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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 .
UPDATE: **Sold** was $1000
(02/18/2021) This has a DJ-3A body on it.
“Year: 1946 Make: Jeep Model: Willys 1946 Cj-2a frame and drive train with a 1952 Dj tub. Engine will run but it needs a starter and generator rebuild beforehand. Frame has some rot on the inside. Tub has rust holes and body mounts are mostly gone.”
UPDATE: Price dropped to $4000.
(11/16/2020) Some rust and the engine is stuck.
https://www.facebook.com/marketplace/item/1904840536331664
“1948 Jeepster looks good has rust on rockers engine is stuck I think 65352 miles”
UPDATE: Richard Darr from Washougal Classic Jeeps owns a Bobcat body that still had a pair of the fiberglass gas tanks. Here are two pics of each tank. He told me they fit really well inside the bobcat body. He’s working on reproducing the tanks in aluminum for himself.
Here are the pics of the passenger side tank. Above you can see a Bobcat body.
This is the top of the passenger tank.
This is the bottom of the passenger tank.
Here is the driver’s side tank:
This is the top of the driver’s tank.
This is the bottom of the driver’s tank.
===================
Published March 17, 2021: For a great price, I bought some 1973 issues of Four Wheeler off of eBay. In turns out that the July 1973 issue of Four Wheeler Magazine had a special section devoted to new fiberglass products. Even better, Fred Weis’ Bobcat business introduced three new products in that issue, answering a couple questions that I had.
Before I begin, there are several posts about Bobcat bodies and the related Parkette bodies. At some point I will combine them into a longer narrative, but, for now, here’s a quick timeline:
1969 – The First Bobcat body: Fred Weis built his first body, an approximately 150lb body using plywood for strength, per this February 1970 article in Four Wheeler Magazine.
1970 – Lighter Race Body: Fred builds a lighter body design more for racing, dropping the body weight to around 100lbs. One these first bodies was used successfully by Roy Williams during the 1970s for racing. (This weight info comes from a September 1973 ad shown below):
1971- Announces the CJ-3B Body: An Advertisement in the PNW4WDA’s Region 1 contact booklet included an ad from Fred indicating he was making CJ-3A AND CJ-3B bodies.
It might seem strange to see the “Not a copy!” phrase at the top of the ad, followed by “The Original Fiberglass Replacement Body” within the ad. I believe this reflects Fred’s frustration at Paul Parker rebranding the Bobcat body with side stripes and calling it a Parkette body. Assuming that explains the inclusion of the phrases, this puts the introduction of the Parkette body around 1970. The 1970 timeline also fits the purchase of a Parkette by Jim Carter, which must have happened around 1971 or 1972.
Now for our current post. In 1973, Fred introduced perhaps the most iconic item he ever produced, the Bobcat hood. I don’t know how or why he designed it the way he did, but it became a signature piece. Below is the July 1973 listing in Four Wheeler Magazine.
First, you can see that Fred was experimenting with a new type of body style. It appears he increased the size of the lip around the edge of the body’s rear, perhaps to strengthen it so he could lay thinner glass. It’s likely that this was the style of Bobcat body I bought back in 2008:
The fiberglass gas tanks were a surprise to see. I’ve never run across these. They likely failed to hold gasoline safely. It would take a special resin compound to be effective over the long term, at least that’s according to this motorcycle thread.
Finally, we have the brand new fiberglass Bobcat hood. Whether this came before or after the Bobcat teardrop hood isn’t clear, but it would seem to me that the teardrop is so much less sophisticated of a design that I could imagine he made some of those first before creating the classic Bobcat hood. Here’s a great example of the hood: (see more examples of the low hood and high hood versions of this iconic hood)
Also included in the July 1973 fiberglass section was this ad. It seems Willamette Wheel was offering the Bobcat body for sale, without labeling it as such in the ad. However, a close look at the tailgate clearly shows it is a Bobcat tailgate.
It’s not clear how many other parties were working with Fred, but at least one, Don Prine, managed to get his business card inserted into a CJ-3B version of the classic hood:
As I collect more 1970 Four Wheeler magazines I hope to learn more about the Bobcat and Parkette timelines, though I’ve yet to find anything printed about the Parkette body (no ads or articles yet).
Maury shared this link to another Jeep Pan Brush that’s available on eBay. This item doesn’t seem to be related to Willys-Overland or jeeps in any way that we can tell, other than you could clean jeep parts with it.
View all the information on eBay
Here are a couple previous examples of the Jeep Brush.
1. This brush was available back in 2012 on eBay. It, like this other example, has 1014 stamped on it for some reason.
2. This brush was available for sale on Etsy: https://www.etsy.com/listing/778429607/vintage-jeep-pan-brush-1014
UPDATE: I was surprised to see that Hoosier advertised in Four Wheeler Magazine for several months during 1973 (possibly longer).
===================
ORIGINALLY PUBLISHED JUNE 6, 2019: In the early 1960s, Hoosier Machine Products out of Pendleton, Oregon, (just an hour south of me) began selling conversion kits for jeeps. The company’s kits allowed the repowering of jeeps using Ford, Chef, GMC, Mercury, Dodge, Studebaker and Pontiac engines. That’s a pretty impressive, wide range of options, especially for a company out of Pendleton, which was pretty remote at the time. But, given the long distances Pendleton owner’s jeeps had to travel to reach other towns and the existence of the nearby, steep Blue Mountains, which provided endless jeeping possibilities, perhaps there was a reason Pendleton jeeps need more power?
Also, a big thanks go to Maury for spotted this brochure for me!
This June 1950 Ad highlights the new Hurricane Powered half-ton truck from an unknown magazine.
View all the information on Ebay
“Original magazine advertisement measures 10 X 13 inches (approx.).”
This looks in nice shape. Has an unusual front bumper setup. I’m not sure how the seller arrived at this statement:”OVERDRIVE 5TH GEAR FOR REACHING HIGHWAY SPEED.”
https://redding.craigslist.org/cto/d/burney-1954-willys-jeep/7290050925.html
“1954 HIGH-HOOD WILLYS WITH REBUILT ENGINE, ORIGINAL MOTOR.
OVERDRIVE 5TH GEAR FOR REACHING HIGHWAY SPEED.
NEW VINYL TOP
TOW HITCH
5 GALLON JERRY GAS CAN ON BACK
THIRD REAR SEAT
SEAT BELTS
SNOW PLOW”
UPDATE: **SOLD** Was $9500.
Looks drag ready.
“1947 Willy jeep. Newer 406. Turbo 400 trans with brake. Fiberglass body. 9500 Pm for more info”
UPDATE: **SOLD** Was $5600.
It seems in pretty good shape.
“hello i have a 1952 willys station wagon 3 speed 4×4 for sale runs and drives pretty clean in and out has a v8 motor in it
has some extra parts clean california title
tires are in good condition needs a break job asking 5600 obo”
It seems to me that the driver-side opening is cut down a bit, as if someone had tried to replicate a prototype jeep?
https://sfbay.craigslist.org/eby/cto/d/pleasanton-1950-willys-cj3a/7290942633.html
“Selling my 1950 Willys CJ3A. Mostly all original! 134 flat head engine and all drivetrain are original. New leaf springs provide a little bit of lift over original height. I’ve been working on this for a few years and just don’t have the time to finish this. This does run and is drivable but it’s been garaged the past few years and maintained. Plenty of new parts already installed and more parts waiting to be installed.
New parts include: leaf springs, shocks, BFG mud terrain tires, water pump, carburetor, spark plugs and wires, all new brakes (wheel cylinders, lines, master cyl), engine and drivetrain fluids/lubricants, and various other parts like gaskets and windshield seal when those are ready for installation.
Fenders, grill, hood, windshield frame and tailgate were all media blasted and primed. Have been working on the typical body problems found with these old Willys.”
No pics provided.
https://salem.craigslist.org/pts/d/salem-49-to-53-willys-steel-top/7292531924.html
“1949-1953 willys overland jeep steel top. made by koenig doors included.”
UPDATE: Still Available.
(11/10/2020) Lots of mods.
https://sacramento.craigslist.org/cto/d/vallejo-willys-jeep-cj2a-flat-fender/7290408896.html
“350 Chevy powered classic flat fender. Muncie SM420 4 speed transmission (granny low,) Spicer 18 transfer case, full width Dana 44 axles with air lockers front and rear, onboard air, forged aluminum wheels (incl spare), one piece hood and fenders for much easier engine access. Those are the big upgrades, but there are lots of others – too many to list. The front seats are shabby, but I have a set of good condition, cloth seats from an early model 4runner (the ones that had a physical therapist on the design team – wayyyy better than the Ricaros.) Also have a spare SM420 (no, I don’t want to sell it separately) and a full cloth top. As you can see, the paint needs some help. The floor pan has all been replaced with heavier gauge sheet metal, but it’s also due for fresh paint. Runs strong, but could use a carb expert to get it dialed. Had to move in with elderly parent and don’t have room or time for all the toys, so it has to go. The best way to get in touch is to email me your phone number. Offers from people who have not come to take a look in person will be ignored. Clean CA title in hand”
UPDATE: Still Available.
(01/22/2021) Any old school flathead build with a cowl mod.
https://lasvegas.craigslist.org/cto/d/las-vegas-1944-willys-mb-jeep/7261638558.html or https://www.facebook.com/marketplace/item/3532697820159349
“1944 Jeep Willys MB. Bought as a project but I need the room so it must go. Ford flathead conversion done by previous owner. Not ruining but pretty complete. Great project for jeep or military enthusiast. 2500 obo.”
UPDATE: After spotting an ad I hadn’t published yet (seen below), I realized that there was Desert Dog history that existed among various posts. So, this combines all that into more of a narrative.
==========================
If you have read eWillys for any length of time, you know I’ve been a fan of Desert Dog tires for years. I still have eight desert dogs, some solid lettering and some outlined, as shown in the pic below:
According to Louis Larson, the Desert Dog tire was launched in 1970. He knows this, because in 1970 he became the first person to test out the new style of tires (see the bottom of this CJ-3B Page article). The tires were given to Louis for testing and photographing.
David Maxwell, a former Formula tires salesman, reported that the tires were always made by Armstrong, but marketed through the Formula brand, the president of which was a friend of David’s (see David’s comment and many others on this post). The company made a large number of retreads, so a number of tires also had Firestone on the side, too.
The tires proved popular quickly. Les Schwab was a big fan of them and ran them on his jeep (jeeps?). He also sold both new and retread tires out of his main shop in Prineville (see Les Schwab’s biography here).
For PNW jeepers, the tires were a perfect blend for racing and for jeeping and the varied terrains of the PNW (sand, gravel, rocks, mountain sides, mud, etc … as Joe1148 highlights in his comment here .. though I can attest to it as well). On the downside, their road life was short (some estimate about 10k miles) and they tended to be noisy. The tires’ popularity gained them prominence, and soon they were added to charts showing tire options, such as this January 1972 ad:
By 1973, Desert Dogs were being advertised in Four Wheeler Magazine (ads at the bottom of this post) and sold across the country. This Smith Jeep, Inc. ad from North Franklin, Connecticut, in the July 1973 issue of Four Wheeler Magazine is one example of an East Coast offering:
Eventually, the Formula brand expand its offering. I don’t know when each of these tires was introduced (I think this ad is from 1975, but have to confirm it), but Formula was soon offering more tires choices:
The July 1973 and August 1973 issues of Four Wheeler Magazine included these two ads for fiberglass racing shells. I’m not sure when World Plastics began advertising in the magazine, but I doubt it had been for very long. The ad on the right shows a full-body size flat fender shell, while the ad on the right shows a narrow body shell (both Bobcat and Parkette also produced racing shells).
I don’t know how long these were offered, what happened to the shells, or what happened to the World Plastic’s company.
This rebuilt CJ-2A has a fiberglass body.
https://www.facebook.com/marketplace/item/287802496099198
“This jeep has been with me over 12 yrs it is titled and platted in fl it has a built v-6 a 4 speed manual w- creeper gear it has it all from aluminum radiator lockers in rear full roll cage fuel cell remote battery with power disconnect”
I am told the CJ-2A has a flathead V-8 and the MB has a Studabaker 6.
https://www.facebook.com/marketplace/item/230688805405383
“2 Jeep’s mid 40’s”
Has a variety of mods.
https://www.facebook.com/marketplace/item/3306742246092497
I have way to much stuff on my property . Most of it has been sold and not picked up yet . Thank you to the guy who picked up the boat yesterday after 6 months .. I really need this stuff gone to the others . No i am not selling what has already been sold . I just at least need to get some of these parts gone . This post is for the 42-47 willys parts . Come get it all $7000.
Complete running 47 With title in hand . Chevy v-8 283 headers Turbo 350 T-18 t-case Dana 44 front with ARB 4:30 and disk brakes . High steer . Dana 44 rear, full float ,chromo , locker, disk brakes . 23 gallon aluminum fuel cell . R.O.P. Cage Suspention seats 4-point racing harness New 35″ mud terrain’s Locking Fluid box . Yard sale storage deck in rear . CB / PA Comes with short solid steer axles for building trailers . 3 tail gates two of those willys. Willys hood 2 sets of fenders Willys windshield frame and glass
There might be value here.
https://www.facebook.com/marketplace/item/230688805405383
“1946 Jeep Jeep · Other_body_style · Driven 1,000 miles 2 Jeep’s mid 40’s”
UPDATE: **SOLD** Was $9995.
It’s got a single lever PTO as well.
“A classic Willys Jeep CJ2A. (it is not a Gladiator but there wasn’t a Willys option). Drives very well for a 75 year old. Good power, steers and brakes excellent. Sounds like the Jeeps on MASH. Very original. Have the parts list from the rebuild 20 years ago. Tires are in good condition but they are original from the rebuild in 2001. A great parade vehicle for the summer holidays. On the downside, there is a battery charging issue. I keep it on a battery maintainer and sometimes if you are going downhill and turning to the left, it will pop out of 2nd gear. If you are holding the shifter, it stays in gear without issue. Clear title. Lots of fun and a real head turner.”
This might have a dual PTO.
https://www.facebook.com/marketplace/item/824966314767009
“2 door 1948 willys Jeep includes front and back winch all original good clean title”
UPDATE: **SOLD** Was $5500.
It’s a project.
“Jeep 150 4cylinder ,standard shift , factory rear pto, this jeep is complete I have all the seats ,engine cover ,rear fenders tail gate, 4×4 , The box has all ready been sand blasted ready for paint . Only serious enquiries $5500.00 or obo retiring and don’t have time for the rest of the projects call [hidden information] no answer leave a message speak plainly”
UPDATE: Still Available.
(02/05/2021) It’s supposed to have the original engine, but it looks like it has a later model oil filter bracket.
https://www.facebook.com/marketplace/item/1182315148832059
“1946 Jeep Willys Runs! Clean Title. Non-Oped. Original Flat Head 4 motor. Must see!”
UPDATE: This sold in only a day. It was listed at $4000. Looks like it has a Kelly half cab.
https://www.facebook.com/marketplace/item/4292515837459316
“Here is a great project complete cj3a. This is a civilian model. If you are interested in this vehicle I would love to speak directly with you about details.”
UPDATE: Price dropped to $2000.
Two project 3Bs.
https://www.facebook.com/marketplace/item/682052605821130
“CJ3B project, 2 jeeps, 1 title and tag, rough shape but with the two, I think you can build one. Had the engine in the green one running a few years ago”
