: Here are two more Willys Make Sense ad that were featured in Sunday newspapers (seller indicates both were from 1951):
This one is currently on eBay for $20:
This one is currently on eBay for $20:
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Originally posted May 29, 2019: Here’s another Willys Makes Sense ad from the February 13, 1951, issue of the Evening Star newspaper that differed from the others.
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Original Post: May 21, 2019:
In 1950, Willys-Overland launched a Willys Makes Sense advertising campaign. Unlike past campaigns, such as the 1948 City and City ads, which were about encouraging the sales of wagons and positioning the wagon as a luxury vehicle, the Willys Makes Sense appears to have been organized to re-imagine how the public should view the brand.
Before I get too deeply into this, I’d like to note that the way I’d prefer to write this article is to document specific reasons behind Willys-Overland’s decision to make such a big change. Unfortunately, I don’t have access to enough financial material as I’d like (especially annual reports). So, conjecture and theory will have to do for now.
BACKGROUND: After WWII, pent up demand meant lots of sales for automakers. That could explain, in part, why post-war sales were pretty good for Willys-Overland. For example, sales increased from almost 79,000 jeeps in 1946 to 159,000 jeeps in 1948. But, in 1949, sales plunged to almost half, coming in at 86,000. I don’t have details into why sales dropped so much, but likely parts or material shortages or labor disputes could have had an impact. Certainly, the recession of late 1948 – late 1949 didn’t help sales at all!
Future sales might not have looked too good for 1950 and beyond either. As of 1950 the US produced 76% of automobiles, but given the post-war rebuilding/resurging of industry world-wide, I expect automakers must have realized that international competition would return soon (by 1955 US market share would drop to 67%). This may have stimulated management to clean up their branding as soon as possible to protect against increasing competition (remember that Willys-Overland had expected to sell 25% of their autos internationally, based on the 1946 Fortunate Magazine article).
Another issue Willys-Overland was facing was that going into 1950 the company still didn’t have a registered trademark for the term JEEP (wouldn’t get it until June of 1950). Added to that, the company was not only producing 4WD 1/4 ton jeeps, trucks, and wagons, but also 2WD trucks, wagons, Jeepsters, and an upcoming automobile. Such a portfolio of non-4WD vehicles must have concerned management that it wasn’t just a “jeep” company; so the challenge of how the company should represent itself to dealers and consumers had to have become an issue.
Finally, in a similar vein, up until 1950, the company had been positioning itself as the ‘Jeep’ company, with ads that emphasized the Universal ‘Jeep’, the ‘Jeep’ Truck and the ‘Jeep’ Wagon. Perhaps with the introduction of the Jeepster (note that the company did not call it the ‘Jeep’ Jeepster nor was there any ‘Jeep’ branding on the introductory brochure), the branding issue must have really came to a head. Because of the entrenched nature of Willys-Overland’s efforts to become ‘Jeep’, management may have felt that a company-wide retooling of the company’s branding was in order.
Perhaps one, two, or all of these issues resulted in the 1950 rebrand of the company as a WILLYS manufacturer with a wide range of 2WD and 4WD vehicles for sale. (For a look back at 1952, see Derek’s post “When the CJ-3B Was New“).
NON-JEEP BRANDED ADS:
Willys-Overland began 1950 with an ad that felt similar to past ads, but excluded the ‘Jeep’ brand. For example, in January of 1950 Willys published this ad in the Saturday Evening Post. Note the reference to ‘Jeep’ has been replaced with a small ‘Jeep’ badge.
January 07, 1950, ad in the Saturday Evening Post
As did Colliers Magazine on January 21, 1950:
UPDATE: SOLD. Was $30,000.
This is a nice looking station wagon.
“For Sale: Recently completed restoration of a very rare and unique 1949 Willys Overland Jeep Station Sedan. The Jeep Station Sedan was Willys’ entry into the upscale station wagon market in 1948, 1949 and 1950. This vehicle has been restored over a period of seven years to a very exacting standard. Besides beautiful green metallic paint the interior replicates the exact seat and headliner material. Mechanically the engine has been rebuild by Terry’s Engine Service and runs like a sewing machine. There are four new B F Goodrich 6.70X15 wide whitewall tires and new caps and trim rings. New wire harness, new deluxe steering wheel, new gas tank. Clear title. Price: $29,950.00.”
UPDATE: **SOLD** Was $11,500.
Looks like a solid truck.
“1953 Willys Truck
4 x 4, some newer parts installed.
Runs and drives good.”
UPDATE: Status Unknown. Was $14,500.
Looks nicely restored.
“This is an Exclnt condtn Korean Era Army Jeep Fully restored. I have had it insured since day one. Ive owned this jeep for about 3 years, and I have lots of paper work on it. In have a Tag on it, a License Plate, its a Antique tag, very low cost. It been restored from the ground up, has military tires, in like new condtn. Mostly original Parts, original windshield , I took it out for a spin a few days ago, put air in the tires, first time in over a year. I have and continue to start this jeep every 6 day. A month ago I took it out for a 40 miles country drive, such fun, lots of honks, heads turning.
UPDATE: **SOLD** Was $4500.
This “C” version of the M-38A1 seems worth a look.
“My fathers Jeep . He was working on it before he died. As is not running. Cash and carry.”
Has potential. Only the one pic posted.
https://huntsville.craigslist.org/grd/d/prospect-m274a5-army-mule/7216526194.html
“M274A5 ARMY MULE, climb 60% slope, traverse 40% hill, approach angle 40 deg, departure angle 34 deg, carry a 1,000 lb. load on 4’x8’ bed, will operate on and off road in all weather conditions, transported in full size pickup bed, seat and foot basket detachable and stored underneath as well as a tow bar, full time four wheel drive as well as four wheel steer, six forward and two reverse gears with two speed transfer case, shaft drive, steering wheel adjusts to be driven riding, walking, kneeling, or crawling, a true military combat vehicle, everything works, same as new, recent complete service, only 67 hours. Praised by farmers, hunters, forestry, miners, many applications. Full commercial parts support. Any ATV/UTV mechanic can work on it. Garage stored on trickle charger, starts and runs as new. We’ve had our fun and ready for another toy.”
UPDATE: **SOLD** Was $1200.
Given the hardtop, there seems to be value here.
“1968 Ford M15
I don’t know anything about it other than it came from Kentucky around the Fort Campbell area. It has a 24 volt system and the batteries were bad when I bought it. I have herd it run and it sounded fine but hasn’t been started in a while.”
Unclear how much value is here, but it looks like the body has been rebuilt.
https://lakecity.craigslist.org/cto/d/dunedin-1950-willys-jeep-project/7220624892.html
“Selling or will trade for motorcycle or jet ski. Built in my garage in Colorado. Moved to Florida and do not have a garage to reassemble and finish. 350 Chevy small block 4 bolt main. Lots of metal restoration, front fenders and grill are perfect. New frame rails, floor pans, leaf springs, shackles, Rancho 5000 shocks. Original 3 speed manual transmission, replaced input shaft to adapt to Chevy bell housing, needs steering and pedals. Have all original parts.”
