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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 first column describes seven different uses for the term ‘jeep’. It appeared in the November 15, 1941, issue of the News Journal, out of Mansfield, Ohio:
A few days later, this blurb was part of a column called the Daily Knave, published November 18, 1941. It highlights some of the alternative uses of the term “jeep”.
This photo was floating around Facebook. It shows a Chicago Fire Department FC-170 dressed up as a clown carrier. Anyone know where the photo originated (the FB poster didn’t know). He did have a date of 12/5/1962.
UPDATE: We have a video update to David Tracy’s FC-170 adventure
https://jalopnik.com/i-bought-the-worlds-most-hopeless-jeep-bringing-it-bac-1846836392
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Originally published April 1, 2021: (no, this is not an April fools) … This Sunday, David Tracy of Jalopnik plans to buy a vehicle in Chicago, drive to Seattle, pick up an FC-170 he’s bought, get it running, then attempt to drive it home. I’m sure nothing will go wrong with this plan. You can read all about it here:
https://jalopnik.com/my-5-000-mile-road-trip-in-a-275-000-mile-fancy-toyota-1846591932
Here’s an interior look at the FC:
This photo and article featuring a Ford GP was published June 09, 1941, in the Democrat and Chronicle out of Rochester, New York. It highlighted Major Harry Miller’s jeep modification, which added a 37MM gun to the rear of the vehicle.
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Originally posted February 07, 2015: This post emphasized the Camp Lewis connection.
This June 9, 1941, article from the Spokane Daily Chronicle notes the Ford GP belongs to a Fort Lewis unit visiting California for maneuvers.
What I found curious about this advertisement is that it sounds more like one from 1945 or 1946, rather than 1949. Published January 23, 1949, the ad by Fort Worth Willys-Overland seems to be trying to introduce readers to this ‘new concept’ of an automobile. However, it does so without invoking the four-in-one-vehicle concept used in the early years. Had Fort Worth Star-Telegram readers never seen or heard of a civilian jeep?
From this page: https://www.facebook.com/SphinxShrinersMotorPatrol/
Here are a couple 1960s photos of the Shriner Mini Jeep Patrols. These jeep patrols and shiners in all kinds of mini-vehicles still ply the parade routes (This Facebook group includes modern photos and videos of them).
This first photo is from May 12, 1963, and published in the Marshall News Messenger (Marshall, Texas):
This second photo was published in the Tyler Morning Telegraph (Tyler, Texas) on December 07, 1963:
And here’s a 2007 video of them in action:
This article shows a similarly painted WWII jeep, with a “Wrecking Crew” aboard, as the one below. The article is from the April 20, 1950, issue of the Daily Times out of Salisbury, Maryland:
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Originally Published July 22, 2018:
“1966 Press Photo Shriners Ride in Jeep Parade 1960s Downtown Seattle Washington”
This somewhat silly movie included numerous jeeps and other war-time transport. It looks like the Sierras were substituted for Northwestern Canada. Perhaps the funniest part of the movie begins at 21:36 as a jeep rolls up behind a guy in a parka (a scene that looks fake). For some reason, two soldiers have climbed a Matterhorn-looking spire. One guy starts to fall, so the other uses a rope with a loop to keep him from falling. Then, somehow, the guy up top then climbs down on the same rope, but how does the top of the rope connect to anything?
UPDATE: **SOLD** Was on Ebay.
This Shriner’s jeep has a Willys MA look to it, though the seller presents no evidence that this was a Shriner’s jeep, it’s the right size for one.
“Up for sale Shriner parade kart, go kart. This is a extremely rare Shriner kart. The only other one that I know of is in a museum in South Dakota. I be leave this Willys Jeep is from the early 1950s. The Jeep is mostly original with the exception of newer tires, rims, upholstery, paint, carpet, and engine. The engine has never had gas or oil in it. Everything appears to be in working order.”
UPDATE: **SOLD** Was $300.
Blaine spotted an unusual toy on Craigslist. Anyone recognize this wooden jeep? It seems to be missing the steering wheel and a windshield. It’s probably a one-off, but figured I’d check.
“Jeep from war 1940s ? – all wood – great collectible -”
This photo was taken August 8, 1948, at the Cape Hatteras National Seashore. It was posted to the Cape Hatteras National Seashore Facebook page. According to the post, “On August 8, 1948 flags flew from the Cape Hatteras Lighthouse, as the United States Coast Guard celebrated the 158th anniversary of its founding. Governor R. Gregg Cherry flew in by helicopter and spoke at the celebration, which also included Coast Guard apparatus demonstrations and a mammoth fish fry.”
The jeep looks to be an MB or GPW with a custom top accented by sliding doors. It’s a pretty nice setup.
This article demonstrates the hazards a jeep faced in the field. The article was published December 16, 1943, in the Kansas City Times by Kenneth L. Dixon.
I was nearly done assembling this post (a post I started when I spotted the useful seat comparison image below) when I discovered that Derek already has a pretty complete post (and frankly better than mine was going to be) on the topic of rear seats (and was the actual source of the seat comparison).
https://www.thecj2apage.com/forums/rear-cj2a-seat_topic34996.html which is an image originally posted to the CJ-3B Page.
But, there were still a few unanswered questions I had after reading his page, so I deleted what I had and reframed it as shown below.
I realized:
1) I didn’t know if the DJ-3A used the CJ-5 rear seat, the CJ-3A/CJ-3B rear seat or something else?
2) And, did the Surrey have it’s own rear seat or the same as the DJ-3A? (My guess, based on the pics above, and Bruce’s pics below, is that the DJ-3As and Surreys used the 3A/3B seat)
Below are photos of Bruce Agan’s DJ-3A restored back seat:
While my DJ-3A came with a rear seat, it was actually one of the folding rear seats from an M-38 or M-38A1, a topic covered in these two links:
https://forums.g503.com/viewtopic.php?t=235427
http://willysmjeeps.com/v2/modules.php?name=Forums&file=viewtopic&t=10636
Here’s a pic of my 1956 DJ-3A with the rear seat that was in it. While no the correct seat, it fit in there pretty well:
This brochure out of Brazil highlights 6 reasons to buy the 1963 Rural wagon.
View all the information on eBay
“1963Jeep Folder, Brazilian Rural Jeep Folder. Condition is “Used”. Shipped with USPS First Class. This is a very nice folder Written in Portuguese Willys Overland”Fabricator vehicles of high quality”. I think what it’s saying is 6 positive reasons To buy a jeep in this rural area. Very nice piece, In great condition. All original.”
Happy New Year 2021! Whew. We made it! Let’s hope 2021 is not the “Shit Show” 2020 was:
To no ones surprise, none of what I thought would happen, happened this past year. I could go through the long litany of what I had planned vs. what actually occurred, but I expect that’s true for all of us. Instead of tackling plans, we hunkered down, got two pups and stayed home. On the plus side, this did allow me to spend time better learning how to utilize our Traeger, as we had a freezer full of meat. I experimented with brining, smoked prickly pear (seems to reduce the stickyness) and chicken feet (for the dogs), played with chicken wing recipes, and cooked some amazing lamb/beef/pork/bison roasts. I also now have a pretty good workout gym in the garage, so I have returned to working out regularly, though, sadly, no gym means no basketball.
In July, Ann contracted the virus, and subsequently Covid, which hit her pretty hard, though thankfully didn’t seem to affect her lungs. She’s had various health issues since, similar to other ‘long haulers’; as of an ER visit in early December, one that required emergency dental surgery, her T-cell counts were still unusually low. Hopefully, she continues to improve.
For Ann and I, we expect 2021 to be a continuation of 2020, in that we begin the year with doctor appointments for our oldest dog, for Ann, and for Ann’s mother. That our oldest dog and Ann’s mother survived 2020 were minor miracles, but recent doc visits leave us doubting they will make it through 2021, so we will remain tied to home for the foreseeable future. Because of this, eWillys will continue as is (because I have plenty of short time bursts available, just not the long ones necessary to return to book writing).
My goals for the year are pretty modest, such as continuing to grow out my hair. I hope to get my hair to the point where I can donate it to a cancer patient as a wig. That means I have at least another year of growth. I’ve let my beard grow as well. Thankfully, Ann seems delighted by the whole process; she’s always up for an adventure.
I do have two short trips planned for 2021. Assuming the Homefront can survive without me, one trip will be a week-long adventure to Utah’s San Rafael Swell in late March to hike some remote trails with my oldest son. Sometime, probably in May, I’ll likely return to Salt Lake to help him build a shed for his backyard.
All that said, we did have some good fortune during 2020 and at some point late this year or into 2022 we will be buying a house or buying property and building a new place; that may require significant time away from updating the site and answering emails, Rest assured, there will be fair warning before that happens.
The August 1949 issue of Mechanix Illustrated included detailed plans for constructing a battery powered, remote-control toy wagon.
Scott just discovered eWillys and is having fun digging through 59,000+ posts. He also shared the pic below and a story about it.
“This is a picture of my grandfather, Norman Len, in his Jeep. The picture was taken probably in 1945 at NAS Barbers Point, HI where my grandfather was in “Carrier Aircraft Service Unit TWO” (CASU-2).
The interesting backstory is that my grandfather, before going in the Navy in 1944, worked for the Willys Overland Aircraft Division in Toledo manufacturing center wing sections for the Corsair fighter. He used those skills in the Navy as an Aviation Machinists Mate working on a variety of carrier based aircraft.
Also, it’s likely that the jeep he is sitting in was partially assembled by family members – my Great Grandfather (Nickolas Len) and his brother (William “Bill” Len) both worked for Willy’s/Kaiser/Jeep from the late 30’s to the 1960’s.”
I suppose the jeep is included in this press photo for size reference purposes?
View all the information on eBay
“1946 Press Photo T28 Army Tank and Military Jeep in Aberdeen, Maryland. This is an original press photo. 100-Ton Tank Unveiled by Army – Aberdeen, Maryland – Jeep is dwarfed by new superheavy T28 tank, one of the new Army weapons showed for the first time at the 28th annual meeting of the Army Ordnance Association before 6,000 industrialists. The tank, said to be the biggest vehicle ever built for the Army, weighs nearly 100-tons and carries a 105mm gun.Photo measures 7 x 10inches. Photo is dated 10-03-1946.”
This November 25, 1946, article in the Salt Lake Tribune highlighted the first big test for the Sheriff Office’s new CJ-2A. Lacking today’s causeway to Antelope Island, the trip required often navigating over or through water. I can imagine such a drive was a big unnerving, unless a route was marked by marker-sticks. Today, the southern portion of the island is owned by the State of Utah. Bison, Sheep, and Antelope roam the island, as do bikers, hikers, and tourists.
UPDATE: Barney Goodwin wanted to note that jeeps get stuck in duck ponds, too…
He writes, “While in the Navy in Stockton, I bought this 43 GPW from a farmer up in Anderson CA. After a paint using the local USMS detachment’s supply, we did a mechanical refresh, rollbar, and some stuff and took it our to test it at the base duck pond which I managed.
Got stuck in the marsh near it and had to pull it out with a friend’s M151. Fun times! Happy New Year!”
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Yep, apparently this soldier learned the hard way that jeeps can get stuck in sand.
View all the information on eBay
“ORIGINAL WWII PHOTO – ORIGINAL TO THE TIME – NOT A COPY, SCAN, OR REPRO
QUANTITY: 1 – See the other original WWI & WWII photos that I have listed.
ITEM: Original WWII photo of US Army JEEP in DESERT SAND at Ordnance Desert Proving Ground, Camp Seeley, California, 1942. Photo was taken by GI named D. W. Bonachevski who was stationed at Camp Seeley.
SORRY. I WILL NOT SELL OR SHIP THIS ITEM TO RUSSIA, AFRICA, OR SOUTH AMERICA DUE TO PROBLEMS WITH POSTAL SYSTEMS.
DATE: WWII – photo does not glow under a black light.
SIZE: 3.75″ x 4.75″
CONDITION: Very Good; see scans.
BACK: Has descriptive note written in pencil; See last scan..
SOURCE: From the archives of the World War History & Art Museum (WWHAM) in Alliance, Ohio. WWHAM designs and delivers WWI and WWII exhibits to other museums. Our traveling exhibits include Brushes With War, a world class collection of 325 original paintings and drawings by soldiers of WWI, and Iron Fist, an HO scale model of the German 2nd Panzer Division in 1944 with 4,000 vehicles and 15,000 men.”
Maury sent me this link to the earlyCJ5.com page showing several different Warn hub dash stickers. Here are the three shown from that page:
That got me thinking that a post Special Equipment and other standard vintage dash stickers might be useful (such as hub, transfer-case, transmission, snow plow, overdrive, etc). By far, Warn seems to have been the most prolific producer of dash stickers, followed by Dualmatic.
However, during my searches, I ran into two issues. One is that I have no idea if or when transfer case stickers appeared on dashes (did the factory apply them ever or were they from dealers or from a third party)?
Secondly, I am sure I have seen stickers that I can no longer find, such a dash sticker for a Husky Overdrive. There are likely some I haven’t seen. So, I figured I’d ask readers if they have anything interesting.
So, if you have unusual stickers or decals on your jeep’s dash (or have pics to that effect), please send them to me at d@deilers.com. I’ll put together some kind of post based on them.
I’ll likely do something similar later on with data plates (rather than club or event related plates), as there are a range of them (gov plates, original data plates, remanufactured plates, etc).
A half-cab tow-equipped CJ-2A at Bauman’s Service Station appears in two different photos on eBay. Both pics show the #4 on the doors.
The last photo shows a CJ-3A with the #9 painted onto the side. “DORR & SECOR” was painted on all the Bauman vehicles.
This article about an older woman named “MA” appeared in the August 08, 1944, issue of the Austin American. I just thought it was a neat story only tangentially related to jeeps.
And, in a big detour here, the author mentions the “Friend’s” ambulance unit, suggesting that most or all of the unit were Quakers. My grandmother grew up a Quaker in Hopewell, Virginia, where the Branson clan (her maiden name) were longtime Quakers, first arriving in Frederick County, Virginia, in 1776 (in NJ before that).
The family attended the Hopewell Friends Meeting House (where my grandmother and non-Quaker grandfather would marry in 1939). Abolitionists, the family’s “Branson House” was part of the Underground Railroad. During the Civil War, the family found themselves serving food to one side or the other, depending on who had control of the area. Based on the stories, both sides took what they wanted and demanded to be fed.
One family story from the War describes the day a cannon ball blasted through the house unexpectedly.
Another tale tells how a Union spy traveling with the Confederates, as a Confederate Officer, left a gold dollar under a plate after he ate. The family found the dollar when cleaning up after the soldiers had left. They only learned the officer was a spy following the war, because years later he returned and explained what he’d done during the war and that it was he who had left the golden dollar under the plate. As of the late 1980s, according to my great aunt in a letter to my sister, someone in the Branson clan was reported to still have that gold dollar.
I’m not sure if this is more Jeep Rod or Crawler.
https://www.facebook.com/marketplace/item/753721632024238
“’67 Jeepster. Clean title in hand. Also available without the Coyote engine for $28,000.”
While looking for something else, I was pleasantly surprised with this video of Bruce Agan’s former 1964 DJ-3A Surrey. The video was posted in 2012, prior to his passing. He was the guru of Surreys and Galas for a time and his restoration (including all the interior fabric) is a testament to that fact. There are various photos of his Surrey, Surrey advertising, and other jeeps on Flickr.
