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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. This section used to be split into jeeps, parts and other categories, but recent changes to eBay will require this information to be recoded.
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 .
Here’s an unusual item: Gladiator/Wagoneer Cuff Links and Tie Clip. The price is $25.
View all the information on eBay
UPDATE: Steve obtained copies of article #2, so now this list is complete!
Nine years ago there was a post about “Jivin up the Jeep”, which referenced a series of articles in Mechanix Illustrated Magazine. At that time, I could only locate articles #3 and #4. Steve Zamell just shared the earliest of the four with me (Thanks!). And, I found a poor image of article #2 So, below you’ll find information about all four articles.
According to the information on this Modern Mechanic Post, the October and November 1946 issues of Modern Mechanic magazine each included an article titled “Jivin up the Jeep” that shares various modifications. Those articles were a big hit across the US, as readers from all over sent in follow up suggestions and ideas. That led to an additional two articles, one in April of 1947 and one in November of 1947. I’ve shown the pictorial portions of the articles below. There’s additional content on the 1947 links.
From October 1946 Part I – A few Jeep ideas:
From November 1946 Part II – I just bought a cheap issue of this magazine. I’ll update these poor pics found on a current eBay ad once I receive my copy of the magazine. Looks like this article covers the creation of a custom hardtop:
From April 1947: Custom Tops
A big thanks to Ted Jordan for making and sharing these scans. When Hubart A. Kelly initially purchased the D. L. Beck Manufacturing Company, which produced CJ-2A hardtops, initially the cab company was called Kemco. At the time Beck was still a working partner at the company. This rare four-page brochure was produced at that time. Not too much later, Kemco was officially became the Kelly Manufacturing Company and Kemco disappeared.
These are the interior two pages.
This is the Dealer’s Confidential Price list:
And here is what the rest of us would likely have paid:
Ted Jordan also shared this early Kelly Manufacturing Hardtop Brochure. Note that the brochure mentions Kemco on the front page, which suggests this was printed shortly after the name was changed to Kelly.
Bob Christy has announced that the Spring Reunion has been pushed back to June 19-20. Depending on how COVID-19 events unfold, there may be further alterations or even outright cancellation of the event. So, stay tuned!
http://www.willysreunion.com/swr20.htm
“Due to the current COVID-19 Restrictions…
The Spring Reunion is now Re-Scheduled to June 19-20, 2020
I spoke with the hotel and they are working with minimal staff under the current restrictions put in place by the State of Ohio.
The person I spoke to (Frank) was going to move all of the room reservations to the new dates. If you cannot make it to the show on the new dates and need to cancel your room there will be no penalty.
If you have already registered for the show, your registration is still valid, so you need to do nothing.
As of right now, the show will go on as planned, however, state restrictions in place at the time of the show may force us to make decisions on:
Dinner
Guest Speaker
T shirts
outright cancellationIt’s our sincere hope that by June everything will be back to normal and we can hold the show as planned, but of course like everyone else, we will not know that for many more weeks.
On Behalf of everyone that helps to run this show, including Art, Mindy, Jpet, Scott, Kevin, Bill, and myself we wish all of you health and happiness during this time and we hope to see you all soon.
I won this book on eBay the other day. With more than 450 pages, the book is full of photos, history, and stories related to thirty years of the Jeepers Jamboree, the Rubicon trail trip that became an annual event. This particularly edition includes signatures of Mark Smith (founder of the Jeepers Jamboree) and Peg Presba (the book’s author).
There’s another copy of this book for sale on Amazon, but it’s more than what I paid.
This lead pencil with a floating jeep was another eBay find from the same seller of the Jeepers Jamboree. It’s inscribed with Willys-Overland. The pic below is extra large so you can see the inscription and the jeep detail.
Bob Le Marchant’s militarized CJ-2A
Bob Le Marchant discovered eWillys last month. Now 72, below he shares some tales with his beloved CJ-2A.
Bob started jeeping at age 17. His ‘crazy neighbour’s’ father (an ex-submarine captain) ran a yellow Ford Jeep. He dearly wanted one too, but ended up with a 1946 CJ-2A. It was not only his first jeep, but also Bob’s very first vehicle. Metamet, a British company that offered a wide variety of modified WWII jeeps, soon became his central place for purchasing spare parts. He loved going up to London and finding Daleham Mews.
The CJ-2A, being his first vehicle, was what he used to pass his driving test (the tester spent the whole test reading the dash plates and talking about Jeeps … he had driven jeeps in the war). As a teenager, Bob discovered there were two sorts of girls: the ones who looked crest fallen and said ” Oh, shame it isn’t a little sports car”, and those who said “Wow!! Where shall we go in that!”
After graduating as a mining engineer (he proudly notes that Ben Carlin was one too), he shipped his Jeep out to South Africa to work. For a while he worked near Johannesburg in what was then the second deepest mine in the world at 11,700 feet. Bob wrote that, “At that depth the intrinsic rock has a hydraulic pressure: the floor is as much likely to burst up as the roof fall down. Square tunnels soon become circular as shards come off. The natural rock temperature is 150 degrees or so, with 100% humidity. Heat stroke was the main killer down there. Everything he has ever done since then has been a “piece of piss!”
Later, in the 1970’s, he DROVE his jeep back to the UK to do work a job blasting a tunnel for the Ffestiniog Railway in Wales. However, to get to Wales, he had to take the long way because, due to politics, he couldn’t get north of Kenya, so he shipped his jeep to Bombay, then drove northwest via Kyber Pass and Istanbul. The adventure was a trip of a lifetime.
“This Jeep has travelled,” he noted. Unfortunately, his ex-wife has all the pics.
Currently, he lives in Devon in South West England. His longtime CJ-2A is still a very road worthy, nearly everyday vehicle. The engine uses a Hotchkiss block. He also has a Metamet dash plate on the wall. He loves his jeep!
Latest news: March 25-28, 2021
Is the newest planned date for the last and final Phoenix FC-Roundup
Andrea and I are really hoping that by then our World is cured of the Coronavirus.
Thank you for your understanding. Andrea and I, personally invite all owners and friends of Jeep Forward Controls and FleetVans to this ‘Most Excellent’ International event. There is no charge to attend this event. All parking on this property is limited to Jeep FC and Jeep FJ only Vehicles, first come Street parking for all others.
During this extended weekend, you can expect to see and learn more by talking to other owners, take lots of pictures. Bring your imagination and any FC related items to display, such as toys, memorabilia, photos, artwork, manuals, literature, magazines with FC articles, and even a few FC related tools will be on display.
See also new FC reproduction parts and event items, hats and T-shirts will be available for you to buy. We welcome and we are always very grateful for any FC related donation for the Saturday afternoon free raffle. Also on Saturday afternoon are the free XXL BBQ Hot Dogs with chips and chili pinto beans and much more. Free daily refreshments all the time.
One of the best things that happens everyday is that you get to drive your own FC or ride with someone, daily we have FC group driven cruising and go out to breakfast and out to dinner. We also offer pickup and deliver transportation to and from the light rail, that connects to the Phoenix International Airport Terminals.
Start making your GCU Motel or any local reservations now. For any additional questions. Please call, text or email. Jesse or Andrea (602) 321-3675 m677jeep@cs.com
UPDATE: Blaine spotted a post that provides more background on the Joe Donham and a pic of how it looked as of 2006.
http://berkeleyheritage.com/eastbay_then-now/roadside.html
According to the website post,
Joseph B. Donham (1895–1982), who followed Warren at this location, was general sales manager for the Val Strough organization in the 1930s before striking out on his own. After running a used car dealership in Oakland, he opened an authorized Willys dealership at 2747 San Pablo Avenue, being the first tenant to lease the new showroom. Donham’s Willys dealership operated here from 1953 through 1956. After the car maker ceased production, Donham switched to selling used cars at this location and ran the Dalton & Norton Chrysler dealership in San Leandro. According to his son, Joseph Donham, Jr., Donham owned several East Bay used car dealerships while working as general manager of S&C Ford in San Francisco.
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Originally published in Feb of 2012: This image shows a Willys Dealership in the East Bay area near Oakland, Ca. Donham’s Willys dealership operated from 1953 through 1956.
