Monthly Archives: February 2025

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Nate’s CJ-5 on Tracks

• CATEGORIES: Features • TAGS: This site contains affiliate links for which I may be compensated.

Dave here: Nate shared this video of him heading out in the snow to do some maintenance. It looks like that rig is running great and moves really well over the snow. Thanks for taking the time to record it Nate!

 
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Willys Light & Electric and Auto-Lite

• CATEGORIES: Features This site contains affiliate links for which I may be compensated.

UPDATE V: Thanks to Barry for sharing a recent video made by CruddyCornstalks. he spends time explaining why the engine is unusual and how it works.

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UPDATE IV .. Feb 7, 2023: Nate was able to get this running. Check it out.

UPDATE III: See the internals of a Willys Light Plant here

UPDATE II: More pics of Nate’s Willys Light Plant here

UPDATE: There is more history about Miniger and his purchase of John North Willys Stock in 1929 in a 1946 Fortune article.

willys-electric-light-plant-card

This postcard is currently listed on eBay.

The other day Nate forwarded me the following images of a Willys home power plant, built by both “Willys Light” and the “Electric Auto-Lite Corporation”. Not knowing much about any of this (and not having the time to source original info from newspapers of the time), I took a break from house painting to venture down internet rabbit holes. What follows is more of a work-in-progress than a finished piece. Hopefully, folks can add or correct the following.

Let’s start with the pics that Nate sent:

willys-electric-light-plant-1-lores willys-electric-light-plant-2-lores willys-electric-light-plant-3-lores

Continue reading

 
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Thank You Brian aka Metalshaper!

• CATEGORIES: News This site contains affiliate links for which I may be compensated.

Brian posted up a farewell video on his metalshaper channel, it was shared on OWF today.

I personally never crossed paths with Brian in person but his videos are a great resource to our Willys community and will be missed.

Thank you Brian for all you have contributed to our small slice of the automotive world. You have helped alot of people over the years.

Good luck with your future endeavors!

If you ever need anything feel free to reach out to us at eWillys!

https://m.youtube.com/@metalshaperJeep

TD80_metalshaper_1 TD80_metalshaper_2 TD80_metalshaper_3

 

 
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RARE 1954 M38A1 Ex-Army Jeep Willys and Ex-Fire Brush Truck CA Titled – $12,500- AD REMOVED

• CATEGORIES: M-38A1 This site contains affiliate links for which I may be compensated.

AD REMOVED

RARE 1954 M38A1 Ex-Army Jeep Willys and Ex-Fire Brush Truck CA Titled – $12,500

“Andy’s Picks”

Brush Truck M38a1

https://sandiego.craigslist.org/nsd/cto/d/escondido-rare-1954-m38a1-ex-army-jeep/7824886819.html

Seller

Running, Driving, and current Registration til July 2025 (2025 sticker in envelope still).

Legit Ex-Army Jeep that was decommissioned and mothballed circa 1960 (“Radiator drained”) then some time in the 70’s or 80’s it was turned over to the Forestry Service and converted for use as a Brush Truck. Purchased from them when it was again decommissioned and replaced with more modern equipment and now Titled in CA.

Original Hurricane Motor and manual trans with odometer showing just over 7K miles. Fires up first try every time. Has an 80-gallon water tank and 150′ hose on the back. The original Clinton Engine pump motor on the back RUNS TOO! The original rotor water pump (that is turned by the gas Clinton engine) had corrosion and it wasn’t worth cleaning up straight away so a brand new and identical pump was purchased and is included (original pump also included) but not installed. The pipes will need new seals and we are missing the strainer so a new one will need to be purchased and installed (from a landscaping / irrigation supply store).

My son and I have taken it to a few car shows and cruise nights and it gets A LOT of attention, even when parked next to pristine, restored jeeps. The patina with the original Army Green and (fading) red over top with the original Army stenciling peeking through just cannot be reproduced. We were working to get the pump setup spraying again, but now college is imminent, he / we are finding other things more pressing. Has been a fun Father-Son project, but time to pass it on to someone who will enjoy it.

Lots of people say they would strip out the fire equipment and use it as a Desert Runner… but… well… whoever buys it can do whatever they want to with it. But there’s a whole lot of desert jeeps out there but I can’t say I’ve personally seen any other fire truck jeeps.

Can you drive it home? Uh, sure. But if you aren’t comfortable driving a 70+ year old jeep with no seatbelts, no doors, no power brakes and no power steering and are otherwise unfamiliar with the Jeep “Death Wobble”, I would recommend you either take back roads slowly or you tow it.

TD79_M38Brush_1 TD79_M38Brush_2 TD79_M38Brush_3 TD79_M38Brush_4 TD79_M38Brush_5