emailNeed to contact me and don't have my email? Click on email button.
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 is a great shot.
“This is an “ORIGINAL PERIOD GLOSSY PHOTO BY ACME” of THE BABY BLITZ BUGGY IS A FORD-BUILT BANTAM FOUR-WHEEL DRIVE GP JEEP WITH THE FIRST CAVALRY DIVISION AT FT. BLISS TEX., photo date – 1941. The condition is very good and measures 7″ x 9″. (SORRY BUT ANY PINKISH HAZE REFLECTION THAT YOU SEE IN MY PHOTOS ARE FROM THE TRANSPARENCY WITH MY LOGO ON IT AND “NOT IN THE PHOTO”. Payment must be within 3 days of auction ending.”
View all the information on eBay
I ran across this photo of a Ford GP at the LIbrary of Congress.
http://www.loc.gov/pictures/resource/fsa.8b09264/
I spotted this Ford GP set up to lay wire (according to the caption). I’m not sure what pix “D-575” is.
“New 1/4-ton “bantam” truck being used for wire-laying during demonstration at Fort Myer, Virginia. For more complete data, see caption for pix D-575″
http://www.loc.gov/pictures/resource/fsa.8b09268/
UPDATE: I posted this article back in 2010. It’s been a few years, so I wondered if anyone newer to eWillys knows anything about the York-Hoovers?
A few days ago I was searching and came across a reference to the York-Hoover prototype. I’d never heard of the York-Hoover All-Terrain Prototype, but according to the YorkBlog, such a vehicle existed and could be viewed at the York County Heritage Trust’s Agricultural and Industrial Museum in Pennsylvania. So, I contacted the museum and received a response from the curator notifying me a few years ago the vehicle had been moved to the Motts Military Museum in Columbus, Ohio. I tried contacting Motts, but had no success.
Anyone familiar with this story or the vehicle?
According to yorkblog.com, “Before World War II, the York-Hoover Body Co. produced a prototype for a military vehicle that could navigate all types of terrain. The company then successfully completed orders for 69 more vehicles.
But, alas, York-Hoover turned down another order for 4,500 sturdy vehicles because it had pledged its resources elsewhere. Future work on the Jeep, with the York-made design and minor modifications, went to Willys Co. and the Ford Motor Co.”
Here’s a postcard with a Bantam BRC-60 on the front.
“EARLY WW II COLORFUL POST CARD SHOWING VARIOUS ACTIVITIES AT CAMP RUCKER, ALABAMA.. BRIEF HISTORY OF THE MILTARY BASE DEVELOPMENT APPEARS ON REVERSE. POST CARD IN VERY GOOD CONDITION.”
View all the information on eBay
These looks mostly like Ford GPs, but the base of the windshield looks a little low.
View all the information on eBay
I found some Australian pictures at “The Brigade” that included three Bantam BRC-40 photos. There is a Ford GP photo as well. See all the vintage pictures here: http://thebrigade.thechive.com/2011/05/30/the-jeep-worked-hard-in-wwii-33-photos/
Is this postcard based on art by any particular artist that anyone recognizes?
“BLACK AND WHITE PRINTED ERA POSTCARD
Published by Artway Cards.
CONDITION: Some corner wear. Upper right corner more severely damaged and lightly crumpled. Thin postcard stock. Postally unused.”
View all the information on eBay
UPDATE: I received confirmation that this was sold and is in a restorer’s possession.
Scott spotted this at Ford GP #9512 at the corvette forum. We suspect it sold, but no one at the forum has confirmed it.
The August 1941 issue of The Ford Dealer News includes this image of a Ford Pygmy. There are a variety of articles and other photos also.
View all the information on eBay
Roberto forwarded a link about a book published by Wings and Wheels out of the Czech Republic called “MA Jeeps in Detail”. It looks like a good book. 496 Czech Korunas is approx $25 US.
Learn more about the book here: http://wwpbooks.com/product.php?id_product=223
You can find more jeep books here: http://wwpbooks.com/search.php?tag=Jeep
As promised, I’ve scanned and posted a 1943. I have updated the earlier post with the scans.
I received the June 19, 1943, issue of Liberty Magazine today. The magazine was published in Toronto, Canada from 1924 – 1950. My issue includes an article written by Willys Overland’s President at the time Joseph W. Frazer and titled “The Amazing Blitz Buggy”.
Having read the article, I’m still surprised he claimed the official name of the vehicle was “General Purpose Car”. You can see that claim in the highlighted portion of the article. That explain why the term “General Purpose” has been used in numerous historical descriptions about the jeep.
Click on the images below to get larger, readable versions of each page.
Here’s a nice shot of a Bantam BRC-40 at Camp Polk, LA, Circa 1942. The caption reads, “Meet the Jeep – The U.S. Army Blitzbuggy — Camp Polk, LA.
View all the information on eBay
Pictured here are a couple Willys MAs. I spotted the pictured at http://med-dept.com/testimonies/harold_okeefe.php
UPDATE: This post card was for sale on eBay in 2012.
Even the Smithsonian didn’t get the ‘original jeep’ correct as evidenced by the postcard below. To their credit, this Bantam BRC-60 just might be the next best thing. I compare all three Bantams here.
For comparision, here’s another good shot of a BRC-60:
And this is the original Bantam BRC — Jeep #1. The round fenders and scalloped side are two of the biggest differences:
The jeep on the far right has a grille that looks like a BRC-60 to me. In the foreground is a jeep that looks like a BRC-40.
View all the information on eBay
I spotted this brief note about the four-wheel-steer Bantam BRC-40 on page 167 of the May 1946 issue of Popular Mechanics. Why it appeared five years after it was built seems a little strange. I can’t imagine the army keeping this model top secret for any reason. Maybe they needed some filler for the issue?
Here is a link to the Google page that shows the whole article
This is rare.
” Vintage Postcard Jeep in Action Camp Pickett Va , PC is used Postmarked Camp PIckett 1943 Free”
View all the information on eBay
I ran across these images of ‘swedeherbie’s’ 1941 Ford GP project. He has posted over one hundred pictures.
View all the images at Photobucket
Here’s a neat old Model.
“U.S.ARMY FORD GP 1/4 TON JEEP W/FIGURES MINT IN BOX RARE 1/32 KIT-MAX”
View all the information on eBay
Here’s a rare grille.
“From a recent find of parts hidden away many years, This is a used and abused original front grille from a Ford GP as pictured. It’s used, it’s been repainted many times. His minor dings, see photos, will clean up for a beautiful front grille.”
View all the information on eBay
Here’s a photograph from a December 1941 issue of Mechanix Magazine that shows a Ford GP participating in war games at the dawn of the US’s official entry into WWII.
http://blog.modernmechanix.com/news-of-war-and-defense/
Part II of the Don Prine ‘Old Man’ Story can be read in the September issue of JP Magazine. It has also been published online at this address: http://www.jpmagazine.com/featuredvehicles/154_1209_the_old_man_and_the_jeep_part_2/
Here’s a picture Marty took during the interview. Don Prine is on the left, Christain Hazel in the middle, and Herm Tilford (Herm the Overdrive Guy) on the right.
View more pictures of the meeting here: http://www.pnw4wda.org/forums/showthread.php?t=2630
You can view Part 1 of the Don Prine Story at JP Magazine
From the Magazine “Field Ford” comes a rare article about the Ford Pygmy Prototype. The article projects that 30,000 of these 4-4s might be used eventually.
View all the information on eBay
Here’s a prototypeish jeep depicted amidst a battle with Japanese soldiers. I looked for other jeep related cards among the series, but I could only find a handful of other cards.
View all the information on eBay
