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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 $16,000.
Has tool indents. Has a few mods. Needs a front bumper.
“Frame up restoration. Over $18000 invested”
UPDATE: **SOLD** Was $6000.
This might be a CJ-2A with a CJ-3B body.
“Runs and drives great..needs seats 4wd works great. New radiator Water pump Plugs and wires Cap and rotor Oil lines Fresh carb kit. Newer gas tank All in all it’s a fun Jeep and did everything I needed and wanted it to do.not in a hurry to sell.would much rather have a a sxs lol Asking 6000”
In March 1962, two different articles highlighted the introduction of the Jeep line of Tonka Toys.
1. Toys and Novelties Magazine: The article in this magazine noted that part of the reason the Tonka company had the financial and physical capacity to produce a wide variety of toy jeeps was that it had recently gone public.
View all the information on eBay
2. Playthings Magazine: Given this article is very similar to the top article, I’d guess both were written from press releases.
View all the information on eBay
You can also learn more about Tonka jeeps at the CJ-3B Page.
As reported in this post, in 1962 the Tonka company launched the jeep models many of us owned as kids (and some of us still own as adults). It didn’t take long for Tonka to introduce specialized packaging as well. The August 1962 issue of Playthings Magazine highlighted three different Dispatcher Tonka Toys, with Hatari-themed boxes, that were for sale in the lobby of movie theaters while Hatari played in theatres.
View all the information on eBay
The article appeared on this page:
In the Fall of 1963, Tonka introduced this three-vehicle package called the Outdoor living set, which included a jeep surrey, a jeep ‘runabout’, a jeep truck with camper, and boat.
View all the information on eBay
Update: Sold. Was $14,000.
A nice one with lots of updates.
“Steering wheel on the right side, Stock Chevy 305, Chevy sm465 4 speed, granny in 1st gear, new clutch, flywheel, pressure plate, starter, Dana 20 transfer case, Dana 44 rear with stock 4:27 gears with Detroit gear less locker, Dana 30 front 4:27 gears with Detroit gear less locker, warn 9000lbs winch, with rear mounting capability, Holley 2d projection fuel injection throttle body, on board air, Chevy power steering box, 75% 2 year old 3 ply sidewall bf good ridge mud Terran 35s, monotone mx6 adjustable shocks, electric fan, highlight jack, all new brakes, wheel cylinders, shoes and master cylinder, no worries on the rear axle I still have all the Inards from stock”
UPDATE: **SOLD** Was $5000.
Used at a “Nevada Test Site”? Bring your Geiger counter.
“Body is good ,motor needs rebuilt it is parts now,was used at the nevada test site for many yeary.”
UPDATE: Status Unknown. Was $10,800.
(08/20/2018) Appears to have a replacement tub.
“1946 willy jeep, cj2a. buick v6,winch,new top,new seats,t90 trans.”
UPDATE: **SOLD** Was on eBay.
Bill spotted this solid looking M-715 project with a generator in the back. Looks like it has potential.
“You are bidding on a 1968 Kaiser M-715 Jeep. 27k miles. This Jeep had been sitting in a garage since 1999 before I bought over this past winter.. I put it in my garage and haven’t had time to go through it. It turns over but doesn’t run…. it has a good frame, solid floors, drivers side rocker below the door is rusty, but the body is otherwise in good shape, has the 6 cylinder tornado motor, manual trans, 4×4, high/Low. Comes with a generator in the back, which I have no clue if it runs or not. Please not that we are selling this vehicle today as is, with a bill of sale, to the highest bidder of this auction AND it will be that persons responsibility to pickup this truck from our location”
No engine.
https://www.facebook.com/marketplace/item/2660587074161306/
“1958 willys mule. Rare one of the first 11000 built. Missing engine and front seat. Pretty much complete of other components. You could put original 4 cyl or update to newer 2 cyl. Best offer.”
Does it run?
https://www.facebook.com/marketplace/item/243725350282903/
“Two military Gama Goat Vehicles off road aquatic capabilities diesel engine multiple spare tires and rims including lots of extra spare parts not counting the two gamma goats to start asking 7500 or best offer willing to hear”
UPDATE: **SOLD** Was $3500.
Pretty stock jeep here.
“1946 Jeep willys BARN FIND!!! Been in the barn since 1974 ALL ORGiNAL!!!! Bill of sale only $3500 OBO”
Harmen-Jan of the Netherlands shared this video of farm life footage filmed in the Netherlands between 1920 and 1960. At the 15-minute-mark there is footage of a WWII jeep piling what I believe is hay(?) and at the 19-minute-mark there is a brief look at the same jeep pulling an overloaded wagon. In between (and before and after both marks), plenty of back-breaking-work is documented.
UPDATE: The article below is one of a number of articles highlighting the “JEEP” Tractor from Minneapolis-Moline Implement Company: The NTX. One or both units were also tested at Holabird, so the term ‘jeep’ used to describe a vehicle didn’t originate with the Bantam, Ford, or Willys prototypes.
Published in the Lansing State Journal, Lansing, Michigan, August 22, 1940.
According to a Hemmings article, the name ‘Jeep’ originated with Sergeant James O’Brian in August of 1940:
The UTX went to the Aberdeen Proving Ground in Maryland, but earned its place in history in August 1940 at Camp Ripley, Minnesota, when Sergeant James T. O’Brien of the 109th Ordnance Company of the Minnesota National Guard noted the overall proficiency of the tractors, especially when pulling a stuck howitzer out of the mud. Inspired by the “Eugene the Jeep” character in the Popeye comic strip, O’Brien first hung from the tractor’s radiator cap a sign painted with the word “Jeep,” then painted the word “Jeep” itself on the flanks of the tractor.
Minneapolis-Moline chronicled the christening in a wartime advertisement: “This new MM army vehicle was not a crawler, tractor, truck nor tank, and yet it could do almost anything and it knew all the answers. Because of this, it brought to mind the Popeye cartoon figure called ‘Jeep’ which was neither fowl nor beast, but knew all the answers and could do almost anything.”
============================
Originally Published December of 2014:
More photos of this NTX on Flickr https://www.flickr.com/photos/observethebanana/542560053/in/photostream/
However, the short comings of the NTX coupled with the introduction of the Bantam BRC in late September doomed the 6 NTXs produced to the role of a jeep footnote.
It doesn’t mean the NTX isn’t worth anything. An NTX in 2012 fetched $29,000 at an auction.
UPDATE: Vince shared an article from autoblog.com that provides more information on the Rainbow Sheikh (Sheigh Hamad bin Hamdan) who built the world’s largest running jeep. It had been many years since my last post on the subject, so it was time to update this post.
In 2010, reports were that Guinness Book of World Records had recognized the jeep as the largest running jeep in the world; however, I could not verify the record through the Guinness web site. Recently, a huge CJ-5 built by the same Shiekh for his offload museum may have surpassed the flat fender.
https://www.autoblog.com/2020/05/31/worlds-largest-working-jeep/
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Published in April of 2009: I thought it was just a fake keep prop of some kind, but apparently it’s being built on the framework of a large quarry mining truck.
Neat press photo of a jeep exiting a glider at Wold-Chamberlain Field in Minnesota. The photo was taken February 27, 1945, by ‘Ted’ at 2pm.
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“Jeep rolls out of nose of large glider after coming into a landing”
Could be worth a look.
https://www.facebook.com/marketplace/item/266400874724094/
“Willys Jeep for sale, 1948 clean title. When we purchased it still was running then. We had plans to do a Jeep build but are still not ready to do it. It has been sitting out side for 3 years now. We just would like to sell it and make space. I can also tow it to your place! Let me know if your interested”
Adam is selling this 2WD wagon project. Includes a variety of new parts.
https://sfbay.craigslist.org/nby/cto/d/santa-rosa-1950-willys-wagon/7133892163.html
“Willys Jeep 2 wheel drive wagon. Many new/rebuilt parts including brakes, carb, fuel pump, all new glass. Email for info.”
Very odd 3B-like Dodge truck.
https://www.facebook.com/marketplace/item/2689482824641344/
“1935 Dodge engine and frame. Man made cab and flat bed. Milage unknown. Great project to restore.”
UPDATE: **SOLD** Was $450.
Could be a good price.
“Good Old Working Welder”
Has some rust and some dents.
https://www.facebook.com/marketplace/item/551244068867394/
“Solid desert truck. Colorado title. Located in Grand Junction Colorado. Should run. I can deliver it 48 states. Original flat head 6.”
Not sure how much value is here.
https://www.facebook.com/marketplace/item/259830901901100/
“L head straight 4 cylinder, has motor, no transmission. Pan and frame is no good but a lot of parts are there (axels, seat frame, gauges, grill, windshield frame, etc.). Don’t need the parts anymore. This is not a vehicle you can get back on the road. It’s main purpose would be for parts. We are not interested in parting out the Jeep. We want someone to take the entire Jeep.”
There’s some value here.
https://www.facebook.com/marketplace/item/523711048325285/
“Non military jeep. All parts are included, needs assembly. New upgraded brakes, drums and suspension. 7 New tires. Runs great when assembled. Military trailer included. Can be rolled up onto trailer.”
On June 24, 1941, a syndicated article claimed that friends of Ward Canaday said he was the father of the jeep:
The Windsor Star out of Ontario, Canada, published this article blurb on June 24, 1941.
This news didn’t sit well with friends and former employees of Frank H. Fenn, President of the American Bantam Car Co. They wasted no time, quickly countering the notion that Canaday was the jeep’s father by explaining via telegrams why Fenn was the real father of the “Jeep”.
On June 27th, 1941, the Press and Sun-Bulletin published the responses in the following column.
And, just for fun, here’s another example of a Bantam BRC photo, taken less than a week after it arrived at Holabird. The first Bantam Scout Car wasn’t a secret for very long!
Published by the Seminole Producer, Seminole, Oklahoma, October 07, 1940.
Each photo (photos front and back, so 4 photos total) is 4.25″ wide. The glasses are just under 4.25″ wide.
Unable to travel much this year, I’ve had a little extra cash to investigate the odder eBay finds. These Roy Rogers photos are a good example of that type of purchase. I’ve learned that if you see something on eBay that has been with a seller a while, put it on your watchlist. Sometimes the seller will respond with a discount offer. In this case, I countered with an even lower offer, explaining that I didn’t collect Roy Rogers stuff and only wanted the images for the one jeep image. That seemed to work, as the seller accepted my counteroffer.
My eyes failed me … I never did get the image to look really 3D. I also didn’t want to disconnect the glasses from the photos.
Once delivered I was surprised by two things. First, the 3D viewer was much smaller than expected, but then I realized, duh, they are for kids. For me to view the image wasn’t all that easy through the tiny glasses (4.25 inches from end to end). It also didn’t help that my eyes (I’ll be 55 on Friday) are a little too old; I needed to wear glasses when looking through viewer at the focal length required, but that whole thing became awkward and I never could get the full 3D effect.
All three items were still connected as they originally were. Above them is an 8.5″ piece of paper to give a sense of size.
The second thing that surprised me that the glasses were still attached to the two images and the two images were still attached to each other, meaning these images and viewer had never been used. All three items still folded up into a neat little, compact package.
I just don’t know how stuff like this has survived more than 50 years!
