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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 .
Blaine forwarded a picture of the Kapi JIP yesterday. The picture was taken at Bruce Weiner’s micro car museum in Madison, Georgia.
While Frederico Saldana is said to have patterned this after the American Army Jeep, it looks much more like a CJ-3B/Wagon hybrid.
Jim forwarded me the following images he took of the MBs at the Pima Air and Space Museum in Tucson, Az.
Jim writes, “The 390th Bomb Group Museum has a B-17 flying fortress on display, a long with a MB that has been restored and donated to the museum. It needs a fuel tank flush, new radiator hoses, and I bet a carb rebuild. I hope to assist them on this the next time I make it home. There is also a MB on display in another hanger that is part of a display dedicated to the Red Tails fighter group. I am sending a few pics of them. They have one of the largest aircraft display’s around!”
Here’s the 390th Bomb Group MB:
And this is the Red Tails fighter group MB:
I learned today that Mark Smith opened a museum a couple months back in Georgetown, Ca, at what I believe is the Jeep Jamboree Headquarters. At this point, it isn’t so much a museum as a collection of some rare jeeps, but they are nice looking jeeps. According to the Jamboree website, Mark organized the first Jeep Jamporee in 1954, traveling across the Sierra Nevada Mountains by way of the Rubicon Trail. It sounds like he is still going strong!
You can view all of them here:
http://www.facebook.com/media/set/?set=a.10150857454023765.513239.143647533764&type=3
If you visit the Illinois State Museum in Springfield, Illinois, and have kids, make sure to stop by the Mary Ann MacLean Play Museum in the basement of the building. Here’s a pic of it form the State Journal-Register and a story, too.
Ralph’s CJ-2A. More on his Jeep later.
It was a gorgeous day at the WAAAM military day. Ann and I are both sun burnt and relaxing to a couple bloody marys to help us cool down. We met a lot of nice folks, sold books and t-shirts, and got to check out a variety of jeeps.
Brian, who is the resident jeep guy at the WAAAM has about eight jeeps (I lost count, so I could be wrong on the exact number) just at the museum. Some have been restored and some are hidden away in one of the ancillary hangers, which Ann and I got to see. Brian’s jeep of choice is the M-38A1, but he has a variety of them at various places he owns. After talking with Brian a bit, he offered to show us his dad’s 1976 CJ-5 that he bought new. He said it only has 5000 miles on it and sports the original LEVI package. I have never seen an original LEVI package like he showed us. Even Brian doesn’t get to drive his dad’s jeep … (see the pic at the bottom of the post – everything is original).
I wanted to thank Ralph for dropping by in his CJ-2A. He has read eWillys for a few years now and lives in Hood River. He came by to enjoy the planes, meet me and purchase a book. Later in the day we walked out to check out his jeep. Thanks for coming by Ralph!
Thanks to Blaine for dropping by as well. I’ll see you again at the FC Get Together!
Here are a few pics:
My gal just loves a big gun. We learned from one of the visitors that the reason these jeeps don’t tip over when the 106mm cannon fires is that it actually fires in two directions, backwards and forwards. She was very happy to explain this to me!
Me working hard
All Original CJ-5 with LEVI Package
This great photo was shot August 14, 1965, and can be seen at the Denver Public Library Digital Collections.
http://cdm15330.contentdm.oclc.org/cdm/singleitem/collection/p15330coll22/id/194/rec/1
I was looking for something, can’t even remember what at the moment, when I ran across this picture of jeeps at a race in Cripple Creek, Colorado, on Hemmings. That lead me to the Denver Public Library Digital Collections where I found a variety of pics.
Here is one image of kids on a jeep as part of a war bond effort.
http://cdm15330.contentdm.oclc.org/cdm/singleitem/collection/p15330coll23/id/9467/rec/7
Here is a second photo:
http://cdm15330.contentdm.oclc.org/cdm/singleitem/collection/p15330coll23/id/9461/rec/8
The caption on this photo notes these men are wounded vets and are touring the Gates Rubber Plant in Denver.
http://cdm15330.contentdm.oclc.org/cdm/singleitem/collection/p15330coll22/id/36084/rec/20
Here are some post war jeepers exploring mining areas in Colorado in the 1950s.
http://cdm15330.contentdm.oclc.org/cdm/singleitem/collection/p15330coll22/id/14795/rec/23
Jeff was vacationing in France and Belgium when he ran across two businesses located in Carentan: Paratrooper and Paratrooper Vehicles. He thought I might have known about them, but nope I did not know about them. Carentan is a small rural town near the north-eastern base of the French Cotentin Peninsula in Normandy. If anyone else has been here (or can translate the website better than I), feel free to comment!
Jeff writes, “I was just in northern France and Belgium with the family on vacation and was in the Normandy area which incorporated a D-Day beach tour. Stayed in Carentan and came across Paratrooper. I am sure you may have known about them. I visited both businesses which are in different locations. I took some photos of the restoration location, Paratrooper Vehicles and thought you would like to see them.”
Thanks for taking these. I will add this to my list of must visit places when we do our Great European Jeep Tour. When are we doing this tour? I’m hoping in time for the the 70th anniversary of DDay.
Originally posted June 15, 2009 (See, there is even a Power Wagon Museum!)
At some point early in his driving life, my dad owned a red Dodge Power Wagon. I’ve never ridden in one myself, however I found a place where I can explore several different models: The Kempner Power Wagon Museum.
The Kempner Museum is an owner-owned museum, with the owner displaying vehicles and other items he has collected over the years. Recently, the owner, with his wife’s blessing he notes, built a building to house the trucks and other related materials.
This museum does not take a ‘hands off’ approach, rather people can climb into these vehicles, touch and explore them.
The museum is located in Kempner, Texas (museum info), which is roughly 150 miles south of Dallas. I’m adding to my list of places to visit soon.
Steve discovered this image in the New Jersey State Police Museum archives. The museum was kind enough to allow us to publish it.
Steve rights, “I did some research with our museum staff and found this picture from 1951 of a state trooper driving a WW II Willys MB that had been converted for police use. Looks like it may have been used in rural areas as a sorta fire jeep. See the large fire extinguisher on the left fender skirt …. Coincidentally, one of our troopers (Trooper Joseph C. Walter Jr. #685) was killed in the line of duty in a motor vehicle accident on 9-7-52, I believe in that very same jeep.”
Glenn forwarded this unusual and rare Snow Tractor from the early 1940s located at the Wright Museum in New Hampshire.
The M7 was conceived as an Army Air Force rescue/utility vehicle. It was found that most plane crashes occurred on the climb out of or approach to an airport. With the large number of northern bases in remote locations, getting to these aircraft was difficult at best – impossible at worse. Shown above with M19 Trailer.
Manufacturer: Allis-Chalmers
M7 Snow Tractor (SNOCAT)
Crew: 2
Engine: Willys MB, 4cyl. (134.2 c.i.)
Horsepower: 63
Date Manufactured: 1944
Number Produced: 291
Weight: 2, 620 lbs
Range: 160 miles
http://www.ytmag.com/cgi-bin/viewit.cgi?bd=ac&th=139774
http://www.farmcollector.com/Tractors/Allis-Chalmers-M7-The-Abominable-Snow-Tractor.aspx
http://www.wrightmuseum.org/about/photo-gallery/category/4-from-the-frontlines.html
The unofficial Allis-Chalmers Forum: http://www.allischalmers.com/forum/forum_posts.asp?TID=17492&title=allischalmers-snow-cat
From the Wright Museum comes this photograph:
I ran across the cool picture below at roderblog.com during a search for collages. It was taken by Jeff Roder at the Pueblo Weisbrod Aircraft Museum in Pueblo, Colorado. Neither Ann nor I have been there, but I’m sure in our travels we’ll wander through there as the ‘Eilers Bar’ is in Pueblo.
From Roderblog.com:
Here is a photo of the MB that I found on Flickr. It was taken by jwm1049.
While driving to Vancouver on Monday, Ann and I decided to visit the five year old Western Antique Aeroplane and Automobile Museum (WAAAM). So, about noon we pulled off I-84 and drove into downtown Hood River expecting to locate the museum quickly. However, it turns out the museum is located a few miles away from town near the airport. As soon as we realized we didn’t know where we were going, we cranked up the GPS and that guided us up the hill and over a dale or two. We even passed a FC-170 off to our right. Finally, we arrived at Air Museum Road.
Since it was Monday at noon, there wasn’t a flood of visitors, which worked out great for us because the staff could take the time to explain and answer all of our questions. In fact, everyone was noticeably friendly and knowledgeable.
The first thing we learned is that WAAAM has one of the largest collection of working antique planes and vehicles in the country. All the different planes, tractors, jeeps, automobiles, trucks, motorcycles are housed in two giant hangars with multiple exits. In fact, some of the planes and vehicles are privately owned, but stored free of charge at the museum. Owners can come in most any time and take their property out to fly or drive them.
Every month the museum holds a “Second Saturday” event. That’s when volunteers arrive to give rides and show off the vehicles. In May of 2012, a special Military Day will be held on the Second Saturday. That date is May 12th and I’ve been invited to talk a little about jeeps and sign books (and maybe ride in a jeep or two???). It should be fun!
Here’s an introduction to the museum:
httpv://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HCSFuoSiEzo
While I had fun looking at all the cars and planes, it was the jeeps I was there to see. We saw the following jeeps:
1941 MB Slat Grille
Undated MB
Close up of the Poster:
Blaine forwarded this picture of this jeep from the Arizona Wing of the Commemorative Air Force at Falcon Field in Mesa, Az. Since Ann and I will be staying in Mesa and will be down there a couple days before this year’s FC Roundup, we plan to visit the museum.
Unfortunately, upon closer inspection, this is a mix of CJ-3A and M-38 parts. Once again, the reason for a jeep museum. Hopefully, the airplanes are more accurate. Looks like I need to schedule a meeting with the curator.
I’d never heard of the Evergreen Aviation & Space Museum, located in McMinnville. However, Ann visited there a few years ago and says it’s a beautiful museum. Moreover, there is a B-52 there that they allowed her to go underneath so she could describe how they used to load and unload weapons. The Spruce Goose is also there.
Besides all the airplanes, the museum also has a jeep. This picture was taken by Joe Swallia on 2011. Note the hubs. They looks like early Warn hubs.
http://www.flickr.com/photos/swallia23/6529054991/in/photostream/
Interestingly, here is a picture from 2010 which shows a different jeep. You can view it at The Wander Gossage blog. Maybe there are two jeeps there?
Until 1996, Yellowstone National Park had a 1960 Willys Truck with the Howe Fire Apparatus on duty. The NPS still owns the truck, but it is now stored in its historic vehicles collection. The vehicle collection is not open to the public, however the vehicles were filmed as part of a Discovery Channel segment on Hidden Yellowstone.
You can learn more about their firetruck here.
The images I shared last night came from the Toledo Lucas County Library. If you have some time, check them all out here.
http://images2.toledolibrary.org/getdcdata.asp?typesearch=keyword&key=jeep&B1=Search&how=cp
This is a beautiful shot of a 6×6:
I spotted this on Flickr. I thought it was the same wooden jeep that was spotted in France here, but I think this is a different one (the jeep below only had 8 slots, while the one in the link above has 9 slots).
http://www.flickr.com/photos/7430965@N05/4961130135/#DiscussPhoto
According to the photographer Spottedlaurel, “There was a ruined Chateau just outside the village near where we stayed, and in one of the beautifully refurbished buildings there was a museum full of life-size things made from wood. F1 car, tractor, motorbikes, all sorts of things. The bonnet lifted up on this to show a wooden engine inside.”
Located at the General George Patton Museum of Leadership, this jeep certainly has some unusual modifications. I found the pictures below on Flickr. They were taken by Greg in 2009.
The Patton museum is located on the Fort Knox installation along US Highway 31W, just south of the US Highway 60 intersection.
http://www.flickr.com/photos/gregf422/3903068384/in/set-72157622192028989/
UPDATE: Brandon visited this museum recently and files the following notes, “The museum’s collection includes Ford GP #1, Bantam BRC-40, Willys MA, GPA, slat grille MB, GPW, and M38.”
The Veteran’s Memorial Museum in Huntsville, Alabama, houses three early jeep prototypes.
From the Website, “The Museum displays more than 30 historical military vehicles from World War I to the present, as well as tableaus, artifacts, and other memorabilia dating back to the Revolutionary War. Supporting organizations include the 19th Alabama Infantry, which sponsors exhibits from 18th and 19th Century conflicts, and the 8th Air Force Historical Society, which sponsors a Bomb Group briefing room. Both of these organizations support ‘living history’ presentations at the Museum.”
There appears to be a Bantam BRC 40 in the back, a Ford GP to the far left of the photo, a Willys MA just to the left and another Ford Pygmy to the right. I haven’t found any other info that describes what the museum has. Anybody been to this museum?
Here is a closeup of the Ford Pygmy from the museum site.
In case you plan a trip to North Korea, you won’t have to leave behind your love of Willys, for the War Museum in North Korean Museum has a captured one there. http://www.travelthewholeworld.com/northkorea.html
Roberto spotted this unusual monument from the Cole Land Transportation Museum in Bangor, Me.
Here is a GPW and trailer the Museum displays. The image was shot by Gary and Audrey and posted on their blog:
Located in El Monte, Ca, on Rosemead between 10 and 60 frwys in Los Angeles, the American Society of MIlitary History Museum is has been preserving vehicles since 1962 and is a California Non-Profit Educational Organization. The museum has 178 vehicles, including tanks, jeeps and more.
Brian shot these pics, with his father and son shown in the image below. He reports that the museum has some really cool military stuff and was a great place to visit. He also notes that the owner, Craig, could use volunteers to help restoring the vehicles. Thanks Brian!
It appears we have, from left to right, a M-151, a Mighty Mite, 2 M-38A1s, and a M-38 (thanks Chris).
Here is a MB or GPW
Here is a M-38
This appears to be some kind of military DJ-3A?
And a M-151
While looking up this Crosley (which I’m not quite sure is a Crosley), I discovered the largest Mircocar Museum in the world. The bad news is that it appears closed until Fall 2011 for renovations. However, you can look through the virtual tour to see the types of cars owned by the museum.
The MacArthur Museum of Arkansas Military History in Little Rock, Ar, only exhibits one jeep (shown below), but they do have a variety of WWII Jeep photos in their archive, many of which include captions. Here are 8 of them. The photos are part of the Allison Collection of World War II Photographs, the captions of which come from the ACME wire service.
According to the Museum’s website, “James Allison, a sports writer working for the Houston Press, noticed that many photographs not printed in the daily newspaper were routinely discarded. He received permission to save these images, and by war’s end he had amassed a collection of more than 4,600 photographs. In August 1977, Allison donated his collection to the Arkansas Museum of Science and History”.
