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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 .
David sent this image showing a delivery of DJ-3As. It was printed in “Willys News” in January, 1957. I need to get my hands on some more copies of Willys News.
This flatfender looks like it’s speeding down a hill pretty fast. I can’t tell if they are wearing helmets or not.
View all the information on eBay
This is an unusual photo that shows MP jeeps parked in Oberammergau, Germany.
“1948 photo US Military M.P. Willys jeeps in Oberammergau Germany along with other Trucks The Photo has been handled a lot threw out the years but will still look great in a frame.”
Jacques emailed me yesterday with a digital copy from a color slide of a 1946 CJ-2A.
He writes, “I was raised in Reading PA but have been living in Australia for the last 37 years. Attached is a colour slide I scanned of my Dads 1946 CJ2A when very new. He bought it 1n 1947 as a demo model from a dealer in Reading who gave rides in it at the airport, now Spaatz Field to promote sales.
It was Harvest Tan with Harvard Red wheels. He had it until 1962 when he traded it for a new IH Travelall 4 x 4. Believe a mechanic at the IH dealership bought it.
Seem to remember the Jeep dealership in Reading was named Ira J Freyer. Wonder if it still exists?
Forgot to mention Dad so loved the military jeeps he used in New Guinea in the Signal Corps in WW2 that was the reason he bought a “new” CJ2A after the war.”
When’s the last time you saw a drag race between a truck and a wagon? Ron Day forwarded this unique drag race photo from the early 1980s in Tampico, Washington. You may remember the Yakima Jeep Jockey photos he posted on his website. Reader responses were so positive to these, that Ron has begun to spend some time looking through his negatives to see what else he has.
Here’s a M-151 modified for riot control. I haven’t seen this mod used too often (fortunately).
“This photo originates from the archives of the Chicago Sun-Times, Chicago Daily News, Detroit News, Sport Magazine & Many others. Most photos have never been seen by the public. These photos are not reproductions or reprints.”
Donny wrote me to share this photo of the family’s CJ-6 he came across recently:
He writes, “I came across a picture of my friend driving our 1958 CJ6 in 1974. My granddad bought it new, and it stayed on our ranch in Florida for all these years. Unfortunately, in 2003, it was given away in disrepair. Sure miss it now! I’ve had a Willys truck and a 2A but I miss miss this Jeep most of all! Man that Jeep could pull! The man standing by the Jeep was the greatest man in the world. My Dad”
Bought new by his grandfather, Rich’s CJ-2A is still serves the family.
Rich writes, “The 48 CJ2A was bought new by grandfather. My dad got it in 1956 and I got it in 73. Someday my son will be the owner. Here are a few old pic’s from back in the 50’s . Me and my sister are in a few shots.”
Thanks for sharing Rich!
And the Jeep today:
Here’s an unusual truck used by United Air Lines.
Learn more about this photograph on eBay
Here’s a version of this truck from a different angle
Some photos looked staged, others look really staged. I’d say this is the latter.
View all the information on eBay
Kurtis spotted this article from the July 20th, 1942, issue of Life Magazine. Some of the pictures are familiar, but this is the first time I’ve seen this entire article. The article extends 7 pages and can be viewed in its entirety online.
http://books.google.com/books?id=6k0EAAAAMBAJ&lpg=PP1&pg=PA65#v=onepage&q&f=false
Here are the first and last pages:
It is 6pm Pacific Standard Time, which means Ann and I should be married by now. As dedicated as I am, I’m not running to my computer to upload pictures of our brief ceremony. So, these couple of shots will have to do.
Here’s a Willys MA all decked out:
http://www.flickr.com/photos/arts_enthusiast/5118197610/
Here’s a couple in the back of a WW2 jeep from Flickr:
And thanks to John for sending this picture 🙂
Here are several photos of a Lavatory Jeep. I wonder how many of these were made? You can read more about this and other Aircraft Ground Support at the CJ-3B Page.
View information about this photo here
These two photos are a part of a package of photos.
” Group of nine photographs of American Airlines stewardesses date from 1943 and 1944. The lot consists of a 7 x 9″ photograph, six 3 1/2 x 5″ photographs and two 3 1/4 x 4 1/2″ snapshots. The top photograph is signed Frances Howley and dated June, 1943, on the reverse. The large photograph is dated 3 – 8 – 44 on the reverse. There is no identification on the backs of the remaining photos. An early Willys Jeep is seen in two of the photographs, most likely taken in front of an American Airlines terminal.
The overall condition of the lot is good. Only the large photograph is damaged, with a tear at the top, right corner as shown in the scan. The smaller photographs are in very good, clean condition. The large photograph is shown actual size in the scan. The smaller photographs are shown enlarged.”
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I like reading books about the history of odd subjects. Whether gum, beer , milk or salt, if it is a history about something food related, I want to read it. A few years ago I read a fun little book about the history of popcorn called Popped Culture: A Social History of Popcorn in America by Andrew Smith. I was surprised to learn how many different kinds of popcorn there are, having grown up on the basic non-branded yellow variety. So, when I spotted this article about popcorn trailers that were pulled by Willys Wagons, I thought it was interesting. Below you can see the trailers built by Clyde Gould, see one of two wagons that pulled them, and learn about his attempt to create a popcorn business. Unfortunately, the article doesn’t indicate how successful he was or what happened to the trailers.
You can read the entire article here: http://blog.modernmechanix.com/he-popped-corn-into-a-fortune/
Here’s a nice looking race flattie that appears on the cover of Offroad Magazine and taken at Gravelrama. Gravelrama is held in Ohio and has been since its inception in 1971. The Magazine is currently listed on eBay for $15.
Here’s a nice looking CJ-3B Hill Climber and Drag Jeep. You can see more vintage photos here.
Looks like a nice relaxing day at the beach.
“Original Vintage Snapshot Photo of Willys Jeep Man w/ No Shirt Holding Beer”
View all the information on eBay
There are two separate ebay auctions here. Both are reprints from 1961 photographs.
These two are part of this auction
And these two are part of this auction:
These photographs were taken by Ron Day, who wrote articles about the races and has hundreds of additional photos. I’ve contacted him, thanked him for publishing the photos, and asked if he had any additional information he could share. Ron now lives in Alaska and continues to photograph. You can see his website here: http://rondayvous.com/
This is a link to his jeep photos: http://rondayvous.com/YakimaJeeps.html
Not all the vehicles were modified. Many 1970s racers were trail jeeps with winches and tow bars still attached, such as this drag racer.
Tags: Yakima Ridge Runners : Jeep Jockeys
David forwarded these images. He wrote, “Found some of my dads photos he took while stationed in Korea ……note the soldier standing outside the flatfender has a rifle pointed at the cameraman”
I especially like the photo of the kids leaning on the jeep. I can relate to doing that as a kid.
Link to Part 1: http://www.fourwheeler.com/project-vehicles/154-1208-the-old-man-and-the-jeep-part-1/
Link to Part 2: http://www.fourwheeler.com/project-vehicles/154-1209-the-old-man-and-the-jeep-part-2/
You’ll definitely want to pick up the August 2012 issue of JP Magazine, along with the subsequent issue, if you like jeep history (I have yet to see the story online). It features 94 year old Don Prine, who has been driving jeeps since the very beginning of the jeep. Don Prine was a test driver of the prototype Willys, Ford and Bantam jeeps. Seventy-Two years later he is still involved with jeeps and, at age 94, still goes into his shop daily in Lakewood, Wa.
According to the article, a recording of Don describing the day pictured in the photo below in early 1941 at the US Capital is supposed to be here: http://www.jpmagazine.com/prine, but I couldn’t make the link work. Also, according to the article in JP, he was driving up the steps in the below picture. However, according to this link, it is Senator Meade of NY driving the jeep and Representative Thomas, of NJ, in the passenger seat at the time of this photo. I can only guess that in the photo Don is seated in the rear?
Don has long been a fixture in jeeping and racing in the Northwest. In 2008 I called Don and had a very nice conversation with him, which you can read about here, about Stainless Steel Parts. For those that belong to the PNW4WDA, Marty has posted a few pics of the visit with Don, Herm Tilford, and Christian at their forum.
From totophotos.org comes photos of these two jeeps that suffered through tornadoes almost fifty years apart. The flattie got the worst of it. There are a few other jeep photos at the site, too.
Jeep damaged by tornado. Udall, Kansas, May 25, 1955. Credit: Department of Agriculture. Weather Bureau. Central Regional Weather Bureau Office. (ca. 1935 – 1965). Kansas City Regional Office: Decimal File, 1938 – 1965. Collection: National Archives. http://www.totophotos.org/photos/search.asp?word=jeep&page=2#87
College Park, MD, September 25, 2001 – This Jeep was torn apart by the tornado that killed two people and left more than $16.5 million in damages. Credit: Jocelyn Augustino. Collection: FEMA http://www.totophotos.org/photos/search.asp?word=jeep&page=2#87
Here’s a nice shot of a CJ-2A with a nice top. This is a late ’46 or ’47 jeep.
“Photo size is 4.5×3″ inches”
