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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 less than accurate restoration of an M-38 sold for $49,500 in 201. Then, just last month, it was auctioned for $67,500, though a portion (no note on how much) of the proceeds was supposed to go to a military charity (it remains unidentified).
Interestingly, Hagerty Insurance valued it at $10,500, which seems a pretty fair estimate.
Read more here: https://www.autoclassics.com/posts/news/willys-m38-jeep-auction
Dan’s create a series of rub-on gauge labels for those folks rebuilding their wagon, truck, delivery sedan, and Jeepster gauges. They are $80 per set. They are designed and made in the USA.
You can PayPal him $80 at scramboleer@yahoo.com (free first class USPS shipping; add $4 if you would like tracking). He’ll follow up confirming a mailing address and which of the two styles you would like.
If you have questions, can email him at scramboleer@yahoo.com.
1950.5-1951:
1952-1956:
The CIO News out of Cumberland, MD, published a story on March 15, 1943, about the US Army and Navy honoring the workers of Willys Overland.
This photo from eBay Germany shows a couple MP MBs/GPWs with some nice tops sitting outside the Berlin Reichstag.
View all the information on eBay
“Arthur Grimm
Original Foto um 1956 zu einem mir unbekannten Film
Berliner Reichstag
Fotograf: Arthur Grimm
Shot: um 1956 – Abzug: um 1956
Silbergelatine auf Baryt-Papier
Blattmaß: 23,8 cm x 17,2 cm”
Derek Redmond shared some more jeep-train and tour jeep photos he’s uncovered on various sites. Cool stuff!
UPDATE: Terry points out that Ford used the marketing term “Sports Utility” in 1966 ads. Previous to that, in 1947, Crosely marketed a “Sports Utility” vehicle.
Crosely (see bottom of the ad):
This 1966 ad for the Ford Bronco has text near the bottom that reads, “Try the Wagon, Roadster, or Sports Utility at your Ford dealer now”. The Sports Utility model is the one with the half cab:
Here’s a 1966 Ford Commercial that identifies each of the models:
Original Post Jan 31, 2019: Dan ‘Scramboleer’ spotted this Motor Trend March 2019letter-to-the-editor about the origin of the term ‘Sports Utility Vehicle’. Essentially, Jeep’s marketing department was attempting to cease the use of the term jeep-like (and similar jargon) to describe offload vehicles. The concern was that it was diluting the value of the Jeep Trademark. So, they came up with the term Sports Utility Vehicle idea. The Journalists took it from there, shortening it to SUV.
At $190 Euros, this isn’t cheap, but it’s a cool toy jeep!
UPDATE: **SOLD** Was $600.
Steve spotted this rare item. I can’t tell if it was made specifically for the Willys truck or if it is an adaptation. The Lift-O-Matic was the lift gate that Willys-Motors endorsed.
“VINTAGE LIFTGATE OFF OF A 1958 WILLYS TRUCK”
Roger shared this story. A group of Costa Rican Jeep friends took their vintage jeeps out for an 2019 adventure to the beach, where they camped at least one night. This is their second ‘Willys Adventure’ together. You can see more pics on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/pg/Willys-Pasión-Costa-Rica-1726644670912768/photos/?tab=album&album_id=2254856788091551 . Looks like fun!
This July 15, 1945, article in the Evening Star featured a great shot of Ford GPAs. I thought the article was interesting, too. It highlights the challenges of managing war surplus (links to page 1 and page 2 of original article).
TJ shared a link from Hemmings on a “This or That” article, meaning if you could only choose one, which one would you choose. Most folks on Hemmings leaned toward the Willys truck. I think I might be more partial to the Chevy (heresy, I know).
I spend the last couple days driving to, then back from Seattle. Dad’s been saying a few odd things, so I wanted to see how he was doing at his new Rehab facility. He may have the start of some dementia … on the joys of aging.
Because of my drive over on Sunday, I lost out on the chance to get this Dualmatic Sales Demo hub. But, I did score some cool wagon/truck/jeepster brochures fairly inexpensively. So, I’ll be sharing those at some point.
Here’s the demo hub. There’s not a good pic of it, but there’s plastic around the edge so viewers can watch how the levers engage/disengage the hubs.
Herbert Lanks wrote an article titled “… By Jeep To Alaska” that was published in the February 13, 1944, issue of the Evening Star (published on page 4 and page 5). He’d later write a second, and different, article titled with the same name published in the September issue of Popular Photography.
The article below appears between sets of photos. The first photo below shows the humble beginnings of the Watson Lake Sign Forest.
These photos were published in the November 19, 1944, issue of the Evening Star. It sure was a mess over there at times!
Matching Original Press Photos:
This “Seeing’s Believing!” ad was published on July 06, 1947, in the Wilmington Morning Star. I wish all the scanned newspaper ads came out this clear.
This ad for the Willys Mighty Farm Jeep and an associate demonstration was published in the Henderson, NC, Daily Dispatch on April 13, 1946.
From the same newspaper earlier in the month (April 06) was this teaser for the demonstration:
This summer of 2018 video shows Josh, the Stoney Ridge Farmer out of North Carolina, pulling a family jeep out of a barn. The jeep hadn’t been driven in thirty years. There are more videos related to the jeep here: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCQVGf64a6nqKhgR9eKCUY4A/search?query=jeep
This series of photos was published June 14, 1942, in the Evening Star. There’s also a post from 2015 that includes some similar photos. Becky Bergmann in a Ford GP was featured in several.
This former SEMA FC sold for $159,500 at this year’s Scottsdale auction.
https://www.barrett-jackson.com/Events/Event/Details/1958-JEEP-FC170-CUSTOM-SUV-227949
“This 1958 Jeep FC170 was completely hand-built by the Daystar team in Phoenix, AZ. Hundreds of hours went into the building of this Jeep, and it was featured at the 2015 SEMA show. The combination of the all-terrain wheels and tires, and separate Mattracks 88 Series tracks, the vehicle can tackle any terrain on tires or treads. The custom body of the FC170 is protected by a beautiful 3-stage custom Metallic Viper Green paint accented with a pearlescent cream. The Daystar team did an outstanding job on the quality of finish, raw power and off-road prowess. It’s powered by a 5.7-liter 8-cylinder engine backed by an automatic transmission. This Jeep is still in great condition to this day. Both wheels and tires, and Mattracks tracks are included in the sale.”
Maury spotted this back blade brochure on Amazon that neither of us had seen. It includes a detailed schematic of the unit.
View all the information on Amazon
Brian’s got some items for sale in the video below. You willy likely recognize him as Metal Shaper on Youtube. He’s been doing regular videos over the past two years and, as usual, his work is great. You can view his entire video list here: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCTHDVml1xugLuj0oi384tEQ/videos
There are a bunch of jeep-snow pics on eBay, so thought I’d share an array of them given that a number of you got hit with snow in the last few days.
UPDATE: **SOLD** Was on eBay.
I don’t think I’ve run across this brochure before.
“Equipment Brochure – Meyer Products Inc., Cleveland, Ohio – Snow Plows and the exclusive Electrolift for Jeep Vehicles – Fact Sheet / Model Recommendations for Jeep Vehicles – English language – 3 Colour – 4 pages – approx. 11 x 8.5 inch sized page – Code: Form No. 3-118; undated, likely dates to approx. 1960’s – Light wear, very good condition, 3-hole punched (no impairment of text).
Includes Black & White photos of various models of plows and angle dozer on Jeep Universal, 4WD Station Wagon, Truck and FC-170 Forward Control.”
UPDATE: **SOLD** Was on eBay.
This has some wear and the price is pretty high given the condition.
“100. % original porcelain municipal sign from the first Jeep Posse formed in Bountiful City. Sign is in good shape. Just 2 places where the porcelain has chipped away. 8 inches by 8 inches. Please see pictures for details. Color and gloss are great!!! This is a great addition for you automotive memorabilia collection!!”
The jeeps’ PTO powered this sweeper.
View all the information on eBay
“Original non color sales sheet , 8.5 x 11 , printed both sides , has many small pieces of tape at tears at edge , has 2 horizontal folds , 3 file holes at edge , wrinkling at edges , some soiling”
