emailNeed to contact me and don't have my email? Click on email button.
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.
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 .
I found this picture of Henry J Kaiser sitting in this jeep, but I can’t tell what kind of jeep it is. It looks like a cross between a flatfender (front) and M151 (rear). I am wondering if it was a prototype of some sort. Anyone recognize it? Note the four bolt rims.
4 lug wheels? Weird.
I think that’s one of the six Kaiser extra light weight Jeeps sent to Aberdeen for testing in 1949. That photo is of the odd ball of the group with a different body than the rest. (The odd ball of the odd balls).
extra lightweigt must be right, the tub seems to be a riveted construction, so must be aluminum. also wheelbase seems shorter than a CJ and seating looks very low and cramped in comparison. just my 10 cents worth, and look at the man smile !!
Could it be a prototype of the M422 Mighty Mite? Wikipedia says the idea started at 1946…
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/M422_Mighty_Mite
Notice the hood curved like a Batnam. Could be a pre 1941 prototype,
Kaiser bought willys in 53-54 so I would think that would date the picture and jeep to 54 or later.
I would have to agree with Leo and Roberto. My guess is that it is a prototype of the aluminum body M422. Having “bucked a billion” rivets to make UPS delivery truck body side panels during my summers off from college, I can confirm that this is standard fastening methods and the finished look riveting aluminum sheet panels together, even as late as 1970’s. Unless Henry J. Kaiser and the other unidentified man were giants in size, I would have to surmise the Jeep was scaled down in proportions just like other airborne-style Jeeps designed after WWII.
It’s the four lug rims that suggest to me a lightweight, but I’ve not encountered a lightweight quite like this one. It is a puzzle. I’m going to contact Kaiser Permanente and see if their historian can tell me more (which is where I found the picture).
– Dave
Check out Fred Crismon’s book U.S. Military Wheeled Vehicles, there is a whole chapter on the light weight vehicles program and there are numerous photos of this particular jeep and several others.
Buz .. did this version have a name? Or, is its present location known?
I tried to identify as many lightweights as I could find in this post: http://www.ewillys.com/?p=47600
My dating comment is wrong, according to below, Kaise was designing 10 years before acqusition of willys overland:
http://blog.hemmings.com/index.php/2007/03/17/surrender-to-the-kaiser-the-kaiser-extra-lightweight/
No name is mentioned since this one is the oddball. Looking at the photos it might have M29 painted on the front bumper, hard to say, Apparently this program for a light weight ran from 1942 to about the end of the 1950’s. Also the Kaiser lightweight of this period had no relation to the Willys Jeeps.
this is a willys 2 wheel drive jeep.