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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 $700.
A sale is pending as I write this, but these Economy Delivery Van’s, introduced in 1958, are super rare. I have probably documented three of them in 15 years?
“PENDING. 1950 ish jeep delivery panel. No engine. No title. Unknown mileage.”
Over the past couple of days I’ve turn my attention to the disaster that is the ‘jeep’ office. My library of non jeep books and jeep books and jeep toys and other jeep stuff has remained mostly stored for the past two years in this tiny office that’s part of the shop. This is one room that has undergone almost no remodeling … and it shows.
I’ve made some progress (just putting up the books and binders in bookcases has made a difference. One of the side benefits of doing this is finding stuff that I have yet to post, such as the pics and Boyertown Economy Delivery brochure below …
One of the jeep photos appears to have a plate dated 1958, so that’s how I am dating this package.
Recently I got a great price on 30+ Willys World news letters from 1974-1985. There were a few interesting nuggets in several issues.
One the cover of the March-April 1982 issue appears this Willys-Overland photo, taken February 2, 1950. The pic shows what W-O called a “Herman Panel Delivery Van”. The model-name itself is curious, as Willys had referred to the earlier (and later) versions of this van as a Package, Economy, or Delivery Van.
Herman was a van-body manufacturer, as this brochure shows. Note the dual windows on the door. This is similar to what the company designed for Willys-Overland.
My guess is the Herman Panel Delivery van was a prototype. For some reason, it appears it was never a production model. However, Willys-Overland did work with the Boyertown and Montpelier companies to create a similar version in the late 1950s.
MONTPELIER DELIVERY TRUCK ARTICLE:
This runs and drives. Thanks to Andy for sharing.
https://www.facebook.com/marketplace/item/948439253173624
“1948 Willys package delivery van, 4 cyl 3speed ,4×4 runs, drives, could use some more TLC ,16 inch tires ,all new glass ,just cleaning out my building, selling projects ,can’t keep them all ,and you will not find another one of these in 2000 miles of here. call Kenny 540-42one-506two”
Andy spotted this free Economy Delivery Truck. It’s a project for sure, but an interesting one. It’s probably a 1957, 1958, or 195
https://www.facebook.com/marketplace/item/462671892727824
“Free willy . No title . Cool project! Solid frame”
This is a rare one. It appears in reasonable shape, especially for the price. Someone might have added duallies to the rear.
https://medford.craigslist.org/cto/d/grants-pass-1947-willys-overland/7543013992.html
“This is one of the last of it’s kind in really good condition. It has a flat head six cylinder engine that I was converting fro six to twelve volt. I was not able to finish because of disability. It would be nice to have someone finish this project. This ran when parked.”
UPDATE II: There’s another 1954 Metamet 12-page brochure for sale on eBay (see bottom of post for pics)
View all the information on eBay
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UPDATE Posted July 04, 2019: This post has been updated to reflect some more information and images. It was originally posted in March of 2013.
Metamet was a British company that refurbished WWII jeeps and civilian jeeps, creating a slew of different models. According to the G503 Forum, “Metamet was run by an expat Pole, and latterly his son. It was a wonderful Aladdin’s caves of wartime Jeeps and Jeep bits and pieces located in a series of old mews stables in Daleham Mews. These places were commonly garage workshops in post-horse London, but nowdays are worth untold fortunes as residences.”
At one point in the early 1950s there were twelve different models of jeeps offered by Metamet, only one of which was the standard production model jeep. The rest were all customizations of one type or another. Seven models were 80″ wheel base, while the other five had 100″ wheel bases. The models include, the Standard, De-luxe, Farmer, Five-in-one, Saloon, Shooting Brake, 10 CWT Truck, Metaplan, Station Wagon, 15 CWT Van, 20 CWT Lorry, and a 2 Ton Loadmaster.
Metamet’s early 1950s models. There were seven 80″ wheel base jeeps and five 100″ wheel base jeeps.
Here’s an example of Metamet’s advertising.
A 1952 Ad posted to Flicker by Johnathan confirms there were twelve models also:
Finally, here’s a 1954 12 page brochure that provides examples of different models that used to be linked to on the jeep farm website:
This rare economy delivery van has an even rare cousin, the Montpelier version. Thanks to Roger Martin for spotting it. No description provided.
https://www.facebook.com/marketplace/item/339496464754340/
Econev
UPDATE: Here’s another Willys StorDor Van. This one sold recently for $2300.
Ad text: Late 1940’s Willys-Overland StorDor step-van. Body is complete. Engine is complete; turns over but have not attempted to start. Tires hold air and vehicle rolls smoothly. Vehicle does not have paperwork.
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Originally posted Jan 26, 2019: Adam sold this rare 1948 Willys StorDor Van. Here’s another example. I assume this one has some kind of custom top?
“Offered here is a 1948 Willys StorDor step van. It has been converted to a Chevrolet 6 cyl and the roof has been extended. The inside is wired for 110v, fully insulated, and has a sleeping loft. This would make a great tiny home, food truck, or RV! It has been sitting for many years and will need reviving. It is not currently running, but the engine turns over. Asking $2200 or best offer. Registration is paid, title is clean, tags are current. Please reply with your phone number if interested and I will contact you.”
This REPRINTED 11″x17″ photo from eBay shows a Thrif-T-Van body on an unknown chassis with Kaiser-Willys printed on the side. Anyone have insights into this?
View all the information on ebay
“1950 ‘S KAISER WILLYS PANEL VAN TRUCK 11 X 17 PHOTO”
UPDATE: As JoeB points out (and I missed), the van is an Economy 2WD Deliver Chassis with a Montpelier body conversion (vs. the Boyer version).
http://www.ewillys.com/2013/12/02/economy-delivery-van-image-comparison/#more-150114
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Several folks shared this photo with me. It was published by Paul Swanson on Facebook. HIs family used to own the dealership. The fourth vehicle in the row looks to be an unusual model of the economy/package/delivery van. You’ll note it lacks front hubs, suggesting it was 2WD. Some were 2WD and some 4WD vans: http://www.ewillys.com/2020/07/06/photo-of-an-unusual-boyerstown-built-2wd-delivery-van/
Paul dates the photo to 1957, but to me the FC-150 on the left and the first FC-150 in the row of jeeps look like they are not narrow tracks, which would put the photo later than 1957. Moreover, I cannot find any ads for Park Jeep earlier than the summer of 1958.
Paul indicated that he will post better images of the van.
From the February 02, 1960, issue of the Minneapolis Star. Strangely, I could not locate any ads earlier than the summer of 1958. So, it’s unclear to me when the dealership opened. You’ll note this ad mentions an Economy van; maybe the one in the pic above never sold.
Sid-kris posted pics of this Willys Overland Package Van on Facebook (he was wondering what it was). This marks the third package van we’ve identified. The first is the one Jesse is rebuilding. The second was sold in 2014 in California (a slightly different model – see brochures here). This third one was spotted in West Virginia as I understand it. What’s unique about this one is that it is 4WD (the other two were 2WD).
The January 1958 issue of Willys News included this article about the Economy Delivery Truck.
UPDATE: Was $10,000. **SOLD**
Another 1948 Package Delivery Van, except this is the California Body version. Compare it to Jesse’s version.
“Will sell all of my Jeeps for the low price of $10,000 (Firm) which takes into consideration that there are issues, minor to major with all 3. Do Not let this scare you off. This is a screaming Deal for what I have and definitely warrants the expenditure of some time to come and look if you are a serious Jeep buyer! 1. 1947 CJ2 2. 1951 Jeep pickup 3. 1948 Willys Overland Parcel Delivery (PD) Quite Rare! First two run and the PD was driven from San Francisco to Paynes Creek 18 years ago and has not been started since. It has the 4 cylinder flathead engine and the other two are F Heads. The 1947 has an F head that is a transplant out of a 1953 jeep station wagon. I will entertain the idea of parceling them out. I do not answer TEXT messages, If you wish to communicate with me you must respond to the Craig’s List email platform with your phone number and your first name and I will get back to you shortly. I can provide more pictures by request.”
Here’s a rare look at a Willys Overland Chassis with a StorDor body (see late 1940s brochure at bottom). What’s unusual with this van is that at some point it was turned into a motor home. While this former laundry van’s current fate is unknown, Larry, the former owner, has shared some information about it. He writes:
I had an old van registered as a Willys Housecar from 1948. Body was on a 2T frame and was modified with a Chevy inline six. Boy do I miss her…I had to leave her in shambles ten years ago
I was told that an old man in Moorpark, Ca. had custom built the interior and as seen on the exterior, the most probable “Bakery” in blue and with imagination, “To your door” showed up on the driver’s side through the house paint that is flaking off, suggesting that she was once a bakery delivery van. The previous owner had received it as a joke some time before I got it in 1980. I don’t know if it even exists anymore. She was dependable but scary with the feeling of tipping ever present like the willies you’d get in a CB or MB of, say, 1940’s circa.
On another note, I had a friend who had a 1947 Ford van similar to this Willys I owned and it had a grill in the bell shape as mine was.
You can view all the photos of Larry’s old Van here: https://www.flickr.com/photos/lrgvanman/sets/72157604163626267/
You can just make out the “Willys Overland” signature on the speedometer.
This brochure is from 1959, which includes some specs. This website has drawings of it and an ambulance version, too.
I just purchased the following package van brochures from eBay.
Below is the Urban Package Delivery Van which Jesse is rebuilding.
While not exactly a package van, the principle was the same with this modification:
UPDATE: Jesse asked me to post a few more pics that show additional progress . . .
These four pics show the body on the wider, heavy duty chassis.
Here are images of the body being removed from the narrower chassis. You can see past images here: http://www.ewillys.com/tag/Package-Van/
UPDATE: Jesse forwarded a few more pics showing the floor removed.
This is an update on the 1948 Package Delivery Van, the only one we know of in existence. When we last saw it, the van was on it’s way to Jesse’s place in Phoenix for a complete overhaul.
You can read the full story of the package van in an article I wrote and published for JeepTruck.com.
Below is the latest picture I have. The body has been stripped and cleaned a bit.
You might remember that we spotted this rare 1948 Willys Overland Package Delivery van a while back. The buyer decided he had to let it go, so Jesse volunteered to take on the project of restoring it. To get to Phoenix, the van has made its first stop in Missouri at Craig’s place.
Craig writes, “The 1948 Willys Overland Urban Package Delivery is 430 miles closer to it’s new home in Phoenix, Arizona. It’s resting at my place in Defiance, Missouri right now before I make the pilgrimage out there to Phoenix and back in a few weeks. Since the ’48 got its start on eWillys I thought it could use an update there as well. The pictures were taken just a stones throw south of Roxanna, Ohio where Roger Martin (pictured with me) brought it from its home in Lake Geneva, Ohio. It looks a little better with some rubber on the wheels! Craig @ thefcconnection”
UPDATE II: See the latest — The Van is headed West.
From August, 2011: Glenn recognized the Willys Van for sale. Even more impressive, he found a brochure for one! Well done! He bought the Sales Folder off eBay about a year and a half ago. Mfg. by Plaza Motors, Inc. Englewood, NJ and was Willys-Overland Factory Approved.
Based on the emails between Colin and Glenn, there were at least three groups of Willys-Overland Delivery Trucks produced:
1) One group was produced during or just prior to WWII (as seen below)
Here is a 1942 Panel Delivery Truck:
2) One group was produced during post WWII and pre 1950, which appears to include the Willys Van owned by Mike. The brochure provided by Glenn also appears to be related to this second group.
3) One group was produced between 1951 and 1953, based on these serial numbers.
The numbers below are for post 1950 FJs. This one appears to be a pre-1950 FJ. We are still awaiting a serial number.
1951 FJ 451 GC1 10001— none
1953 FJ 452 GC2 10001—10065 65 built
1954 FJ454 GC2 10001—10012 12 built