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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 .
A variety of newspapers announced on March 09, 1943, that Ford would being producing Ford GPA (SEEPS) at its production plant in Detroit.
Andy spotted this rare combo of vehicles still in their blister package. It’s currently priced at $149.99. The pics aren’t the best.
View all the information on eBay
“Product Name: “JEEP TOW TRUCK WRECKER (WITH ORIGINAL HOOK!!) + VW BEETLE” ULTRA RARE!
IMPOSSIBLE TO FIND IN ORIGINAL BLISTERCARDED CONDITION!
Colour: Red + Blue.
Note: No deformation. New!. Original from the late `60ties to early `70ties.
Produced by: NP, Norddeutsche Plastik, Germany.”
Apparently, this Hinde and Dauch cardboard trailer was part of a package that included a jeep? Anyone know more about it?
View all the information on eBay
“DESCRIPTION OF ITEM: A very rare toy, This was made by Hinde & Dauch Paper Company in the early 1950s, Sandusky Ohio You can google the information, The body is made of paper cardboard and measures 10 1/2” long, 5 1/2” wide, 3” tall. The wheels are wood, It’s in very good condition with some scuf marks. Please see picture and judge for yourself on the condition.”
The most interesting this to me about this brochure is that the front of it shows the wagon in front of 1962 Seattle World’s Fair icons. In terms of brochures, based on what I’ve seen, Willys-Overland and Willys-Motors didn’t usually include that kind of iconography.
This is the front:
The back (when unfolded) is blank:
Unfolding the brochure vertically yields these images:
Opening either wing reveals the unfolded imagery:
This shows the unfolded back:
Continue reading
This 1952 video is slightly different than another video (Jeepers Creepers) containing some of the same clips.
vs. this version (which most of us have seen):
These two photos from the Denver Museum of Nature and Science Digital Archives includes these two photos from a June 1949 trip though Southeastern Utah, specifically the Glen Canyon area. It’s unclear who these folks were or whether this was an official survey party or just an jeep adventure.
CREDIT: Denver Museum of Nature and Science; https://dmns.lunaimaging.com/luna/servlet/detail/DMNSDMS~4~4~161797~112775:Glen-Canyon-scenery?qvq=q:jeep&mi=10&trs=13
CREDIT: Denver Museum of Nature and Science; https://dmns.lunaimaging.com/luna/servlet/detail/DMNSDMS~4~4~161798~112809
This ad appeared in a July 1957 magazine, but don’t which one. As Vernon noted about this ad, the ad below also shows a truck with a stake bed extension. Any ever seen that option?
On February 11, 1945, the Pittsburgh Press shared the news that Ireland had ruled that the word Jeep could not be trademarked there. There were two reasons for that decision: 1) the word had not been stamped on the vehicle(s) and 2) the term ‘Jeep’ had fallen into public domain as a result of usage.
Both concerns seem valid. Even today, there’s confusion around the brand in terms of Willys vs. Jeep. However, one could argue that both issues were the result of Willys-Overland’s effort to win a war, thus the company sacrificed normal naming (in terms of vehicle models), advertising, and trademarking issues. So, why should they be penalized?
UPDATE: **Status Unknown. Was $1800. As of June of 2023 the link no longer works.
(11/26/2020) There’s a company out of Illinois selling drag ‘jeep’ fiberglass bodies called Dunn & Gone Racing, Inc. (some of the ads on the racing junk site are old, so, this may or may not be available).
“The newset addition to our high quality fiberglass family
—RAMROD—
Each body is hand laid with the best resins and glass available
Specs
overall length 143 inches
cage opening width 30 ½ inches
rear width 63 inches
front width 52 inches
Basic wheel base from rear center to front center 96 inches
untrimed rear wheel well opening 34 inches, trimmed 39 inches
no body work required, just wetsand and paint!!!!
1800.00 in stock and available NOW
Thanks
JD
Dunn and Gone Racing Inc.
Located in Monticello Illinois”
As best as I can tell, this booklet was part of a Willys-Overland Motors Dealer Day presentation on March 30, 1950. This particular booklet came out of Canada, so I am not positive whether this was a Canadian event or a Brand-wide (US, Canada, and other?) celebration.
At 5″ x 7″ the booklet is smaller than I thought it would be.
On December 06, 1949, New York Artist and former Gallery owner Elenore Lust drove her WWII jeep into Capetown, completing a 13,000 mile trek from France to South Africa. Their trek took them across ten countries. During one long stretch in the Sahara Desert she and her husband Paul Koston, who didn’t know how to drive, had to spread wire mesh on the sand, drive atop it, then roll it up, move it to the front of the jeep, then drive forward again, a process they repeated many times.
Unfortunately, I could not locate a photo of her and her jeep, but I was able to find a photo and an obit, which shared that after teaching art in South Africa, she returned to the US and began teaching art in Pennsylvania up until her death.
This article from the December 07, 1949, issue of New York’s Daily News provides some details about the trip.
Here’s the only photo of Elenore I could find. It was printed in the June 08, 1988, issue of the Philadelphia Inquirer:
Her obituary was published in the April 24, 1997, issue of the Philadelphia Inquirer:
Brian shared this post from the AACA site that shared information about an IH Scout toy, a dealer promo that was given away or sold. I’ve never seen that toy, but I was also never around Scouts much either.
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There’s one of these on eBay, with the box. It’s pricey, but cheaper than a similar quality Al-Toy would be.
View all the information on eBay
“TRUE VINTAGE WITH MINOR AGED CHARACTERISTICS PLEASE SEE PICS FOR HIGH DETAILS
DISPLAYS WONDERFUL AGED PATINA WITH BOX!! STORED WELL AND SHOWS GREAT
BOX IS IN FAIR CONDITION CONSIDERING AGE, DOES HAVE SOME MINOR TEARS AND IS MISSING A FLAP”
This ad appeared in a 1955 magazine, but I can’t say for sure which one. This mostly shows the CJ-5 busily at work, though a 3B and the truck make an appearance.
The new issue of the Dispatcher Magazine has been released. Jim Allen’s article on the Jeep Creep and other prototypes in the late 1950s was very interesting (something I’ve never documented), as were the restoration articles on the Tonka Surreys and the Jeepster Convertible. As always, there’s lots of good stuff in this issue!
Craig shared this video from Mark Felton that focuses on the WW2 Bazooka and Rocket Jeeps.
This is a CJ-3A brochure I’d never documented before finding on eBay the other day. It is form no. CJ3A-M2-50M-151-GG.
This is the back of the brochure when folded:
This is the first page seen when unfolded part way:
This is the brochure completely unfolded:
This is the back when completely unfolded:
The Tribune newspaper out of Coshocton, Ohio, shared this photo and caption on the May 24, 1953. It shows three-year-old Terry Schley driving a model Jeepster his father built for him. It includes a feature that auto braked when the foot is lifted from the accelerator.
UPDATE: 2 more photos of DJ-3A Hardtops with side glass (note also the use of the modified hardtop with glass on the Jeep Creep jeep above). The first is a different 1956 DJ-3A with the same type of hardtop (side windows and small rear window) was posted to Facebook.
So, does this mean Willys Motors had planned on selling DJ-3As with side windows, but for some reason changed its strategy? Or, did they only intend these tops for commercial/governmental use?
Caption: August 27, 1956. New Police Equipment: This new jeep, recently acquired by the City of Ann Arbor – Police Department, is being used to service parking meters throughout the city. The small vehicle has proven ideal for swinging into small spaces while meters are emptied. Patrolman John Biederman drives the jeep and is assisted in the meter collection by George Kaercher.
This second is undated, but shows a DJ-3A with a windowed hardtop for the Triangle Drive-in. It was posted to Facebook by Michael Canup.
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The photos of this RHD drive DJ-3A were posted by Andy to Facebook. They show a RHD DJ-3A at work for the Los Angeles School Police Department (that’s the department’s insignia on the door).
This is a 1956 RHD DJ-3A. It has the small rear window top that was halted sometime around late 1956 or early 1957 (http://www.ewillys.com/2020/03/17/different-version-of-the-koenig-manufactured-hardtop/), but also has the Hall tail lights which I am surprised to see on a 1956 (https://cj3b.info/Dating/Taillights.html). Oddly, it also has the rear side windows on the hardtop, which wasn’t common for the DJ-3As, but the side windows were standard for this model of the CJ-5 hardtop. So, this must have been a special order?
Photo taken June 06, 1956: http://digitallibrary.usc.edu/cdm/ref/collection/p15799coll44/id/61924
Photo taken June 06, 1956: http://digitallibrary.usc.edu/cdm/ref/collection/p15799coll44/id/61924
There was another photo taken with what appears to be the same jeep (same number on the door), but having a different driver (at least a different cap) named Officer Verne Schlotzhauer, while Captain Maurice W. Calfee watches the officer. The car to the right is different, also. This appeared in the July 24, 1956, issue of the Valley News, Van Nuys, California:
The top pic was also syndicated to newspapers. The image below appeared in the June 22, 1956, issue of the Des Moines Register:
The Huntington Digital Library has some more Kent Frost photos from his trips through Canyonlands and other southern Utah places. The photos represent two different trips. Most pics are from an October of 1955 jeep excursion, while one photo is from May of 1957.
This first photo from October of 1955 is a great photo that shows Kent and Fern Frost standing in front of a CJ-2A with a Porter & Reed hardtop. I’m not sure if this was one of their jeeps or not.
CREDIT: None …. Caption: Fern and Kent Frost next to a CJ-2A. DATE: Oct. 1955.
CREDIT: J. Ballard Atherton …. Caption: Frost Jeep Party. DATE: Oct. 1955.
CREDIT: Dudziak, Joseph Lawrence …. Caption: Camp of Kent Frost jeep party near Lizard Rock.. DATE: 1957-05-01
CREDIT: J. Ballard Atherton …. Caption: Frost Jeep Party. DATE: Oct. 1955.
Blaine spotted a CJ-3A with a trailer in the 1957 Movie “Black Scorpion“. The flick captures the emotional turmoil of scorpions who, once trapped inside a volcano, are released by volcanic activity. Ready to party like velociraptors on Adderall, the scorpions reek havoc on the rural communities surrounding Mexico City. Here’s more on the story from trailersfromhell.com and imcd.com.
The main character drives the CJ-3A, so apparently the jeep appears often in the film.
Here’s the trailer for the movie, though there’s no jeep featured in it.
Anyone know more about Jim’s Auction’s Roofless FC? Jim’s Auction operates out of Montrose, Colorado. I’ve been unable to find another pic of the FC. https://www.jimsauction.com
UPDATE: Lew let me know that the IFFC updated it’s website: https://internationalflatfenderclub.org/index.php?threads/welcome-to-the-iffc.2/. IFFC is also on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/groups/1641202336209808
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Originally posted 02/11/2013: International Flat Fender Club (IFFC) is an umbrella organization founded by Lew Ladwig that encourages and supports localized, online clubs, called Patrols.
According to the website, “The IFFC is subdivided on regional patrols (If possible, seek out your local patrol). That is where the fun starts! No patrol in your area, start one!
The Founding Patrol is the Colorado Flat Fender Club. We formed roughly 15 years ago. Many thanks to Mike, Bruce, Fred, Darin, Wally and Audrey and my amazing wife Frankie!
The rules are there are no rules. You are responsible for your own safety and good times. Any person who takes a leadership or organizational role has absolutely no responsibility to you. Attend all events at your own risk! You participation is considered an agreement to the above terms.”
This 1961 French Canadian Jeep Truck ad was published by Willys of Canada, Limited, in the Le Bulletin des Agriculteurs. This trucks in this ad don’t have the ‘hockey stick’ trim nor the one-piece windshield.
UPDATE: While still unidentified, we have learned thanks to the Dutch_Jeeper on the CJ-3A page that the auxiliary transmission is an “under-drive” rather than an overdrive. He pulled this out of his CJ-3A, then disassembled it.
You can learn more and see more pics here: https://cj3apage.com/Forum/index.php?topic=2318.msg19546#msg19546
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Originally Posted February 5, 2021: An owner of a CJ-2A posted onto Facebook these photos of an unusual auxiliary transmission. I only am aware of two that work between the T-90 and Dana 18 (the Warn and the Husky). Anyone recognize this?
A reader heard a rumor that the winner of the 1972 Pike’s Peak “in the unlimited class was a cj3a”. I found a video of the 1972 race, but no jeep was mentioned:
I also learned that the overall winner on one day of the 1971 Pikes Peak Hill Climb trials was Bob Sievert (his obit) in a jeep, but Bob failed to win that year. His rear end broke during his race up the hill, forcing him to rely on his front wheel drive. Still, he finished 5th in the four-wheel-drive class. Here are the results of that 1971 race, though no pics are provided that show why type of jeeps were raced:
Colorado Springs Gazette-Telegraph, July 12, 1971.
In 1973, Bob did win the Non-Production Truck division of the Pikes Peak race. There’s supposed to be a mention about him and his jeep in the July 1973 issue of Hot Rod Magazine. Eventually, I was able to find a photo of Bob from 1973, but it appears he raced using a modified Jeepster Commando:
There was another jeep entry in 1973, this CJ-5 operated by Ken Anderson, but no mention of how well he did:
So, I’ve been unable to confirm that a CJ-3A was used or modified for the Pikes Peak Hill Climb, but I’m sure CJ-3As, as well as WWII jeeps and CJ-2As and other vintage jeeps were raced given there was a 4WD class. Anyone else have more info or photos?
