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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: Another postcard with this image is back on eBay.
(08/01/2015) You can learn more about Fantastic Caverns here: http://www.ewillys.com/2012/11/22/bill-visits-the-fantastic-caverns/
“Springfield Missouri~Jeep & Tram Thru Fantastic Caverns~1960s Postcard”
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Netherland’s National Train Museum includes one of the oddest wagons I’ve seen. Thanks to Scott for sharing this photo from Facebook.
UPDATE: Mark shared this closeup photo of the Jeep Train ‘Engine’.
Original Post — Jan 19, 2013: Here’s a jeep train out of Key West, the ‘world famous ‘Conch Tour Train‘. You can still find the Conch Tour Trains wandering Key West. Here’s a picture of one. It looks to be a CJ-5. Here’s an article about them.
Vintage Conch Tour Train Pics: Check out all those shrimp boats in the background. you can just make out the jeep trapped under the shell of the train body.
State Archives of Florida, Florida Memory, http://floridamemory.com/items/show/77312. Picture taken by Barron, Charles.
State Archives of Florida, Florida Memory, http://floridamemory.com/items/show/77286. Picture taken by Barron, Charles.
One of the better jeep train photos.
“1943 Press Photo Pvt. Ward directs the jeep carrying cargo and three others. This is an original press photo. 6 –The jee takes on cargo at the loading platform in an air depot. The jeep has only one small trailer. In jeep is Sgt. D. Kelly. of Betava, N.Y. Pvt. Ed. L. Ward, of Kenton, Ohio, directs from the platform, while Pvt. Henry Martion. of Great Falls, Mont, is in the truck on platform. Sgt. M. J. Bacciarina, from Merced, Calif., stands at rear of trailer.Photo measures 9 x 7.25 inches. Photo is dated 08-20-1943.”
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This photo and caption was published in the Toledo Blade, August 13, 1943.
Paul spotted this unique Inspection Willys Jeep Truck at Just a Car Guy’s blog. I would guess this was sold as a truck with no bed. What’s odd is the extra cab thing on the top. Looks like it was part of another vehicle.
http://justacarguy.blogspot.com/2015/03/swiss-rail-road-inspection-willys-jeep.html
I’ve got more information about this jeep train called the Last Chancer from Helena, Montana, here.
“Original Vintage Snapshot Photo Jeep Powered The Last Chancer Tourist Steam Train Helena Montana dated 1964. Size is 3.5×5 inches.”
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UPDATE: Was $8500. **Status Unknown**
JAAP correctly noted this was built from an Allis-Chambers M7 Snowcat platform. Here’s a restoration of a M7 for comparison: http://www.robertsarmory.com/M7-snow-tractor.htm
“Here is your opportunity to get a great piece of American ingenuity and history. This is a one of a kind train built back in the 1950’s by hand. I do not know anything of the man that built it but believe he must have had some railroad experience or a great understanding of how a train operates on the tracks. The train is built with front suspension that allows it to turn with the tracks along with allowing it to float into the turns with the spring suspension. The rear of the train is designed with the same setup. The drivetrain is built of a war time 1944 Willys Jeep. It has the L-head 134.2 cubic inch inline 4 cylinder Go Devil Engine. Followed up with a T-84 3 speed transmission. The transmission has what looks to be a custom transmission brake on it for slowing the train. The transmission is followed up by a shortened drive shaft to a narrowed rear-end to which came from the same jeep.
The motor spins free and everything looks to be in place as well as the transmission shifting. I have not tried to start it. Last time it was reported to be ran is when it was parked about 20 years ago. The rest of the train is built with a stout frame and a beautifully done engine cover hand formed from numerous sheets of skins to give it a period correct look of its time. The head light is from a 1941 Chevrolet car.
UPDATE: This is back on eBay
“Original 1945 Vintage Ad Ethyl Corporation Gasoline Curtiss Commando Plane,Jeep,Navy Boat.
In very good condition, measuring approximately 8″ x 10.5″ and is ready for framing.
Comes in a protective plastic covering with a backing board to protect from bending.”
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Looks like a CJ-5 is underneath the train-looking body. The photo is from Manhattan, Kansas. The train is a Deibler Trackless Train.
You might remember that Ann and I visited the Shelburne Museum in June of 2013. According to this brochure, they used to have a jeep-train (which they called the museum barge). I’ll do some searches for more photos.
One here: Shelburne Museum Map on eBay
A second map here: Shelburne Museum Map on eBay
Here’s a rare jeep-train photo Marc forwarded. I’ll see if I can find more info about this. We stopped near here during our stay in Mackinaw City, MI in May.
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Here’s a great shot of a jeep on rails from the April 14, 1944 issue of Illustrated London News.
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Sebastian’s in Colombia for a week and forwarded this article regarding a jeep train in Colombia. Here are a few photos and the link to the article (it is in Spanish).
Bob reports they’ve been running this Jeep Train in Galveston, TX, since 1951. I tried to find some old photos or articles, but didn’t have any luck.
The Lincoln Road Mall appears to be in Miami.
1. View all the information on ebay
2. View all the information on ebay
UPDATE: **SOLD** Was on eBay
The original Broward County Jeep Tram was launched by Hugh B. Cramer in 1946. Hugh brought five jeeps with him from Buffalo that could be linked together and drive out onto sandy beaches.
Hugh’s plan didn’t succeed, but a jeep tram did root itself in Hallandale. According to this article, the jeep trams were begun in 1982 as an adjunct to the bus system, but this photo suggests it happened earlier. The city paid for the majority of the costs. As of 1990 the trams were still running based on the picture at the bottom.
1. “You are bidding on an original press photo from 1980 featuring Tram in Hallandale. . Photo is 10” x 8” in size.”
2. You are bidding on an original press photo from 1990 featuring Voyager Tram… Broward . Photo is 10” x 8” in size.
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UPDATE: this was on eBay
The Prehistoric Forest & Mystery Hill park in Marblehead in Ohio once featured these jeep trains. I guess jeeps and dinosaurs go together? The park closed at the end of 2010 based on what I’ve read. There is no date associated with the below card.
UPDATE: Was on eBay. **SOLD**
Here’s a jeep tram that is pulling tourists along the Huntington Beach Pier.
Taking pity on Mark’s withdrawals, I spotted this link that I never posted about Fred Kay’s Crazy Railroad. Lots of jeeps on rails.
http://www.victorhornetcomics.co.uk/fredkayrly.html
Meanwhile, I’m going through and deleting old posts to reduce the site’s overhead while I move it over.
Thanks to Warren for forwarding this lead. Perhaps it is more accurate to call these mini-jeep trains, but just outside Freeport, Maine, there is a CJ-5 and CJ-7 that still pull tourists in a tourist-trailer around the sand (which I think they call ‘narrated coach tours’). You can learn more about them here. I managed to find a few photos of them on Flickr. It looks like there are two different coaches.
http://www.flickr.com/photos/the_west_wing/8152632437/
http://www.flickr.com/photos/7588183@N04/4858047781/?q=desert%20of%20maine%20jeep
The Last Chancer, a wooden train built on a jeep platform, is documented at the Helena History Museum. You can view additional pictures at the Museum page. A Last Chance Train still exists, but has been upgraded.
In this early picture taken in 1954 you can see what appears to be a CJ-3B peering out from it’s enclosure.
Here is the Train as of 1957.
The Last Chancer made an appearance in the 1956 issue of Popular Science on page 104:
For his Pic of the Week, Craig forwarded this unusual train built on a jeep platform that was featured in a 1964 issue of Jeep News.
I found an example of the above train-jeep being used at Africa, USA, though the details were slightly different. These pictures come from cardcow.com.
I’m wondering if this jeep train out of St. Augustine, FL, isn’t a custom version of the above platform. You can see the older St. Augustine Jeep Trains here.
UPDATE: Learn more about the green jeep in the comments section.
Upon learning about the jeep at the Fantastic Cavern’s Visitor Center in Springfield, Missouri, Bill had to see it for himself. Fortunately for us, he took along his camera. Since Friday is the official start of the Christmas season, even though ‘Black Friday’ has now leaked into the evening of ‘Turkey, Christmas presents in the back of jeep just seemed a perfect way to launch the season (for us Willys nuts anyway).
Here’s photos of the original jeep. Bill was told it was a CJ-2A, but it seemed more 3A to him.
Here are some pics of the new propane fueled jeeps:
