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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: Still Available.
https://zanesville.craigslist.org/atq/d/dover-62-willys-jeep-firetruck-4×4/7235413915.html
“This is a nice running 1962 Willys Jeep firetruck,Has redone 2yrs ago,All new brake lines,brake bands and.whell cylinder,and master cylinder,body work was done and painted.Nice show vehicle..only 42,000 miles,has original, light on top, and working siren..6cylinder hurricane motor,4wheel drive,3speed on floor,high and low range”
I couldn’t locate a corresponding photo of this in a newspaper. The rig looks interesting.
View all the information on eBay
“1969 Press Photo Rescue Jeep for Albany Police Department, New York. This is an original press photo. Rescue Jeep for Albany Police Department, New York. Police garage. Photo measures 9 x 7inches. Photo is dated 08-07-1969.
Roger shared this color photo of a Chicago Fire Department FC-170 designed to eject smoke. It was posted to this Fire Engine Facebook group. This appears to be engine #1.
A similar black and white photo was printed in the February 1969 issue of Popular Science. This appears to be engine #2.
Glenn forwarded this ad. He added the following info:
“Hi Dave, This early 2wd pickup is for sale locally. I’ve talked with the owner. It was fire dept. owned, patina and all, never previously restored, and has had lots of recent mechanical work completed. It is local and I’d be happy to do an evaluation for a potential buyer. Especially up here in Maine, we don’t often see the 2wd version.”
https://www.facebook.com/marketplace/item/231943895190792
“1948 willy’s pickup 2wdother item have all new brakes powder coated rims, rebuilt carb have receipts, manual,spare rear fenders 4 cyl three on the tree all original bro accepted”
UPDATE: Still Available.
(08/12/2020) Marty spotted this rare (only one of two according to the seller) Krisit Company KT-4G Snow Cat. It uses a CJ-5 body with a Meyer hardtop.
https://www.facebook.com/commerce/products/1964-kristi-kt-4g
“This is 1 of 2 ever produced KT-4G units
Perfect item for a snowcat collector who’s looking for a unique snowcat or a very rare Kristi cat, and Yes… this is a Jeep CJ cab on it, which makes it all that better and more rare – fitting in with your Jeep collection as well.
Running engine when parked few years ago, tracks still got life in them if one wanted to simply get it started and run it for a season or more. Some rust on floor pans, but nothing that cant be quickly fixed/repaired for upcoming seasons use, or put this machine through a proper restoration and make it a museum peace for everyone to envy.
Its very complete with all of the original parts, rest can be easily purchased at most auto-part stores.
Unit is not oversized, thus making it easy to transport and deliver”
UPDATE: Price dropped to $3800.
(03/20/2020) This old Portland Fire jeep is supposed to run and drive, once the clutch is finished.
https://www.facebook.com/marketplace/item/1747082655457321
“‘Selling my dream project. Tough times require tough decisions. This is a 1952 M-38 Willys Jeep. 4WD miracle. RUNS AND DRIVES, doesn’t stop great. Brand new clutch. Comes with extras, and a $50 gift card to the Jeep parts store I never got to use! Serous inquiry only, please no tire-kickers. Almost all original. Started life as a Korean war jeep, then went on to be used for the fire dept in Portland. You can see the OD green under the red FD paint. Very cool and nostalgic. Email me with any questions you have, I’ll be happy to answer. Title in hand. $100 deposit. ”
This nice little nugget of Willys history has been posted since 2011, but somehow I missed it. The Kaiser Willys blog has three photos of a CJ-2 (not CJ-2A) Fire Jeep that includes the “JEEP” plate across the front of the windshield.
https://blog.kaiserwillys.com/the-postwar-willys-cj-2-fire-jeep
This Willys-Overland Fire Pump needs an L-head, but it seems an unusual item. It looks like the trailer was not original to the unit, based on these two photos from G503:
https://www.facebook.com/groups/WillysSwapMeet/permalink/2800695516870376
“1943-dated Willys American fire pump. US Army Corps of Engineers, 250 GPM.
“Willys American” cast into the pump body. Enclosure is gone.
The base is the fuel tank. Mounted on a 2 wheel trailer chassis with antique tires and 2” ball hitch.
No suspension and old tires so needs to be hauled on a trailer.
Has WWII OD paint under the red paint.
I removed the engine and bellhousing for use in WWII jeep restoration. Selling with the engine front plate, manifolds & carburetor, governor, oil filter & bracket, fan and fan shroud and generator. You will need to supply a Willys L-134 motor and bellhousing to put this back in operation.”
Unclear which Portland city this served.
https://www.facebook.com/marketplace/item/1747082655457321/
S”elling my dream project. Tough times require tough decisions. This is a 1952 M-38 Willys Jeep. 4WD miracle. RUNS AND DRIVES, doesn’t stop great. Brand new clutch. Comes with extras, and a $50 gift card to the Jeep parts store I never got to use! Serous inquiry only, please no tire-kickers. Almost all original. Started life as a Korean war jeep, then went on to be used for the fire dept in Portland. You can see the OD green under the red FD paint. Very cool and nostalgic. Email me with any questions you have, I’ll be happy to answer”
UPDATE: **SOLD** Was $12,500.
This has a tilt bed and some power train updates along with a dump bed. Daryl’s the seller and deals in vintage jeep parts (I’ve bought a few things from him).
“1963 Jeep FC-170
Has a 4.3 v6 and 4l60E out of a 2000 GMC Jimmy with 30k miles when swapped.
All brand new 11″ Bendix brakes, brake lines and dual pot master cylinder.
Both axles just serviced.
Just did tune up, hoses and belts.
Has hydraulic dump bed.
This truck will drive across the country and get 20 mpg doing it.
Any trades would be Cummins swapped Chevy square body, Willys CJ flatfender Jeeps
Clean Washington title in my name.”
UPDTE: **SOLD** Was $4500.
This cool-looking oddball is a long-parked FC that has a hunting bed on the back.
“1958 Jeep fc170 with hunting bed Truck has been parked since 1976 Will need brakes,tires gas tank, carb rebuilt ect but is pretty much complete Has a little bit of rust here and there but a good solid truck for the most part Has a super hurricane 6cyl flat head and a 3 speed manual Pto winch 4×4 Clean Fl title asking 4500 obo or possibly trade for something cool that runs and drives no bikes or boats”
This February 9, 1946, article shares the news of the Lincoln, Nebraska, police department’s new surplus jeeps. These war surplus jeeps out of nearby Fort Crook were equipped with radios obtained from the Omaha police department.
The Oakdale Minnesota fire department was formed in 1953 with one old CJ-3A Fire jeep and some Fords. The below poor-quality still was taken from a history video of the Oakdale fire department. It shows the CJ-3A.
A March 30, 1947, article in the Metropolitan Pasadena Star-News introduced the Forest Service’s ten new CJ-2As to California readers. These vehicles were equipped with two-way radios to aid fire control.
The article notes that a Weasel was being tested, along with the development of a four-wheel-drive vehicle that would be better for forest fire fighting, but I could find no references on the internet to an offload vehicle designed by Ira Funk.
A niche journal focuses on forest fire fighting called Fire Control Notes published at article in the January 1947 issue concerning quarter-ton-tanker jeeps made from WWII vehicles. You can see the full journal here: https://archive.org/details/firecontrolnotes08unit/page/n5/mode/2up?q=jeep
Silver Auctions will be auctioning a CJ-2A Fire Jeep on Saturday, September 5th.
http://www.silverauctions.com/auction_view.php?eventid=322&lotid=97821
“This Willy’s CJ-2A was sold new on April 5th 1949 by West Motor Company, Steubenville, Ohio to the Wheeling Steel Corporation plant also in Steubenville. It was put to use by inside the plant and was outfitted by Howe with a hose reel. Its second life was with the Pleasant Hill Volunteer Fire Dept. They removed the reel and installed an 80-gallon water tank and was used as a brush truck. The third owner acquired it in 2005 and treated this Willys to a restoration. The tank was removed and restored to how you see it photographed, back to an inside plant, pumper Fire Truck. Lot’s of era correct parts we sourced and now this Willys is loaded from bumper to bumper with firefighting equipment. “Next Day Fire Department” is sure to be a hit anywhere it is driven or displayed.”
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.
Gayland spotted this unusual setup for painting tall places from a jeep. This was published on page 114 of the January 1950 issue of Popular Mechanics. Just hope it isn’t a windy day!
The is a better look at the rigging:
And a close up of the jeep:
UPDATE: Jerry contacted me about a locomotive jeep he would like to restored (see near bottom). He noted that it was used at Tinkertown and found this older post while hoping to learn more. So, this post is a complete redo of an early post that focused just on photos in a January 1950 issue of Popular Mechanics.
It is probably no surprise that the Los Angeles metroplitan area was a hotbed of theme parks and carnivals following World War II. In particular, there was Beverly Park, which is claimed to be the park that stimulated Disney’s interests in theme parks.
One of those carnivals was a traveling kiddie carnival called Tinkertown. Articles show it existed at least from 1950 through 1952, operating in Monrovia, Wilmington, Los Angeles, and other LA area towns.
December 06, 1951, Wilmington Daily Press, Wilmington, California. Tinkertown Kiddie Carnival announcement.
Tinkertown appears to have owned, at one time or another, at least four unusual jeeps. One was a fire jeep made from a CJ-2A, shown below in red.
A second jeep appeared to have been a stretched (probably surplus) WWII jeep made into some kind of fire jeep used to tow a small Ferris wheel.
The article above refers to the jeep as a “fire engine”; perhaps it was modified during WWII? Here’s a better image:
A third jeep-related setup was a train possibly made from a jeep (or jeep-engine-powered at the very least). It is pictured here:
The fourth known jeep was a jeep turned into a locomotive. It’s the one Jerry now owns (along with two of the tram cars), one he’d like to restore. It’s in surprisingly complete condition. He’s hoping to learn more about the manufacturer and/or Tinkertown. Here’s a photo of his train:
Here’s how it looked in 1950:
This June 20, 1946, photo and caption on the Gustine Standard shows six jeeps purchased by the city of Merced for Mosquito Abatement. I didn’t realize jeeps were used so early for anti-mosquito work in California.
UPDATE III: A new reprint of the late 1950s Boyerstown-built Delivery Van is on eBay:
View all the information on eBay
“NICE QUALITY LARGE 11 X 17 REPRINTED PICTURE”
====================
UPDATE II: Mike shared a pic of a Boyerstown van from an ebay auction circa 2004.
UPDATE: In 2012 there was a press photo of the front of the van for sale.
2012 Post: “Jeep Utility 1959 4 x 2 Truck Photo Reprint w. Boyertown Body”
(Given fireworks have arrived, this article seemed appropriate …) This August 07, 1949, article was published in the Spokesman Review out of Spokane, Washington, but it likely originated from a Wisconsin news report. The article mentions Nicolet National Forest, which is located in Northern Wisconsin, and the event was sponsored by E. W. Schwartz Motors out of Milwaukee, Wisconsin. One interesting statistic noted was that conservative estimates put the number of jeeps in service in state and national forests at over 1,000 jeeps by the summer of 1949.
UPDATE: Still Available.
(06/10/2020) This custom oddity could be worth a look. It might make a good restoration project.
https://www.facebook.com/marketplace/item/1597726797051226/
“Runs & drives great. 30 minutes on new motor. PTO…. Black tank is hydraulics, white tank for gas. Has gauges, etc… This is a one off, custom built by a car restoration company log splitter that was used for many years, then rebuilt & basically stored in the warehouse. Been started every year. This is a badass toy!!! I’ll dig it out from under the new clutter for the serious buyer”
UPDATE: Bidding ended without a sale.
Joe’s selling this former Florence Township (Ohio) CJ-6 Fire Jeep.
View all the information on eBay
“Bidding on a two owner Jeep CJ6 with 6,307 original miles on the original 4 cylinder engine with 3 speed manual transmission with clean Ohio title. It was converted into a fire engine for fighting brush and field fires for a small volunteer fire dept in northern Ohio who owned it until November 2019 when I purchased it from them after being the highest bidder in a sealed bid auction.
Well taken care of mechanically by the FD, was placed out of service in 2018 after being replaced, but not before they upgraded to 15 inch Pro Comp wheels with Super Swamper tires in 2016 (that probably have less than 100 miles on them). The original front drum brakes were also upgraded to disc brakes at the same time (original drums will be included in case buyer wants to restore it to original). Second set of 15 inch steel wheels with Bridgestone Dueller tires (from 2002) also included, as well as the original Goodyear spare tire. Continue reading
