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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 article describes the use of the jeep in the mountain west. There are some interesting notes about salt lick placement requirements, too.
I can’t remember running across the ad. It’s an unusual one. The title is “That’s the Story from Willys-Overland Motors”, but really that is pretty much the end of the story of Willys-Overland Motors, as the company assets were shortly wound into Henry Kaiser’s company. This must have been produced shortly after the introduction of the CJ-3B. The cartoonish M-38A1 is pretty unusual, too.
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Here’s another ad I’ve not seen. This was in Motor magazine’s April 1953 issue.
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UPDATE: I discovered going through my files that there were at least two version of the Jamaica brochure. The top brochure has Form number 5CM-SWC2-451-GG, suggesting this was produced in April, while the bottom one is Form number 2CM-SWC2-2-551-GG, which suggests the second one was produced in May.
The interior pageThe back page seems to be the only difference.
The interior seems the same:
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Original posted June 20, 2023: This Willys Wagon brochure highlights Willys Overland station wagon’s Jamaica color-choice styling. The brochure includes a cutout of the wagon that swings to the left. That got me thinking … did Willys-Overland ever produce a similar cutout brochure for the Grand Canyon and Caribbean models?
This is the front of the brochure:
The wagon image is actually a cutout that folds left to reveal the interior of the wagon:
This is the back of the brochure:
This information is consistent with a post I published late last year which showed brochures highlighting the color choices for the Jeepster and Wagon. Below is the wagon brochure:
This 1951 brochure gives a branding name to each color choice: Jamaica, Grand Canyon, and Caribbean. Note that this four-page brochure includes the Willys Makes Sense slogan from the Willys Makes Sense campaign the company implemented across it’s adverting in 1951:
I spent Saturday and part of Sunday working through some fuel system issues. What I thought was a bad fuel pump (I spent a short time on it this spring) seems to have been some kind of blockage in the line. So, I drained the tank (the updated stainless rear tank has a drain at the bottom), blew the line, then refilled with new gas and, viola, it ran. I think it just sat too long at mom and dad’s. I also replaced the old generator (which didn’t work) with one given to me by Joe-in-Mesa during our Feb visit. So far, it seems to be working.
Below is a short video clip. So, that makes 2 of 4 jeeps running! That’s progress!
The downside for me with this jeep is that I don’t fit in it well (too long of legs). it could also use an alignment. Finally, I wish the brakes stopped a little better, but that’s not a priority at the moment.
The body is rust free. You can drive it as is or repaint and restore it. The jeep includes a very rare Allstate window wash spray system and an equally rare Vacuum tank that adds power for operating the windshield wipers (one is missing a blade .. I haven’t needed to use them).
Being a convertible model, it has the original windshield with twist knobs across the top. I have nearly all the convertible top parts that attached to the body. The convertible loop only has the main bar, not the secondary bar that leaned off the back of the main bar. There is not soft top either.
The tow setup includes a towbar (not shown) that connects to a bracket mounted on the front bumper that uses stock holes, so the bumper remains unmolested.
So, if someone wants to buy this from me for $8000, contact me at d @ deilers.com.
I’ll throw in this three axle trailer for another $8000. I bought it along with the FC Tour jeep, but I think this trailer with just be sitting around and not used much. Since we already have a tilt trailer that can handle the FC, I don’t really need this one. I can take more pics or supply more info if anyone is interested. We towed it from Arizona and, once we got the wiring sorted out, it worked great for us.
The author of this review evaluated his time driving in a 2WD wagon.
Looking out over the pasture, I see lots of green, but don’t see all that much cow shit. So, I didn’t think I’d hit all that many piles racing around it. Welp, those tires found plenty of piles and threw it all over me and the jeep.
This was the first time I ran it in 4WD. That worked flawlessly. As for control and driving, I found the racer felt really balanced and smooth, despite the bumps (the pasture isn’t all that even). The steering is a little stiff, but that feels great when going faster.
It seemed like it was missing a bit as I hit higher RPMs; I couldn’t decide if that was caused by the bumps disrupting the gas flow in the carb or by a timing issue. We’ll figure it out.
At the end of the video I realized that the fan wasn’t working (it turned out to be a loose connection), so I was trying to get Ann to open the gate, but she decided she would film me while pretending to not hear me, lol … she is a merry prankster!
UPDATE: Blaine confirms this was Dan’s car previously. It did not reach the reserve, with bids maxing out at $43,000.
Blaine spotted this 1962 Willys convertible Interlagos, which sits as $23,000 with 3 hours left in the Bring-A-Trailer auction.
You can see pics of this car from the post of our visit with Dan back in 2014: http://www.ewillys.com/2014/04/13/day-24-apr-12th-dans-fcs-and-the-scared-romanian/ . He was pretty sure it was the only convertible Interlagos in the US.
https://bringatrailer.com/listing/1962-willys-overland-interlagos-4/
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.
This photo of Norman’s Amoco gas station and garage in Akron, Ohio, includes three CJ-2As with modified bumpers. However, note the “Norman’s” sign. I think that is a neon sign and I’m wondering if that jeep lit up at night. If so, that would a pretty awesome sign!
Here’s a closeup of the sign:
Here’s a closeup of the middle jeep:
UPDATE: I’ve updated this post with a higher quality scan of this brochure.
This is the early 1954 version of truck brochure with the KW stamp, form SD-203-4. It’s the only example I’ve been able to find. The subsequent version, form W-203-5, with a green theme is more commonly found online.
Matt was kind enough to share this rare Station Wagon Sales Kit he procured. You can see all the pics here: https://www.facebook.com/groups/2382510764/permalink/10159709375710765
This slide just sold on eBay for $9.25 (+$4 shipping). It’s a great pic of s Surrey parked in front of the ocean. Someone more familiar with Oahu may recognize that location.
https://www.ebay.com/itm/335043970947
“Leftovers” with the mocked up name. I don’t like the angled bracket I made at the step. I may just got with two bolts and two washer to keep the body in place rather than the bracket.
Yesterday, I attached the remaining netting, roof, and body parts to the race jeep, only to discover I needed to cut a couple small parts from the floor that were too wide for the body (nothing a quick sawz-it-all couldn’t fix).
The hood requires four bolts to attach it, as I need to make sure it stays secure. Five additional bumpers help keep the hood in place.
It’s hard to test the speed on these short jaunts. I really don’t want to tear up the grass too much. In addition, I don’t have it in four wheel drive, again so I don’t tear up the grass too much. The next time I test it, I will wear ear plugs, because when you hit the gas, it gets loud in the cockpit!
Now it’s time for some helmet shopping!
I installed the new master cylinder for the clutch. The pedal is a bit more stiff due to the larger bore, but it does the job. I wanted Ann to test it to make sure she could operate the clutch, so she took it for a cruise (and kept the speed down to keep the grass intact).
UPDATE: Here’s a better image of a Bean Model 200F from a November 1958 ad on eBay:
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This post was from August 22, 2012: I show two ads below. John Bean appears to have built both a FC-150 Model 200-F Fire Jeep, and a FC-150 Model-FJ. I don’t know what the difference between the two is.
1. This blown up portion of the ad shows the ad for the Model 200-F from a 1960 Ad
2. This ad is from 1959. I can’t tell what model is shown. These are two of 12 pages in the brochure.
Pete writes, “Im searching for a 1948 Willys Wagon 4-63. It was originally a family friends Wagon and was in the Hughson, CA area.” If you want to contact him, email him at doubleup144 @ hotmail.com (remove spaces around the @ before emailing).
The wagon’s serial number is 83086 and the engine number is R3523104 … it looks like the jeep got a rebuilt engine at some point.
I think this tire setup should work just fine for now. There are skinny wranglers on the front and some classic desert dogs on the back.
I decided to upgrade to a 1″ bore master cylinder from Wilwood for the clutch. Honestly, it kind of feels light and cheap. Unfortunately, the new MC did not include an adapter (A FEMALE(3/8-24 INVERTED) with a MALE(1/8-27 NPTF) to connect the flair tipped line to the MC and our local auto stores didn’t have the correct adapter either. Ugh … This should reduce the clutch stroke without making it too difficult to use (my first jeep had a really stiff clutch, but I never minded it). Hopefully, I’ll have all hooked up by later today.
I bought these three Scenic Jeep Tour slides off of eBay, supposedly from 1964. The pic with the FC *might* be ours. I am waiting for the slide to take a better pic.
With the racer near done and the nice weather, I plan on tackling a couple outside projects, then begin work on the FC Tour jeep.
This June 20, 1960, Advertising and Merchandising Bulletin included a wall poster showing new styling changes in the ‘Jeep’ vehicle line. I wish I knew which poster that was.
There is also reference to an ad in the April 25th, 1960, issue of Life Magazine. But, it wasn’t a ‘Jeep’, but rather a Goodyear tire ad that includes a jeep.
Here is the Life Magazine:
I was going through eBay and found these jeeps on slides for sale.
This is an ad I’ve never seen. What’s more surprising is that the seller has four of them!
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“Carborundum
Willys Jeep Ad
1942 Original ad.
It takes a lot of parts to make a Jeep”
David shared this unusual hub with me. It’s not one I recognize. I *think* it is some form of a summer hub, perhaps adapted from a locking hub. Note the welds on two sides of the six-sided metal plate atop the hub.
Bill Norris let me know that the new Holy Toledo calendars for 2024 are ready to sell. Go here to learn more: https://www.dispatchermagazine.com/calendars
UPDATE: Solved the oil spillage issue. The oil was coming from the back of the engine where the oil gauge line attaches to the engine. I had made the hose a little too long, so it didn’t tighten down correctly. Trimming the line fixed the issue. So, I got to drive around the property yesterday instead of doing updates for today ….
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Gassing up the racer.
The good news: I rolled the racer out of the garage, put in some gas, and tried to start it. Naturally, it didn’t start straight away. After fiddling with it, finally figured out that the manual choke needed to be opened (the choke was never hooked up on the old racer, so I never thought about it). Once I adjusted the choke, the jeep started right up! So, I will be adding a choke cable.
Unfortunately, while looking for the starting problem, I ran my forehead into the tall air cleaner bolt. It was only a large scratch and some blood, so not that big of deal. I was more made than anything. This highlights the problem with the bubble in the eye; sometimes it screws with the depth perception.
Starting the racer.
The bad news: Once it started, it sounded as great as it did last year. However, for some reason the fuel pump didn’t stop pumping prior to starting the engine (that’s how I remember it working). This suggests to me that maybe something isn’t sealed correctly, so it’s not building the pressure needed to shut off the pump? I will have to research the pump to double check this. I’m sure the fix will be fairly simple.
Discovering the rear main seal likely needs to be changed.
The ugly news: The worst issue was underneath the jeep; I discovered that a significant amount of oil was leaking out the back of the engine. My guess is the rear main oil seal needs replacing. Ugh! It was fine when I parked it last summer (and this highlights the risk of “ran-when-parked” jeeps!). I’ll let it sit for a day or two and see if things magically right themselves.
That pretty much ended my garage time yesterday.
