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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 .
Joe spotted these online directions out of the UK for building a ride-on mower.
http://www.instructables.com/id/Gas-petrol-powered-jeep-from-ride-on-mower/?ALLSTEPS
Speaking of jeep mowers, Bob spotted this unusual jeep-looking mower.
UPDATE: Harry Warholak’s father built a Sidewalk Jeep from the plans in Popular Mechanics when he was a kid in Detroit. Ten years ago he restored it. It spent a year at the Chrysler Museum. Now he’s interested in selling it. You can contact him at 586-996-4103 if interested. He’s located in Georgia.
PREVIOUS POST (February 2013): This kids jeep design was published in the January, 1948, issue of Popular Mechanics and available for free at Google. It is powered by an electronic motor. It looks as difficult to build than a standard jeep! The notes added to this particular issue are interesting, too. The top note appears to reference a 1949 Christmas Handbook that might also include these drawings.
View issues of Popular Mechanics, January 1948, for sale on eBay
The folks at ExtremeTerrain.com asked me to share their jeep giveaway information:
ExtremeTerrain and Barricade Off-Road have just unveiled Project Trail Force, a $70,000+ Supercharged 2015 Jeep Wrangler. The big reveal took place this morning at Bantam Jeep Heritage, where it is leading the World’s largest Jeep Parade! Best of all, ExtremeTerrain also revealed that they will be giving the Jeep Wrangler away to one lucky winner, and awarding the vehicle at SEMA 2015 in Las Vegas, Nevada.
http://www.extremeterrain.com/jeep-wrangler-project-trailforce-giveaway.html
UPDATE: Hard to believe it has been almost three years since I published this post!
I discovered these directions for the Muller Custom Top in the August 1965 issue of Four Wheeler Magazine that we’ve seen on nicely modified Fresno area Jeeps. I’m considering building one of these for Biscuit and selling my Kayline.
Page 40 (last page of article) below:
UPDATE: I still haven’t seen one of these for sale, on or off a jeep.
Here’s a rare ad for a Dualmatic Top. I knew they made hubs, but didn’t know they made tops.
UPDATE: Not many of these winches around.
While going through some old Four Wheeler Magazines, I came across two different ads for a McCain Hub Winch. As best as I can tell, you attach it to the front hub, wind a cable or rope around it, and then start the front wheels turning, which would pull the jeep forward. Also, the February 1969 issue of Four Wheeler Magazine has an article about the winch, but the seller wants $25 for it. I’ll wait until the price drops.
This first pic is an ad for the winch:
This second pic shows an ad for Chachua’s Four Wheel Drive Center. If you see #2, you can read about the hubs:
This 1959 advertisement was placed in the December 27, 1959 issue of the Toledo Blade.
The King family has been taking annual family trips over the last five years. You can see some pics from last year’s trip here.
Jason King writes, Last Saturday was our 5th Annual Jeep Rally through Parke County Indiana. We enjoyed a 30 mile trip through the countryside, visited a Amish leather and saddle shop, road go karts and finished up with a campfire cookout.
Not the best photo of the posse.
“1947 Press Photo Bountiful Utah Jeep posse of deputy sheriffs check for fires
This is an original press photo. Photo measures 9.25 x 7inches. Photo is dated 09-30-1947.”
View all the information on eBay
Seth spotted this club patch for sale. I tried to find a website related to this club, but didn’t have any luck. The price is crazy!
http://www.ebay.com/itm/151707146319
This 1955 photo highlights the use of a CJ-5 to pickup golf balls at a driving range.
Apparently the Heinz Center in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, hosted celebrated D-Day festivities by hosting WWII vehicles, including some jeeps.
No pics provided.
“JEEP dealer sign,1970’s.this is an original sign that was once illuminated from behind,It is missing the centre out of the ‘P’ but this can be fixed with paint or vinyl.approx 5 ft and 3 ft height.Collectors item $75 No offers !! So please don’t ask.”
http://fortmyers.craigslist.org/col/clt/5062405712.html
<– Day 52 – Tue. Jun. 2nd: Navigating the Book Cliffs | TRIP OVERVIEW –>
We spent Wednesday with my kids to celebrate my upcoming 50th birthday June 5th.
June 3rd Dinner at Del Mar al Lago in Salt Lake City.
Like all good things, this amazing Texas tour had to come to an end. So, thursday morning we left Salt Lake at 2:30am. In a funny coincidence, while driving through Boise at 7am, my cousin passed us on I-84 on his way to work. Ann was driving at the time, while I was napping, when he sped quickly by us. He recognized us as he passed, so he sent me a text, telling us ‘good morning’ and apologizing that he was ‘late for work’. Then off he went.
Small world.
We arrived in Pasco six hours later, ending our54-day trip after 10,113 miles of driving. Thanks to everyone who made it a fun, interesting, education, and entertaining time!
Friday is my 50th birthday. I’ve got posts scheduled for the next couple days, so I’ll be able to take some time off and get a massage :-). That’s a good way to start the second half of my century.
<– Day 52 – Tue. Jun. 2nd: Navigating the Book Cliffs | TRIP OVERVIEW –>
I ran across the ad on Craiglist. Learn more here.
“Grand Mesa Jeep Club is putting on the biggest off road show and swap meet in Western Colorado, this weekend.
Date : Saturday, June 6th, 2015
Time : 9AM – 4PM
Location: Mesa County Fairgrounds, 2785 US Hwy 50, Grand Junction, CO 81503
Admission: Free”
Today we did a few things around Salt Lake and then enjoyed some Peruvian food with my kids. One the drive home we ran across an automobile shop called the Kar Klinic. In the parking lot were jeeps and in a back lot were jeeps. There were several references to jeep repair with shop rates at $65.
Roger Martin captured some of the farm jeep events at last weekend’s Willys Jeep Rally at Hueston Woods State Park in south west Ohio.
Roger writes, These were taken at Green Pasture Farms,owned by John and Phyllis Ittel. Many of the working Jeeps are theirs. Rick Riley (one of the event organizers owns the backhoe w/blade and others).
The Ittel’s Jeeps have a license plate with their names. The first is John’s Jeep using a post hole digger:
A 3 point hitch w/scoop and a green hydraulic pump is running on John’s red CJ-3B:
Great bit of history.
“WWII Women Auto Mechanics of U.S. Army Ordnance Division with Jeep Press Photo”
UPDATE: Was on eBay.
This is the brochure that’s printed on newspaper.
“This is a 1944 1945 Willys Overland CJ2 CJ-2A brochure. This is printed on a news paper like paper. It is 71 years old and shows its age but in very good condition. There are no major tears or holes and would make a great display piece. This is a very rare brochure. If you have a VEC (Very Early CJ) and would like to collect the print material this is one you don’t want to miss. I’m only selling my collection because of personal matters. It’s better to sell the brochures than the jeep.”
<– Day 51 – Mon. Jun. 1st: Black Canyon of the Gunnison | TRIP OVERVIEW | Day 53-54 – June 3rd-4th: The Journey Home –>
Intrepid photographer at work.
There’s an area of eastern Utah just north of I-70 called the Book Cliffs that has remained pretty remote. On Tuesday, I decided to go from I-70, north along dirt roads through the Book Cliffs, in hopes of reaching State Highway 40, which crosses Utah from Salt Lake City to Vernal. The biggest problem I had was that my 50-page Utah map marked non-paved roads with dashes and the dashes, as they intersected at odd angles, made the map’s roads tough to read. In addition, the roads weren’t marked well on the map. So, I expected it might be a challenge.
Overall route.
Closeup of our route across the remote planes and up the book cliffs.
On Tuesday we left later than planned, due to my sleeping in. We traveled west on I-70 from Grand Junction until we reached the exit for Mack, Colorado. From there, we followed State Highway 6 hoping to find a road called the Book Cliffs Ridge Road, which we never found because Colorado didn’t mark the road that way. Instead, they used some number that didn’t appear on any of the maps we had. Still, by process of elimination, we figured out which road was the Book Cliffs Ridge road.
Entering the cliffs.
<– Day 49-50 – May 30th-31st: Last Dollar & Madonna | TRIP OVERVIEW | Day 52 – Tue. Jun. 2nd: Navigating the Book Cliffs –>
A photo of the diligent photographer at rim’s edge fixing the camera (for me) at Warner Point.
Our destination today was Grand Junction, Colorado.
Today we drove from Gunnison, Colorado, to Grand Junction, Colorado.
Driving out of Gunnison this morning we spotted two jeeps right away, a CJ-3A in poor condition and a CJ-3B in drivable condition.
After the photos, we drove for Black Canyon of the Gunnison National Park, a place I’ve been wanting to go for ever since I lived in Utah (more than a decade ago).
<– Day 48 – Fri. May 29th: Pikes Peak International Raceway | TRIP OVERVIEW | Day 51 – Mon. Jun. 1st: Black Canyon of the Gunnison –>
Saturday May 30th we spent in Colorado Springs. On Sunday, May 31st, we began our trek westward. My goal for the day was to get a better sense of the family mines so that I can write the imagery correctly for my upcoming book.
Today we drove from Colorado Springs to Gunnison.
Our first quest of the day was for fudge. Not just any fudge mind you, but salted carmel fudge. My wife has been pining for some well-made salted carmel fudge ever since we bought some from the Alamo in San Antonio. I thought it was time to find some for her, so the first stop of the day was at Goldminers Nuts and Candy in Manitou Springs. Their fudge turned out to be pretty good, but the salted carmel wasn’t quite as good as the Alamo’s. Still, we’ve been enjoying it :-).
After the fudge stop, we began our climb into the mountains. Colorado Springs is around 6500 feet, while the small mining town of Victor is around 10,000ft. So, up, up, up we drove. The one problem we encountered on the climb was that the closer we got to Victor the more threatening the rain clouds became.
As we approached Victor from the north, we came upon the entrance to the American Eagles Overlook and Historic Mine. The entrance isn’t obvious, but if you look for the entrance in the photo below you’ll be at the right place.
This rock marks the entrance to the American Eagle Mine overlook.
Follow this road to the very end. There, you will find a guard and a small shack. Give them your name and you can drive up to the overlook.
UPDATE: Marty happened to have sand blasted an exact copy of this rim today. It looks like Todd’s rim is a Firestone rim.
Original Post: Todd was wondering if anyone recognized this 11×15 rim or what vehicle it might have come from? It’s a 5×5.5 lug pattern.
