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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 .
UPDATE: This article about a Coast Guard jeep driver appeared in the same July 15th, 1945, Milwaukee Journal issue as the CJ-2A article below. It features William R. Scott, a Coast Guardsman. The article was also published in the Spokesman Review.
<– Day 44 – Mon. May 25th: Pioneer Village | TRIP OVERVIEW | Day 46 – Wed. May 27th: Georgetown Loop Train –>
Is it wrong to be taking a selfie of our selfie?
On Tuesday, we headed into the Rocky Mountains. We were barely in the jeep a few minutes before spotting a M-677 and an FC cab being towed westward from Denver on I-70. I guess it means that this M-677 is sold! During the subsequent hour of driving toward Fairplay, Colorado, we saw a CJ-5, a truck, a CJ-3B, a CJ-2A, and others. It was a good day for jeep-sight seeing!
Today we drove from Golden, Colorado, to Dillon, Colorado.
Our first destination today was South Park City in Fairplay, Colorado. It’s a recreated 1880s mining town with more than 30 antique buildings. We pretty much had the run of the place to ourselves, with a cat as a guide through much of it. He seemed to enjoy the company. If you like old towns, then you will enjoy this one, too.
There were two long boardwalks on each side of Main street.
David at the Assay office; holding some rocks seemed like the thing to do.
Inside of the Assay office. There was lots of stuff to examine!
This July 15, 1945, article in the Milwaukee Journal is another example of the 1945 promotional campaign by Willys Overland. A second article also addresses the question of what to do with all the surplus equipment.
Article 1: Who Wants a Jeep?
Article 2: America’s Next Move
Here’s a story about an M-38A1 owned by Korean veteran Jack Gregory from Skaneateles, New York.
SENNETT | When the Skaneateles American Legion Post 239 Memorial Day parade makes its way down Jordan Street and then along West Genesee Street toward Lake View Cemetery, Jack Gregory’s military vehicles will once again be a part of the procession saluting America’s fallen heroes.
Gregory, a Skaneateles native and Korean War veteran, has featured his collection of Army trucks and other equipment in the annual Memorial Day and Labor Day parades every year since 1991 — the year after, his wife Angie Gregory said, he started restoring the vehicles.
A May 31, 1943, article in The Dispatch, a Lexington, North Carolina, newspaper highlights the use of a Ford GPA amphibious jeep in the rescuing of civilians.
This earlier photo from April 05, 1943, in the Pittsburgh Post Gazette is horribly blurred. However, it supposedly shows a GPA rescuing three boys. Perhaps a better example of this is on microfilm somewhere?
No photo accompanies this May 23, 1943, report from the Milwaukee Journal of GPAs helping in floods.
This September 1955 Willys News article discussed the use of jeeps in Africa for the upcoming Tarzan TV series.
<– Day 37-40 – May 18th-21st: Research | TRIP OVERVIEW | Day 44 – Mon. May 25th: Pioneer Village –>
Abnormally cold drizzle. That defines the last few days in Colorado Springs, Colorado. It generally hits the 70s this time of year; instead temperatures didn’t get much higher than 45 degrees. Needless to say, about the only ‘sight-seeing’ I did this week was my trip to pickup Ann from the Denver airport. She was happy to see me and return to our home (the jeep). So, other than that, I didn’t have much to report this week.
Today we drive from Colorado Springs, Colorado, to Omaha, Nebraska.
On Friday May 22nd, we broke free of the cold weather and drove through a series of rain storms toward Omaha, Nebraska. We saw a couple jeeps along the way, but the rain made photos impractical.
We are heading to Omaha Ann’s son is graduating from high school in Omaha. We’ll be here about three days and then work our way back to Colorado. Hopefully, the weather will warm up and dry up as there are several things I want to complete upon our return that ought to be fun to share.
<– Day 37-40 – May 18th-21st: Research | TRIP OVERVIEW | Day 44 – Mon. May 25th: Pioneer Village –>
This September 1955 article from Willys News highlights the use of jeeps by Cleveland’s Animal Protective League.
Here are two Matchbooks available on eBay.
1. Havoline Motor Oil Matchbook w/ Jeep: View all the information on eBay
2. Camp Sutton w/ Jeep Matchbook Cover: View all the information on eBay
What’s funniest about this item is that the seller wants $146 for it, but still plans to charge $1 for shipping.
“Vintage 1942 Hallmark Greeting Card. Oh so Patriotic!!! Little Boy and Girl in Jeep with fabric American flag. Card measures approx 4 1/2 x 4 1/2 inches. It is in Great Shape- Still attached to card stock from scrapbook.”
View all the information on eBay
Looks in good shape.
http://sacramento.craigslist.org/cto/5036469031.html
“For sale is my 1942 GPW, serial #16501, DOD 4/8/42
Jeep is about 95% restored, 100% cosmetic restoration with a few mechanical issues to resolve. Ready for whatever final markings you decide.
I bought this jeep from a friend’s dad that purchased it from the Gov’t post war, so I guess I’m the 3rd owner, I’ve owned it since 1993. In the early 2000’s I started a restoration. In 2004 I had the transmission and transfer case rebuilt , (At that time I purchased an overdrive with PTO that I did not install that is also for sale). In 2005 (after my 4th kid was born), I took the jeep to two jeep buffs for restoration. They both live near me in Northern Ca.
Bob Christy posted these on Facebook. There’s some more over there for folks that haven’t seen them. Thanks for sharing Bob.
This is cool. It seems to be 8 pages (including the covers).
“Features the public want- ABOUND in the Jeepster. This is a vintage 1948-51 dealership sales training guide for the Willys Convertible Jeepster. L Head 4 cyl engine see the photos of sample pages. Good to very good condition showing minimal wear and flaws with no damage including a good binding and clear unwritten pages. Great item for your old Jeep repairs or enthusiasts one Jeep lover to another.”
View all the information on eBay
UPDATE: This was on eBay. Looks like the ad was pulled.
This looks in reasonably good shape.
“This is a vintage 1950s pink jeep pedal car reminiscent of the Elvis jeep in Blue Hawaii. My guess is that this piece is rare. It is 41 inches long and 29 inches tall. There is some minor surface rust in a few places and some minor wear to the paint. The top needs to be cleaned and there are a couple either splits or little holes at the corners but not bad at all. It’s really an amazing piece. I would rather not ship but you can make arrangements to ship it or pick it up, whatever you prefer.”
This surrey seems to have brought the photographer to his knees. Or, maybe it was the woman sitting on the hood (Get off that hood woman!).
View all the information on eBay
Just an hour left on this one. This looks more like a movie set than real life.
“1944- While French housewives scrub their laundry in a stream, U.S. soldiers give their jeep a much-needed bath.”
View all the information on eBay
Nicolas filed this report from the 2015 WWII Re-enactment in Elkhart, Indiana.
He writes, I wanted to share with ewillys the event I went to this weekend. It was hosted in Elkhart, Indiana. Everyone was very nice to talk to and quite knowledgeable about every question I had to ask. The Jeeps guys have me convinced I need to join the group!
The Willys MB I’m standing next to has a very unique story, the guy who bought it had to go through an interview before the seller would let it go. The steel soldier landed on the beaches of Normandy, and later the Battle of the Bulge. The driver had it shipped back home where his father would pick it up. It was completely original (aside from the tires and paint) and was loaded with everything it went to war with. In order to be eligeable to purchase it, the owner agreed he would use it in reenactments and continue to tell it’s story.
In the pictures of the MB with the front ammo box, there is indeed an airplane flying above! I even got to ride around the camps in the slat grille.
Some additional photos:
Bob spotted this wagon at the Wisconsin Dells’ Automation Show. After a little searching I realized it was the same wagon we’d photographed at the 2013 Willys Midwest Reunion.
Joe reported the following: Wanted to share some pics of a Willys MB, delivery date 3/8/45, that was auctioned in a South Bethany Beach, Delaware estate sale on Saturday, May 15, 2015. Winning bid was $3,450. The jeep appeared to be mostly complete with a majority of hard-to-find-items intact including a tandem tow bar but had lots of surface rust with only one area of rust-through. The motor is seized. Title status was unknown at the time of sale. Proves once again that these little gems are still out there, even after 70 years!!!
<– Day 35 – Sat. May 16th: The End of Texas | TRIP OVERVIEW | Day 37-40 – May 18th-21st: Research –>
Three of the nine jeeps in Sagauche, Colorado. These are sitting at the edge of town. This is downtown!
Today was supposed to be about doing some family research, but I was in for a surprise!
Today I traveled from Alamosa to Pueblo.
I started the morning with a scraper in my right hand and my left plunged into my pocket. After weeks of warm weather, emerging into 32 degree temperatures shocked my being. With my window partially scraped, I could see just enough to drive myself to the local Campus Cafe, which served some good eggs and hash browns (a Yelp find).
My first stop of the trip was to see a very unique motel called Movie Manor. Run by Best Western, the motel plays movies on two drive-in screens. The speakers are hooked into the motel rooms. I priced it at $89, but figured I was too busy to watch the movies, so I found a cheaper place. Still, I wouldn’t mind returning with Ann sometime. They were playing two recently released movies, Avengers and Mad Max. Not bad!
Following movie manor I expected an uneventful drive to Monarch Pass. Instead, as I was driving through the sleepy town of Saguache (not even sure how to pronounce it) that is nearly small enough to have “Welcome to Saguache” on both sides of the same sign, I spotted a flat fender. As I approached more closely, I spotted a second. Then I spotted a couple more. By this time my foot was on the brake and my hand was on a camera. I had find out why these jeeps were sitting in the Gillette’s Trading Post parking lot in a middle-of-a-nowhere town like Saguache.
<– Day 36 – Sun. May 17th: Tracking the Ore | TRIP OVERVIEW | Day 41-43 – May 22nd-24th: Omaha-Bound –>
On May 18th and May 19th I spent time in Pueblo to do some research. The only semi-interesting photo is this one showing under a sign on Eilers street, named for the Eilers Smelter, aka The Colorado Smelting Company.
The next update with be on May 22nd, which marks the day Ann returns to Colorado and we head to Omaha for her son’s graduation.
<– Day 36 – Sun. May 17th: Tracking the Ore | TRIP OVERVIEW | Day 41-43 – May 22nd-24th: Omaha-Bound –>
Leigh found this 2WD 1948 wagon that had been sitting in a shed in Australia since 1994. He plans on restoring while retaining the current look as much as possible. From what he has been told only about 400 Wagons of any description came to Australia so parts are a bit difficult, however he reports Kaiser Willys has been a big help.
Buz found this Facebook page with some good WWII jeep photos on it.
https://www.facebook.com/przewarkam?fref=nf
<– Day 34 – Fri. May 15th: High Plains Drifter | TRIP OVERVIEW | Day 36 – Sun. May 17th: Tracking the Ore –>
Today was my last day in Texas. Both Ann and I feel satisfied that we did enough and went enough places to get a taste of Texas regions. We appreciate Lee, Sam, Brian and Jason for taking time to meet and talk with us. Also, as always, we appreciate everyone’s suggestions!!
Today I drove from Amarillo, Texas, to Alamosa, Colorado.
To bid me a memorable goodbye, Amarillo threw me a thundershower party. There was thunder, lightening and plenty of rain. The worst of it came just as I stepped out of the motel with my arms loaded with stuff for the Jeep. So, I ran for the jeep and unlocked it as quickly as I could, but I still got pretty drenched!! I hopped in the jeep and drove to the covered area by the reception desk and snapped this photo.
Rather than try to photograph the Cadillac Ranch area in the rain, I headed north hoping to escape the storm. The plan actually worked. Within an hour I was cruising along under clear blue skies.
I even got a chance to see one last jeep before leaving Texas:
I wanted to drive to Oklahoma to see Boise City, a place heavily affected by the Dust Storms of the 1930s. The museum wasn’t open when I drove through the city, but I did find this tribute to a bomb dropped by a B-17 during 1943. My wife reminded me that this is why bombs are not armed until ready to drop. There are a surprising number of accidental bomb droppings I’m told, but safety procedures and good luck have kept us safe.
