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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: Sold Was $3500.
This is a rare Empire Tractor built with civilian Willys parts.
“Empire tractors were only made for a few years after WWII. To start with they used surplus military Willys jeep drivetrains, later using civilian jeep drivetrains. The engine is jeep, the transmission and rearend are jeep, steering column and wheel is jeep, even the radiator is jeep. The operator platform is surplus Navy ship decking.
Getting this Texas trip going proved to be a challenge. Multiple issues kept us from leaving for weeks, then additional issues along the way added unforeseen obstacles, from an ill grandfather prior to departure, to me getting ill early on in the trip, to an emergency trip flight for Ann back to see her grandfather late in the trip.
Just the same, we managed to meet some wonderful folks, dine one some great food, and enjoy the hospitality of Texas. We look for ward to going returning (ed note: which we did briefly in late 2016).
Our trip tipped the odometer at just over 10,000 miles and 54 days. We explored the west, south, east, central, north and panhandle areas of Texas; yet there was still more we couldn’t see. We saw the Rio Grande, ate Texas BBQ, dipped our toes into the Caribbean on South Padre Island, rode a glass bottom boat, explored the Alamo, saw our first Buc’ees, visited a wide variety of museums, and much more. We even took a side trip to Omaha, Nebraska!
We arrived home just in time to celebrate my 50th birthday. Hopefully, the next half century will be as interesting as the first half.
Here’s an overall map of our trip:
eWillys Texas trip from late April – early June 2015.
Here are the posts related to the trip:
Brian forwarded links to some color WWII photos. These two photos included jeeps.
British and South African soldiers hold up Nazi trophy flag while combat engineers on bulldozers clear a path through the debris of the bombed out city of Cassino in 1943.
American servicemen drive in jeeps through an unidentified and nearly completely destroyed town, Italy, May 1944.
UPDATE: **SOLD** Was $16,000
(03/17/2015) David spotted this unique, cool GPW Ford truck jeep. It even has a tilt bed.
“42 Ford tilt bed truck – 302 Mustang power – C4 automatic – 9″ rear end. Disc brakes on front, mag wheels, 2 fuel tanks, cloth interior. Currently on a Historical Vehicle license. Great driver. Formerly a magazine car, with copies to go with it.”
Seth discovered this ex-Safari Ride jeep at the corporate headquarters of Sweetwater, in Fort Wayne, Indiana. The fiberglass jeeps were built by Bradley & Kaye and Fort Wayne Zoo visitors used to ride in them as they toured the zoo’s African Veldt. The African Veldt exhibit opened in the 1970s and closed in the mid 2000s. It was replaced by the African Journey’s sky ride.
David Bradley, the ‘Bradley’ in Bradley and Kaye, had a long history with amusement parks. In 1946 David Bradley opened up the Beverly Park amusement park in southern California. His park inspired Walt Disney to the point that Bradley became a consultant for Walt on Disneyland. At some point Bradley became connected to the Bradley and Kaye manufacturing plant, which created fiberglass carousel molds and children’s rides. In 1974 Beverly Park closed. In the1980s Bradley and Kaye went out of business. In 1987 Chance Amusements acquired the Bradley and Kaye assets. Much more history on Bradley here. David Bradley passed away in 1988.
Here’s a photo of a similar jeep in action at the Fort Wayne zoo. Note it operates on a guided track (from pinterest).
Here’s another action shot from Pinterest:
These soldiers are patrolling for riots in Detroit.
“This is a Type 2 Original News Press Wire Service Photograph. Size is 8″ x 12″.”
View all the information on eBay
These old car magazines are such fun to explore. The August 1953 issue of Cars Magazine had an article about jeeps. The magazine also contained a strange story from Idaho about the Brink and a Half Club, which seems to involve dunking your vehicle into the Clearwater River. While the article claims US95 hugs the Clearwater River for 150 miles, according to wikipedia the Clearwater is only 75 miles long. I think the author may have confused the Clearwater with the Salmon River.
Finally, I’ve also included an odds-n-ends page which includes a Ford automobile testimonial by noted criminal John Dillinger and the earliest example of a double-ender vehicle I’ve ever seen.
This is the full two-page jeep article blended together. The text can be read in the image below.
Page 1 of the article.
Interestingly, no mention of any asian companies jeep efforts mentioned.
No mention of Vic Hickey made in reference to the top photo. This article from Car Craft does a much better job of covering Hickey.
The Ottawa Citizen published an article in March of 1955 about a jeep wrecked by a train. I think we can all agree that the moral of this story is to avoid trains when driving a jeep.
This is a great photo showing a line of Bantam BRC-60s.
“WWII Line of Bantam Prototype Pre-Willys Jeeps at Fort Benning Orig Press Photo”
View all the information on eBay
Paul built a heat shield to protect his steering assembly. I believe it’s his last project of the winter. Paul’s putting ‘Knardly Rolls’ to rest until Fall. It’s now time for him and the Goddess to drop the top on the Miata and explore the melting tundra.
He writes, Here’s the heat shield I made to protect the steering assembly from the heat given off by the left exhaust manifold and exhaust tubing. As you might have noticed there’s very little clearance between the heat shield and the steering shaft. A penny will not fit between the heat shield and the steering shaft. The heat shield is .020” stainless and the attach bracket which clamps to the exhaust pipe is .050” stainless.
The decreasing diameter holes drilled thru the attach bracket will allow cooling air to pass behind the heat shield which will help keep the steering linkage from getting too hot. I hope. The brown coating on the brake light switch ground wire attach bolt is a gasket shellac that should prevent water from seeping between the ground wire connection to the bare frame so corrosion is prevented. The exhaust is held to the manifold by silver plated high temperature steel self locking nuts.
An ad for Seagram’s Five Crow whiskey appeared in the December, 1942, issue of American Legion magazine. The illustration is kind of jeep-like.
The American Legion has turned all of its back issues into downloadable documents that are also searchable online. Pretty handy! You can view the entire December 1942 issue here: http://archive.legion.org/handle/123456789/3774
Paul Berry uploaded photos from his visit to the FC Roundup on Facebook. You can visit the Willys America’s page here: https://www.facebook.com/pages/Willys-America/172564566099537?fref=photo
Jesse Ybarra’s FC Tour Jeep. Looks great Jesse!
Not much left of that wagon.
“948 Press Photo Dayton Ohio jeep and truck collide. This is an original press photo. Dayton Ohio jeep and truck collidePhoto measures 8.5 x 4.5inches. Photo is dated 11-11-1948.”
Don visited the Pennsylvania Military Museum a couple days ago and discovered it houses a Bantam BRC-40. Had I known this we would have made an effort to get there during our trip in 2013. Thanks to Don for taking some photos for us!
The Pennsylvania Military Museum is located on Business 322 in Boalsburg; three miles east of State College. It is one of 26 historic sites and museums on the Pennsylvania Trail of History, administered by the Pennsylvania Historical and Museum Commission (PHMC).
This Auto-Lite spark plug ad was publish in the September 1944 issue of American Legion Magazine. You can view the entire issue here: http://archive.legion.org/handle/123456789/3796
This May 1957 article from Willys News highlights the dependability of jeeps in cold weather.
This rare semi-annual report dated March 31, 1943, looks interesting.
“ORIGINAL 1943 Willys semi-annual report for March 1943. 24 pages full of interesting information about the WWII Jeep and it’s production. Lots of obscure photos and some great artwork”
View all the information on eBay
No jokers, but neat set of cards for CJ-7 fans.
“Is this used deck of vintage JEEP CJ-7 bridge playing cards. Complete ( – jokers) + Plastic case & in good used condition.
View all the information on eBay
Another copy of this Bob Clemens book is for sale.
“Notes: Willy’s Overland Motors. 1943. Very Good paperback. Clean, unmarked. No names or inscriptions. Blue pictorial cover with Red and white lettering and pictorial design. Edge wear to spine. No creases. Corners are lightly bumped. Top, side and lower portion of cover are faded approximately one inch. No chips, tears, water marks or stains.
Willys’ Jeep was a promotional pamphlet geared towards children to provide history pertaining to the Jeep used during World War II . Issued after the first national “Buy a Jeep Campaign” led by the US Treasury Department through the nation’s schools raised enough to purchase 50,000 Jeeps for the War. A beautiful and rare piece of Americana. Written by Bob Clemens. Illustrated by Patricia Windrow. 17 pages. 10×7 inches. Solidly bound. Quality guaranteed with full refund”
View all the information on eBay
UPDATE: **SOLD** Was $3500.
Looks ready to roll.
“Im moving and its time for someone else to make great cash everyday with this very nice and extremely reliable 1982 Jeep with right side drive so you’re on same side as sidewalks making it safe!! Plus theres a flashing yellow/orange light on top that works…another great safety feature!!The Jeep has current tabs and looks great with an American Flag Decor…it runs excellent!! Comes with LARGE coleman cooler (it holds a lot)…I usually would load the big cooler and use a smaller one to place right next to me for a pull one. theres an Original Nichols 32 song music box… all you need is to fill it with ice cream and a couple pounds of dry ice…turn on music…put it in drive and start making daily cash!!”
In 1970 the Montreal Gazette published a story from Acapulco, Mexico, about the Las Brisas Hotel and its pink and white jeeps.
The Ocala Star Banner in Florida shared this heart warming tale of a twice-saved CJ-2A by the Jarvis family.
http://www.ocala.com/article/20150327/ARTICLES/150329728
Bruce Ackerman/Ocala Star-Banner — Bruce Jarvis and his 1946 CJ-2A
David spotted this original cartoon dated 1945 on Craigslist.
“Original 1945 GI Art/Cartoon
Signed and dated 1945 this pencil drawing is 10 1/2 by 8 inches. There are two tears, a small piece missing and a fold mark on the left side.
$50 or make an offer. ”
http://sfbay.craigslist.org/sby/clt/4956397348.html
Interesting bumper on jeep.
“1947 US Army Officer Son Drives Midget Car by Jeep Osaka Japan Press Photo”
View all the information on eBay
UPDATE: **SOLD** Was $3000.
Here’s a rare Safari-Kar for sale.
“ight hand drive!!! Bought this mail jeep in 2006. Only used it for a few runs for the post office but then the post office provided everyone with new jeeps. runs great but its been sitting covered up under my carport. Installed the mail rack (see pics) and comes with the second seat.
-Power steering (rare)
-Power brakes
-automatic transmission
-straight 6 engine
-very clean interior and exterior”
