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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 on eBay.
This Camp Wheeler, Georgia, military themed pillow case includes a jeep on it.
View all the information on eBay
“US Army World War II 2 Mothers Pillow Case from Camp Wheeler Georgia near Macon Ga. Pillow case has The Stars and Stripes Forever, with US Flag and neat US Amry Willys Jeep. This is a rare and tough case to find. Great piece for framing! Aprox . 18 ” by 18 ” inches.”
This July 30, 1961, article shared the news that the Las Cruces Jeep Club planned to allow non-racers a chance to drive the ‘Jeepathon’ race track before the racers got a chance to race. The photos show Carol McDonald checking the jeep and the track. I wish the photos were clearer. I’m guessing she was a Las Cruces Jeep Club member?
I thought this a neat looking ad. I haven’t seen one quite like this done domestically.
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“JEEP WILLYS CARS OLD ADVERSITING MEXICAN PAPER AD, MEASURES: 10X12.5 INCHES, PLEASE SEE IN THE PHOTOS,”
This B.F. Goodrich Ad features a group of soldiers pushing a jeep over a muddy road while two women chat on a sofa. It is titled, “We took the nicest ride on Sunday”.
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An October 11, 1960, article in Grand Junction’s ‘The Daily Sentinel’ introduced many readers to Colorado’s newest industry: Jeep Tourism.
From the article, “Now, for the first time in history, the ordinary tourist and visitor can within a day’s time see some of the nation’s real back country.”
Roger Martin spotted this sign for $225. It’s 48″ wide by 17″ tall. I don’t know how ‘vintage’ it is, but I would have bought it if it was still available. It sold quickly.
I finally snagged one of these ‘Jeep’ Planning brochures. Based on some of the images (like the WILLYS and JEEP within a link), I’d say this was produced in the Fall of 1944. As best as I can tell, it might be the earliest brochure for what would be the CJ-2A, though you’ll note that only CJ-2s are pictured (unless I missed an X-cj). The brochure breaks down the four principal uses for the “peace time jeep”.
This 1/76th scale plastic jeep represent one of the few commercial models designed based on the original Bantam BRC. Eventually, I’ll remove it from it’s packaging to better take pics of the parts and the directions.
This wooden jeep popped up on eBay last week. After reading the description “To my Wife — Love Joe 5/20/1945 “. I decided to purchase it (Joe-in-Mesa, you didn’t make this for Jan, did you?). I supposed it’s possible that the message isn’t real and it’s less that 75 years old, but I prefer to think it was assembled for someone’s loving wife.
The jeep has been assembled from a few different pieces, but doesn’t look like any kit jeep that I’ve seen or own. The steering wheel is loose, but not broken. The nail needs to be pressed back down. The jeep is 5″ long by 2 1/2” wide.
This photo and article appeared in the April 16, 1943, issue of the Los Angeles Times. Kids at the State Street School sold enough war bonds ($12,773) to purchase 14 jeeps, so the Army sent 5 jeeps to the school’s field.
Natalie Mastavoi is pictured climbing into the jeep. She was the first pupil that got to sit in it. Help her into it is Sgt. Louis Gade. Principlal Frank Wells and Mrs. T.D. Harrington of the local P.T.A. are standing to the right of the jeep. I tried to find out more about the young girl and the Sargent, but had no luck.
UPDATE: JoeB notes that his image is from the family photo collection of Ryan Ward/”Dr Moab”.
See the full collection at: https://www.oldwillysforum.com/forum/index.php?threads/vintage-willys-pictures.2634/page-74#post-158826 and https://www.oldwillysforum.com/forum/index.php?threads/vintage-willys-pictures.2634/page-74#post-158879
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Steve spotted this image that was posted to the Justacarguy website, that originally had been posted to Japlopy Journal, but despite the included link I couldn’t find it at that site. The wagon was likely related to David County, Utah.
These two article show how quickly the Auburn Jeep Club’s annual trek to Tahoe grew in size. The Auburn Jeep Club was founded in 1951 and it’s first trip to Lake Tahoe via Wentworth Springs included seven jeeps and twenty participants. By 1953, reservations were required. By 1956 it had grown to 33 jeeps and 116 people.
April 30, 1953, article in the Auburn Journal:
July 19, 1956, article in the Auburn Journal:
I suspect that PFC William Wilson would have rather been back in Arkansas at that moment. That just looks cold. I tried to learn more about William, but had no luck.
View all the information on eBay
“This is an original press photo. North Korea — PFC William Wilson, Little Rock, Arkansas, jeep driver of the Corps scoops out some of the 5 inches of snow that accumulated overnight on his jeep.Photo measures 6 x 8inches. Photo is dated 12-06-1950.”
These three ads were all featured in Australia’s Power Farming and Better Farming Digest magazine in 1960. Each one is 18cm x 24cm (7in x 9.5in). I wish the pics were better.
This July 14, 1955, article from the Auburn Journal (Auburn, California) highlights the upcoming two day trip from Auburn, to Wentworth Springs and on to Lake Tahoe. It also includes a lists of some of the folks participating in the event. You’ll note there is no mention of it being a Jeep or Jeepers Jamboree.
Here’s a rare lift-equipped CJ-5 with a rear PTO, Meyer hardtop and PTO winch.
http://www.sellajeep.com/mjs/sale20/ad148/ad148.html
“Acquired at an estate sale in Wyoming.
Too rare to part out.
Motor runs and does have a title
Farm Jeep, Meyers Top, Stratton Lift, Twin Stick”
Roger Martin spotted this unusual Willys Service Sign at a Portland, Indiana, Tractor show today. If you are interested in the sign, we can get you the seller’s p#.
The 2021 Holy Toledo! calendar is now in stock and ready for your holiday purchase. I don’t know about you, but the sooner 2020 is over the better! So, for me, this calendar is a welcome sign that 2021 is right around the corner.
Chris added this unique and undoubtable rare Turner Mower matchbook cover to his already extensive collection of jeep-related matchbook covers.
A Turner mower brochure can be seen under #3 on this post. http://www.ewillys.com/2017/03/03/mowers-for-the-early-jeeps/
And, more info on additional Turner jeep-related products: http://www.ewillys.com/2020/06/10/1948-turner-stationary-hay-baler/
Though this photo of Billy Graham smiling in a jeep is undated, Billy Graham’s website indicates he arrived for his visit in 1952, then stayed over Christmas into 1953, as another photo of him in Korea is dated 1953. More Billy Graham Korean War pics can be viewed here.
View all the information on eBay
“This is an original press photo. Graham, Billy. Billy Graham in jeep in Korea.Photo measures 10 x 8.25inches. Photo is dated –none.”
UPDATE: Steve shared this link about a ‘Lady Jeep’ article written for the Heinz Center, which led me to Amazon. That listing included a date and magazine for this ad … the August 31, 1946, issue of the New Yorker. And, there’s a better pic on Amazon.
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Originally published May 19, 2019: This ad was on google image search, though it was gone from the actual destination page to which Google directed me. So, I have no date or magazine name to identify when this ad was published. It treats the Army jeep as a tomboy and the wagon as a Lady.
You’ll note that the patent number 2854111 is the same one connected to this single lever design: https://patents.google.com/patent/US2854111. Read to the end, as this patent number appears connected with an odd looking, Dualmatic-related hub.
This post is all Scott Gilbert’s fault. We got talking about the different color of Dualmatic hub labels on Sunday and, suddenly, my Sunday afternoon vanished into research!
This post leverages the great work from the CJ-2A.com’s dualmatic twin-lever page and the ih8mud hub forum about Dualmatic twin-lever hub variations. For the record, I’ve never owned any of these hubs, so I’m leveraging pics and the internet as best I can. It is a working post. If you have corrections or comments, please let me know!
If only I had each set of hub in front of me I might have a better shot at highlighting the differences (height and faces), but I do not have them. So, I’ll just do my best with the faces and some documentation for dating purposes.
I was going to use the CJ-2A page’s nomenclature, but after studying the different faces, I think it’s better, as I hope you will see, to expand the styles types:
Design A: Recessed center, full ribs, sharp-ended ribs
Design B: Raised center, full-ribs, sharp-ended ribs
Design C: Raised center, full-ribs, round-ended ribs
Design D: Raised center, one-end of both ribs recessed from the edge, all round-ended ribs
Design E: Raised center, both-ends of ribs recessed from the edge, all round-ended ribs
Design W: These were marketed by and stamped as Watson hubs (hence why I call them Watson hubs), but also stamped and sold by third-parties like Sears unstamped and unbranded.
Before we begin with the twin-lever design, let’s look at the single lever design. Dualmatic’s founder Charles Simonsen’s original patent was for a single lever design.
This photo may highlight why that design didn’t hold up well and why support was needed for the cam levers:
This photo was found on a G503 forum. You can see that the lever has been highly stressed.
CONJECTURE: If the bending of the single lever was even a somewhat common occurrence, then it would explain the shift to a dual lever, rib-supported design. One of those early designs may have been the Design W or the Watson hub seen at the bottom of the post, but it seems to me that when full of mud and small debris, that loosening the levers would have been difficult. So, my theory is that the next idea was Design A, which is the earliest one documented with a specific date.
DESIGN A: The earliest example of a Dualmatic hub with a date comes in the form of this April 1958 advertisement in Popular Mechanics. For our purposes, this would be Design A. It has full, un-rounded ribs and a recessed interior
Design A hub with recessed center, full ribs, sharp rib ends.
Design A hub with recessed center, full ribs, sharp rib ends.
Design A can also be seen in this undated brochure, most likely pre-1963 given the lack of full-size jeeps:
Curiously, Design A was still around in 1964, as evidenced by this 1964 Montgomery Wards catalog ad below, but a new type of style appeared, which I call Design C, with a raised center (for branding I assume) and full, but rounded-ribs (and around as late as August 1965 in a Four Wheeler Ad):
Designs A & C Dualmatic hubs. Lower pic — Design A hub with recessed center, full ribs, sharp rib ends. Design C Dualmatic hubs with raised center, full ribs, round-ended ribs.
DESIGN C: Here is a better pic of Design C. You’ll note that the sticker branding is colored black. So far, the consensus is that there were three different colors of stickers, black, blue and red. Again, when each was used and why they changed is uncertain:
Design C Dualmatic hubs with raised center, full ribs, rounded-ended ribs.
DESIGN B: At some juncture, Design B was introduced. Design B had a raised center and full, sharp ribs like Design A. You’ll also note that this has the red center branding sticker: Continue reading
Mark and Carl both shared this article about jeeps in the classroom. Sure, the jeeps are a few tines short of a full grille, but I think we can cut the teachers some slack; they have enough headaches to overcome.
Mike pointed out that the 1999 movie Holy Joe, starring John Ritter and Meredith Baxter, included a Willys wagon. I believe the moral of the story is that if you do good in the world that someone will restore your wagon for you? At least, that’s what I got out of it!
Based on various angles, I believe this was a 1961ish 2WD Maverick, but I am open to other thoughts.You’ll note the ‘restoration’ of the wagon does not reflect an original paint scheme. The wagon makes several appearances. Here are the three longest ones.
The 11:09 minute mark before ‘restoration’:
The 51.25 minute mark before ‘restoration’:
The 1:31:37 minute mark (near end of movie) after ‘restoration’:
This is a cool photo of Chinese Nationalist pilots piled on a jeep in front of P51s. Following WWII, the Chinese Nationalist Government renewed it’s civil war against Mao Zedong’s communists. The Nationalists lost enough territory over the succeeding years that in 1949 they were forced to abandon the mainland for the island formerly known as the Formosa Republic (until 1895, when the Japanese took control, not seceding control until 1945). This 1950 photo displays the Nationalists continued effort to thwart control by the Chinese communists.
“1950 Press Photo Chinese pilots ride jeep by P-51 planes at a tarmac in Formosa. This is an original press photo. Formosa (Nationalist air pilots). Kaohsiung, Formosa. The scene might be on a typical United States Army Airfield instead of on the nationalist bastion. A jeep load of P-51 pilots is on the tarmac as the Chinese version of the bright blue yonder boys head for their P-51’s to take off on a mission over the Chinese mainland. Photo measures 9 x 7inches. Photo is dated 6-5-1950.”
