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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 .
If my addition is correct, readers have located 6 rare Stewart handcrank heaters in the US & UK. They are rare enough that the antique Road Show people couldn’t get any information about them from their buyers (see the 2nd to last post on this page).
Dennis, who’s heater is featured here, decided to fire up his heater at night, creating this cool picture. He also sent an unrelated artsy pic of an M37 he thought he’d share. Thanks!
Troy forwarded me this great pic of his son Tyler dragging at the PNW Summer Convention. Tyler is 18 now and Troy writes, “I HAVEN’T HAD TO RIDE WITH HIM AT THE RACES SINCE HE TURNED 16…. I MADE A BIG MISTAKE THIS YEAR AND RODE WITH HIM ON THE X-CROUNTRY…..THE KIDS GOT IT, BUT @#!%&##@ HE SCARES THE HELL OUT ME…LOL.” You can see both the race jeep and troy’s other jeep here. Looks fun!
I didn’t get many specifics on this build, other than it is a barn find that was carefully rebuilt and is located in or near deer park, washington. There are lots of great details on it. Thanks for the pics Michelle!
Here’s a poem quickly penned earlier this decade by the girlfriend of a jeep.
Whether at war time
or at peace
Its wonders never cease
It will conquer anything
standing still
That’s a mountain
To a Jeep it’s just a hill
That’s a river
Just a puddle I see
That’s a ditch
Just a pot hole to me
Lockers and tires-37 inch
If that don’t work, use the winch
There’s no stopping this machine
Persistence like this you’ve never seen
So when you think an incline too steep
You might consider owning a Jeep
– jeepfreak’s girlfriend
One of the positives about living in Idaho is that there are lots of tractors and tractor stores nearby. I stopped by one today and picked up one item I hadn’t yet purchased: a steering knob for my steering wheel for only $6.99 — the best price I’ve seen anywhere (I got it at D&B, a local farm/garden store). Now, these aren’t legal in every state, but they are sure handy for jeeping and racing.
I brought it home ready to mount it, but realized I couldn’t remember exactly how to mount it, so I jumped on the internet. The first thing I learned that a steering knob was actually called a Brodie Knob, which is where the term “doing a Brodie” comes from.
From Wikipedia, “Brodie Knobs were widely popularized, especially on the west coast of the U.S., during the 1950s. Their intention was to be used primarily as addition to a Hot Rod. The knob was used to spin the steering wheel, rapidly in one direction or the other, while accelerating, to cause the tire(s) to spin while rapidly whipping the car 180 degrees or half of a “doughnut”. Hence, comes the term “lay a brodie”. In the 1950s and 60’s a person could go into any local “Pep Boys” and choose from a large variety of brodie knobs, with every conceivable theme, from “Candy Apple colored”, “Product Logos”, to “nude women,” and everything in between, some automobile dealerships even used them for advertisements. They were very useful during a period of auto manufacturing, when power steering was truly a luxury…. ”
I also discovered that there’s a wide variety of knobs that I didn’t know exist. For those growing up in the world of hotrods, they probably aren’t surprised, but the knobs I have seen are generally all tractor related. Other names for the Brodie include the Suicide Knob, Granny Knob, and Steering Wheel Spinner
Check out the different kinds of knobs offered through thehotrodgirl.com.
Once again, wandering the internet today looking for information on mounting my steering wheel know resulted in several interesting posts.
This post is about a jeep tour business out of Marble, Colorado called Crystal River Jeep Tours. You can visit the website or learn more about it from this 2008 trip with some video and this post with videos as well.
Here’s a little bit about the tours, ” Crystal River Jeep Tours is located in Marble, Colorado, where the pavement ends and the beauty begins. CRJT was established in 1951 and ranks among the oldest adventure tour operations in the state. Take one of our guided tours to historic Crystal City and the Crystal Mill, experience the breathtaking views and wild flowers along the Lead King Basin road or the valley panorama from the top of Sheep Mountain. Overlook the Yule Marble Quarry from Treasure Mountain, or experience the Devils Punch Bowl at the foot of Schofield Pass. Our guided tours are an experience found nowhere else in the world, which skirt the edge of the Maroon Bells-Snowmass wilderness area in the White River National Forest.”
This is the second of two videos made by Universal International News. Much of this footage seems very similar to the shots taken by Life Magazine of the Ridge Runners, when they did ran a story about the Jeep Club.
The Yakima Ridge Runners Jeep Club recognizes itself as the world’s first incorporated Jeep Club, incorporating in early 1947. I have run across reports of early clubs formed in Southern California, but whether they actually incorporated or not is unknown to me. This video made by Universal International News was one of two.
I was searching to see if anyone posted videos from the PNW4WDA 2009 Convention, but haven’t seen any yet. I did find this nicely organized collection of racing images from 2008 that I hadn’t seen. So, I thought I’d share them. Note the audio has been disabled. I have to wonder exactly how they track down audio like that given the millions of videos uploaded vs. the relatively low number of hits on this video.
I was looking for some Willys Jeep script ran across the Tail Light King Website accidently. I don’t think I mentioned it last time, but the taillightking.com has Willys & Jeep lights as well.
Several of our finest in Blue from Arizona read ewillys daily. One of the readers asked about diamond plating for old flatties. I can’t say I was much help, but maybe some of you have a suggestion?
Here is what I wrote:
It appears Warrior Products (http://www.warriorproducts.com/order.html) is the only company making them still (that I can find). Most of the links below are the same product sold at different prices.
Here’s some options for side plates:
http://www.rjroffroad.com/warrior-sideplates-for-45-55-jeep-cj2a-cj3a-offroad-pr-17046.html
http://www.kaiserwillys.com/category/willys_warriorcornerplates
http://collinsbros.stores.yahoo.net/alsidplatpai.html $115 (for cj3a … cj3b not mentioned)
BEST PRICE: http://www.central4wd.com/inventorydetail.aspx?page=id|9288;folder|5701
Here are corner options for corner plates:
http://www.central4wd.com/inventorydetail.aspx?page=id|9269;folder|5709
http://www.kaiserwillys.com/product/1830/willys_warriorcornerplates
BEST PRICE I FOUND: http://collinsbros.stores.yahoo.net/alcorguar.html $109.95
USED: http://seattle.craigslist.org/oly/pts/1338556016.html
Used Jeep Junkyards (maybe they have some):
http://collinsbros.stores.yahoo.net/usedjeepparts.html (Wylie, Tx)
http://www.jwjeep.com/ (Antelope, CA)
http://jeeprepublic.com/ (Englewood, CO)
http://www.ewillys.com/?p=5067 (Kingston NY)
Working with Diamond Plating:
http://www.quadratecforum.com/showthread.php?t=72275
How to Polish Aluminum Diamond Plating (Something I didn’t know)
http://www.ehow.com/how_4556441_polish-aluminum-diamond-plating-mothers.html
UPDATE: Here’s the ebay listing.
Here’s another great, efficient makeover by Boswell International (catchy, isn’t it?). Jim ought to have this on ebay in the next couple of days.
BEFORE:
AFTER:
This is a continuing series on Dan’s efforts to rebuild his Grandfather’s jeep. Here’s the previous post. [Editor’s note – that looks like a steal at $100. Running and complete!]
Dan writes, “Sometime in the 1960’s my grandfather’s friend purchased a new Jeep and immediately swapped out the little four banger for a V8. My grandfather bought the new (at the time) 134 F head from his friend and installed it in his own 1955 CJ5 replacing the tired original 134. Over the years this second engine was rebuilt three or four times.
At one point in time my grandfather had a V6 of some kind sitting in the garage that was supposed to go into the Jeep. Unfortunately when he made the move from Colorado to Washington State, the V6 was left behind.
Today I just came home with an engine for the old CJ5. It’s a Kaiser odd-fire Dauntless V6. I found it behind a barn in a Jeepster C101 sporting a Volkswagen Bug body. (It was the ugliest “Jeep” I have ever seen). But the engine was still in tact and was running when parked. I made the guy an offer for $100. He pulled the engine and had it sitting on a pallet for me the next week. I took home everything from the radiator to the bell housing. He wanted the transmission which is fine with me. Someone had painted the valve covers red but you can see the original paint underneath. There was a power steering pump scabbed on which I will remove since I have a manual Saginaw box. It will be nice to breath the life into the CJ5 that my grandfather had wanted.
Originally, I had responded to a Craigslist add for a set of fenders. As it turned out I came home with a set of front fenders, a nice Koenig steel hard top model 550, and a Dauntless V6. He still has a Koenig PTO winch that I’m drooling over, but they don’t fit too well next to a Saginaw box.
I have attached a few pictures of the V6. In one of them you can catch a glimpse of the old CJ5 in the garage.
Jim found this super cool truck. You could probably even get some long ramps and park your jeep on top of it — if you are brave.
This excerpt is from an article title White Mice, which is about policing European highways during and after the war. Included is a MB painted in the distinctive colors: White vehicle with a black hood. If you go to the website article, you will see a variety of cars with this motif. This would make an unusual restoration project.
“The 62nd Military Police Company was created on November 30, 1943 and activated in North Africa a day later. Originally, it was a standard combat MP unit, and participated in the campaigns in France, the Rhineland and Ardennes-Alsace. Following the end of the war, the unit was reorganized twice, first as the 62nd Military Police Service Company in June 1948 and then as the 62nd Military Police Highway Patrol Company on September 20, 1951, when it was reattached to the regular Army forces occupying American Zone of Germany.
 Corporal Edward Olson in a Highway Patrol Willys MB. Note the permanent roof and the large combination siren-warning light on the fender. |
Unlike standard military police units, the Highway Patrol was created not only to enforce laws and regulations, but to handle other duties typically handled by civilian police agencies. These included assisting motorists and promoting traffic safety. On a given day, a trooper might work traffic, investigate a crime, or perform escort duty for a convoy. Or all three, just like his civilian counterpart.”
UPDATE: This seller also restored this CJ-2A with a similar theme.
A well executed and creative build. These are exactly the kinds of non traditional restorations I’d like to see more of that properly record the wide and varied deployment of the jeep.
The builder/seller writes, “1946 Willys V.E.C. CJ2A #14, 422 – County Sheriff Patrol Jeep: I’m relisting this beautiful Willys with a lower reserve. However, don’t make the mistake of believing that I’m giving it away! I just recognize that the market is soft right now. I know what I have put into this restoration. This is my fourth and final restoration of a 1946 Willys Civilian Jeep (CJ) 2A.
I became interested in the 1946 CJ-2A because it was the first production 4 wheel drive vehicle available to the public and is the grandfather of all modern SUVs. This particular CJ-2A restored as a Sheriff Patrol Jeep was restored as a tribute to my own Grandfather who was a deputy sheriff in Southern California during the 1940’s and early 1950’s. This CJ-2A is a faithful restoration of the type patrol vehicle that may have been used by the sheriff in the California, Nevada, Utah and Arizona back-country. The Federal siren and all Unity lights are period vintage police equipment. The STOP light on the left front fender is a vintage Griffin model used by Military Police on jeeps during the Second World War.
I discovered recently that an eWillys’ reader named Bob has created an ongoing photo essay on junked cars from America’s past called Broken Down Heroes. For me, the black and while photos capture a sadness, a silence of vehicles trapped and forgotten as trees, bushes and grass slowly overtake and swallow them whole. Great work! Here’s a couple photos.
Chris is a 15 year old who wrote to me last week about a wiring question. Since then, he and I have been working through some wiring and brake drum issues. Here’s a little bit about his jeep and some pics.
Chris writes, “It’s a 1947 cj2a mostly stock, with a few mods. It’s got the stock engine and 6 volt wiring (I want to update it to 12 volt). I got it last summer from my grandpa down in oregon. He had picked it up in a field in Idaho (I think Emmet). Thats supposedly where my great grandapa had parked it after he used it on his cattle ranch since it was new. It sat there for about 20 to 25 years. At some point somebody took all of the brake lines, the master cylinder, and the brake pedal (but my grandpa found me a new pedal). The picture of the engine is when i dropped the transmission to put in a new cluch fork (you can see the old one on the radiator).”
Here’s a recently launched website that focuses on military vehicles called Classic Military Automotive. The site also has a classified section.
According to the website, “Classic Military Automotive specializes in the sales, restoration and maintenance of 1941 to 1954 military jeeps and light weight trucks. We are located in the Sonoma County Wine Country of the greater San Francisco Bay Area. Our customer base is primarily in California though we have sold vehicles to customers from all over the USA and abroad. We are experienced in complete frame-off restoration down to minor maintenance. If you have any questions, or other needs, don’t hesitate to e-mail us at gpajeep@yahoo.com or call Terry at (707) 542-4353.”
UPDATE: The status of this is unknown.
This is an extremely unusual flattie. The seller provides a great deal of info about it. It’s been featured in various magazines.
“1946 “Willys” Jeep CJ-2. The “Jeepilac” as it is known (Jeep with a Cadillac engine) was professionally built by Johnson Welding Works. They are a local shop and are very well known in the area for building high quality street rods using top quality parts with attention to detail and safety. It has 2,700 miles since the build …. ”
This vehicle was also featured in the movie “Smash Cut“.
I found a website called 1943MB.com the other day and thought that it had some useful information. I didn’t realize it until now, but there’s a list of similar sites. While they look similar, they appear to have at least some different information (I didn’t investigate too closely). For example, the 1941MB.com site has a link to a slat grille rebuild.
One cool feature is the Napa Online Website Link for parts. Here’s a snapshot of it below.
“I kept telling Larry, take the stairs, take the stairs! But no, he had to show off!”
I just love these old pics!
Ever gotten stuck? Who needs a chain when you got Scotch Tape! There’s plenty more photos from this very obvious photo op.
Jim sent this my direction. Theres a number of varying Willys and Jeep brochures from early years up to today.
Some examples below
Our intrepid Afghan Bureau Chief, Buck, has safely returned from his all-expenses paid stay in Afghanistan, courtesy of the Federal Government. He’s jumped back into his restoration project and had this positive report to file about his experience with Dataplates4U.com experience.
Buck writes, “I am nearing the end of my jeep restoration and was in need of data plates for the jeep. I had only the original patents plate left because all the others were long lost in the annals of time so replacements were required. I began the research and started talking with Robert at Dataplates4u.com (a small business in the Netherlands). Luckily the serial number was still readable so I was able to have him stamp the appropriate information onto the plates. Everything is dead-nuts accurate down to the fasteners and the font on the stamping. Take a look, the man does outstanding work and reasonable as well…I paid $156 USD for all four plates, stamping, fasteners, and shipping from Holland. As you can tell there is no way I can be disappointed with the result.”
