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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.
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 Jeep ad claims everyone is happy with a new Jeep Station Wagon! The ad appeared in Greencastle, Indiana’s, The Daily Banner on April 05, 1949.
This “Gets to the Job… and Gets It Done!” ad appeared a couple times in the Sullivan Daily News out of Sullivan, Indiana. The ad below appears in the September 27, 1946, issue (and August 30, 1946)
UPDATE: Brian bought this frame and now has it for resale. Contact him for the price
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.”
Camper before it was dismantled:
On August 04, 1949, the Wolcott Beacon out of Wolcott, Indiana, published directions on how to build a toy Willys Wagon for kids. The length of this toy is about 7″.
It looks like this has a set of hubs, so this was probably taken in the mid 1950s at the earliest.
View all the information on eBay
Maury’s assembling a thread at the Early CJ-5 page of factory images or nearly original CJ-5 engine compartment photos. Hopefully, some more folks have photos they can contribute.
http://www.earlycj5.com/xf_cj5/index.php?threads/factory-engine-bay-photos.139291/
These photos/slides all have jeeps of one kind or another in them and are for sale on eBay.
2. Photo taken in 1964 of a late model CJ-3B:
3. December 1959 Icelandic Press Photo of FC Van:
4. Young man holding a present(?) standing in front of a 1960s Wagon:
5. WWII(?) Photo of Soldier in Front of WWII Jeep with Wood Enclosure:
This August 17th, 1948, ad for the Jeepster was published in the Sullivan Daily Times, out of Sullivan, Indiana.
Both of these ads from the Sullivan Daily Times, out of Sullivan, Indiana, cover the features of the jeep, but do so in slightly different ways. The March 18, 1947, ad focuses on the job-task utility aspects of the jeep, how consumers can use the jeep. The July 13, 1948, ad is less about what the jeep can do task-wise and more about what it can bring consumers beyond specific tasks, such as great mileage, physical comfort, and convenience. I have not studied other ads to see if this was a general trend in Jeep advertising (in other words, I do not know if this shift directed by Willys-Overland or something Citizen’s Garage did on their own).
These two photos were published in the Sullivan Daily Times on June 6, 1947, which was the three year anniversary of D-Day. One photo shows St. Lo, France, in the summer of 1944. The other, taken from about the same location, shows St. Lo in 1947. After wasting far too much time examine the town via Google Earth, my guess is that the bottom photo was take just below a castle near the victim’s memorial, pointed south with the La Vire River along the right hand side.
This June 3, 1947, ad published in the Sullivan Daily Times, out of Sullivan, Indiana, highlights the ability of the jeep to be an efficient, low-cost option as a road-service vehicle.
This July 08, 1947, article from the Sullivan Daily Times announced the upcoming arrival of the Jeep Caravan to the town of Sullivan, Indiana. It was one of four Jeep Caravans traveling the United State at the time.
The caravan consisted of eight jeeps. One was the CJ-2A fire jeep. Four other CJ-2As sported attachments, including an arc welder, a generator, a compressor, and a line of hydraulic lift implements. Based on the pic below, it looks like 2 wagons and a truck, brand new to the line-up in the summer of 1947, rounded out the caravan.
This July 09, 1947, article from the Sullivan Daily Times announcement was published the next day and featured the CJ-2A fire jeep.
This photo and caption appeared on the second page of the Daily Nebraskan on February 24, 1943.
UPDATE II: There are additional updates throughout as several folks suggested other drain holes in various bodies and windshields.
UPDATE: Barney Goodwin noted that MBs/GPWs also have drains on the gas tank sump, front and rear. He also shared some pics (thanks!). Also, some MB/GPW bodies had 3/8″ drain holes in the tool boxes (seem more here).
A couple months ago Chuck asked a question about drain holes, so I collected the information below. It’s hardly exhaustive, so if I’ve missed something, please comment. Also, I did not find any drain strategies for Wagons, Trucks, Jeepsters or FCs; did they have any interior drains? I’m also unsure if the prototype jeeps had drain strategies.
MBs & GPWs:
MBs and GPWs did have drain holes in the far left of the driver side and far right of the passenger side corners, stopped with brass plugs. There seems to be some debate about whether the plugs should have square tops or slotted tops. You can imagine it might not be easy to locate and remove a brass plug once the floor of an MB was full of dirt/mud/water. Here’s a photo of a square plug from G503 in the left corner of the floor:
Arrow points to the drain plug on the driver’s side of this MB.
Fun fact, the drain plug for the floor is reportedly the same size as the drain plug for the MB and GPW gas tank.
Here’s an example of the square plug alternative, a slotted plug. I would think this could be especially difficult to locate when filled with water/mud:
I didn’t know about the fuel tank sump drain holes (of course, on hindsight, it makes sense they’d have them). Barney Goodwin adds, “MB/GPWs had 2 large drains on the fuel tank sump to clear water out, especially after fording. They are basically a radiator cap and gasget without the temp pressure spring. Even the neck on the drain looks like a radiator neck. There was one fore and aft of the sump. It was especially important because there was felt or horsehair insulators between the tank and the body that would be prone to retain moisture and rust the tank if not maintained.”
CJ-2As/CJ-3As/CJ-3Bs/DJ-3As:
These jeeps had drain holes on the sides near the outside step on either side of the body. When purchasing a jeep, If the body is missing the drain hole, then it’s worth examining the body to see if it has been altered in some fashion. Sometimes the lack of drain hole is also a sign that the body is an M-38 or that the body is fiberglass.
Drain hole for CJ-2As, CJ-3As, CJ-3Bs, and DJ-3As.
UPDATE: **SOLD** Was on eBay.
That might be a 1947 Luzon Red CJ-2A. An early Auburn Jeep-A-Trench is mounted on the back. One of the fellows is wearing overalls with “Lincoln City Line, Inc.” (Bus/Transit Company) on the back, a company that was based in Lincoln, Nebraska. Meanwhile, Auburn Machine Works was based out of Auburn, Nebraska. So, I’d wager that this photo was taken somewhere in Eastern Nebraska, probably in 1947 or 1948.
The Burke-Schneider Motor Company out of Lincoln, Nebraska, was also involved in this event. The company had a Willys dealership, which explains the fellow in the center with his white overalls. As early as December of 1946 Burke-Schneider was advertising the new CJ-2A (perhaps earlier, but I have no evidence).
This is one I’ve bid on a few times, but never seem to get. At some point I will.
View all the information on eBay
“Vintage Willys Jeep Firetruck Brochure CJ2 CJ3 as pictured. Condition is Used. Shipped with USPS First Class Package. Thanks for looking. Let us know if you have any questions”
Reproduction sign? With over 1 hour to go the auction is only at $162 (plus $33.80 shipping).
View all the information on eBay
“Used Previously displayed Jeep Willys lighted sign Sign. Silk screen lens with metal ribbed frame. Measures 37x3x10.5 inches. Recently purchased with other Mopar related items. Has wood backing and the light source is a tubular bulb. Tested in working condition. Has newer cord. Ships priority insured ”
Here’s another example of MacArthur visiting the troops.
View all the information on eBay
“Press Photo Douglas MacArthur Jeep Shown forward Area troop Lloyd Lehrbas. This is an original press photo. Douglas MacArthur, in his 4 star Jeep Shown During a visit of his troops in a forward Area, Photo measures 10 x 8.25inches. Photo is dated 02-02-none.”
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Originally Published August 27, 2017
“1944- General Douglas MacArthur, Supreme Allied Commander of the Pacific, in his four-star jeep on a visit of his troops in a forward area in New Guinea on his birthday. General Robert Eichelberger is driving the jeep and his acting aide Colonel Lloyd Kehrbas is in back.”
Dale Model Co. Cast model jeep
Our normally dull lives were upended last week as a neighbor dog we watched during the day passed away, then our dog Zollie suffered a slipped disc, meaning he needs some special attention, and one of Ann’s relatives suddenly landed into the middle of a messy divorce, with Ann lending a hand in that process.
Amongst all of that, on Wednesday I spotted an unusual model jeep for sale for only $15. The seller lived a few hours away from me in Portland, so I expressed interest and sent her an email, asking if she could mail it. A 67-year-old woman named Jan responded with an email explaining that it was her deceased husband’s jeep and that she has some medical issues that would prohibit her from mailing it. This led to more emails between us, as it took me a while to identify the jeep (A Dale Model Co. jeep, which is a derivative of a Fromburg model jeep). As we got to know each other better, I decided to drive to Portland and meet her. She just seemed like a nice person.
I ended up spending a couple hours with Jan, learning about her much older husband (he was born in 1914), about his teenage years working in the CCC in Oregon, his Navy experience in Hawaii during WWII building plane hangars and his long work as an engineer with the city of Portland, erecting buildings, parks and fountains.
We also walked through some of the stuff she has left to sell (she’s downsizing), most of which isn’t really worth much. However, she does have an cool machete from her husband that has a leather sheath. I had a suspicion that it might be something of value, as it has a great weight to it. She was willing to give it to me and have me pay her once we figured out a value. I told her I was concerned that it was quite valuable and beyond my budget, but I took some pics and promised I would figure out what it was.
#128 Collins & Sons Legitimus Machete and a #13 Leather Scabarrd.
Last night when I returned home I did some research, discovering the machete is a Collins & Sons Legitimus 27″ Machete #128 with a number #13 leather scabbard. It was likely made around 1941. Values range from up to a couple hundred dollars, though that’s someone’s asking price on eBay. I reported my findings to her and we struck a fair deal, one that includes returning to Portland to help her with some more of her stuff.
So, in the end, that little $15 jeep will cost me more than $200 after gas, food and the cost of the machete! But, helping someone out and making a new friend seems worth the cost.
Size comparison between the Al-toy CJ-2A and the Dale Model Co WWII jeep.
UPDATE: **SOLD** Was $3800.
Has working neon.
“Willys Jeep porcelain sign with an original can single sided. 70″ X 35″ X 10″. No touch ups.”
UPDATE: There is a French version of this brochure as well.
I bought this brochure years ago. I’m glad I did, because I think I’ve only seen one other appear on eBay. The is high on my list of favorites. It’s a high quality print job on textured paper. The downside of the textured paper is that I had to manipulate the images to turn them into decent scans, but doing so made the yellows brighter than they ought to be.
Curiously, the brochure also includes the new ‘Hockey Stick’ style 2-Wheel Drive Wagon, along with solid windshields, but doesn’t mention that the design is new or anything about ‘Maverick’. But, it does indicate the FCs are “new”. Given the photo of the Paris factory on the back, and the nod to the Willys Export Company, this may have been a European focused brochure (the English version … there is a French version, too).
UPDATE II: There’s a reference to the shield in a 1943 Tech manual (pg 23). Still no part number.
UPDATE: Another heat shield on an industrial WWII L-134 spotted today (at bottom).
Barney Goodwin from Barney’s Jeep Parts shared a pic of this rare heat shield (he has several in his parts inventory). It mounts between the carb and the intake manifold. We’ve been trying to document a part number, pics, or other evidence of its use. The only evidence so far are two industrial engines with heat shields.
Here’s the heat shield Barney has in stock. Anyone have a part number for this?
As sometimes happens, when I know what to look for, things sometimes pop up. In this case, after writing this post, I ran across a WWII Industrial engine for sale in Santa Cruz that has a heat shield installed. It’s hard to tell how far the wing sticks out.
When searching the industrial equipment archives, an image from 2015 of a civilian industrial engine with a heat shield with a heat shield popped up. The wing is more easily seen. Whether this heat shield is the same as Barney’s or not I couldn’t say for sure:
This Navy unit is powered by a L-134 with a heat shield:
I believe these two CJ-3B brochures were put out in 1954. The red one was published initially, followed by the yellow one, which was printed without the KW logo and other minor changes.
This revised version of the CJ-3B brochure was also printed in 1954.
UPDATE: There’s an update here on Cookie Monster’s Foodie Truck (and associated items for sale).
Thanks to Gayland for spotting this Sesame Street FJ-3 fleet van that was made into Cookie Monster’s Foodie Truck. You can learn more about the show and the truck on the Muppet Fandom Page: https://muppet.fandom.com/wiki/Cookie_Monster%27s_Foodie_Truck
There is both a two dimensional fake FJ-3 and a three dimensional real FJ-3. This is obviously the fake one:
And here are two photos of the real one:
From the Today Show: https://www.today.com/food/cookie-monster-gets-new-cooking-show-sesame-street-t117690
This photo is from the Muppet Fandom page: https://muppet.fandom.com/wiki/Cookie_Monster%27s_Foodie_Truck
In an episode of Buttermilk Biscuits and Honey, the FJ-3 makes a brief appearance at the start of the show (it likely appears in others, but I don’t have the time to watch them all):
