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About eWillys
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.
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 .
Thanks go to Joe-in-Mesa for sending me one of the Willys Rally Essential Workers T-Shirt. I think this t-shirt is a pretty clever way to marry the pandemic with the old Willys workhorses (you can order one here).
This year’s Willys Rally is currently scheduled for May 14-16, 2021, in Moab, Utah. You can learn more at the Willys Rally website.
I snagged this small “Jeep Owners Club of New Zealand” hat pin from eBay for cheap. Having biked around the South Island of New Zealand when I was 20 years old, I’ve always had a soft spot for the country. I lived off New Zealand meat pies and banana chocolate chip ice cream while there … Boy did they have great ice cream!
UPDATE: I found an inexpensive issue of the February 2, 1946 Collier’s Magazine, so I scanned the cover. It has the Welcome Home Johnny sign celebrating’s soldiers homecoming as a farmer races his jeep down the road. I found no jeep related stuff on the inside.
This full page article with photos shows a group that called themselves the “Jeepological Survey” exploring the Panamint Range Canyons. This was published in the November 13, 1953, issue of the Valley Times out of San Fernando, California.
I bought one of this seller’s Morrison brochure. It’s in very good condition. It is unclear how many of these he has. I suspect it’s from the late 1940s, given it only features CJ-2As.
“You are buying or bidding on a rare vintage early 1950’s “The Morrison-Built Rogers Sno-Dozer For Jeeps” brochure. This was originally sold as a plow and scraper and was from the late 40’s. They were later produced by the Morrison Railway Supply Corp. Buffalo, New York. This is 5 1/2″ x 8 1/2″ opens twice to a 11″ x 8 1/2″. This is in excellent condition.(see pics)”
UPDATE: This looks to have been an MPC model, as MPC created a variety of jeep-related models. One particular kit by MPC allowed for the creation of three different kinds of jeep: ! Hill Climbing Dune Buggy Jeep, A Stock Jeep, or a Service Station Jeep. Here’s an example of that model on eBay.
Here’s a better example of the service station CJ-5 model from Barney Goodwin:
And here is a 16 minute video on the history of the AMT model company (and explains how MPC formed). I found it interesting (no mention of jeeps):
Here’s another CJ-5 Service Station model that is labeled an MPC:
This model sold on eBay yesterday for $25. What I found interesting was the level of detail, from the Dauntless engine mounts, to the Canfield Push-Plate on the front, to the Meyer half-cab details.
UPDATE: This sold years ago on eBay, but I never posted all the pics I got from the auction. It is a good example of Koenig’s Wrecker and road service brochure. Along with tow packages, it includes helper springs, PTO add-ons, push-bumpers, and more.
It is bulletin 155 (which likely means it was published in January of 1955) and then revised in April of 1955.
There are three lapel pins on eBay for $21.05/each (or make offer + $7.65 shipping) that come from Germany. I can’t speak to their history or whether they are all that old.
Somehow, I have never been to any one of these three national parks. As a boy, we’d go jeeping at the Beverly Sand Dunes and finding petrified wood was no big deal, so I’ve never seen a reason to stop at the Petrified Forest NP. There other two are definitely worth a stop on our next Arizona trip; When will that be? Maybe spring of 2022?.
The truck pictured looks to be a Valley Fire Truck model, white the white truck appears more like a General Fire modified truck.
My guess is the jeep pictured in this National Park sign is a Valley Fire modified truck, while, given the low rear bed, I think the white fire truck was likely originally modified by General Fire into a model they called “The General Commando”. According to the CJ-3B page, the General Commando came in both open top (similar to a Personnel Carrier) and a closed top, more typical of a standard truck.
I could imagine that for the forest service’s use, remove the interior portion of the fire truck bed, then covering it was a practical way to get more utility out of the truck.
This March 24, 1955, article from the Santa Cruz Sentinel shows Boys Scouts readying a jeep display to demonstrate both traffic safety and jeep camping.
Pictured are Bruce Donald, Bill Scout, Pete Schipper and advisor Charles Cloud. The group was affiliated with Explorer Post 89.
This press photo’s caption’s text and ID number looks identical to the one posted in 2019 (at bottom), except now the caption paper itself is trimmed and now in color (unlike the one at bottom).
Originally posted May 16, 2019: This press photo shows the lost point in the Burma Road (as of 1944).
“American Jeep on the Burma Road.
An American Jeep Rides through a section of the Burma Road in China that is cut right into the rocky mountainside. This is at the road’s lowest point of elevation, 2960 feet. Picture form the Chinese Ministry of information. Associated Press Photo EEM 10-13-1944 430P CNS.”
At the very least, this Country Gentleman Magazine ad appears on page 41 of Country Gentleman’s March 1948 issue. It may appear in other issues as well. If you want the entire issue, rather than just the ad, try this link: 1948 March Country Gentleman
This looks to be a CJ-3A (the rubber seal around the edge of the windshield is one clue) with a Worman hardtop. Emily Osborne owns both the jeep and the farm.
John shared this video. It shows the first landing of troops in Burma on the island of Akyab. Jeeps (looks like all Willys MBs) only appear in the first 16 seconds of the video.
This second video gives more of an overview (with narration) of the same landing force, which arrived unopposed (no jeeps).
Nick wrote, “Right when you walk in and scattered throughout with the heavy artillery are a number of well preserver/restored jeeps. The second vehicle you see when entering is a nice GPW. Then, there are blue and yellow newer-looking jeeps (looked like a 3a and an m38a1), which they drive and use around the park. The museum has a very nice OD m38a1 and an M-718 ambulance jeep. They also have an M-274 Mule, a Mighty mite, and an MB.
They have several volunteers that restore the vehicles and many are driven around. And, if you want to take a ride in a tank in an old battlefield setting, I believe you can for a reasonable donation (think it’s like $125).
Here’s a GPW:
This M-38A1 looks well restored:
This CJ-3A? may have an aftermarket hood. It looks like there’s possibly a “Follow Me” M-38A1 behind the blue jeep:
This appears to be an MB:
And another MB amongst a Commando car on the left and an M-151 on the right:
This photo shows Police Chief Schrage in the new Burbank airport “Follow Me” jeep used for the escort parking of aircraft. The aircraft in front of the jeep is a Lockheed Hudson, also known as a Lodestar. Note the camouflage in background. The photo is an 8 x 10 in. black and white photograph.
This potato sack sold for over $60, though I don’t know the exact selling price. Jevon Aasand (1921-2000) owned the Aasand Potato company, but I’m not sure who owned/managed the Jeep’s Best brand.
Columnist Russ Leadabrand thinks the jeep is the best way to see California. This column appeared in the June 29, 1960, issue of the Pasadena Independent:
This National Archives photo was taken on Iwo Jima in February of 1945. The Original Caption read: Duck Row—Enroute to the front lines, a stretcher jeep travels a matting runway as it passes a pool of amphibious trucks near the beach at Iwo.
In 2018 when driving south from Philadelphia to Delaware, a reader recommended we stop at the northbound welcome center along I-95. Unfortunately, as we were driving south, we got a little confused, then we realized that to turn around was going to take more time than we’d allotted. So, we never got to see what was at the Welcome Center.
Yesterday, someone posted a picture of a Jeepster that sits inside the Welcome Center, so now we know what we missed! We’ll definitely stop on our next trip, should we head north on I-95.
The inaugural Parker event was a great time, and very relaxing. No signal to speak of at the display area and campsite along the river, so we actually just communicated with one another with no outside world interruptions. Signal was normal once you got out onto highway 95 and back at our hotel in Parker. The highlight for me was a true “Bucket List” item: trail ride to The Desert Bar (Nellie E. Saloon) Saturday afternoon. I also enjoyed the Friday night dinner and presentation about the WWII desert training areas Patton established in that area, mostly Arizona and California.
Here is a rest stop pic of the convoy to Parker with us up front (first time towing BOTH my WWII jeeps – new truck and trailer) and my friend David Webster with his MB and trailer.
Parker, Arizona, is located along the Colorado River on the western edge of Arizona.
Below are my wife Jan and David mugging during set up day one with my jeeps sporting the awesome covers I got from Ian Liljeblad (www.bigwillyjeep.com)
Lots of vendors displayed parts and militaria. Military Vehicles on display were mostly 1/4 ton to 3/4 ton (more than 2 dozen).
Friends’ jeeps and a mule (far left) parked for the dinner and presentation on Friday night about the WWII Desert Training Area by a Yuma Proving Ground museum curator.
The weather was perfect. On Friday evening we enjoy this beautiful sunset over the Colorado River looking west from the La Paz County Campgrounds, Parker, Arizona.
This Farm Jeep ad from this 1954 Tractor Field Book Magazine purchased off eBay shows that the Farm Jeep was still being advertised as late at 1954 (though there’s no record any Jeep Tractors were made past 1951). In fact, it’s estimated that in 1954 only 12 Farm Jeeps were produced, and the ones that were made were of the CJ-3B-Farm-Jeep variety rather than the CJ-3A version. This ad below shows the CJ-3B version, serial number prefix 454-GC2.
This ad with women sipping tea while soldiers push through thick mud just expired on eBay, but will likely be relisted. It seems a bit unfair to women, as if they didn’t know a war was going on. I would imagine that most women likely were the main food shoppers and had to deal with shortages beyond just rubber.
This ad appeared in the March 28, 1955, issue of Canada’s National Post. I didn’t realize Kaiser Willys of Canada was using the phrase “Canada’s Most Useful Vehicles”.
A year later, in 1956, the company was still using the phrase. This was posted in the September 22, 1956, issue of the Financial Post: