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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 .
Searching for vintage Valentine Cards on eBay, I stumbled across this one that cracked me up. It’s not a jeep, but it seems appropriate for my wife (a former weapons specialist). It’s probably a better one than the card I got her (which I kind of got myself, since it will go back into my folders . . .lol . . . don’t worry, I’ll make it up to her).
Ted Jordan shared this cute photo of his girls on his 3B plow jeep. I bet those jeeps have been busy this year! The second photo shows a truck trapped by the snow.
Thanks to several readers who alerted me to some Ford GPA photos on eBay. After closer inspection (and a little studying) I learned this is not a SEEP and not built on the jeep chassis, but rather a vehicle called the Aqua Chetah built on a half-ton chassis and called a G552.
According to this Australian website, Roger W. Hofheins approached the US Military just prior to the US involvement in WWII about building an amphibious assault vehicle. Hofheins proceeded to create some designs and the Amphibian Car Corporation built them. According to Amphibiousvehicles.com, only four prototypes were built utilizing three different designs. As you can see in the photos below, its smooth front and cowl are quite a bit different than the GPAs. Its side profile isn’t as refined either.
There’s a neat video of one being tested in 1942 in Holabird, MD: http://www.criticalpast.com/video/65675068957_aqua-cheetah_moves-in-water_moves-on-a-road_a-sea-jeep
The Amphibian Car Co. was based in Buffalo, New York. At the Buffalo & Erie County Library is an eight page book published by the company. According to World Cat, there are also some archive information, including a newspaper article from 1941. If anyone has some time, it might be interesting to see what’s there.
1) First Photo for sale. View all the information on eBay
2) Second photo for sale. View all the information on eBay
3) Third photo for sale. View all the information on eBay:
More links, photos and information:
Bruce spotted this article on the BBC about Colombia’s Yipao Celebration. More pics at the website.
http://www.bbc.com/autos/story/20140211-little-jeeps-big-wheelies
Perfect for your next trip to Hawaii! This one is tempting. It’s just unusual enough . . . It reminds me of my Ford GP shirt.
“TORI RICHARD Rare Vintage Safari Jeep Lion Puma Mens Hawaiian Camp Shirt L
Short Sleeve – Button Down
Material: 100% Rayon
Color: Green, Brown, White, Other
1 Pocket on the chest
Care instructions: Machine washable
Pre-owned and in Very good to Excellent condition
Measurements were taken while laying flat – Approximate
Tag Size: L
Chest armpit to armpit: 25″
Length collar seam to bottom seam: 30.5″
Please see photos for more details
Comes from a smoke free environment”
View all the information on ebay
I suspect this couple was just married. You can’t say this woman didn’t know what she was getting herself into! Also, due to popular demand, I’ve added a “Women and Jeeps” Category.
View all the information on eBay
UPDATE: **SOLD** Was on eBay
Here’s another photo of a woman and a jeep.
This screams 1970s!
“VINTAGE 1970’s JEEP “TOP OF THE HEAP”
IRON ON T SHIRT TRANSFER
THIS IS A VERY OLD UNUSED 1970’S T-SHIRT TRANSFER.
I recommend taking it to a professional t shirt shop to have it properly applied with a press.”
View all the information on eBay
UPDATE: **SOLD** Was No Price
“Here I leave a novelty Exxxtreme cycles, this is a willys jeep as 1941.
Really, it’s like the same jeep, comes with spare tire, spare fuel tank, this Jeep has a 125cc engine is 3-speed, but it is not standard, is semi automatic, has very comfortable seats, light brake, front light, HYDRAULIC brakes, 4 stroke, do not have to mix gasoline with oil. Here we offer a one year warranty, is included engine, transmission, parts and labor. In addition, we have layaway plan, and financing.”
The 545th Military Police Company has seen action in a variety of places. Some of this history is captured in a “Pictorial History of Vehicles” page they’ve assembled. Naturally, there is a section on jeeps. Below are a few of the photos. See all the photos here: http://www.545thmpassn.com/Vehicles.htm
This 1949 color photo shows the yellow and black paint scheme:
545th MP Co. Yellow Jeep, Camp McNair, Japan 1949
I think the purpose of this vehicle is pretty obvious:
This jeep was utilized exclusively to escort VIPs’ and General Officers at Camp Drake Note the abundance of red lights and the siren
This photo shows a good view of the black striped hood:
545th MP Co yellow jeep at Camp Drake, Japan circa 1949
Some of the M-38A1s had an unusual paint scheme:
545th MP Co. Willys Jeep near Mt. Fuji, Japan 1954 – 1955 — M-38A1
Doron Segal from Israel shared these photos. In memory of his father, Doron has rebuilt a 1942 GPW with the number “4062”. His father served in the “Samson Foxes“.
The two photos below are from a fifteenth club event in Israel, 2010 (see more current photos here). Doron can be seen driving his GPW in the first one:
Here are some vintage photos. They jeeps shown are a mix of MB/GPWs, CJ-2As and a Lefty CJ-2A. It looks like the rear extension was a must-have modification. Note the number on the jeep in the first photo.
David Silberman forwarded this vintage jeep business card. He writes, “Here is a scan of a business card from a Willys dealer in the area. They (brothers Ike and Joe) were an associate dealer and were very good with parts and repair. They also had a Koenig backhoe on a Jeep truck, which they used to dig graves, among other uses.
We bought a 1953 Aero Ace from them in 1955, and in 1958 bought a 1947 CJ2A. The Aero cost $1,000 and we got 200,000 miles out of it. The CJ was $300. We kept it until we traded it for a new CJ5 in 1960. They went out of the Jeep business in the early 60’s. I attended the auction of the place about 8 years ago. Joe was still alive at that time.
This brochure that Marc found shows the CJ-3A employed in a variety of jobs. The use of the triangle in the illustration is interesting.
“This listing is for a vintage advertisement. It is an ad for Willys Overland Motors of Toledo Ohio and their universal Jeeps. The ad folds out like a small poster. There is a dealer address stamp on it. I am not positive but I believe this advertisement is from the 1930’s. It is filled with information and pictures from that time frame. It is roughly 17″ x 11″ when it is unfolded.”
View all the information on eBay
You may remember Ed Wilson’s father’s Egypt photos from yesterday. Well, Ed’s got a couple jeeps himself (a 1962 CJ-5 and a 1947 CJ-2A). Both have an unusual story.
Ed reports from Canada, “This is my first jeep that I got almost 20 years ago and have still not completed a restoration. Long story… but when I was buying it I was in the owners home looking at original photos in an album. I was very focused on the purchase and pictures, but then realized that I was in a room surrounded by gold records on the wall! It turns out, I was sitting on Bryan Adams bed in his bedroom of his family’s house. I ended up having a long talk with his mom and step dad.”
Here is the picture of my jeep with Bryan Adams step dad and his wife…not Bryan Adams mom the day of purchase. Note the winch.
This is after some use.
Now it’s ready for some work.
Ed’s second jeep is a 1947 CJ-2A. He writes, “My 47 cj2a has an interesting story as well. I purchased it from a guy that worked all his life in his dad’s jeep dealership. He has had a jeepster all his driving life and you can find a picture of it and his story in the link below. It is also a Kelowna jeep. His dad was named “Mr. Jeep” by Willys. You can learn more about “Mr. Jeep” by reading this story about “Mr. Jeep’s” first Jeepster (that he still owns):
Charles forwarded these two photos of women in jeeps.
Actress and singer Marlene Dietrich can be seen in the first photo:
The second photo shows Ruth Cowan, a reporter during WWII.
This fun card was spotted on Etsy, but is no longer available for sale.
Marc found this rare card.
“USA Combat Units (R166) card. Nice condition example of an very desirable card from a popular and VERY tough series. Sharp corners, and NO CREASES!!!! This would be an excellent example for a “R” type set or an upgrade for almost any R166 set!!! I believe that the photos accurately show the card’s condition. A very nice example of a card from a popular and difficult-to-complete set. This card is a solid example and would be great for one who loves cards. The winning bidder is certain to be happy with their purchase!!! Ready for submission to PSA for a very high grade!!!”
View all the information on eBay
I think this is the first photo of the GPA production line that I’ve seen.
“1943 Press Photo Sea Jeep production fro the Army in Dearborn Michigan”
View all the information on eBay
UPDATE: I just picked this one up for $12.95 on eBay tonight. This is part of a series of “Back The Attack” Envelopes with different images. I’m still trying to determine what Goff’s full name was.
During WWII there were 8 different Public War Loan Drives. For the third War Loan Drive, or War Bond Drive, the Treasury department selected the theme “Back the Attack — Buy War Bonds.” The goal of the bond drive was to raise fifteen billion dollars.
This sold on eBay in January 2014 for $50.
Why do they load the jeep with people in it?
“1948 Press Photo Canadian jeep being loaded at Pearl Harbor”
View all the information on eBay
Ed Wilson wanted to share some unusual jeeps photos from Egypt. They were taken in 1962 by his father Captain Harry Wilson during his United Nations duties in Egypt, while serving with the Canadian Army.
Ed notes that a few years ago his father searched for a tiny place called Sharm el-Sheikh where Harry and a fellow officer served during 1962. Their job was to look after a desalination plant. Instead of locating the hut where the two of them and a local family that cooked for them had lived, Harry was blown away to discover a billion dollar resort. No doubt the hut and the family are long gone.
The “MIL-GOVT” painted on the front of this jeep’s windshield was interesting. This is the American First Army near the Roer River.jpg
I’d think this was a movie, except that the identifying numbers on this GPW are taped over on the hood and windshield.
This photo shows General Bradley handing a gun to Major Konev
You might remember that Ann and I visited the Shelburne Museum in June of 2013. According to this brochure, they used to have a jeep-train (which they called the museum barge). I’ll do some searches for more photos.
One here: Shelburne Museum Map on eBay
A second map here: Shelburne Museum Map on eBay
UPDATE: **SOLD** Was on eBay
This early 1950s postcard from Pensacola, Florida, shows a CJ-2A or CJ-3A turning onto Palafox Street, which was a main drag (still is?). I’ve not been to Pensacola . . . yet. Ann would like to do a drive down to the Florida Keys and back. We are probably a year or two away from that trip.
“THIS IS A NICE EARLY POSTCARD SHOWING DOWNTOWN PENSACOLA, FLORIDA, ON PALAFOX STREET FROM A LONG TIME AGO. I SEE THE RHODES BUILDING AND THEATER ON THE RIGHT, AND I CAN ALMOST MAKE OUT THE MARQUEE, BUT PARTS OF IT ARE NOT THERE. I SEE A HUGE BUILDING ON THE LEFT, WHICH OBVIOUSLY WAS A HOTEL,”
