emailNeed to contact me and don't have my email? Click on email button.
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 .
1. Ford GPs on assembly line: This March 28, 1941, image shows Ford GPs on the assembly line. It is posted on a Henry Ford’s history page.
==================
2. Ford gets Priority over Bantam for axles: This January 22, 1941, article in the Indiana Gazette notes a claim by the President of the United Automobile Workers–CIO that Ford was given priority over Bantam on orders for axles, forcing Bantam to miss its deadline for filling their order for the BRC-60s.
==================
3. Duke of Kent:This photo shows the Duke of Kent riding in a Ford GP at Holabird, Maryland. The photo appeared in the Salem News (Ohio) on August 29, 1941:
A March 25, 1941, set of photos in the Kansas City Star shows a Bantam BRC-60 flying high at one point, but then being dragged across a river by a horse at another point.
The Meyer Snow Plow brochure includes a large section about the ElectroLift. Labeled form no. 3-163, the brochure is a standard paper side with a half-paper-sized section that folds out horizontally to reveal more details about the Electrolift. There is not date on this brochure, but I’d guess early 1960s.
Note that the left side of the back of this brochure is the same as the image above. It’s the right side that folds out.
These two two-page brochures from Meyer once again highlight the company’s snow plows.
This first brochure showcases the Meyer Angle Dozer and is dated July of 1962 and is form no. 3-114 (though on the backside it shows 3-114 R2, suggesting the backside may have been a 1st or 2nd revision):
This second one is an undated form no. 3-283, but given it includes a Jeepster Commando, it is likely from the late 1960s.:
UPDATE: The Herald-News of Passaic, NJ, published an image of a Ford GP going through its paces. Given the chained tires and other similarities, it appears this photo was likely taken at the same time as one published at the bottom of this post.
========================
Originally posted May 30, 2020, as part of this post: Here’s an article and a photo showing a couple Ford GPs being run hard, originally printed in the March 09, 1941, issue of the Battle Creek Enquirer:
1945 CANADIAN CANADA AD WWII PATRIOTIC WILLYS JEEP COMMANDOS MACHINE GUNS
100% ORIGINAL NOT A COPY OR REPRINT.
MEASURES ABOUT 5.5 X 6.5 INCHES
THIS ORIGINAL ITEM WOULD BE NICE TO FRAME
GOOD CONDITION.”
An April 12, 1941, article from the Escabana Daily Press out of California shows that it wasn’t always easy producing the Ford GPs. In this case striking works (and some reported sabotage of machinery) delayed manufacturing.
These series of photos show Edsel Ford riding in a “Blitz Buggy”, which we now know as a Ford GP. Note that there’s no reference to the “Ford GP” in any text.
This photo appeared in several newspaper, including the April 11, 1941, issue of the Sikeston Standard out of Missouri.
=============================
Originally published Nov 11, 2014:This photo includes Edsel Ford and was shot at the same event this video was taken.
=======================
Originally published July 12, 2017:The original press photo that appeared in the newspaper at the bottom of this post.
“1941- Edsel Ford, in rear seat, and Brig. Gen. Charles Bonesteel go for a ride in the first Ford GP prototype jeep delivered to the U.S. Army after it rolled off the assembly line at the Ford River Rouge factory in Dearborn, Michigan. Photo measures approx. 7″ x 9″”
“Rare Vintage Jeep Gala Tropical Motors St. Thomas V.I. Acrylic Keychain in Excellent Used Condition. My Father obtained this keychain while working in fleet sales for Willys in the Carribean and Central & South America in the 50’s and early 60’s. Measures approximately 1″ in diameter x 1/4″ thick. A must have for the Jeep Gala Surrey owner!!!”
This as is insteresting as the advertiser is the International Nickel Company of Canada, yet visually it feels like an ad for the upcoming civilian jeep.
John S. Van Gilder, in his ManHATtan column, tells the story of his first experience with a jeep in the September 13, 1942, issue of The Knoxville News:
(11/02/2020) The Willys Export Ads showing wagons were placed by the Willys Export Company in the El Automovil Americano Magazine. The seller does a good job of explaining that he may not be able to ship these ads to certain states due to the pandemic.
“VERY IMPORTANT! Due to the pandemic the deliveries are taking longer than normal, so please be patient in case this happens.
To the residents of United States: due to the contingency caused by the pandemic, shipments to the following states the regular mail are not being made by Correos de Mexico, Louisiana, California, Wisconsin, Texas, Iowa, Illinois, Columbia, Missouri,Georgia, North Carolina, New Jersey, Maryland, Minnesota, Montana, Dakota, Indiana, Arizona, Alabama, Michigan. If your state is on the list, please contact the seller. This inconvenience is temporary and there is no date set to restore the service.
The paper may have tears, stains, or missing parts.
Shipping world wide with tracking number:
EE.UU. US $ 8 Delivery time 15-40 days
Europe US $ 10 Delivery time 15-40 days
Asia US $ 13 Delivery time 15-40 days
I combine purchases for a better shipping cost.
VERY IMPORTANTLY: all items in this shop are located in Mexico, therefore, will be shipped from that location. The shipping cost published by the ebay automatic sistem is not correct because don´t works in my mexico account to calculate the rates, so please, before the payment, wait for a correct shipping amount to your place, because it could have variations.”
This Forbes November 15, 1944, article titled “Will the Jeep Invade Peacetime Markets” is a pretty sober look at the reality of the WWII jeep. That’s probably because the author, Francis “Frank” Fenn, was the former President of American Bantam at the time the Bantam BRC was developed (one person argued that Frank was the actual father of the jeep).
With tweaks to the basic WWII jeep, Fenn predicted the CJ could do quite a bit, but would never make a good around-town or travel car due to it’s rough ride and basic functions. He predicted, rightly, that it would take a quite a bit of engineering for the vehicle to meet the average family’s on-road needs.
Dan bought this jeep for the hardtop and plans to put it up for sale. As is with no Oregon title it is $1600 (parts jeep). Once he goes through the paperwork to give it an Oregon title, he plans to raise the price to $2000. The body is a unique wood kit. You can contact him at 971 704 1045 for more info or bosmate @ gmail.com (remove spaces around @).
Dan shared this ad. The seller of this jeep told Dan that his father bought a wood kit from Sears or Montgomery to make a wood body; this is the result. I searched my Sears and Montgomery catalogs, but couldn’t locate a body repair kit (but I don’t have all the old catalogs). Dan got some close of up pics which are at the bottom of this post.
“1948 Willys CJ2a Jeep. Was my dads jeep but he passed away recently. He had hopes to get it runnig and driving again as he used to drive it on his property 20 years ago. Needs work. Engine missing carb, distributor and starter. I don’t know where he put those, also I can’t seem to find the title for it so no title (unfortunately)…selling as parts.
The jeep has a wooden body from the mid body seam to the rear (forward body is original metal). My dad bought a kit to make the wooden body from sears or montgomery wards many years ago. I assume he did this due to rust in the rear body floors. It’s done very well as the kit included supports and corners. The frame and other parts are solid and only have surface rust. I was going to get this going again and purchased a rare Koening hard top for it which I will sell seperately if the new owner desires it. Also the jeep includes a nice roll bar which is not installed.”
Bill shared this post from thedrive.com about a youtuber named DJ (youtube channel Limitliss) putting a Turbo 1.3 liter Suzuki Hayabusa engine into a jeep-rod build. He was originally going to install a ZX10R, but found it to be too damaged to proceed, so he switched to the Suzuki engine.
The May 30, 1954, issue of the Nevada State Journal reported on the practice maneuvers of a squadron of jeepers unique to Nevada that worked with the local Civil Air Patrols on rescues. Nevada had two different squadrons, one in Washoe County and the other in Churchill County.
As you can see, the squadrons accepted a wide rand of jeeps. One is a slat grille MB, while others are CJs and wagons.
Bill sent this link for a reasonably priced FJ-40. I don’t know how accurate the restoration is so far, but based on other prices I’ve seen, this seems to be a pretty reasonable one.
This is a project I took on 2 years ago. I have gotten it to yard drive but it still needs more work. I fell into a deal with a gorgeous 1965 T-Bird and I just haven’t had the bandwidth to dedicate myself to the Land Cruiser.
Quick History: This vehicle was on the road until 2012, from that point on it sat in a gentleman’s driveway until 2018 when I bought it off him. He had owned it since 1985 and done some adventures up in Canada with it. He had even installed an auxiliary fuel tank to get extended range. During his ownership he had the engine rebuilt TOP and BOTTOM, the engine is NICE.
Since I bought it, I worked initially on getting it running. I replaced the original carburetor and it ran well. The cooling system and heater hoses were in terrible shape and I replaced them all with heavy duty clamps.
Unfortunately, at one point I switched the fuel source to the aux tank and it seemed to clog the fuel delivery. Long story short, there is an issue getting fuel to the carb, although I replaced the fuel pump, and filter.
What the vehicle still needs:
There is rust on the steel exterior body panels, especially the windshield frame and the bib. But the tub is aluminum and in fine shape. The fenders are fiberglass and doing great! The frame has rust. To make it off-road worthy you should reinforce several spots.
You will need to replace the exhaust system.
Tires hold air really well and have good tread, but are older.
Then you need to deal with the fuel problem. I would recommend a new fuel tank and new fuel hoses. A new mechanical fuel pump (if you need it, I put in a new one) is not expensive).
Ideally I would like to sell the seats separately to get some of my investment back, but I am flexible. So if you def want the seats, we can talk.
This is not a sale; it’s more of an adoption! I would like to talk on the phone first and then show you the vehicle.