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About eWillys
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.
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 .
“It has a 283 V-8 dual exhaust, transmission is Chevy turbo 350, transfer case Dana 18, running gear stock 4.88 limited slip front and rear, electric over hydraulic dump bed, upgraded vacuum boost power assist brakes, upgraded windshield wiper gear box, original seats that need redone. Speedometer and horn not working. Rust holes behind driver seat. We have overdrive unit and extra gears and transfer case housing. The 12ft Alaskan camper comes with it if desired with 4 crank jacks and truck rack to store on. It’s a runner and tags licensed and insured.”
Some of you may have seen an image of a CJ-2A setup to pull an Airstream trailer that has gone around Facebook. Unfortunately, there was no history attached to that image. So, that’ got me hunting for more information. Below is my quick education on the Airstream history. I’m sure some of. you folks know more, so correct me if need be.
I was able to find a few more images of that CJ-2A and trailer, which has led me to believe that Airstream founder Wally Byam used that jeep, probably purchased in Europe, to pull his trailer around Europe during Wally’s first trip in 1948, which he used to scout various countries for future caravans. However, I have so far been unable to find anyone explicitly saying that Wally did that. But, the jeep is a CJ-2A, so the timeline fits. The top looks similar to other European tops of the late 1940s, and in Europe I suspect there weren’t many vehicle options at that time. Here are the pics I found, the first being the one circulating on Facebook:
Wally Byam sitting in one of his early trailers. A Cj-2A with a European style top appears to be the pull-rig. I believe this would be 1948.
Eventually, Wally assembled the first around-the-world Airstream caravan that travelled over the course of 1963-1964 30,000 miles through thirty countries with 104 people in 40 Airstream trailers. Here’s a video about one family’s take on the event.
Thanks to Geoff for pointing this out to us: Kits Great Western Outdoor Adventure Tours. Now, how do I get ahold of one of those brochures? That’s a great bit of history and would make a great Dispatcher Magazine article.
Charles “Chuck” Prater’s (1928-1913) jeep camper has been discussed in the past, but pics of his prototypes are less well known. Chuck must have been a curious kind of guy, because when he was an employee at the circulation department of the Palm Beach Post in Florida he invented an automatic paper bagging machine.
How he got involved with jeeps isn’t well documented, but in the 1960s he developed a unique camper setup that allowed a camper to be ‘hitched’ to the back of a CJ-5. He showed off his prototype to the Palm Beach Post in July of 1968:
July 07, 1968, Palm Beach Post, Palm Beach, Florida.
From the CJ5camper.com website we have this additional photo of the prototype, year unknown. You’ll note that the camper in the pic above seems to lack the blue color added to the pic below, so this may have been taken after the Palm Beach Post photo?:
The Palm Beach reported a few months later on September 25, 1968, that Kaiser-Jeep agreed to manufactured Chuck’s camper idea:
For reasons unknown at this point, Chuck waited almost two years later (August 24, 1970) to file his patent (approved August 15, 1972). The patent included several illustrations. Below is one of them. At some point after he filed his patent, Waldron Motors presented Chuck with camper #1. Curiously, the caption indicates he patented the idea, then sold it. However, the information above suggests he sold the idea, then patented it?:
This newspaper clipping was posted to thegentlemanracer.com’s site.
Being the inventor he was, Chuck didn’t stop inventing after the development of the camper. He expanded on his basic camper invention with a similar dump trailer idea. This article comes from the cj5camper.com site and is undated:
I searched but could not find a patent or another other information about the dump trailer.
According to his brother-in-law Sam Williams (see his comment in this post), Chuck built another camper that fit the CJ-7, one which Sam owns.
Mike shared this unusual camper. The shape of it reminds me of the late 1940s Book mobiles (or see below post). The box on this truck appears a little taller than the book mobile boxes, so this truck and the book mobiles may be unrelated.
The truck is listed as a 1954, but the grille suggests it is earlier. It’s unclear whether the camper on back is original to the truck (special order for example) or whether someone added the camper later. That said, the interior faux wood and carpet screams 60s or 70s to me. The “Jeep” radio would have also been added at a later date. Note the Warn hubs are IH branded hubs.
UPDATE: This article was originally published April 11, 2015:
In 1965 Brits R.M.E. Diamant, his wife, and three children completed a five month drive around the United States in a Jeep Wagoneer Camper. Mr. Diamant intended to publish stories of their adventure in travel magazines in the UK and the US, but his article in the 1966 Jeep News was the only one I found.
I’ve created this rough map of their journey based on the places mentioned in the article.
The CJ-5 Camper, with its own axle, always seems a pretty odd and unique build. But, Blaine found some other camper designs, with their own axle, that make the CJ-5 look practical.
As I was packing, I pulled this issue of Motor Trend aside. When I leafed through it, I realized there was a jeep-related article I missed. So, here the “Unique Cars for Sportsmen” by Jim Earp. All the vehicles herein are interesting. The first page has a pic at the bottom of Vic Hickey’s famous jeep.
This image seems to show a Jeepster Commando version of the CJ-5-camper concept. It’s unclear to me whether this was a prototype design or someone’s custom creation. Anyone ever seen other pics of this?
For this eBay auction, this image has been applied to a metal sign.
“Vintage Jeep With Camper Extension New Metal Sign: Toledo, Ohio
Suitable for framing or hanging, has pre drilled holes. A nice piece of 20th century history.
Great coloration in the sign.
The sign measures 9″ x 12″
Watermark will not appear on your purchased sign.
This sign is also available in 12″ x 16″ size for $29.88
Please message if you are interested in the larger size.
This sign has a high quality baked on gloss finish, and is made in America
Sign is crafted of aircraft grade quality aluminum.”
THIS INFO ABOUT THE FRAME IS FROM A March 16, 2018, ad:
“THIS IS A FRAME FROM A 1970 JEEP CJ5 CAMPER. I AM THE ORIGINAL OWNER. I BOUGHT THE JEEP & CAMPER IN 1970 NEW IN SO. CALIF.
WE MADE A MOVE TO OREGON IN 1990 & I DISMANTLED THE CAMPER BECAUSE IT WAS LEAKING BADLY & MY THOUGHT WAS TO BUILD A NEW CAMPER ON THE FRAME. I NEVER GOT TO IT. I SOLD THE JEEP A FEW YEARS AGO & NO NEED FOR THIS FRAME.
THE CAMPER WAS MADE BY EL DORADO CAMPERS IN RIVERSIDE CALIFORNIA. THEY MADE CAMPERS FOR PICKUP TRUCKS & THIS WAS EQUAVALENT TO AN 8 FOOT PICK UP CAMPER.”
Thanks to Blaine for spotting some of these jeep-pulling-airstream trailer images. That led me to search for some more. I think my favorite might just be the post from Kaiser Willys, as a wagon owner named Richard Carr pulled his airstream down to Baja, Mexico, for a six month vacation in 2010 and was still there as of 2015. I guess he found his spot in the world!
“All original, no rust, 38 thousand original miles. Body is straight. All the upholstery is original. Just removed from barn, where it was stored since 1973. Had gas tank cleaned and sealed. F- head 4 cylinder motor. New Carb, water pump, fuel pump, Distributer, hoses, belts, plugs, wires, Radiator. New Brakes and wheel cylinders. New tires. Has original Camper that was on the truck for most of it’s life. Bed is perfect. Runs and drives. Clean Title.”
“Willys Jeep Pick Up Aluminum Camper Shell. I had it on my 1957 Willys Jeep Pick Up.
Standard Willys Jeep trucks had the same cabs and beds from about 1948 to 1962 or so. It would fit these years.
Made by ” Caravan Co, Reno Nevada” Has a steel rack with rollers for a canoe. Strong build.
Needs 1 flat glass side window. Some rust on the top roof vent. Small dings etc. as seen. NO BIG DENTS.
Good original condition. Would polish out or can take CAMO PAINT.
Some photos of it on the truck are black before it was cleaned. Photos off of the truck are as it is today.
Changed the look of the truck a lot. Don’t see many of them out there…”
Steve shared this video of Seth’s CJ-5 Camper that’s been updated with some modern, practical touches. You can see more pics of CJ-5 campers at Jeremy’s website: http://www.cj5camper.com/photos.php
Gary’s out camping with his wife and 1948 CJ-2A in the Shwangunk Mountains of New York. The platform and tent all fit in the jeep. Looks like a great summer getaway!
UPDATE: Seth noted that was for sale back in 2012. He also reports it sold, though the Craigslist ad is still up and listing it at $3000.
Blaine forwarded this rare Wagoneer motorhome.
“Engine Runs and is 230 cu inch 6 Cylinder… 3 Speed Tranny, 4 Wheel Drive, Drive Train Good Condition, can use little repair around the doors, Floor is medium to good condition..
Needs Clutch Slave Cylinder and Master Cylinder… Plumbing and Heating Needs Work….”
Frank M. James CJ-2A. Photo taken by Marvin Patchen.
Last year Verne Simons published three articles at Four Wheeler.com with jeep camping photos. The photographer for some of these was Marvin Patchen. Apparently some were also published in a 1959 Motor Life Magazine article (I believe it was April 1959 — I will know for sure soon). There are some great photos. Click on the links below to see them.
Photos from the first two links were taken during a Chuckwalla Jeep Club Trip from Hemet to Borrego Springs.
We are hoping someone recognizes the type of camper on this Willys Truck. It looks like it was built for Willys trucks it fits so well. Below the color photos are a couple of black and white photos showing a similar but slightly different example.
Here’s a rare look at a Willys Overland Chassis with a StorDor body (see late 1940s brochure at bottom). What’s unusual with this van is that at some point it was turned into a motor home. While this former laundry van’s current fate is unknown, Larry, the former owner, has shared some information about it. He writes:
I had an old van registered as a Willys Housecar from 1948. Body was on a 2T frame and was modified with a Chevy inline six. Boy do I miss her…I had to leave her in shambles ten years ago
I was told that an old man in Moorpark, Ca. had custom built the interior and as seen on the exterior, the most probable “Bakery” in blue and with imagination, “To your door” showed up on the driver’s side through the house paint that is flaking off, suggesting that she was once a bakery delivery van. The previous owner had received it as a joke some time before I got it in 1980. I don’t know if it even exists anymore. She was dependable but scary with the feeling of tipping ever present like the willies you’d get in a CB or MB of, say, 1940’s circa.
On another note, I had a friend who had a 1947 Ford van similar to this Willys I owned and it had a grill in the bell shape as mine was.
September 16, 2013 • CATEGORIES: Camping, CJ5 • TAGS: Hardtop, Nice, Odd Body, Stock. This site contains affiliate links for which I may be compensated.
DP spotted this unusual CJ-5 with a custom built popup camper.
“1974 Jeep CJ5 with a custom pop up camper shell built by Phoenix pop up in Denver.
The Jeep has recently been painted and is in very good condition, it has a 232 inline 6 cylinder, 3 speed manual transmission and locking front Warn hubs and it rides on 35″ tires. The chassis wiring has all been completely redone as well as the upholstery.
The camper shell sleeps 2, it has storage for all of your gear and is set up for propane and self contained water. If you are interested in the camper let me know and we can discuss a price.
This is a fun Mountain vehicle but could also be used for hunting.”
