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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 .
Here’s a great pic of some kids taking a 1/2 size jeep out for a spin. You can find more pint-size cars here.
Of all the things I’ve seen done to a jeep, I can’t say I have ever seen a jeep dressed with astroturf (or carpet of any kind). For the record, this is an All Wheel Drive Russian Niva. See all the pics on here:
Next update sunday night.
Gerald recently sold his snow plow. Through a few email exchanges, I learned snow plowing was always an adventure, but not always fun ….
Geralds writes, “Plowing was fun as long as it was just for me. The Jeep did a great job. One of the odder experiences occured when plowing long lanes and roads: the jeep would go silent. After spending some time wondering why this occurred, I finally figured out that so much water was coming into the engine compartment that the belt would just slip and then the motor would go quiet. It seems that most of the noise from a stock Willys comes from the fan, especially in low range it is the steel blade that makes the most noise.
Seems like everyone would call and want me to plow their places out with “that Jeep” I had. It was hairy out on the road with the plow. The weight would come off the back wheels and the jeep wanted to turn around. And the roads would always be bad since that is when the snow came. I ended up putting about 300 pounds of sand bags in the bed. Here is a pic of me plowing one day.
The biggest frustrations I had was that sometimes old ladies (and men) would bitch about how I pushed the snow and ask if I could move it over about 2 feet or so, or complain that I was digging up the grass at the edges of their yard and driveways; all this after almost killing myself getting to their place to make a couple bucks. And I wasn’t the only ones who had a problem with the slick roads, as you can see from the picture I took below …
Also, it would be hard on the old girl; when going to the neighbors or misc old folks who needed a plow, salt on the road became the enemy. It isn’t even the plowing so much as the tons of salt that would find there ways into every nook and cranny on the jeep. Since there was no chance to wash a jeep in freezing temperatures, the salt caused rust to invade the original body on my 3B. So, when I rebuilt her I had to replace the body.
But, like the picture above shows, it was fun some times too. My jeep was a plow jeep its whole life until the restoration in 2006. No more work for it as my driveway is only about 300 feet; So, if I need to plow, I just get out in the snow with my 84 John Deere 318 (or my neighbors bobcat when things get really bad). (See more pics of Gerald’s 3B, before and after the rebuild)”
Well, I wont’ be sending my kids to college with all my earnings from the sale of the 3 Champs, but I made a little money on the deal and did a good deed for the Champ community.
I have to say that getting a chance to poke around them, seeing how they were built, etc, was an interesting experience. And, with more time and money, I think they would have been a fun rebuild; however, I am quite pleased to be rid of them!
No updates tonight (monday night)!
Bob’s flatfender weekend was a success!
Bob reports, “Morning David, our show turned out great. We had 13 Jeeps show up, 12 of which were Willys Jeeps. Everything from a 1942 MB to two 1953 CJ3Bs, including mine. It was great to make new friends and catch up with old friends. We had a nice campfire all day long and had a free lunch for all to enjoy. I also want to thank everyone for the generous donations to help offset the cost of renting a port-a-john and buying the food, as well as showing up on a chilly morning.”
You can see all the photos here. I’ve included a couple below:
I’m sorry to say that I experienced a death recently, a close friend with whom I have shared close calls and turbulent times. While my friend was there most times, there were times that this friend was nowhere to be found. For this reason, I don’t wholly miss my friend. In fact, though I buried my friend, rather than entombing my friend 6ft under ground, my friend is entombed in my computer bag.
Yes, my Samsung Instinct died; Or more accurately, I put him to death. He was behaving badly over the last week, so I punished his disloyalty by purchasing a new phone with a new provider — a Samsung Captivate with the Andriod OS with AT&T. So, though my old friend is gone and buried, he is not missed … not in the slightest.
With my new phone, I can now text again, dial phone numbers, surf the web and even download APPS. Oh happy days!
Since I am now back in the age of modern phones, I felt it was time to implement a ‘mobile edition’ of eWillys. For now, it is simply a mobile browser addition, meaning it is a little friendlier for the phone — at least it is on my android phone.
Let me know if it works or doesn’t work. You can always turn it off by scrolling all the way down and clicking on “turn mobile off”. Once you turn it off, you can view the regular site. To reinstate the mobile view, you’ll need to clear the cookies in your mobile phone browser.
This seller wants to make a deal.
“I would like to trade my 4×4 ATV’s for a Jeep Wrangler, CJ or Willys in good condition. Each of the ATV’s have working wenches and are 4 wheel drives. They run great and don’t need anything that I know of. One of them is a Yamaha Grizzly 400 and the other is a Kawasaki Prarie 360. Send some pic’s, describe your trade and let’s do business. I need a vehicle and don’t have the cash. Let me know what your thinking!! Send your emails to your autopro@rocketmail.com Thanks for the interest…”
This truly deserves a longer story, but the coffee shop will close soon and I need to eat & to get back on the road to Boise. A Big THANKS to Josh for alerting me to this opportunity!
Yes, tonight I bought 3 Austin Champs. It turns out one of them is a Royal Marines RN Champ. There are only 3 of these know in existence (it’s the gray one). You can see some big pics here.
Just a few updates tonight. We’ll return to more updates tomorrow (Sunday) evening …
Regular readers will remember Claus and his brother from the CJ-2As they restored in South Africa.
Claus also made contact with the Northern Flagship Institution, a national museums institution that falls under the auspices of the Department of Arts and Culture in South Africa. The NFI provided Claus with a detailed response that lists, based on their research, the jeeps that had entered the country.
Curiously, they don’t mention the SEEP (shown below) that is located at the South African Military Museum in Johannesburg. Gavin Walkers Willys MA site has a couple photos of it.
Based on Claus’s suggestion, I did a quick search of the CJ-2A Page Forum and learned here are a few other South African CJ-2A owners as well. So, I thought I’d publish this NFI historical information in hopes it helps others.
Thanks for sending it on Claus!
===============
From the NFI to Claus —
Thank you for your email query of 14 July 2008. The South African National Museum of Military History, a component of the Northern Flagship Institution does not have complete records of Willys Jeep purchases by the Union Defence Forces or by the later SADF. We have found some information which might assist you. Much research is still required to fully answer your query.
Since the Willys Jeep was manufactured in the United Sates of America, all issued American equipment to British Commonwealth countries came via the Lend Lease agreement. The Union Defence Forces had to work through the British War Department to obtain American Equipment via the Lend Lease. The first Jeep, a Willys MB seems to have arrived in South Africa in about October 1943. This Jeep was allocated the Union Defence Forces (UDF) number U 47505 and was used by Capt A A van Niekerk MC, Officer Commanding the paratrooper company of the newly formed SAAF Regiment undergoing training at Premier Mine, Pretoria.
During November 1943, a Willys MB Jeep – U 46-04, was used as a command vehicle during training in the Barberton district, by the Officer Commanding, S A Armoured Brigade, Brigadier C L de W du Toit.
At about the same time (November 1943 – April 1944) some Willys MB Jeeps were allocated to the 6 SA Armoured Division (6 Div) in training at Khatatba in Egypt, the numbers were small but unknown. We believe that 6 Div drew more Jeeps from British stores at Bari at the end April 1944, once they had landed in Italy. The numbers are unknown but this information may be at the SANDF Archives in Pretoria – sandfdoc@mwebco.za.
Photographic evidence shows that the following units used Jeeps in Italy:
During the advance of 6 Div from Cassino to Rome – end May to 6 June 1944:
6 Div Postal Unit
12 Field Squadron, South African Engineer Corps
North of Rome and into Gothic Line:
6 Div Headquarters
11 South African Armoured Brigade Group Headquarters
Prince Alfred’s Guard
First City / Cape Town Highlanders reconnaissance platoon were issued with Jeeps
The Natal Mounted Rifles also had Jeeps by October 1944
During the spring of 1945 and after 6 Div had broken through the Gothic Line the following units are known to have had Jeeps:
7/64 Battery of the Transvaal Horse Artillery
Imperial Light Horse / Kimberley Regiment
The war in Italy ended on 2 May 1945. On 14 May the 6 South African Armoured Division held a Victory Parade at the Monza Racetrack in which all their vehicles were paraded. After the parade the vehicles were handed in to the transport park. Later the vehicles were railed to Genoa to the 6 South African Armoured Division Vehicle Park. A small number of men chose to stay on in Italy after the other servicemen had been sent home to the Union. Many of these men had girlfriends and wanted to stay on and prepare the vehicles for shipping to the Union. The first ship left Genoa for Durban at the end of April 1946. The ex British equipment was shipped first in eleven ships. The American equipment was last to leave Genoa on SS Standridge on 3 May 1947, after much discussion on numbers and payment to the USA.
Only two Willys Jeeps and two 10cwt General Service Jeep Trailers were shipped to South Africa. A third Jeep, purchased by Captain D C Clarke under authority dated 23 September 1946 was shipped on the SS Samarina on 24 September 1946. This Jeep had the British War Department number WD 5662164. These are the only Jeeps to officially come from Italy to the Union.
In 1948, the UDF ordered two hundred and eighty nine Willys Jeeps, the model is unknown. These were allocated the U numbers . U 75800 – U 76088.
Forty three, 1951, Willys 7 seater station wagons were also ordered by the UDF and allocated the U numbers U 76177 – U 76219.
In 1960, twenty-five CJ-3B Jeeps were ordered as well as sixty-one of the more modern CJ-5s. Of the total eighty- eight ordered, only eighty-five were delivered at first, the rest arriving at a later date.
In about 1963/64 the SADF purchased one hundred and nine CJ-6 Jeeps. It is not known if they were manufactured by Willys Motors Incorporated or by the Kaiser Jeep Corporation.
In 1992 there were fourteen CJ-6 Jeeps at 4 Vehicle Reserve Park, Walmanstal, north of Pretoria. These had the following registration numbers.
BCL 953 M BCL 948 M BCL 941 M BCL 952 M BCL 939 M BCL 944 M
BCL 943 M BCL 937 M BCL 938 M BCL 945 M BCL 934 M BCL 950 M
The above listed Jeeps were powered by 4 -cylinder engines.
BDF 775 M and BDF 760 had 6-cylinder engines.
The Museum would appreciate any information you may find regarding Jeeps in South African service.
Yours sincerely
NORTHERN FLAGSHIP INSTITUTION
Incorporating — Transvaal Museum, National Cultural History Museum, SA National Museum of Military History, Kruger Museum, Pioneer Museum, Sammy Marks Museum, Tswaing Crater Museum, Willem Prinsloo Agricultural Museum.
Well, that was fun …. Thanks to all of you who let me know there was a problem this morning. It was all working when I went to bed early this morning. At some point, one of the files got corrupted and I had to to track that down. It *SHOULD* be working now. If not, try refreshing your browser: CTRL R for PC and OPTION R for mac.
Tell your kids, tell your parents, tell your facebook friends, your twitterererers, your classmates, your co-workers, and even people you don’t like to go to GO TO THIS LINK, so you can announce to the National Trust for Historic Preservation (NTHP) that you want to save the Bantam Building in Butler, Pa, the original building where the first Bantam 4×4 was birthed in only 72 days! (Which, oddly enough for you trivia lovers, is close to the average gestation period for a dog — after all, an old jeep is a human’s best vehicle-friend, right?)
Vote Now! It is quick. It is easy. Even I can do it!
1. Click on this link
2. Enter your First name
3. Enter your last name
4. Enter an email
5. Enter your postal code (if you are in the US)
6. Press Submit
What happens when you go to that link? Well, Downtown Butler has entered the Bantam Building into a NTHP contest to win a $25,000 grant. Communities all over the United States are voting for their buildings. However, we have the world on our side, for the Willys folks are a world-wide community and we know our roots begin at that Bantam building 70 years ago this month!
Out of 6 billion earthlings, we must have enough Willys-Patriots to win this contest! So find an earthling and encourage them, for the love of Willys, to vote for the Bantam Building!
We only have until September 15th, so jump to it people. The entire eWillys corporate staff has already voted (ok, that’s only 1 vote, but it’s powerful). So now it is your turn!!!
Also, don’t forget that the Bantam Heritage Festival is next August 12-14, 2011, in Butler, Pa.
I’ve seen them in old pictures, but Kim is the first owner of a Long Range Desert Group S.A.S. Willys to contact me and share pics. Of course, you can’t but help but think of the old Rat Patrol shows when you see these vehicles. After reading through the LRDG.org website, one of the things I’ve learned is that there was plenty of thought, research and recon work that went into the supplies these jeeps and truck would need to carry with them as they sailed long, desolate seas of sand.
Kim writes, “The jeep I bought is mechanically perfect. The previous owner put all his money into the motor, brakes and trans. The body on my jeep needs some help and eventually I will replace the rear and floor sections of the tub as there is some rust. Fortunately, It came to me painted in the proper color and had many extras including a Bagnold sun compass.
As a special addition to this jeep, I re-built a WW2 Italian de-milled M37 machine gun and converted it into a gas gun M.G. simulator. It sounds like a M.G. but no blanks are needed and it can not shoot a projectile. That is mounted on the front cowling. As I have been a machinist and tool maker for 30 years I machined a set of Twin Vickers machine guns out of aluminum for the rear mount. These are strictly dummies with no moving parts.
I did not buy this jeep to be a Trailer Queen. This is a re-enactment jeep and as far as I am concerned it looks like it just got back from Kufra Oasis and that is exactly what I want. My ultimate dream is to have 2 WW2 jeeps. The S.A.S (which is not street legal) and an American OD jeep that is licensed and ready to drive to work.”
And a couple pics of the Twin Vickers Kim made. In this pic, some basic outlines and contours have been created in the aluminum stock.
Here you can see many more details are apparent.
UPDATE: **SOLD** Was $2000
This has the unusual window along with a rear PTO. This might be an interesting find for the right military restorer. I rarely see these windshields.
“
Make a great “RESTORE” project. Still have the original key. Price is firm. If interested or would like to see it,”
This is on eBay.
“Here is a 1950ish CJ-3A Willy’s Jeep. This is a parts Jeep only. I do not have the title for it. I will write out a bill of sale for whoever buys it. What you see is what you get. It does have a good windshield, hood, grille, front fenders, seat frames, and some other small parts. The tub of the jeep is average for the jeep of this age. There is no motor, transmission, steering column. I do have a soft top for the jeep, but it looks like the jeep looks…rough. I bought the jeep like it is for a parts jeep, all it has done is sit in the shop collecting dust so its time to sell it.There are several good parts on this jeep and would make a good parts jeep for someone.”
View and the info on eBay or view it on Craigslist.
I’ve spent most of the weekend coding and reorganizing content so that readers can use the menus to navigate ewillys differently. I’ll be launching this updated system sometime next weekend. One small is example of today’s efforts is that you’ll now find Trucks and Wagons have their own categories and areas.
Two new areas will include (1) a how-to area, which will integrate readers submissions and web content, to help builders/problem solvers with their vehicles and (2) an “identify” area which I’ll be building out to help people identify their jeeps (by grille type, body type, data plates, serial number, engine type, and more).
I’ll be back to regular updates tomorrow.
This Salvage location is in Antelope, California, and called J&W
J&W Garage was founded in 1945. The original owners were James Auld and “Wegge” Wigren, hence the name J&W. James purchased Wegge’s portion of the business. For many years the business was known as J&W for “James and Wife.” The business was located on Auburn Blvd. in Citrus Heights, California.
The Duncan family took possession of the business on January 16, 1981. We formed our own corporation, CAN-GRO, INC., and purchased J&W Auto Wreckers, Inc. We are located in Northern California just outside of Sacramento. We ship parts Worldwide, but we would be more than happy to have you stop by to check us out. 8626 Antelope No Road, Antelope CA 95843; Phone: (916) 723-3950; Fax: (916) 723-3953; Toll Free: 800-924-9732.”
Collins Bros has thousands of used jeep parts at our Wylie Texas location. Call them at 1-800-699-JEEP (1-800-699-5337). They say they have everything for Jeep CJ’s 76-86 and almost everything for 87-95 YJ Wranglers. Review the rest of their catalog for new Jeep parts.
I have some t-shirt ideas and thought I’d see what you all thought about them. I’m trying to create a different kind of willys t-shirt. The “Africa” shirt would be one of a series of “WWII” vehicles.
