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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 .
Here’s a postcard with a Bantam BRC-60 on the front.
“EARLY WW II COLORFUL POST CARD SHOWING VARIOUS ACTIVITIES AT CAMP RUCKER, ALABAMA.. BRIEF HISTORY OF THE MILTARY BASE DEVELOPMENT APPEARS ON REVERSE. POST CARD IN VERY GOOD CONDITION.”
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These looks mostly like Ford GPs, but the base of the windshield looks a little low.
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I found some Australian pictures at “The Brigade” that included three Bantam BRC-40 photos. There is a Ford GP photo as well. See all the vintage pictures here: http://thebrigade.thechive.com/2011/05/30/the-jeep-worked-hard-in-wwii-33-photos/
Is this postcard based on art by any particular artist that anyone recognizes?
“BLACK AND WHITE PRINTED ERA POSTCARD
Published by Artway Cards.
CONDITION: Some corner wear. Upper right corner more severely damaged and lightly crumpled. Thin postcard stock. Postally unused.”
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UPDATE: I received confirmation that this was sold and is in a restorer’s possession.
Scott spotted this at Ford GP #9512 at the corvette forum. We suspect it sold, but no one at the forum has confirmed it.
The August 1941 issue of The Ford Dealer News includes this image of a Ford Pygmy. There are a variety of articles and other photos also.
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Roberto forwarded a link about a book published by Wings and Wheels out of the Czech Republic called “MA Jeeps in Detail”. It looks like a good book. 496 Czech Korunas is approx $25 US.
Learn more about the book here: http://wwpbooks.com/product.php?id_product=223
You can find more jeep books here: http://wwpbooks.com/search.php?tag=Jeep
As promised, I’ve scanned and posted a 1943. I have updated the earlier post with the scans.
I received the June 19, 1943, issue of Liberty Magazine today. The magazine was published in Toronto, Canada from 1924 – 1950. My issue includes an article written by Willys Overland’s President at the time Joseph W. Frazer and titled “The Amazing Blitz Buggy”.
Having read the article, I’m still surprised he claimed the official name of the vehicle was “General Purpose Car”. You can see that claim in the highlighted portion of the article. That explain why the term “General Purpose” has been used in numerous historical descriptions about the jeep.
Click on the images below to get larger, readable versions of each page.
Here’s a nice shot of a Bantam BRC-40 at Camp Polk, LA, Circa 1942. The caption reads, “Meet the Jeep – The U.S. Army Blitzbuggy — Camp Polk, LA.
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Pictured here are a couple Willys MAs. I spotted the pictured at http://med-dept.com/testimonies/harold_okeefe.php
UPDATE: This post card was for sale on eBay in 2012.
Even the Smithsonian didn’t get the ‘original jeep’ correct as evidenced by the postcard below. To their credit, this Bantam BRC-60 just might be the next best thing. I compare all three Bantams here.
For comparision, here’s another good shot of a BRC-60:
And this is the original Bantam BRC — Jeep #1. The round fenders and scalloped side are two of the biggest differences:
The jeep on the far right has a grille that looks like a BRC-60 to me. In the foreground is a jeep that looks like a BRC-40.
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I spotted this brief note about the four-wheel-steer Bantam BRC-40 on page 167 of the May 1946 issue of Popular Mechanics. Why it appeared five years after it was built seems a little strange. I can’t imagine the army keeping this model top secret for any reason. Maybe they needed some filler for the issue?
Here is a link to the Google page that shows the whole article
This is rare.
” Vintage Postcard Jeep in Action Camp Pickett Va , PC is used Postmarked Camp PIckett 1943 Free”
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I ran across these images of ‘swedeherbie’s’ 1941 Ford GP project. He has posted over one hundred pictures.
View all the images at Photobucket
Here’s a neat old Model.
“U.S.ARMY FORD GP 1/4 TON JEEP W/FIGURES MINT IN BOX RARE 1/32 KIT-MAX”
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Here’s a rare grille.
“From a recent find of parts hidden away many years, This is a used and abused original front grille from a Ford GP as pictured. It’s used, it’s been repainted many times. His minor dings, see photos, will clean up for a beautiful front grille.”
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Here’s a photograph from a December 1941 issue of Mechanix Magazine that shows a Ford GP participating in war games at the dawn of the US’s official entry into WWII.
http://blog.modernmechanix.com/news-of-war-and-defense/
Part II of the Don Prine ‘Old Man’ Story can be read in the September issue of JP Magazine. It has also been published online at this address: http://www.jpmagazine.com/featuredvehicles/154_1209_the_old_man_and_the_jeep_part_2/
Here’s a picture Marty took during the interview. Don Prine is on the left, Christain Hazel in the middle, and Herm Tilford (Herm the Overdrive Guy) on the right.
View more pictures of the meeting here: http://www.pnw4wda.org/forums/showthread.php?t=2630
You can view Part 1 of the Don Prine Story at JP Magazine
From the Magazine “Field Ford” comes a rare article about the Ford Pygmy Prototype. The article projects that 30,000 of these 4-4s might be used eventually.
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Here’s a prototypeish jeep depicted amidst a battle with Japanese soldiers. I looked for other jeep related cards among the series, but I could only find a handful of other cards.
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Kurtis spotted this article from the July 20th, 1942, issue of Life Magazine. Some of the pictures are familiar, but this is the first time I’ve seen this entire article. The article extends 7 pages and can be viewed in its entirety online.
http://books.google.com/books?id=6k0EAAAAMBAJ&lpg=PP1&pg=PA65#v=onepage&q&f=false
Here are the first and last pages:
It is 6pm Pacific Standard Time, which means Ann and I should be married by now. As dedicated as I am, I’m not running to my computer to upload pictures of our brief ceremony. So, these couple of shots will have to do.
Here’s a Willys MA all decked out:
http://www.flickr.com/photos/arts_enthusiast/5118197610/
Here’s a couple in the back of a WW2 jeep from Flickr:
And thanks to John for sending this picture 🙂
The July 23, 1945, issue of Life Magazine has a three page article by Joe Weston that describes a jeep trip through Sweden in what I would guess was May or June of 1945. Based on the three cartoons (show below) they were driving a Willys MA.
The article describes crowds of people gawking at the jeep wherever they went. In Stockholm people started removing parts off of it. The article was a funny read.
Read the entire article within Google Books or
Below are the three cartoons:
UPDATE: This was listed at $500. **SOLD**
“1941 Ford Jeep Serial No. 9270. Number 746 of 4, 458 built. Date of manufacture is on nomenclature plate on dash, 4/28.41. Tub has some rusted out areas but is basically solid. Tailgate is not original equipment but is Willys and professionally installed. Front part of floor is galv. plate which was cut to fit a 350 Chevy engine. Motor mounts on chassis are for that engine. Steering gear is not original. Flat iron grille is believed to be original, however I could not determine for certain it came on Ford jeeps, as Ford did design the pressed sheet metal grille on all future jeeps, Ford and Willys. Chassis is jeep, year of orgin unknown. Does have tapered rear axle which turns freely. Front differential housing is intact but shaft is missing and possibly some gears. Best part of jeep is the dash which is straight and untouched. All three plates are original and securely rivited to dash. The book, Hail to the Jeep has a picture of this model jeep being driven up Washington Capitol steps by Edsel Ford. ”
