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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 .
Not much info on this road’s location other than Italy.
“1943 Press Photo A jeep rolls up the newly finished Italian Road. This is an original press photo. A jeep rolls up the newly finished Italian Road Photo measures 7.75 x 7.25 inches. Photo is dated 10-15-1943.”
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This is nicely framed.
“1943 Press Photo Chinese Soldiers In American Jeeps On The Move In Jungle Road. This is an original press photo. Chinese soldiers in American Jeeps on the move along a jungle road. Photo measures 9 x 7.25 inches. Photo is dated 10-22-1943.”
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These photos appeared in the 2008 book HEMET, part of which was scanned into Google Books. In this case, the captions suggest that these were photos of the first cavalcade (listed in the caption as ’48, but ’49 according to a long-time club member),
To me it looks as if there’s at least two M-38A1s, but I can’t confirm that with this lo-res image. The year credited is 1954.
The caption on the photo below suggests this was taken in 1948, but the CJ-3A shown at the front places the next two photos later than that. In fact, the CJ-3A pictured appears also appears in the 1949 photos from Life Magazine. So, these were most likely taken in April of 1949.
An M-38A1 (or CJ-5) can be seen in the background, suggesting this is at least 1952 or later.
Another introductory press photo of the CJ-2A.
“This Press photo measures 8×10 inches. Date 7-20-1945.”
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UPDATE: This one is back on eBay.
(11/05/2017) Seeing that “Beware” sign has got to be intimidating!
“1944 Press Photo Private Allan Robertson drives a jeep in Florence Italy
This is an original press photo. Driving this jeep through a street in Florence, Private Allan Robertson, Birmingham, Ala., pauses to read a “Beware Enemy Snipers” sign on the side of a building. Photo measures 9 x 7.25 inches. Photo is dated 8-19-1944.”
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There’s a jeep the just appears near the bottom of the photo highlighting the scope of the devastation. I can’t quite make out the town’s name. Castelmuzio would put it in Siena, Italy.
“1944 Press Photo A Military jeep travels along the ruined Italian Streets. This is an original press photo. Dwarfed by towering ruins, a Jeep threads way through streets of battered Castlemouse(? aka Castelmuzio?), Italy, a German stronghold until the second day of current Allied offensive, when the fifth army overwhelmed its defenders. Photo measures 8.25 x 6.25 inches. Photo is dated 5-19-1944.”
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That’s a large amount of M-38s!
“1951 Press Photo Military Jeeps on field at Philadelphia ready to ship overseas. This is an original press photo. Hundreds of jeeps stand in precise military rows on a field at Philadelphia as they are prepared for shipment overseas. The vehicles, from plants all over the United States are assembled in a motor pool before being loaded aboard ships (Philadelphia, Pennsylvania) (Military jeeps) (Europe defense) Photo measures 8.75 x 8.25 inches. Photo is dated 12-13-1951.”
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UPDATE: **SOLD** Was on ebay.
This May 1945 photo appears to show an MB (rather than a CJ-2) pulling hay rake. It’s curious that the jeep has “WILLYS” written over the rear wheel well.
“1945 Press Photo Farmer Uses A Jeep As A Tractor To Rake Hay. This is an original press photo. Jeep has a future in postwar America The versatile jeep, which has become known as the “Sweetheart of the Army,” has a future in postwar America, both as an agricultural and industrial machine. All kinds of special bodies, air compressors, and pulley attachments for postwar units can be used with the jeep. Here a farmer uses the jeep to rake hay. This in only one of the farm chores a jeep will do. Others are plowing, harrowing, disking, rolling, drilling, cultivating, reaping and binding. Photo measures 8 x 6.25 inches. Photo is dated 05-26-1945.”
Ricepaddy Lou is the jeep’s name.
“1951 Press Photo Korean children help Buddy Jones to clean his jeep. This is an original press photo. Cpl. Buddy Jones of Cedar Rapids, Ia., enlists the help of eager Korean youngsters to get his jeep, “Ricepaddy Lou,” cleaned during a lull in battle. The children, who use empty ration cans to do the job, will be rewarded with some candy. Photo measures 9 x 6.25 inches. Photo is dated 5-1-1951.”
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Looks to be an MB/GPW.
“1952 Press Photo Firemen in Vatican city, in jeep with fire fighting equipment. This is an original press photo. A tiny unit of the Vatican City fire fighting brigade prepared for a training drill with a jeep fire truck. The brigade, consisting of 15 men and one officer, is equipped with two war surplus jeeps, a small chemical spray unit, a few hand operated fire extinguishers and some stepladders. IN more serious cases the Rome fire brigade is called. Photo measures 9 x 7.25 inches. Photo is dated 11-14-1952.
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This ad appeared in the September 5, 1946, issue of the Toledo Blade. The civilian jeep was barely a year old, yet Sears was already offering replacement engines and other parts. That’s because part of Willys-Overland’s strategy, as early as 1944, was to push the engine apart from the jeep. The company highlighted this during their 1944 annual report (a page of which is featured below this ad).
Page from the 1944 Willys Overland Annual Report:
If you look at the photo of the first jeep, it reads “JEEP” on the windshield, suggesting this might have been a CJ-2 or earlier vehicle.
Some more pics courtesy of our friend from Belgium, Charles.
Russians and jeeps:
Continue reading
I didn’t know this, but some of you probably do. Cartoon character Bugs Bunny was given the rank of honorary Marine Master Sergeant for his performance in Super-Rabbit.
“1947 Press Photo Group of Legionnaires in U.S. Marine Corps Recruiting Jeep. This is an original press photo. New York: Group of Legionnaires are chaurffeured around town in Marine Corps recruiting jeep by Vogue Model Evelyn Johnson. Shown in the black of the Jeep is movie cartoon rabbit and star in the Nea Comic Page Bugs Bunny. Photo measures 7.5 x 7 inches. Photo is dated 08-29-1947.”
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What a different ten years make! Gone are the 1945 farmer-in-overalls ready-for-some-serious-work press photos, replaced by a nicely dressed ranch gal ready to drive the range. I’d say that’s a demographic shift.
“1954 Press Photo A new version of the famed Willy’s Jeep is introduced. This is an original press photo. A new version of the famed Willy’s Jeep is being introduced by Kaiser-Willys dealers. The new vehicle, designed for a multitude of transportation and towing chores on or off road, is said to be more rugged, roomier and more comfortable than previous models. It is powered by a 75 horsepower engine in combination with four wheel drive. Features include streamlined hood, contoured fenders and larger windshield. A new all-weather top is easier to install or remove. Photo measures 10 x 8.25 inches. Photo is dated 12-09-1954.”
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UPDATE: **SOLD** Was on ebay.
Here’s a photo with an experimental 2A pulling a seeding machine.
“1945 Press Photo Farmer operates seeding machine from the postwar jeep. This is an original press photo. The Postwar Jeep, especially adapted for peacetime work, combining the four basic functions of tractor, light truck, mobile power unit and passenger conveyance. Photo shows the new Jeep, just unvelied to the public by Willys-Overland Motors, operating a seeding machine. Among the many and various farm applications of this modern vehicle are: disking, plowing, mowing, raking, threshing, baling, shelling and grinding corn, operating manure spreader, filling silo and sawing wood. Photo measures 8 x 5.25 inches. Photo is dated 07-19-1945.”
I’ve seen this photo on Getty images, so they likely would claim that the organization owns the copyright on all of these images.
“1945 Press Photo Fisherman Uses A Jeep to Reach Distant Trout Fishing Areas. This is an original press photo. Jeep has a future in postwar America The versatile jeep, which has become known as the “Sweetheart of the Army,” has a future in postwar America, both as an agricultural and industrial machine. All kinds of special bodies, air compressors, and pulley attachments for postwar units can be used with the jeep. Here a fisherman uses the jeep to reach the far-back trout streams and lakes. In low, low gear it reaches these distant pastures which are always too far for the fisherman on foot. Photo measures 8 x 6.25 inches. Photo is dated 05-26-1945.”
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This is a cool photo.
“1963 Press Photo Willys Jeep modified for the Department of Agriculture. This is an original press photo. Willys Jeep modified for the Department of Agriculture. Photo measures 10 x 8.25 inches. Photo is dated 01-06-1963.”
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Hopefully the actual photo is clearer!
“1950 Press Photo American Jeep Crosses 38th Parallel Going Towards Seoul. This is an original press photo. An American Jeep is shown crossing the 38th Parallel, going toward Seoul, as the US 8th Army retreats southward. Under pressure of Red China’s Million Man Invasion Army, UN forces in North Korea have been put to flight with it still indefinite whether they’ll make a stand in North Korea or be evacuated by sea. Also, the UN is awaiting an answer from Peiping on its request that Chinese troops stop short of the Parallel. Photo measures 9 x 7.25inches. Photo is dated 12-10-1950.”
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I’m going to guess that Pvt. Green is not inspecting the sign for any fine print ….
“1945 Press Photo Pvt Oscar Green in Jeep on Ledo road in Burma jungle area. This is an original press photo. Pvt Oscar Green of Taylorville, Illinois, stands on the side of his jeep to get close up view of this caution sign, one of many which dot the Ledo road forming junction with the Burma road and breaking Japanese land blockade of China which has officially been named the Stilwell Road.Photo measures 9 x 7.25 inches. Photo is dated 02-17-1945.”
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The “it can do what others can’t” message of this testimonial pretty much defines the jeep’s niche at this point.
This was taken a month into the war.
“1950 Press Photo American Troops in jeep with 50 Caliber Gun in Taejon, Korea. This is an original press photo. American troops take a rough Caliber as they advance in jeep armed with 50 caliber machine gun. Communist troops were reported smashing into and around Taejon as battle action see a wed on the Western Korean Front Photo measures 7.25 x 9.25 inches. Photo is dated 07-20-1950.”
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