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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 .
Joseph Morton’s description of his jeep trip from Bathhurst, Gambia, to Dakar, French West Africa, was published in the Evening Star, December 26, 1942. Fun fact: I got to know a Gambian ambassador to the US and was invited to Gambia to help work on a school’s computer system back in 2002, but other priorities kept me from going.
Bathhurst is now known as Banjul, Gambia’s capital city. French West Africa is now Senegal. This map *might* be close to the route taken:
Now for the article:
UPDATE II: It appears there were two models of the Cargo-Personnel Carrier. One brochure shows that the Willys-Overland Export Company was the only entity offering this no-door Cargo-Personnel Carrier internationally (no mention of “Willys Motors” on the end of the last page of the brochure, but the bottom brochure’s last page shows both names). Here are the brochures’ cover pages side by side:
Both are currently listed on eBay. Here’s the first:
View all the information on eBay
UPDATE: This is a complete Willys Cargo-Personnel Carrier brochure.
View all the information on eBay
UPDATE: **SOLD** Was FREE.
I’m no expert on these, but I think the correct hardtop should provide gas inlet access on the driver’s side? See this pic for an example: http://www.warwheels.net/M151muttHARDTOPLEONG.html . But, hey, it’s free!
“This ad is for a hardtop for an M151 army jeep. It is on the jeep and it will need to be removed. Call and arrange a time to take this away.”
UPDATE: The bottom clip seems to have been a small part of this nearly eight-minute clip of the Ford GPs being rolled off the line for the QMC. Some of this video we’ve seen and some we haven’t. This was the first batch of 400 Ford GPs, delivered March 19, 1941 (which was part of the first contract of 1500 Ford GPs).
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Originally posted September 7, 2018:
The video only lasts 23 seconds, but it’s the only one I’ve seen of Ford GPs leaving the factory:
A May 1939 article shown below from Boy’s Life adds to the evidence that the use of the term Jeep existed prior to the introduction of the Bantam BRC in September of 1940.
By November 1940, the term “jeep” was being applied to the Bantam jeep (and/or the Willys Quad, delivered in mid-November), according to court records, months before the delivery of the Ford “GP” model in March of 1941 ((the Ford Pygmy was delivered to Holabird near the end of November of 1940).
To me this opens up a question. Was the P=80″ wheel base a chance coincidence? Or was Ford cognizant that the new 4×4 vehicles were being called jeeps, so they purposefully took advantage of that to use the “P” to spell the onomatopoeia-initialism “gp” or “geepee” or “geep” as part of the delivery contract? I suppose Ford had a designation that O=70″ wheel base and Q=90″? If so, I’ve not personally seen those designations documented.
Now, modern articles call the Pygmy the “Pygmy GP-1” (or similar), giving it credit for being the first Ford GP. But, I have yet to see any documentation that Ford or anyone else was calling the Pygmy a “GP”.
In fact, two articles from 1940 indicate the new Ford recon car is called only a Pygmy and that more pygmies will be delivered in the future. See the middle and right column articles on this page (http://www.memorialmuseum.org/displaysmilitary-jeeps/item/ford-pygmy) (note that the 1969 article on the left hand side of the page does designate the vehicle GP-1, but again, that’s a much later article).
My guess is that the GP designation was more strategic than the innocent explanation of G=”Government” and P=80″ suggests. I’d welcome evidence showing the Pygmy was labeled a FORD GP from any kind of article or document from the late 1940s. (maybe this issue has been hashed out previously and I’m late to the party???)
In the meantime, here’s the Boy’s Life article (you can read it online).
This vintage GI Joe commercial includes a real jeep and jeep driver who attests to GI Joe’s accuracy.
The May/June 1960 issue of the California Highway and Public Works department periodical included an article of a survey of the Sierra Highway that included a CJ-5 and a wagon.
http://libraryarchives.metro.net/DPGTL/Californiahighways/chpw_1960_mayjun.pdf
Carl shared this photo of a jeep garage that he said was making the rounds on Linked-In. I have too many tools and not enough organization (or wall space) to do this. And, I can’t let Ann see this or she’ll start organizing my tools on walls!!
If you ever feel like there’s a lot of stuff on eWillys, you’d be correct. We’ve just passed the 50,000 post mark. This includes the fact that I’ve deleted roughly several thousand posts over the past few years as I try to clean up or eliminate old posts that have no value (such as those that lack photos) and mark others sold.
Side note: There are also 63,000+ comments and 6.5 million blocked spam comments since eWillys began.
This upcoming expedition in mid-february of 2019 has a couple slots open for vintage jeeps. Thanks to Blaine for sharing it.
“**** UPDATE**** We have 2 spots that opened up for the full event, but if you want to join the one day snow stage of the Expedition, we start at The Crossroads Cafe, 6032 Grizzly Flat Road, Somerset CA. Be convoy ready at 9. Drivers meeting at 9:30 Saturday Feb 16th. This is a full day in the elements, and we leave by 10.
The 21st Annual Vintage 4×4 Expedition is looking for 10 more pre 1975 vehicles to embark on a 4 day back and logging road expedition. Vintage trucks, buggies, pre war speedsters, military vehicles, motorcycles and other means of vintage back country travel. Period correct pre 75 modifications only. We cap the entries at 40 vehicles, and provide starting locations and specifics to entrants only. This is a hosted semi private event. Be prepared to live out of your classic camping for an entire weekend in the worst weather the Sierras have to offer. Make sure your rig has tow points, recovery gear, and tire chains. This is not a casual run for nut and bolt correct parade vehicles. All vintage mountain equipment is welcome. We have very qualified mechanics, support and heavy off road recovery experience. Nobody will be stranded or left behind.
Day 1, Feb 14th : Thursday. Lafayette to Placerville via backroads.
Day 2: Friday. Foothills trails, vintage tractors, log skidding, tree falling, vintage chainsaws, coonhounds and the legendary Fri Night Bonfire. BYOB
Day 3: Saturday, Attempt to summit the Sierras by logging roads. A full day/ evening of driving in the snow. Return to base camp in Placerville.
Day 4: Sunday, Light trail runs, and break camp.
Willys Jeep 194* 195* 196* Dodge Power Wagon International Scout Land Rover Series Autocar Diamond T Coleman Halftrack Napco Marmon Herrington Land Cruiser”
Derek Redmond of the CJ-3B page shared these images from postcards on some European auction sites. It appears there are still 4×4 trips related to Canigou, which appears to be in the Pyrenean Mountains.
Roger shared this jeep-themed rocking chair that he saw on Facebook. Anyone know whose it is?
This article about Charles Sorenson was published in the Evening Star in conjunction with “My Life with a Jeep” on July 15, 1945. The issue also included a photo of the newly release CJ-2A (which didn’t scan well into black and white).
This February 08, 1945, cartoon published in the Roanoke Rapids Herald shares the tale of four GIs in Cape Glousester, New Britain.
This advertisement for Willys-Overland’s newest ‘Jeep’ Station Sedan was published April 18, 1948, in the Sunday Star.
That looks like a big trailer for that wagon. It must have tested the brakes.
View all the information on eBay
“A Vintage printed postcard as described in title
Publisher-photographer-Artist—Petley”
UPDATE: Terry pointed out that this same vehicle, a SPEN self-sustaining motion picture unit, appears in a Willys Industrial Equipment book brochure. Here it is below:
Talk about a rare jeep. Anyone ever seen one of these (if there are any left). It’s a specially outfitted jeep for the State Department for carrying the story of America to the world. The first pics below were from a September 1949 issue of Popular Science, while the newspaper article was carried in the Sunday Star on Sunday, April 17, 1949.
From the September 1949 issue of Popular Science:
From the Sunday Star, April 17, 1949:
This Beaver Lake Lodge CJ-5 in Marble, Colorado, was setup for tours. I wished there was a better photo of the jeep.
View all the information on eBay
“This is a Vintage Original Postcard, all the cards we sell are in VG or better condition, there are no tears or creases, unless otherwise noted in the item description. The MATCHSETS mark on the listing image is an online watermark only, never on the original item you will receive . All the postcards listed are STANDARD SIZE CARDS 5 1/2″ by 3 1/2″ unless otherwise noted”
The local Denver CBS Affiliate covered the Our Gang Ice Racers.
This ad for a ‘Jeep’ Caravan was published in The Wilmington Morning Star on November 04, 1947.
Colin spotted this Surrey-fied MB at Barrett Jackson yesterday. He also saw the “Tender” that was posted last month there.
This article was published in the May 20, 1941, issue of the Evening Star. It’s rare to see a Willys MA in newspaper photos.
This photo was published in the November 12, 1944, issue of the Evening Star.
This ‘One Versatile Vehicle for 1001 Jobs’ ad was published in the March 28, 1947, issue of the Wilmington Morning Star.
This is all for today (well this and the two videos below). We are still out camping.
These toy jeeps were part of the Seventh War Loan drive. Given the date this was published (July 19, 1945), could these have been the early Al-Toy jeeps?
And, here’s a video highlighting the Seventh War Loan Drive (that includes the Iwo Jima sculpture unveiling).
