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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 book cover landed on Facebook. It appears there was an early (or original) edition publishe din 1952 without a jeep on the cover. The CJ-5 cover edition was published in 1960 (and possibly other years). I do not know if a jeep plays any role in the narrative.
1952: (can be found on Amazon for $14.59)
1960: A copy of this book can be found on eBay for $4.99 plus shipping:
I was going to post many more updates, but a hay baler breaking down put a stop to that (long story). More updates Sunday morning.
This weekend is the Willys Rally at Heuston Woods. Tom was kind enough to take some pics for us.
I’ve got the driver’s seat ready to mount once the cab is ready. I still need to get some seat belts, so I can add them.
I won’t be needing this FC Vacuum Wiper motor. Anyone need one? I don’t know how well it works (or not), so I would just ask you pay for shipping. It includes the cable and the mounting bolts (not shown). I don’t know how the FC vacuum wiper motor differs from other jeep vacuum motors, if they are different at all.
More progress made, as the passenger seat bracket holes were drilled (studs were rusted) and the stock brackets look appear to fit perfectly.
However the driver’s side holes, due to some previous patches and brittle metal, aren’t visible. So, I am attempting to estimate their location. The rough distance I measured is from the front of the hat channel bracket just behind where the seat posts rest to the seat brackets shown below. The 16 1/4 inches might be a little short. Anyone have the correct measurement for a circa 1960 FC-170?
Here is the driver’s seat from underneath, per Will’s question:
Here’s an example from another FC-170 with the same brackets (from this post):
Passenger seat:
UPDATE: Blaine shared this Ghost Army image of a jeep that appeared on the Messynessychic.com blog back in 2015.
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Original post March 13, 2021: This pic reminds me of the Ghost Army documentary I mentioned back in 2019. The photo below shows a combled-together fake jeep. I’m still hoping to find some better photos of a Ghost Army inflatable jeep. Dummy tank photos are much easier to find. The photo was taken November of 1944 in Wongabel, Queensland, Australia.
This photo appeared on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/groups/2382510764/permalink/10158078411510765/
This is an unusually haunting postcard with a jeep. The original was painted in 1945 by Donald Friend (see image at the bottom).
View all the information on eBay
“THE JEEP FERRY 1945 AUSTRALIAN WAR MEMORIAL CANBERRA ACT ART CARDS POSTCARD”
Original art:
This may be sold soon, as there was a note from eBay that someone had this in their cart, but it could be a ‘make offer’ situation. No matter, still an unusual card with a jeep. It is currently priced at $18.95.
View all the information on eBay
“Postcard with corner and edge wear. Also has some creasing in left corners.”
Here’s a jeep postcard based on prototype jeep from Camp Croft. There were several other postcards of real prototypes related to Camp Croft that were also issued.
View all the information on eBay
“WWII Era Camp Croft South Carolina Parachute Battalion, The Jeep Patrol Vintage Postcard”
Some pics from this weekend’s progress. The first is the completion of the flip-down fuse box. Fuse boxes often have to be put in awkward locations, so I thought I would try a flip down box, which stays hidden most of the time, but can be dropped down with a single long pin removed (still need to make that pin, but the two small bolts do the trick for pics).
I really don’t know how well this will work, but figured it was worth a try.
A closer look at the fuse box bracket. The hinges are some kind of cabinet door hinge (I think); Dad had a container of these hinges for some unknown purpose.
Here are some pics of the accelerator brackets. The one on the left acts as a guide for the accelerator cable (the red/green wire is a stand-in for that. The left bracket also acts as an anchor point for the spring. The right bracket rotates, in this perspective, clockwise when the pedal is depressed. The bolt and spring acts as an adjustable stopper for fine tuning.
Not the best pic, but this shows how the gas pedal connects to the hem joint, how it goes through the floor, and how it then connects with the cam bracket.
This brochure from Canada is from CS 5-57X. There was a US domestic form CS 5-57, but it was very different.
This is the front of the flyer:
This is the back:
The brochure opens vertically into this:
The brochure then opens horizontally into this:
This shows the back fully opened:
This Canadian version of Form No. 59-03 highlights the “Maverick” model, while the US Domestic version did not (see example at bottom).
Here’s a comparison between the Canadian and US Form No. 59-03: (sorry for the poor quality of the right image .. it turns out I don’t actually have that brochure)..
UPDATE II: Here’s another, similar ‘streamlined’ jeep posted by Mike Haines on Facebook. Note that this one appears to use a standard windshield and, thus, has a flatter cowl than the ones seen below:
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UPDATE FROM Jan 7, 2021: This post has been updated with a better version of the video:
The photos below are snapshots from the above video. They resemble the jeep shown below that was built by Wayne K. Pike. It was built by members of the 9th Service Squadron at the 13th Army Air Base on the island of Moratai. Note that it has a chrome/stainless trim strip absent from the car featured in the Popular Mechanics article below.
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ORIGINAL POST FEBRUARY 11, 2013: You can view the entire Popular Mechanics’ issue on Google.
Dec 1945 Popular Mechanics Page 6 Streamlined Jeep
Dec 1945 Popular Mechanics Page 72 Jeep with Odd Body
Dec 1945 Popular Mechanics Page 77 Men using Jeep like a plow horse
Dec 1945 Popular Mechanics Page 73 Men us jeep to fix propeller
Dec 1945 Popular Mechanics Page 70 Fixing Jeep Frame
This postcard documents a group of International Harvester Scouts that were transformed into off-road tour vehicles. They operated out of Lyons, Colorado.
View all the information on eBay
“Jeep Tours Postcard Peaceful Valley Lodge Guest Ranch Colorado CO PM 1974”
Here’s a unique piece of engine culture that Nick is selling.
https://www.facebook.com/marketplace/item/998037391666684/
“This is a once in a lifetime opportunity to own perhaps the highest hp Willys F134 head in the world. This was custom designed for swamp buggy racing in Naples, FL. Due to its unoriginal nature, this head was deemed illegal and could not race in the sanctioned event.
Includes:
-Custom made F134 engine head
-Down draft F134 manifold setup
-ARP head studs for the majority of the setup
It features four individual intake runners to feed the engine. Oversized titanium valves. I have video of this setup revving to 7500 rpm.
This engine head feeds necessary air and power to make the most out of the Willys engine. If you want to set the vintage horsepower record, here is your start.
My oldest son is up visiting from Utah for a few days (yeah!). Last weekend he summited Mt. Baker as part of a glaciering class, which gives him some experience on the wet western Washington snow (vs. the dry Utah snow).
RACE JEEP:
On Wednesday we got out the Race Jeep so we could loosen the steering a little (there was a slight bind that I’ve meant to correct for a while). The hope was that the stars would finally align and Ann and I could hit the Moonshiner’s race this weekend in Randall.
However, while driving the race jeep out on Wed I noticed some smoking from the engine (hood was off). We discovered some some oil (a few Tablespoons maybe) had splashed from the front passenger side lower engine corner area (still not sure where), that hit the radiator hose and front pumpkin as we were driving. I cleaned up the oil, but rain and a dead battery (another puzzle, as I have a battery disconnect) forced us to give up the search for the leak.
Later that evening, I looked for leaking oil under the racer, but saw nothing obvious (to me anyway).
On Thursday, the weather improved greatly, so after some chores we got out the racer and idled it, but didn’t see any flash of oil. So, we drove it around some. Once again, we spotted some excess oil on the radiator hose.
After some investigation, we figured out the oil was coming out a bolt hole in the block just above the mechanical fuel pump attachment point. I’m not all that familiar with Chev 350s, but a quick video showed me that a bolt needs to be there, so I don’t know why one isn’t there. Perhaps it fell off?? See pics below:
See top hole … I believe that should have a bolt. So, I’ll try that!
GLASSES UPDATE:
Meanwhile, the company making my new glass lens are still a few days away from shipping them, in part because, due to the prescription, they aren’t sure if they will fit my frames or not .. ugh. So, even without the oil issue, I wouldn’t be able to see the track well enough to race.
So, it all sucks, but such is life.
FC PROGRESS:
As for the FC, more progress was made. I cleaned up and painted the gas pedal linkage, so now it’s ready for installation. I also installed the gauges onto the bottom of the dash. I think the smaller size helps make them look less overwhelming vis-a-vis the dash. On the left side of the dash you might see an aluminum strip, which is a mockup for an angled bracket that will support the fuse box, which will rotate up when not being view (or so that’s the theory).
Located in San Francisco, this sign supposed hung at Sherpa’s Auto Parts. Pretty cool sign. 8′ x 4′
https://www.facebook.com/groups/227689400988963/posts/1857446118013275
“This sign is an awesome addition for any man cave. This sign hung in the Scherba’s Auto Parts Store on 32nd and Taraval Streets in San Francisco’s Sunset District for years before the store closed (currently the store is an O’Reilly’s). The sign is made from wood and is roughly 8 feet long and 4 feet wide.
This features a WWII era Jeep and the words “Military Jeep 1944” below the graphic. The price above is my “I don’t want to sell it” price so low ball offers will just be ignored.
I’m also open to trades of 50’s & 60’s porcelain automotive signs, Jeep grills, or street legal dirt bikes.”
I won this rare brochure off of eBay last week. I’ve never seen another one. Wagons, DJ-3As and FCs dominate the photos.
This is the front page. It is 8.75″ wide by 6.5″ tall:
The back page is blank:
It opens vertically to this size: 
Then opens horizontally to this:
And this view is fully opened at 17.5″ wide by 23.5″ tall:
This is the back fully opened:
In between various chores, I’ve completed the gas pedal linkage. It is most definitely a stronger setup and, to be honest, a bit of overkill, but it should hold up well. I will get some better pics when I tear it apart for some final clean up and paint.
Underneath, there is a bracket that secures the cable in place and provides a place to secure the spring. Forward of that is the cam. When the pedal is depressed, the cam arm is pushed down, which rotates the assembly counter clockwise, pulling the accelerator cable forward.
You can also see in the pics the new cover plate where originally the transmission shifter would come through the wheel well and, in the case of this FC, a spot that was updated to accommodate the Wilwood proportioner. The proportioner has been turned sideways and now must be access via the engine compartment, which was done to stop curious hands from playing with it.
Jerry Huber shared this unusually modified DJ-5. It’s now a draught jeep, modified by and for Tapped 419, which provides draft beer (or root beer) for parties via a Fire Truck and now a DJ-5.
UPDATE: Tim is still looking for a WW2 body.
The Executive Director of the soon-to-open Bravo Zulu House & Trinity Sober Homes in Minnesota hopes to mount half a WW2 jeep on a wall as an art-piece. If you have a junk jeep you think might interest them, contact Tim Murray and 507 400 1973 or 612 251 6150 or
Tim @ bravozuluhouse.org (remove spaces from around the @).
“We are building an all-military sober in Minnesota that will be 1st in the country to help Veterans suffering from PTSD and substance abuse. See www.bravozuluhouse.org …. Looking to mount on the wall of great room a “cut down the middle” side view of a ww2 jeep (no engine, axels and gas tank removed, etc.) to lighten the “art”. I have volunteers to help with cutting and then painting the vehicle. We have a trucking company that will take care shipping. So basically looking for a WW2 Willys that nobody else (maybe?) would want (junk, no engine, etc.)”
Let’s hope yesterday’s rain at the 2024 Willys Reunion gives way to some sun! There was at least a little sun in the evening, as shown by the Jeepster Man’s photo posted to Facebook.
Meanwhile, wow, time flies! It’s hard to believe that it’s been six years since we attended the Willys Reunion, which is happening this weekend. Pictured below is part of our Alaska Or Rust Crew from 2017, who reunited at the 2018 Reunion.
You can read more about the 2018 Willys Reunion specifically and our 2018 East Coast trip in general here: http://www.ewillys.com/2018/05/20/day-21-saturday-may-19th-mr-infamous/
Here’s an interesting piece of history. According to the story, it is a promotion build Hurst Customs did for jeep. It’s unclear to me how many of these were made.
https://www.facebook.com/groups/WillysSwapMeet/posts/3712949665644952
“A freaky Front Clip for sale – who is interested in a bit of Jeep mystery and history?
This front clip is from a promotional build Hurst Customs did for Jeep ..this was the time they partnered on the rare Hurst Jeepsters. I bought what came to be nicknamed the “Green Weenie” in early 1972 as the first retail owner from a Detroit dealer who got it from AMC — who had no interest in using it for promotions as intended….as they were scrambling to redesign the CJ5 anyway.
I would love to have someone use this fiberglass custom frontend to recreate either the bright green Hurst Jeep as pictured or use it for your custom build! It bolts onto a 71 or earlier CJ5 and I bet Jeepsters….i still have the Jeep but removed the front clip and stored over 30 years ago as I set up the Jeep to run the Rubicon.
Asking $3,000 front clip and side pipes. In Michigan but can be shipped pretty easily.
The price is $60 or obo. Some folks flew these flags on their jeeps during the Jeep Cavalcades in Colorado.
View all the information on eBay
“This vintage Jeep Cavalcade car flag is a must-have for any collector of automobilia. The flag features a colorful design with the words “To The San Juan Rockies” prominently displayed. It was manufactured in the United States and is a rare find for those who appreciate the history and design of vintage car memorabilia.”
