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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 .
Steve spotted this great photo of Jackie Robinson and the Brooklyn Dodgers piled into a jeep. You only receive the photo, but not the negative.
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“This auction is for one awesome IT’s A BEAUTY !!!! WE DO SHIPPED TO CANADA.. we do COMBINED SHIPPING COST !! 1950 JACKIE ROBINSON – DUKE SNIDER – PEE WEE REESE – CARL FURILLO – ROY CAMPANELLA Brooklyn Dodgers NL Team ” RIDING In A JEEP ” 8×10 TEAM PHOTO ! !!! awesome Made from super negative !!”
I find it rewarding to find the backstories to folks see in the old photos like this. You can read Harry’s full biography here.
This photo published in the Jackson Advocate on June 22, 1946, was taken in Leghorn, Italy, and shows Harry and his wife Orlean together again after being separated during WWII. Born in Mississippi, in 1909, Harry rose to the rank of Major, serving in both WWII and the Korean War. A writer, editor and highly educated man, after spending time in Germany, France, Korea, California, Africa, and other places, he eventually returned to Mississippi, become the first black teacher at the Gulfport High School. He went on to win a variety of awards and was a member of a number of societies. Major Harry C. Tartt passed away in 2008, with Orlean preceding him.
This 1973 Busch Beer commercial includes multiple shots of a post 1972 CJ-5. I don’t remember this commercial, yet it feels oddly familiar.
Here’s the original source: https://media.dlib.indiana.edu/media_objects/6h440x06f
While the sign reads “approved”, to me this particular sign does not look like Willys approved signage. There are too many signs of slight overspray. Perhaps it was done by a service station owner? I’ve also not seen one with that background color. Anyone seen another like this?
https://toledo.craigslist.org/clt/d/toledo-vintage-1950s-s-willys-metal/7119346029.html
Marked form FS-F514105, this brochure highlights some of the tool bar implements available for jeeps, including the Rotary Lister Planter, the Conventional Moldboard Middle Buster, The Roatry Bottom Middle Buster, the Field Cultivator and the Row Fertilizer Attachment.
Barry Thomas suggests that some or all of these may be ex-newgren items that, following Newgren’s struggles, Willys-Overland began to market and sell under ‘Jeep’. I’m not as versed as some folks on the individual implements, so maybe someone can confirm this?
One thing is clear to me; Willys-Overland did not devote much marketing resources to this sales effort. These brochures are pretty simplistic compared to many other marketing documents of the time. Maybe there was a small team with a tight budget assigned to try to make something happen with this niche of farming and implements?
Unlike the other brochures in this group of seven, this was the only one-page brochure and it lacked a form number.
This unusual little lighter is engraved with Willys, Packard, and Mack. Kenneth B. Schleicher ran a dealership out of Lehighton, Pennsylvania, for fifteen years. He passed away in 1984.
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Vintage Redilite Stick Lighter KB Schleicher Mack Willys Packard never used”
Chris spotted this wonderful video showing the capabilities of ‘Jeep’ Audiovisual unit. There are lots of great details, including how to use the PTO to power the generator which operates the equipment. So cool! Thanks to Indiana University for preserving this unique film!
If for some reason the video doesn’t work correctly, go here: https://media.dlib.indiana.edu/media_objects/1r66j7359
I can’t imagine that Willys was fielding enough Land Rover questions that the sales department thought it needed to highlight the Jeep’s advantages over it?
Here’s a reasonable price for a circa 1952 4 Wheel Drive Booklet. It appears in pretty good shape. You can see a scan of this here.
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“This is an original 8.25″ x 5.5″ 20-page Willys Motors booklet made for Jeep dealers to help familiarize them with the 4 X 4 features & help sell their vehicles by showing they can go anywhere,anytime,under any conditions.It’s in nice condition with only minor wear on the covers”
This modest four page brochure was spotted by Maury on eBay along with five other cool brochures which I’ll share over the next few days. They are great brochures at a killer buy-it-now price.
Each of the brochures had consecutive form numbers, from FS-514100 to FS-514105. The brochure below included extra digits at the front: FS-4 FS-514102.
I do think it’s odd that while the brand ‘Jeep’ dominates much of the consumer facing literature by 1958, the marketing department still uses the ‘Willys’ term. Of course, the company’s name is Willys Motors, but that’s pretty much a legacy name by this time (at least in retrospect).
This August 21, 1942, photo in the Nogalas International Newspaper didn’t provide any names, but does make it appear that these airmen are enjoying the ride.
UPDATE: The March 19, 1948, ad art was later used for this 1949 CJ-3A brochure.
The firm of Caver-Wiggins advertised jeeps for sale in the Pascagoula, Mississippi, Chronicle Star newspaper from July 1946 to November 1947.
In October of 1947, the Caver-Wiggins corporate charter was changed and the firm renamed to Runnels-Wiggins, with Julius Wiggins and Davage Runnels taking control of the entity.
In November of 1947, a week after the final Caver-Wiggins jeep ad, Runnel-Wiggins began advertising jeeps in the Chronicle Star. The ads only appear to last through April of 1948. No additional information appeared in the Chronicle Star about Runnel-Wiggins.
Later that year, in December of 1948, Coast Cities Motor Sales announced its status as a new jeep dealer in Pascagoula and began advertising in the Chronicle Star.
Below are some Runnels-Wiggins ads:
November 14, 1947 The Farm Vehicle That Works 12 Months a Year:
February 06, 1948 Get the Facts and You’ll Get a ‘Jeep’:
February 13, 1948 Winter Chores are Easier with the Universal ‘Jeep’:
This Ramsey brochure highlights some of the different Dana 20 PTO options avaialble.
This issue of the Willys Salespower notes multiple fleet sales citing specific vehicles to specific clients.
UPDATE: Still Available.
(09/25/2019) This scene was part of a Signal Corps News Reel, so there may be film of these kids waving on some internet news reel footage somewhere.
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“943 Press Photo Sicilian kids ride American jeep, World War II, Sicily. This is an original press photo. World War II – Sicily. Friendly youngsters crowd themselves into an American jeep, parked on a street in Sicily. Scene is from U.S. Army Signal Corps Newsreel Film. Photo measures 9.25 x 7 inches. Photo is dated 8-10-1943.”
Just a few updates today…
Jeep dealer Caver-Wiggins began operations in January of 1946 with three people incorporating the company: W. Ed Wiggins, Julius E. Wiggins, and J. B. Caver. Mr. W. Ed Wiggins was President of Pascagoula’s Rotary Club at the time.
The firm of Caver-Wiggins advertised jeeps for sale in the Pascagoula, Mississippi, Chronicle Star newspaper from July 1946 to November 1947. Caver-Wiggins also advertised Crosley automobiles in October of 1946 and Kaiser Frazier vehicles in November of 1946.
In October of 1947, the Caver-Wiggins corporate charter was changed and the firm renamed to Runnels-Wiggins, with Julius Wiggins and Davage Runnels taking control of the entity.
Subsequently, in February of 1948, Runnel-Wiggins became the Chronicle Star’s main jeep advertiser. Runnels-Wiggins ads began in February of 1948, then stopped in April of 1948.
Later, in December of 1948, Coast Cities Motor Sales would supplant Runnels-Wiggins as the main advertiser.
Below are some Caver-Wiggins ads:
July 05, 1946 Get a ‘Jeep’:
July 19, 1946 If you have Tough Jobs … and lots of ’em GET A ‘Jeep’:
March 28, 1947 The Versatile Farm Vehicle:
April 25, 1947 Speed Up Work with the Vehicle that Does More Jobs:
Originally several different posts, this post aggregates some of the Bros Rotary Sno-Flyr brochures.
This was from circa 1955:
UPDATE: These various photos show the early testing of Mighty Mites.
(02/29/2020) This photo appears to show one of the prototype Mighty Mites. It’s hood number (179849) is 3 numbers away from another Mighty Mite (179846) that appeared in the press video at the bottom of this post.
“1954 Sikorsky S-56 Helicopter Backing Jeep into Cargo area … Press Photo”
Here’s the Mighty Mite press video:
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Originally Posted May of 2018: The hood and windshield on this jeep are different from the standard Mighty Mite. This may have been an early prototype. See the photo at the bottom for another view of a vehicle that may be one until earlier than the vehicle in the press photo. (the one in the press photo is #179849).
“1954 Press Photo Jeep being loaded into Sikorsky XHR25 helicopter, Connecticut. This is an original press photo. Three loaded jeeps or 26 men can be carried by a new giant helicopter demonstrated at Bridgeport, Connecticut, Monday. The Sikorsky XHR25 is being built in quantity for the armed forces. It has twin engines, retractable landing gear and rotors that fold, making it easy to handle aboard aircraft carriers. It will fly faster than 150 miles an hour. (Aero-Helicopter) Photo measures 10 x 7 inches. Photo is dated 01-19-1954.”
This is #197848 (from G503): http://forums.g503.com/viewtopic.php?t=195524
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Originally Posted September 2018: Cool, but odd photo, given the roadway behind it. Lots of competing visual angles.
“This is an original press photo. Light enough to be airlifted by helicopter but tough enough to pull through knee deep mud, the mighty mite is to be produced by American Motors Corp. for the military forces. The mighty mite weighs 1,300 pounds less than the jeep and is 43 inches shorter. It is capable of climbing an 87% grade and can do 57 miles an hour on the highway. Its powerful aluminum die cast, air cooled engine enables the vehicle to carry a payload of 500 pounds while towing another 1,000 pounds over rough terrain. United States – Army – Equipment – Vehicles Photo measures 9 x 7.25 inches. Photo is dated 12-05-1954”
The newest issue of the Dispatcher Magazine arrived at my mailbox. It’s another great issue full of vintage jeep info, including a listing for the “world’s oldest jeep touring company” out of Ouray, Colorado, that is for sale (yes, the owner is considering retirement).
However, the article that really snagged me was Bill Norris’ Maverick article (Thank You Bill!). I now finally understand the Maverick Wagon history (1958-1964) and how some Maverick TV show drama resulted in the 1960-1964 ‘Maverick’ wagons not really being Maverick’s anymore, despite having the Maverick pre-fix. It’s also why some folks are pro ‘1958-1959 were the years that the only true Maverick wagons were produced’, while other folks point to the pre-fix in the years 1959-1964 and argue that any wagons that used the pre-fix are actual Maverick wagons.
This Pan-Am ad was published in the June 04, 1944, issue of the Chronicle Star. The three-column-wide ad was a large one.
That’s some muddy muck.
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“1943 Press Photo Front-Bound Yank Jeep Moves Through Ankle Deep Mud in Italy. This is an original press photo. Italy: It’s tough enough to make headway against a well organized German Army, without mother nature too. A front-bound Yank jeep at home on any terrain, has no trouble moving through ankle-deep mud, but the muck did tend to slow it down. Photo measures 9 x 7.25inches. Photo is dated 11-3-1943.
UPDATE: Some updated information and ads.
Coast Cities Motor Sales announced the opening of the Jeep dealership in a December 10, 1948, article in the Pascagoula, Mississippi, Chronicle Star. Subsequently, for eleven months, from December 1948 through October 1949 they published ads in the same paper.
Later, In May of 1950, a new seller, Jackson County Motor Company, appeared. Perhaps, not coincidently, Jackson County Motors launches on the same highway (HWY 90) as Coast Cities Motor Sales had been located.
Prior to Coast Cities Motors Sales. jeep dealer Caver-Wiggins advertised from July 1946 to November 1947 in the Chronicle Star. Subsequently, in a corporate restructuring, Runnel-Wiggins became the main seller/advertiser. Runnel-Wiggins ran ads from November of 1947 through April of 1948. No additional information appeared in the Chronicle Star about Runnel-Wiggins.
After April, the next Jeep ad for 1948 was the December 10th, 1948 ad by Coast Cities Motors. Whether Coast Cities Motor Sales was related to the previous dealer isn’t clear, as they were located in a different places.
Below are some Coast Cities Motor Sales ad example:
December 17, 1948 & January 07, 1949: Pascagoula’s New Dealer For The World’s Most Useful Vehicles
(The ad shown is actually the January 07 ad. The December 17, 1948, ad has only minor text differences from the January ad. This is a long one-column ad, so it’s been chopped to better fit the page)
January 14, 1949: Announcing … Another Home for the World’s Most Useful Vehicles
January 24, 1949: Launch of Coast Cities Motor Sales
February 11, 1949: One Farm Vehicle You Can Count on in Any Weather
This illustration was donated to the University of Toledo. It was drawn by Steven Escayne while was serving in Italy in 1944.You can see a few other illustrations by Steven drawn during the war in the Library’s collection here. Another website, https://toledosattic.org/exhibits/war-in-their-own-words also has some drawings by him.
PHOTO CREDIT: https://utdr.utoledo.edu/islandora/object/utoledo%3A3557
