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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 .
This July 28, 1973, article in the Longview Daily News shares information on the rising number of jeep clubs in the Longview area. I figured the text would be easier to read if I posted it separately at bottom. The CJ-5 on the upper left is running the recently introduced Desert Dogs.
The Huntington Digital Library has some more Kent Frost photos from his trips through Canyonlands and other southern Utah places. The photos represent two different trips. Most pics are from an October of 1955 jeep excursion, while one photo is from May of 1957.
This first photo from October of 1955 is a great photo that shows Kent and Fern Frost standing in front of a CJ-2A with a Porter & Reed hardtop. I’m not sure if this was one of their jeeps or not.
CREDIT: None …. Caption: Fern and Kent Frost next to a CJ-2A. DATE: Oct. 1955.
CREDIT: J. Ballard Atherton …. Caption: Frost Jeep Party. DATE: Oct. 1955.
CREDIT: Dudziak, Joseph Lawrence …. Caption: Camp of Kent Frost jeep party near Lizard Rock.. DATE: 1957-05-01
CREDIT: J. Ballard Atherton …. Caption: Frost Jeep Party. DATE: Oct. 1955.
UPDATE: I’ve added two newspaper photos to this post about Kent. One shows him signing copies of his autobiography. The other depicts him with a huge walking stick, one I’m sure could come in handy while exploring ‘his’ beloved canyons.
Even today, Kent’s shadow looms large over the area. Just this last week the Moab Museum screened the “My Canyonlands” film about him.
June 17, 1971, The San Juan Record: Kent Frost signing books.
February 11, 2004, The San Juan Record: Kent Frost holding a walking stick.
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Originally published April 1, 2013:
(Above: Kent Frost on the front of his CJ-5 probably helping the driver negotiate an awkward angle)
(Originally Published April 2011) Without a doubt, my favorite part about running this website are the unexpected, interesting people to whom I’m introduced (if only virtually). One of those people is Kent Frost, a product of the Four Corners area and whom we caught glimpses of in Alan’s color photos of the 1961 Four Corners trip.
Doug commented on one of the Four Corner posts that he had read a book by Kent Frost called “My Canyonlands”, published in 1971. I’m very happy that Doug mentioned the book, because I ordered it and have enjoyed it immensely. Kent describes all kinds of adventures and early trips into remote areas of the four corners region. He loved to explore and hike, later jeep and river run, and that remote area has given him a lifetime of experiences.
This article featuring a Kent Frost jeep tour through Needles was published on May 2, 1958, in the San Juan-Record out of Monticello, Utah. At the bottom I’ve included an image of the whole paper as I thought the illustrated header of the paper was well done.
This photo of a CJ-5 with a bed extension (possibly Kent Frost’s jeep) was taken in the Needles District of Canyonlands in 1963 or 1964. It can be viewed more in-depth at the Utah State Historical Society’s website.
CREDIT: Utah State Historical — Society https://collections.lib.utah.edu/ark:/87278/s6zw391g .. “Jeep party is shown ascending steep pitch through Needles area of projected Canyonlands National Park.”
Looks like someone had a good day of jeeping in the Colorado mountains.
Cool photo and a nice shot showing Scenic Tours on the back. I imagine this the Ouray area?
View all the information on eBay
“This is an original press photo. Colorado’s high mountain country is custom made for the rugged individualist who likes to get off the beaten path into areas where man is seldom seen. Many communities rent jeeps, and some schedule jeep cavalcades that take you into areas of breathtaking beauty that have been hidden from the eyes of man since the beginning of time.Photo measures 8 x 10.25inches. Photo is dated 12-30-1966.”
The July 14th, 1955, issue of the Auburn Journal, Auburn California, highlighted events from a recent jeep trip in the Sierra Mountains from Wentworth Springs to Lake Tahoe.
I bought this magazine based on the cover, hoping there would be some good photos in side. Nope, the best part of the article was the magazine cover.
This August 1960 article in the Longview Daily News out of Longview, Washington, notes that the Armstrongs, members of the Trailbreakers Jeep Club, chaired the two-day convention that resulted in the formation of the Pacific Northwest Jeep Association (Iater changed in 1965 to the present-day PNW4WDA — Pacific Northwest 4-Wheel Drive Association). Note that the article refers to the association as the “Pacific Northwest Jeep Club Association”, but a decision must have been made to drop the word “Club” from the name. (some historical PNW4WDA info on the Webfooters page).
August 02, 1960, Longview Daily News
The Trailbreakers still exist and were one of six charter clubs in the Association. In order of formation (or incorporation), I believe the six charter clubs were the (1) Yakima Ridge Runners, (2) Vancouver Four Wheelers, (3) Longview Trailerbreakers, (4) Brush Busters (?), (5) Tacoma Webfooters, (6) Seattle Jeep Club. (The Brush Busters out of Portland were formed in early 1958, but I haven’t confirmed they were at the convention, so please correct if I’m wrong).
The Tacoma Webfooters have a particularly unusual name. The story goes as follows: “It was time to name the 4th jeep club [ed. note I guess they didn’t know about the Brush Busters]. Who’s got any ideas? Burt Severeid said, “How about the Tacoma Webfooters Jeep Club? Oh, the complaints poured in about how silly that name was, but no one else came up with anything else, so it stuck!! The 4th jeep club in the northwest was to be called, “The Tacoma Webfooters” , with Bruce Cole as the first president.”
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Original Post from 2016: This is a great photo from the very first Pacific Northwest Jeep Association Summer Convention, prior to being renamed the PNW4WDA.
Arlene Brooks found this photo.
The buy-it-now price is a weighty $749.99.
View all the information on eBay
“VINTAGE Jeep Off-road Car Club Boulder Bouncers Colorado Grille Badge RARE 50s. Condition is Used. Shipped with USPS First Class Package. It is 8” wide.
When we moved into our house the original owner had this in the garage on the wall.
He was a founding member of a very early off road club here in boulder Colorado but not sure of the year? There were early 50s Jeep parts in the garage too that have already been sold”
This is an even crazier price at $1,149.99 (priced to sell??). Was this the original name of the Hemet Jeep Club, with the Cavalcaders portion of the name dropped at some point?
View all the information on ebay
“Old School, Hemet/San Jacinto Valley – Jeep Cub sign. “Hemet California Cavalcaders.’ – 1940s – The Cavalcaders, were one of the FIRST 4×4 Clubs in the USA! …An ultra-rare item.
9” in diameter, was generally mounted to the Willys’ Jeep door. Cool & Beautiful.
Priced to sell. 2-minor scratches. TAC numbered and officially authenticated! The real dealio – not a fake knock-off!
Antique – 1940s, Hemet CA., “Cavalcaders” – 9″ Round Door – JEEP Club Sign – ultra-rare!
The Hemet Cavalcaders Jeep Club was one of the first four-wheel drive clubs – in the United States, dating back to the late 1940s. Many Club-members affixed these signs to their doors to highlight their club.”
This October 16, 1960, article introduced the Redlands Geckos Jeep Club out of Redlands, Calfiornia.
This article and photo appeared in the April 07, 1957, issue of the San Bernardino County Sun. The two jeeps shown are part of the 14-member Rialto Sidewinders Jeep Club. The two men pictured are W. H. Casaday(seated) and Bill Deal.
Just this update for Tuesday.
April 22, 1956, Los Angeles Times. Strangely, this photo was published months after arriving in Los Angeles (they were likely here in late December 1955 or early January of 1956). See map below.
The trio began and ended their trip in San Paulo, Brazil. This map shows that they passed Los Angeles on their way home, then headed east towards New Orleans, the trio’s last stop in the United States.
Most folks are already familiar with this trip, but I wanted to add these news reports to the database of Operation Pineapple information. One of the articles noted that the three travelers did not try an American hamburger, because hamburger was fed to dogs in Brazil.
This first article was published shortly after Jan Stekly arrived in New Orleans, because he wasn’t allowed to travel through Mexico. It was published in the August 11, 1955, issue of the Shreveport Journal:
August 11, 1955, issue of the Shreveport Journal. Jan Stekly is shown in the photo.
Neat old postcard showing a campsite in the desert with a CJ-3B. The photo was shot by Al Christman (presumably, there were at least two folks camping).
1959 marked the 11th annual Hemet to Borrego via De Anza trail Cavalcade. That year over 400 vehicles joined the adventure. The author and photographer of the below article, Del Schrader, was transported over the trail via two German DKWs. The article was published in the March 22, 1959, issue of the Los Angeles Times.
I won this book on eBay the other day. With more than 450 pages, the book is full of photos, history, and stories related to thirty years of the Jeepers Jamboree, the Rubicon trail trip that became an annual event. This particularly edition includes signatures of Mark Smith (founder of the Jeepers Jamboree) and Peg Presba (the book’s author).
There’s another copy of this book for sale on Amazon, but it’s more than what I paid.
This adventure was recorded in the April 30, 1955, issue of the Saturday Evening Post.
The seller of this June 18, 1962, photo claims this was South Padre Island, but the original script on the back of the photo labels it Padre island, which is north of South Padre (I know, that location may seem obvious). According to Wikipedia, South Padre was closed until 1962, which makes it more likely that this is Padre and not South Padre. That said, I’m no expert on this region.
View all the information on eBay
“1962 Press Photo Jeep “Off Roading” on South Padre Island Sand Dunes, Texas. This is an original press photo. Jeep rolls across sand dunes of Padre Island in Texas. Photo measures 10 x 8.25 inches. Photo is dated 06-18-1962.”
These 1958 Jeepers Jamboree photos reside in the UC David digital archives. They were taken by Jervie Henry Eastman.
Eastman also shot this photo of Ted Corder’s Willys dealership, located in Susanville, California. I’d say this was taken in the late 1940s?
During a 75,000 mile adventure between 1940 and 1942 Life photographer George Rodger photographed the growing war across Africa, Europe, and Asia. During the latter part of his adventures he found himself using, then abandoning, Two Ford GPs sent to the Chinese as he and his fellow adventurers escaped Burma. He reported on these adventures, through photos, in the August 10, 1942, issue of Life Magazine.
Photo from the Denver Post. Both Life Magazine and the Denver Post covered the event. Note the white wagon above. It appears in a couple of the color photos below.
UPDATE: These Life Magazine photos and some other information was originally posted in 2011. A couple days ago I confirmed that these photos were from a special 1959 Jeep Calvacade, organized as one of many events during the 1859-1959 Rush to the Rockies Centennial Celebration.
I’d love to get a digital copy of the below brochure if anyone has one.
Some folks attached these flags to their rigs.
I hope to gather more information about the Jeep Cavalcade soon. In the meantime, I’ve only been able to document that one of these photos appeared in print in the December 28, 1959, issue of Life Magazine (the one below).
I ran across these photos today posted by a guy who grew up in the Skyway Cliffhangers Jeep Club, a club based in my hometown of Renton. The photos below highlight the kinds of paint jobs I remember back in the 1970s. As a kid, part of the fun of going to playdays and jeep conventions was to see all the different paint schemes (colors, designs, and accents), tires choices, cage architecture, engine experimentations, and other modifications. You can see lots of old PNW Jeeping photos here:
http://rockdnlockd.forumotion.com/t644-kick-n-it-old-school
These are five slides from a larger collection of slides showing the 1974 Jeepers jamboree available on eBay for sale. Check out the first photo of the CJ-3B; the hood has some strange bends where it meets the grille.
