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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 .
This is one of the better videos that I’ve seen about the Colombian Yipaos and why families participate in it.
This year’s Willys Jeep Rally will be held May 29 & 30 at Hueston Wood Lodge in College Corner, OH. WEBSITE: www.mw-willysjeep.com
THE WILLYS JEEP RALLY
MAY 29 &30, 2020, 9 a.m. to 4 p.m.
HUESTON WOODS LODGE
COLLEGE CORNER, OH 45003
Show for all years, makes & models of Jeep, swap meet, food, hats & shirts for sale.
Only Jeep event to feature Jeeps with PTO attachments working in fields plowing, discing, grinding, mowing, operating backhoe, etc.
CONTACT: Rick Riley, 513-423-8724, email: rickieriley @ att.net”
This is an interesting ad that I haven’t featured in the past.
View all the information on eBay
“1946 a Willys-Overlan
This kind of odd collage of ads, some I hadn’t seen, from the Toledo Blade newspaper was published on this website: https://vintagetoledotv.com/otherautomotive. Click on it to make it much larger.
More vintage articles in this final issue for 1955.
This April 1946 ad from the Playthings Magazine(?) looks like an Al-Toy, though it doesn’t mention Al-Toy or West-Craft. Instead, Joseph Shaw Manufacturers seems to be taking credit for their production.
View all the information on eBay
Here’s a series of jeep photos from the Portal To Texas History website. There are many, many more: https://texashistory.unt.edu/search/?q=jeep&t=fulltext&sort=&fq=
This is my favorite of the bunch: An M-38A1 with a Schooner-like soft top:
CREDIT: https://texashistory.unt.edu/ark:/67531/metapth33411/ Man standing in uniform next to jeep advertising the Sheraton Terrace Motor Hotel, 1201 S Congress Ave.
Some interesting mods on this jeep.
CREDIT: https://texashistory.unt.edu/ark:/67531/metapth476250/ .. Photograph of Capt. John M. McAfoos, T/5 Paul Severino, and two unidentified soldiers sitting in a Jeep somewhere in France. Buildings are visible in the background.
This photo is dated 1945, but it’s clearly a 1950s photo based on the grille.
CREDIT: https://texashistory.unt.edu/ark:/67531/metapth586886/ .. Photograph of a group of men looking at a Jeep in a field. Trees and buildings are visible in the background. … there is a second photo in this series that better shows the plaque on the side of the truck’s cowl.
One of the few CJ-2A images in the collection.
CREDIT: https://texashistory.unt.edu/ark:/67531/metapth74048/ .. Photograph of a man in a jeep in a ranch yard. A small wooden structure and a gated wooden fence are behind him. The photographer’s shadow is visible against the front wheel of the vehicle.
The only Ford GP I’ve run across in the photo collection.
CREDIT: https://texashistory.unt.edu/ark:/67531/metapth436897/ .. Photograph of five soldiers, including Alphonse DeSanto, Charles Kozak, Andrew Horn, and Robert French, standing around another soldier seated in a Jeep. Buildings are visible in the background.
This February 2, 1951, photo in the Sycamore Tribune was front page news and highlighted the effects of a train hitting a jeep. I wish the photo quality was better.
Maury shared this video and article about Robert Wood and Icon 4×4’s rebuild of a 1965 Jeep Wagoneer into a more modern driver: https://www.automobilemag.com/news/icon-1965-kaiser-jeep-wagoneer-reformer/
Also, if anyone has a circa 1965 Wagoneer steering wheel, Robert Wood might be interested buying it. They are looking for one for their Cherokee. Email me at d @ deilers.com (no spaces around the @) for Robert’s contact info.
This might be a bit of a rant …
During the 2000s my kids were into World of WarCraft, but I could never get into the game myself. Partly, this was due to my own impatience. Generally, I’m pretty patient, but I’m less so when it comes to games. An example: one time I needed to hand my sword to another player, but to do so I had to execute a bunch of commands, spells, and other machinations that I can no longer remember. Ugh … I quickly lost interest.
Why do I bring this up? Because last night Washington State (and apparently other areas nationwide) suffered through a Verizon outage. Ann and I were in bed when we learned of it, so we tried texting one another. I texted something gloriously romantic like the word, “test”.
Being it is so close to Valentine’s Day, I probably should have texted, “Won’t you be my Valentine”? But, I didn’t …. Dumb, dumb, dumb … You should learn from my mistake … go ahead … please learn from my mistake: text your significant other right now. Ask, “Won’t you be my Valentine”?
I’ll wait. You can thank me later.
Anyway, it took about ten minutes for the texts to reach our respective phones due to the outage and despite the fact we were sitting right next to each other. It felt like World of WarCraft all over again.
I beat this notion to death only to bring up the fact that Apple (accidentally?) released code a few days ago that demonstrates the company’s efforts to bring a new “CarKey” feature to their phone. It would, theoretically, allow iPhone users to seamlessly move from one car to another, even to rental cars, without ever having to have a key. How could this possibly go wrong? Let me count the ways …
I thought these were only used on the M-38A1s. I’m surprised they were testing this on an M-38 as late as 1954. But, perhaps that was just the photo’s release date and not the date of the photo.
View all the information on eBay
“1954 Press Photo US soldiers fire rifle on a jeep at Aberdeen Proving Ground, MD. This is an original press photo. Guns – Artillery. Aberdeen Proving Ground, Maryland. The Army’s new battalion (BAT) 106 MM. recoilless rifle is mounted on a jeep and fired during a demonstration at the Army’s Aberdeen Proving Grounds. The rifle has greater range and destructive power than any other weapon now available on the battalion level.Photo measures 10 x 8.25inches. Photo is dated 10-12-1954.”
By the covers on the jeeps and the rain gear, it looks kind of wet!
View all the information on eBay
“1950 Press Photo US military jeeps lined up to ferry across river in Korea. This is an original press photo. Korea – War – General – A long line of jeeps waiting to be ferried across the Kumjo-gang River cause a traffic jam on the way to the front in Korea Photo measures 8 x 10.5 inches. Photo is dated 09-16-1950.”
This is the last page of the Press Release. One thing that caught my eye is that every jeep shown here, based on what I can see, came equipped with dual windshield wipers. I tried to discover when wipers were required on all vehicles, but did not locate that info.
This is part II, the Jeep Line of Vehicles, of the Willys-Overland April 22, 1948, forty-seven page Press Release. Part I, the History of Willys-Overland, can be viewed here.
Roger Martin spotted this unusual pedal jeep. It’s got very distinctive fenders. I don’t recognize it and don’t see it on Derek’s CJ-3B pedal jeep pages.
https://www.facebook.com/marketplace/item/185960546095961/
“Early 50s steel jeep pedal car ready for your restoration. Body is straight”
This is a Christmas card, signed by Joyce & Glen (whoever that is).
View all the information on ebay
“Vintage Christmas, it has been used but it is in very nice condition.”
This is part I, the History of Willys-Overland, from the Willys-Overland April 22, 1948, forty-seven page Press Release. Part II, the Jeep Line of Vehicles, will be published on Tuesday.
Thanks again to those who’ve made donations making it possible to purchase unique items like this so that we I can obtain and publish them for all our benefit. This particular item was poorly marketed on eBay. Only one page was shown and no description of the number of pages was included. I took a chance and it turned out to be a great piece for only $13!!
This article from the March 28, 1945, issue of the Farmers’ Weekly Review highlights the mobile welding capabilities of the wartime jeep. The article also notes that the Army tested the jeep on a 500-mile obstacle course before approving it.
Welding Shop on Wheels Is Big Help
Emergency Repairs Made on Field of Battle .
NEW YORK . — A highly mobile welding shop on wheels that can traverse ground which proved impassable to most previous maintenance vehicles has been developed by General Electric, in cooperation with army engineers, to enable emergency repairs of damaged war equipment to be made right on the field of battle, the company disclosed . Consisting of a standard army jeep bearing a specially perfected G-E arc welder, this mobile repair shop, according tc army reports , has proved invaluable in helping to keep front line equipment in fighting condition. In weight the G-E welder jeep is equivalent to a one-quarter ton truck, whereas the equipment it replaced consisted of a five-ton truck towing a one and one-half ton welding trailer. This weight reduction, plus the jeep s great maneuverability, enables the vehicle to readily negotiate rugged or muddy ground where larger and heavier trucks broke down. When desired for use in air borne operations it can also be loaded aboard a transport plane
Power to operate the welding unit is obtained by means of a V-belt which is connected to the engine of the jeep. As soon as the vehicle is brought to a stop the unit can be put in use. Proper engine speed is maintained by a governor, quickly disengaged to permit normal operation of the jeep. The welding unit is installed in place of the right front seat of the jeep, allowing the vehicle to carry a crew of three -men comfortably. Before accepting the welder jeep for service the army subjected it to rigid tests on a 500-mile obstacle course, the same course on which combat tanks are tested, and it came through with flying colors .”
Maury spotted this rare ad for wagons that was published in Switzerland.
View all the information on eBay
“Willys Jeep station wagen : an old German advertising, Switzerland, 50’s. cs.
size: 31 cm x 13 cm ( 12.4″ x 5″ )
Condition: in a good condition, cut out from a magazine.”
UPDATE II: It is two years later, May 2022 … Well, so much for grand plans! A combination of 1) a pandemic and 2) my mother-in-law getting cancer wiped out this opportunity.
UPDATE: Congrats to Joe in Mesa (who I had already planned to see next month in Mesa) for correctly guessing that I am tentatively scheduled to fly to the African country of Namibia in early July 2020 for a 2-3 week drive/camping in a CJ-2A with 2 or 4 other jeeps for a trip around that beautiful country. I then plan to spend several days in Capetown before flying back home. There will be more info forthcoming as the trip gets put together.
======================
Sometimes life just happens in unexpected ways.
So, the first person who can decipher these semi-cryptic clues as to what will be happening, then comment below with the correct answer as to ‘Who? is Going Where? For What Purpose? In What Month?’ will be awarded one of two brochures. The winner can choose between this original 1955 Willys 4-wheel-drive-brochure or this original 1955 Public Service brochure.
Once the correct answer is determined (and I might not be awake when the first answers appear in the comment section, as most posts appear before 4am my time), I will explain more detail.
The is the July/August 1955 issue of Globe-Trotter magazine published by the Willys Export Company. It is fourteen pages.
This press photo and caption was posted to Facebook.
“THIS IS A “TWEEP”
MAJURO– This combination truck and jeep was constructed by Seabees fo materials salvaged from six abandoned jeeps. With a wheelbase one-half times longer than the standard jeep, the “Tweep” accommodates eight person and gear, carries gas in its fenders. Red Cross Field Director Robert De Lawny, Spring Lane, Ithaca, NY , Stands by the Vehicle.
CREDIT (Red Cross PHOTO FROM ACME) 11-20-45″
This image of a modified jeep is part of the “Portal to Texas History” digital collection.
https://texashistory.unt.edu/ark:/67531/metapth476250/m1/1/?q=%20date:1940-1960
Reference: [Soldiers on Jeep], photograph, 1944;(https://texashistory.unt.edu/ark:/67531/metapth476250/m1/2/?q=%20date:1940-1960: accessed February 7, 2020), University of North Texas Libraries, The Portal to Texas History, https://texashistory.unt.edu; crediting The 12th Armored Division Memorial Museum.
UPDATE: Congrats to Alphamav for finding someone who could identify this location. It is Snake River Canyon near Twin Falls.
A few years ago Blaine downloaded this image from the internet. He’s always wondered where it was located.
The location today:
UPDATE: **SOLD** Was $5000.
Funny how these builds end up sometimes. This one is a shadow of what it was.
“I’m the current owner of the “Army Jeep Tractor Puller” that was built by Jesse James and a group of guys on the tv show Monster Garage. It aired in 2003 and is episode 3. Forty two various vehicles were built during the run of the series. This vehicle was later sold at Barrett Jackson in 2008 for $18,000. The engines were removed by the previous owner. What you see is what you get. If you do a search on youtube you can find the episode and watch the Jeep being built. This crazy ride could be built as a promo vehicle, a raffle prize, a collector could display it, or a builder could get it back on the road and show it. I can help ship it, will help load it, and can possibly deliver it on your dime. It’s located in Chandler, Az. Asking price is $5,000”
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Originally published April 2011:
If Jesse James and West Coast Choppers were to build a jeep, what kind of jeep would he build? Well, we have the answer from remarkablecars.com. This unusual build was available for auction in 2008. I can’t tell if it sold or not. He did manage to use some original parts. For example, that left fender sure looks like a WWII fender and there’s some original frame used too (you can make out the transfercase undercarriage mount near the rear tire).
“SUMMARY: This authentic WWII Willys Jeep transformed into a twin-engined tractor-pulling behemoth is sure to bring home the Big “V” both on the race track and the front lines. Sold on a Bill of Sale only. Special conditions apply.
DESCRIPTION: In the Summer of 2003, Jesse James accompanied Kid Rock to a USO Show for the troops overseas in Iraq. While there, Jesse was bit by the inspiration bug and set his mind towards his next build, the transition of an authentic WWII Willys Jeep into a twin-engined tractor-pulling behemoth using a team composed entirely of Army gearheads (well, with the exception of a couple of civilian experts). It wasn’t just a walk through the park, or even a walk through the front lines. Nearly every piece had to be fabricated for this build. Plus, the rear end and rims had to be modified for pulling. The biggest modification was comprised of extending the Jeep frame from 86″ to 180″. Over twice it’s original length.
THE DESIGNERS: Jesse James, custom-bike builder/designer, West Coast Choppers in Long Beach, CA, Joe Eder, multi-engine tractor-pull builder from North Collins, NY, Keith Kaucher, industrial designer, Kaucher Design Werks in Santa Monica, CA, Chief Warrant Officer 3 Kevin Sargent, utilities operations and maintenance technician, Headquarters Company/1st Engineer Brigade in Fort Leonard Wood, MO, 2nd Lt. Brian Johnson, armor officer, 1st Battalion/16th Cavalry Regiment in Fort Knox, KY.
THE BUILDERS: Jesse James, custom-bike builder/designer, West Coast Choppers in Long Beach, CA, Joe Eder, multi-engine tractor-pull builder from North Collins, NY, Pfc. Jesse Dugan, wheel vehicle mechanic, D Company/801st Main Support Brigade in Fort Campbell, KY, 2nd Lt. Brian Johnson/2LT, armor officer, 1st Battalion/16th Cavalry Regiment in Fort Knox, KY, Staff Sgt. Jeffrey Morin, light-wheeled vehicle mechanic, Headquarters Company/187 Ordnance Battalion in Fort Jackson, SC, Tim Porter, single-engine tractor-pull builder from Louisberg, KY, Master Sgt. Darrick Preston, mechanical maintenance supervisor, 16th Ordnance Battalion/Aberdeen Proving Ground in Abingdon, MD, Chief Warrant Officer 3 Kevin Sargent, utilities operations and maintenance technician, Headquarters Company/1st Engineer Brigade in Ft. Leonard Wood, MO and Spc. Benjamin Smith, metalworker, D Company/801st Mechanical Support Brigade in Fort Campbell, KY.
VEHICLE SPECS: Make: Willys Model: Jeep MB Year: 1943 Height: 64″ Width: 85″ (including rear tires) Length: 211″ Ground Clearance: 6″ to headers (1′ to frame) Horsepower/Torque: approximately 2,000hp /2,1000 torque Moving Parts: Includes the engine coupler, primary transmission, secondary gearbox and dual supercharged 502 engines. Special Welds: The guys performed heavy-duty welds on the body-frame extension and towing hitch. Additional Acquired or Machined Parts: The team fabricated the engine coupler, towing hitch and straight rims.”
