emailNeed to contact me and don't have my email? Click on email button.
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 .
Joe shared these two Albany Police Department police photos posted by Albany’s Times Union online newspaper. The CJ-2A riot jeep is pic #30 of 35. The Wagon is pic #2 of 35.
Roger Martin shared this photo of, most likely, a CJ-2A or CJ-3A that was modified and outfitted with a camera. He spotted on Facebook. It was used on the set of the original Road Warrior Movie.
I was unable to find another photo of the camera jeep, but I did find a modified CJ-3B used for the Road Warrior (Fury Road) remake.
Steve discovered this short article on a problem caused by jeeps in the Philippines (though this is a more complicated situation than just the existence of jeeps). The article was published in the October 11, 1945, issue of the Guinea Gold, a newspaper out of Australia. On the same page, there were two additional stories about Australian war brides getting preferential treatment for their trips (one article noted ‘secret’ trips by ship and another by a few women who got to fly to Hawaii) over returning service men.
https://trove.nla.gov.au/newspaper/article/250680929?
October 11, 1945, Guinea Gold
“Filipino men are trying to put US jeeps cut of bounds to all their women under 40 years, states Ray Johnston, war correspondent, in Brisbane Sunday Mail.
Almost any hpur of the day and night, American jeeps carrying attractive Filipino girls can be seen in Manila’s grievously war-damaged streets. Timorous mothers and jealous boy friends have been complaining against the attraction the jeep exercises on local girls.
In China, Government officials and citizens became alarmed over the fact that the Chinese took to jeeps, as ducks to water, so they prohibited their girls riding inthem.
“Maybe such a law would be considered rude in Manila, but we should do something about the
situation,” says the Manila Chronicle. “After all, we don’t want it said in future that the jeep won the war and our women, too!”
UPDATE: **SOLD** Was $100.
Steve shared this ‘all original’ Tonka Fire Jeep. It appears in good condition, but it’s missing a few items, including the ladder, the hood light, and one of the vertical cylinders on the back bumper. The rear bumper unit is also bent backwards.
“BEAUTIFUL RED TONKA JEEP, BETTER CONDITION THAN MOST, I HAVE HAD IT FOR YEARS BUT I AM MOVING AND SELLING OFF SOME TOYS – LOCAL PICKUP”
Bill shared this photo taken by a young Jefferson Siegel during the 1968 Democratic Convention. He wrote about being a 16yo photographer during the eventful convention.
6am, the morning after intense street battles in downtown Chicago. Photograph: Jefferson Siegel
UPATE: **SOLD** Was on eBay.
A color slide from 1941? That’s a rarity.
“Original 35mm film slide.
Subject: U.S. Army MP Willys Jeep at Camp Sibert (or Siebert) in Boulder City, NV.
Date: Oct. 1941
Mount/Film Type: Kodachrome, red border
The scan below has not captured all detail, but shows the relative sharpness of the slide. The green text reading “embitt scan” was superimposed after scanning.”
This ad just expired on eBay and will likely be reposted at some point. It’s a Willys Export Company magazine ad, but unclear to me who the audience was. If this were a Canadian ad I imagine it would be tagged with a Kaiser Willys of Canada moniker, so it’s unclear to me what magazine this might have been.
View all the information on eBay
“1956 4 Wheel Drive Jeep Vintage Print Car Ad – Rare International Life Mag Ad
Aprox 10″ X 14 ” – Excellent condition
This is an ORIGINAL, AUTHENTIC print ad from a Life or Saturday Evening Post Magazine. Not a reproduction or copy. There may be some yellowing or chipping around the edges.”
This is a good ad for the Structo Ride-on Fire Jeep. It appeared in the September 1961 issue of Playthings magazine.
View all the information on eBay
“You get 1 sheet, 2 pages.”
What caught my eye about this one was the unusual hubs. Maybe an early Dualmatic (or dalmatic knock off?
https://www.facebook.com/marketplace/item/328676541631581
“Listing for a friend. 9k OBO”
An October 18, 1949, article in the Fort Worth Star-Telegram announced Daniel M. Towns decision to drive a jeep from Magallanes, Chile, to Fairbanks, Alaska, then drive to Washington, D.C. He is hoping to be able to cross the Darien Gap rather than boat around it. He plans to use tracks on a jeep to get through the Gap. As of the date of the article, Willys-Overland (or a dealer) had already agreed to supply a jeep.
A few weeks later, Towns received some advice from Frank Buck, as described in a November 07, 1949, article in the Forth Worth Star-Telegram. Frank Buck died a few months later.
Somehow, I never posted these Instructions for installing DJ-3A seats that Terry sent me. So, here they are in a post of there own. These are the official instructions dated June 15, 1956, for the front passenger seat installation on a DJ-3A using Field Kit Attaching Parts No. 696529:
UPDATE: Steve spotted this interesting post that shows a hoard of envelopes sent by customers and dealers to Olympic that was found. It’s kind of cool.
“There were over 100 covers here, and I have scanned a number of them above to share with members. A few were pre-war 1930s.
There are amazing array of origin country, commercial covers from the 1940s mainly. They have never been near a stamp dealer for ~65-75 years.
Burma, Portuguese India, Iran, Iraq, Cyprus, Malta, Southern Rhodesia, Thailand, Malaysia, France, China, Netherlands indies, Sarawak, Uganda, Belgium, Portugal, Turkey, a real early Israel cover, Egypt, Trinidad, Fiji, South Africa, Argentina, Sudan (several!), Lebanon, Ceylon, Greece and
There is a 1949 India Gandhi commercially used – a $50-$100 cover in today’s market. Who would know – 1949 Gandhi stuff is white hot.
Includes Registered mail and Postage dues assessed etc. Pretty much all of them sent to Olympic Spark Plugs Pty Ltd in Melbourne.”
========================================
This May 29, 1946, ad out of Australia in “The Bulletin” shows what I believe to be a depiction of two Chinese women driving a jeep.
View all the information on eBay
“Olympic Spark Plugs Large Full Page Original Advertisement removed from a 1946 Australian Newspaper and in good condition for age having some marks and creases and age yellowing and minor damage around the edges. PLEASE NOTE the minor damage around the edges. Size of the paper which the advertisement is on is 43 cms x 27 cms. It would look good framed on your wall or displayed with your Olympic Spark Plug Collection or if you collect Spark Plug Memorabilia. This advertisement would be hard to find in this size.”
Photo Credit: http://umanitoba.ca/libraries/units/archives/tribune/photographs/display_photo.php?id=5001 … This is a 1945 photo from VE Day as the paper prepared for the special “extra” paper announcing the end of the war in Europe. Richard “Dick” Sanburn appears to be the follow standing int he back, slightly bent over without a jacket, fourth from the left. He would go on to become editor of the Calgary Herald.
An April 20, 1953, column by Dick Sanburn out of the Calgary Herald, from Calgary, Canada, shared the news that a new type of jeep, the Mighty Mite, had been introduced. This led Dick to reminisce about the capabilities and rough ride of the jeeps he experienced during WWII. I thought his take on the customization of jeeps by their drivers (or jockeys as he refers to them).
Dick Sanburn’s column “Take it From Here” was launched after the joined the Calgary Herald in 1951. It became a local landmark. According to his obituary, “People either loved it or hated it, but they were never neutral. And that was because Sanburn never pulled his punches.”
During his earlier years as a war correspondent, he was frequently under fire. By the end of the war he had been made a member of the Order of the British Empire. Dick passed away on October 1, 1982 (his obit is at the bottom of this post, along with two of his articles).
UPDATE: **SOLD** Was on eBay.
This ad was published in an Australian farming magazine.
“Australian Jeep Original Advertisement removed from a 1958 Australian Farming Magazine and in good condition for age having some marks and creases and age yellowing of the paper. Size is 18 cms x 24 cms. It would look good framed on your wall or displayed with your vehicle at a car show.”
An eBay seller has several lots of full-size jeep brochures for sale.
This 1966 Wagoneer commercial from Kaiser-Jeep. According to the commercial’s poster:
“1966 Kaiser Jeep Wagoneer Commercial. The young boy in the commercial is Radio Personality from New Jersey, Dan Klein as a child. He recalls the woman playing the part of the Mother as a Mrs. Emily Mooney. The Husband is Thom Whims and the little girl is Tricia Murphy Duffy. I don’t really understand the commercial, a driver-less jeep wandering on the beach??? … And I LOVE the kid dressed up like a camouflage solider, this was when it was not politically incorrect to dress that way! I don’t think any car company would show that in a commercial now a days. The famous Industrial designer, Brooks Stevens is credited with it’s design. He did much work for Kaiser Industries and also Studebaker. This was one of his timeless designs that still looks good today. The commercial itself was filmed in 1965. The location is the shores of Avalon New Jersey, USA. Apparently according to the young girl in the film, the shots took hours and it was an extremely hot day.”
UPDATE: **SOLD** Was on eBay.
Here’s a QSL Postcard with an FC-170 imprint.
“Vintage QSL Postcard ANTIQUE JEEP J Series Truck COMMERCE CITY Colorado”
This four-page La Jeep Francaise brochure sold on eBay (out of the UK) for under $10 US.
“A rare original Hotchkiss Willys Jeep brochure undated c1950’s with French text. Brochure is very small format 4pp fold out illus in line drawings, no photos and is in very good condition.”
These three photos appear to show a CJ-3B with a Beck half-cab. Based on the background, my best guess is the photos were taken somewhere in the Colorado Plateau region. The price is good.
View all the information on eBay
“Lot of 3 Smae Image Original Vintage Snapshot Photos Jeep CJ on Farm dated 1956 largest Size is 3.5×5″ inches.”
TJ spotted this custom built toy jeep.
https://www.facebook.com/marketplace/item/382001502781786/
“Very sturdy built wooden pedal car, heavy, one of a kind.”
UPDATE: After reading this more carefully, I agree with Don that this is likely something that was aimed as dealers. It is an odd piece for sure.
The Sumer 2020 Dispatcher Magazine arrived in my mailbox this weekend. Jim Allen’s feature article on the Jeepster Commando designs was particularly interesting. I knew there were a variety, but I didn’t know there were this many!
This ad came to me from eBay and has “KW 258” printed in the lower right, which I am interpreting as February 1958 (but I could be wrong). It is more of a “use your jeeps on the farm” type of ad, which Willys Motors seemed to be going away from in the US by this time.
Just this one post for Tuesday …
A search of Jeep parades at Newspapers.com revealed endless WWII and post-WWII jeep parades for a myriad of causes. Below is a sample:
This August 08, 1943, photo and article published in the Charlotte Observer highlights a jeep parade held for Army Air Force recruitment.
A June 17, 1942, blurb in the Marysville Journal Tribune noted that Marlene Dietrich and 100 jeeps would be parading in Toledo for a War Bond drive.
Sinbad the dog, a decorated 8-year veteran of the Coast Guard, got his own jeep parade according to a January 09, 1946, article in the Marysville Journal-Tribune out of Ohio.
The March 06, 1946, issue of The Leader-Post out of Regina, Saskatchewan, Canada, reported that the first 100 jeeps to be imported into Colombia formed a parade in Bogota.
This April 21, 1953, article in the News-Pilot out of San Pedro, California, gives some background on the Annual Jeep Cavalcade trip to Borrego, California. The group totaled 175 jeeps and 600 hundred people.
The article’s author makes a pretty blatant plug for the vehicle one of the reporters was driving, noting that the “powerful new Chrysler Sedan provided by Kroll Motors handled with ease and driving comfort that are characteristic of Chrysler engineer.” (insert eye-rolling emoji here) ….
