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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 .
An article from January 4, 1947, in the Honolulu Advertiser (and other publications) shared the news that the Japanese were customizing jeeps for civilian use.
This photo shows a search party from the First Cavalry Division in Tokyo heading out to find graves of American soldiers and POWs. It appeared December 07, 1947, in the Star Tribune out of Minneapolis, Minnesota.
UPDATE: Well, clearly the exhaustion got the best of me on this post. I thought this was a North Carolina story, when in fact it was a California story.
This November 11, 1946, article in the Wilmington Daily Press Journal highlights the opening of Carl’s Motor Company. I’d love to see an original of that photo.
Some of the serial numbers are the same, but it also appears to include some new ones (I only did a cursory comparison). This appeared in the July 11, 1946, issue of The Honolulu Advertiser.
There’s no date associated with this photo, but General Krueger made Lt. Gen. in 1941. Given the jeep appears to be an MB, then this is most likely a 1942 or 1943 photo.
While in Louisiana, according to Wikipedia, the General adapted quickly to modern warfare, In at least two different phases of mock battles, the Lt. Gen. out gamed his opponents. He’d later use similar strategies to confront Japanese forces in the Pacific Theatre. After the war, he authored From Down under to Nippon: The Story of the Sixth Army in World War II.
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“Press Photo Lieutenant General Walter Krueger and Soldiers with Army Jeep. This is an original press photo. When a three star general roams the maneuver country, no cushioned limousine will do the job. Lieutenant General Walter Krueger, left above, confers with Staff Sargent M. Hanson about the ground-covering capabilities of his “war” Jeep, complete with two-way radio, siren, and – just to clear the road – the General’s three-starred flag. Both the Jeep and General have a task ahead – for General Krueger, as Commanding General of the Third Army, will direct strenuous maneuvers in the battle-tough Louisiana area.Photo measures 9.25 x 7.5inches. Photo is dated –None.”
This July 30, 1956, article in the Sacramento Bee gave a brief description of the late July jeep trip over the Sierras.
A search for something else led me from a jeep photo (below) to a post about Major Art Hasler’s experience in Germany. The post is mixed with original and period photos, a few of which include jeeps. His story about Karl von Frisch’s work on bees was fascinating to Art, and later to the Nobel Price Committee, as he won the Nobel Price for his work on the social behavior of bees.
Read the full post here: http://haslerhistory.blogspot.com/2016/07/adh-1945-strategic-bombing-survey-photo_26.html
PHOTO CREDT: Art Hasler, June 1945 .. http://haslerhistory.blogspot.com/2016/07/adh-1945-strategic-bombing-survey-photo_26.html
Below you’ll find Press Release Photos #11 & #13. The seller did not have #12, so at this point I’m left to guess what #12 was. My best guess is that given #11 shows a half top and #13 shows no top, that #12 may have been an image that included some version of the full top.
Photo #11 shows the half or front top:
Possible Photo #12: These images were published in an article on the introduction of the jeep. The top photo is press photo #13, which adds weight to the bottom photo being #12:
The original photo caption for the bottom photo would likely have been identical to #11 and #13’s captions, except that the last sentence probably read, “Here it is shown with both tops up“.
Photo #13 shows the jeep without a top:
Press Photo #14? Finally, there’s this photo which shows the windshield down. It could easily have been Photo #14 as it was taken in the same location, but I have no evidence such a photo was included in the press kit.
PHOTO CREDIT: https://www.topspeed.com/cars/jeep/2016-jeep-wrangler-75th-salute-concept-ar173805.html
If this was actually included in the press kit at photo #14, the caption for the photo would likely have been identical to #11 and #13’s captions, except that the last sentence probably read, “Here it is shown with the windshield down“.
UPDATE: Mark shared a link to a “Reparto Celere” model jeep: https://www.carmodel.com/edicola/itapolc052/1-43/jeep/willys-reparto-celere-polizia-1945/63694
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Original Post: A December 12, 1947, article in the Austin American-Statesman showed an image of an Italian “Police Squad” jeep breaking up a crowd. The phrase “Reparto Celere” translates to Express Department in English, but I doubt that’s a correct interpretation.
That soldier looks awfully clean for being in the process of digging out a jeep. Even the lighting looks staged to me.
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“1944 Press Photo Sgt. John Baker digs a Jeep out of the Marianas Island mud. This is an original press photo. A 7th AAF base in the Marianas — Staff Sgt. John W. Baker, 920 York Street, Cincinnati, Ohio, transportation sergeant for a 7th AAF fighter group in the Marianas, slugs it out with General Mud, which occasionally masters even the powerful jeep. A modern building program is rapidly doing away with such troubles as these as Americans convert the Marianas into giant air bases. Baker, a veteran of the Saipan operation, formerly worked as a machine operator for the G & G Manufacturing Company, now the Crosley Corp. in Cincinnati. He holds the Soldier’s Medal for heroism in rescuing trapped crew members from a crashed and burning bomber in the Hawaiian Islands last December.Photo measures 8.25 x 10inches. Photo is dated 12-08-1944.”
This was labeled press photo #10. Like the other press photos, this memorable family picnic photo with the jeep and camper appeared in multiple publications. The marking on the bumper is X32.
A November 20, 1951, article in the Tallahassee Democrat highlighted Ellis and Horrie Culpeppers’ special hunting jeeps (only Ellis’ is pictured).
Photo #8 from the July 1945 Willys-Overland press kit has appeared widely.
Jeep in back has no “X”. I think it is 39, otherwise could be 59.
Photo #8 from the July 1945 Willys-Overland press kit shows a PTO-powered post-hole digger.
UPDATE: This press photo was sold back in 2013. The image has been recently circulating on Facebook, but without the description (though as Mike pointed out to me, it is a brief description).
Marc forwarded this rare photo of a unique FC.
“This is an old Chicago Sun-Times staff photo of the very unique Thompson Jeep Leveloader Truck in Action. See the Scans. Measures 8″ x 10″.”
The company also built a leveloder out of a Chevrolet truck. This brochure is on Amazon. This brochure better shows on the truck can shift from being level with a loading dock to being level with a sidewalk.
In 1948, the Massachusetts National Guard used two jeeps adorned with giant red feathers to aid community communications as part of a community Red Feather Campaign. This news was reported in the November 06, 1949, issue of the Boston Globe. Unfortunately, I could not track down a color image of this jeep.
Photo #7 from the July 1945 Willys-Overland press kit shows a PTO powered mobile wood saw.
Photo #6 from the July 1945 Willys-Overland press kit is this iconic photo of a CJ-2 pulling a trailer full of hay.
An August 23, 1948, article in the Tampa Times shared the news of an American and Soviet jeep standoff in Potsdamer Platz as tensions ran high between the East and West. I’d say tensions were high!
The above photo was part of this larger story:
Steve spotted this photo taken on September 10, 1968, in Encarnacion, Paraguay. Given the military tank, I was thinking this might be a M-606. However, this does have a PTO bar. Though it has “WILLYS” badges on the tailgate and hood, it appears these are actually a separate plate that’s been added. The rear seat looks like some kind of sideways seat.
PHOTO CREDIT: Alejandro Gomez, https://www.flickr.com/photos/alefot/10767607474/in/photostream/
This photo, marked as photo #5, shows the versatility of the jeep by demonstrating how it can become a mobile spraying device.
The US and South Korea must have been expecting conflict, as this photo was taken a year after South Korea (The Republic of Korea) formed, but a year. before North Korea attacked the South.
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“1949 Press Photo M/Sgt. Wilkerson displays the Jeep engine to Korean soldiers. This is an original press photo. U.S. Military Advisory Group to Korea is training the Korean Security Forces to maintain the Republic’s Internal Order, Territorial Integrity and Sovereignty. This training is being conducted at the request of the Korean government until such time that this country can maintain its own security. The Advisory Group consists of approximately 500 officers and men commanded by Brig. Gen. William Roberts. The training chiefly consists of familiarization with modern equipment and modern techniques. M/Sgt. Floyd Wilkerson, 404th Ordnance Battalion, explains to Korean soldiers about the functioning of the Jeep Engine. Photo measures 10 x 8.25 inches. Photo is dated 07-18-1949.”
This photo, marked as photo #3, shows prototype CJ-2 X59 at New Hudson. The caption discuses the Ginsu-like qualities of the jeep on the farm: It can mow, disk, rake, trash and probably slice and dice with the right attachments.
I’m sure the driver is explaining, “The mud didn’t look that deep!”
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“1944 Press Photo World War II US troops push an Army Jeep out of mud in Italy This is an original press photo. World War II – Italy. These American soldiers on the Italian front try to free a jeep that has bogged down in the mud. Photo measures 8.75 x 7.25 inches. Photo is dated 1-9-1944. ”
