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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 article was published in the July 15, 1945, issue of the Journal Herald out of Dayton, Ohio. The title of the article is “Jeep Has a Rendezvous With America’s Postwar Era”. It proceed the official press release kit by a few days, so neither photo came from that first press kit.
The jeep shown on the right is a Willys MA. Back in 2013, a full press photo was sold on eBay. Curiously, the headlight on the driver’s side was missing.
A sale is pending on this model jeep, but it looks to be a model based on the prototypes.
https://www.facebook.com/marketplace/item/373333757197973/
“Vintage 1940’s US Army Jeep Toy. This was a wood model assembled and painted very well. The windshield isn’t attached but kind of just sits on the frame. Awesome display piece.”
A Ford GP captured in action.
View all the information on eBay
“1941 Press Photo soldiers drive a jeep thru rough terrain pulling anti-tank gun This is an original press photo. This unit was organized by the 2nd Corps as a weapon of opportunity to combat hostile mechanized threats at any part of the front where the enemy might break through, and is also used against paratroops (parachute troops) or any unexpected threat. The unit is 100% motorized, consisting of three 37 mm batteries, one 75mm battery, one Infantry Battalion, one Engineer Platoon, one Anti-tank Platoon, all equipped with radio communication. Photo shows a jeep crossing rough terrain pulling 37 mm anti-tank gun. Battery D, 44th Division Anti-Tank, Second Corps. (Commanded by Major H.R. Johnson, Wadesboro, N.C. Photo measures 10 x 8.25 inches. Photo is dated 11-03-1941.”
As late as 1944, as this ad demonstrates, the Minneapolis-Moline Power Implement Company argued that they had developed the original “Jeep”. But, it’s clear that they lost that battle entirely.
View all the information on eBay
“This is an Original old Vintage Trade Ad from 1944 This print ad Measures Approx: 11 1/4″ x 8 1/4″. This is Not a Photocopy or reproduction.”
This 1/76th scale plastic jeep represent one of the few commercial models designed based on the original Bantam BRC. Eventually, I’ll remove it from it’s packaging to better take pics of the parts and the directions.
UPATE: **SOLD** Was on eBay.
A color slide from 1941? That’s a rarity.
“Original 35mm film slide.
Subject: U.S. Army MP Willys Jeep at Camp Sibert (or Siebert) in Boulder City, NV.
Date: Oct. 1941
Mount/Film Type: Kodachrome, red border
The scan below has not captured all detail, but shows the relative sharpness of the slide. The green text reading “embitt scan” was superimposed after scanning.”
This October 30, 1945, photo coverage from the Rocky Mount Telegram, out of North Carolina, highlights the start of the 8th War Loan drive. It included a photo of a Willys MA leading a series of elephants.
The August 26, 1941, issue of Look Magazine included this large photo of a Bantam BRC-40. The caption, presumably written by the author of the article, Henry McLemorehistor reads:
“THIS MOBILE CHIROPRACTOR I am driving is a half-ton reconnaissance car known to the unit as a Peep or Bo-Peep. It’ll go 60 mph, packs two machine guns, a crew of four. It will take you anywhere, provided you can hang on–actually covering worse terrain than a tank. As soon as the Army has enough Peeps, they will replace motorcycles as dispatch and reconnaissance vehicles. Like all armored-division vehicles, the Peep has four-wheel drive and handles as easily as the highest priced pleasure car. The difference is that you sit on a thin cushion over a steel seat and buckle yourself down with an airplane safety belt. “
The above photo is from this two page spread:
This is the magazine cover:
This December 22, 1940, article in the Birmingham News highlights the latest arrival of “midget automobiles” at Fort Oglethorpe, Georgia. I would imagine these are Bantam BRC-60s.
Thanks to Maury, I was able to get this 1991 press packet off ebay and shipped for under $10. That’s a good day. It wasn’t clear to me all that was inside, but it turned out to be a heck of a deal. The three-page tri-fold stores photos, old press releases, histories, and a few miscellaneous items.
Here’s the front of the packet:
These are the materials that are stored inside. There are four press releases, fourteen reproduction 8×10 photos, a 40-page AMC/Chrysler history, a jeep history that’s attached to the binder (see upper right corner), one March 1963 Jeep News front-page reproduction and a late 1940s wagon ad reproduction. Just the reproduction of the Willys Quad photo was worth the cost of this package (I’d never gotten around to getting one).
I haven’t read this history just yet, but wasn’t in a hurry as I’ve already read this book on AMC’s history:
Here’s how the binder looks when opened. The jeep history starts at the page in the middle.
Under the last page of the jeep history is a holder for all the photos and other documents:
Here are two 1990s press releases (I only took photos of the front pages):
These are two 1980s press releases:
The press release on the left is from early 1942 and covers the changing situation with America’s entry into WWII, while the one on the right is from 1965:
The Jeep News reproduction page from March 1963 is shown on the left. It includes a report on the name change from Willys Motors to Kaiser Jeep and the Willys-Overland Export Corp. to Kaiser Jeep International Corp. The reproduction wagon ad on the right is from 1948 and includes details on which magazine and dates it appeared (I wish I had that database of information!).
This April 21, 1943, ad in the Victoria Advocate, out of Victoria, Texas, might just be the first organized ‘jeep club’. Though, to be fair, this was organized to buy a jeep for the military rather than to organized a group of jeep owners.
These photos come from the University of Texas at Arlington Digital Archives. You can see a some additional photos with jeeps here: https://library.uta.edu/digitalgallery-beta/subject/jeep-automobiles
Let’s start with this photo of a Willys MA dash:
Fort Worth Star-Telegram Collection, University of Texas at Arlington Libraries. 56th Cavalry Brigade war maneuvers. (1941). Retrieved from https://library.uta.edu/digitalgallery-beta/img/20048164 … Brigadier General Walter B. Pyron, of Houston, Texas, commander of the 56th Brigade, shown behind the wheel of a jeep. He is wearing a military uniform and a small brimmed hat. He has his hands on the steering wheel and is looking behind him. Willys MA.
A lineup of Ford GPs:
Fort Worth Star-Telegram Collection, University of Texas at Arlington Libraries. Camp Bowie Army Maneuvers . (1941). Retrieved from https://library.uta.edu/digitalgallery-beta/img/20048968 … The 18th Field Artillery Brigade’s 77th Field Artillery joins in retreating from an attack during a military training exercise at Camp Bowie. The first battalion is lined up for an evacuation, riding on “blitz buggies.” This battalion is from Fort Sill, Oklahoma. The rest of the 77th is stationed at Fort D. A. Russell, Marfa, Texas. The 77th and 142nd infantry are howitzer units of the brigade. Ford GPs.
Good side shot of a Ford GP:
Fort Worth Star-Telegram Collection, University of Texas at Arlington Libraries. Camp Bowie Army maneuvers: Lietenant General Walter Krueger with Major General Claude V. Birkhead and others. (1941). Retrieved from https://library.uta.edu/digitalgallery-beta/img/20053219 … Camp Bowie Army maneuvers. Four military officers and one military personnel are pictured here. Lieutenant General (LIEUT. GEN.) Walter Krueger, seated in the front passenger seat, Third Army Commander, was in the field almost as much as the participating troops. Here he’s leaving 36th Division command post after a conference with Major General (Maj. Gen.) Claude V. Birkhead, division commander, standing by the baby jeep. In the rear seat are, foreground, Lieutenant Colonel (Lieut Col.) George R. Barker, Third Army G-3, and Captain (Capt.) R. H. Chard, Krueger’s aid. Driver is Private (Pvt.) Harvey Belote. All are dressed in military uniforms. Published in the Fort Worth Star-Telegram morning edition, June 15, 1941. Ford GPs.
Here’s an early Slat Grille MB:
Fort Worth Star-Telegram Collection, University of Texas at Arlington Libraries. Army Day Maneuvers: Rides in Dixie Jeeps. (1942). Retrieved from https://library.uta.edu/digitalgallery-beta/img/20053248 …. Army Day Celebration. Jeep rides were given citizens when the 31st (Dixie) Division held open house here Sunday as part of the observance of Army Day. On this ride at Farrington Field were Alice McDonald (left) and Jaymie Dobbs, both of Fort Worth, Texas. Members of the Service Company, 155th Infantry, in the jeep are, left to right, Corporal (Corp.) J. H. Reeves, Private (Pvt.) Sam Burroughs, Private (Pvt.) Clyde Russell and Private (Pvt.) Hanson Dunegan. The group are riding in a jeep through Farrington Field. Background showing a goal post and stadium bleachers. Published in the Fort Worth Star-Telegram evening edition, April 6, 1942. Willys MB Slatgrille.
Post WWII pic:
Fort Worth Star-Telegram Collection, University of Texas at Arlington Libraries. Circle Park School Parent-Teacher Association carnival . (1946). Retrieved from https://library.uta.edu/digitalgallery-beta/img/20058866 … Mr. R. M Baxter is giving a carnival preview ride to 2 pupils of Circle Park Elementary School, Donald Eagle, son of Mr. and Mrs. Don Eagle and Beverly Jean Burns, daughter of Mrs. and Mrs. C. A. Burns. Mr. Baxter will run a jeepney-ride concession at the Circle Park Elementary School Parent-Teacher Association annual carnival. His jeep has a banner of the PTA. Published in the Fort Worth Star-Telegram evening edition, October 16, 1946.
UPDATE: Back up for sale.
(12/29/2017) Isn’t this just a little different? It’s sitting on a CJ-5 chassis.
https://www.facebook.com/marketplace/item/171228887663624/
“1951 Custom Willys Jeepster Woody. Jeepster front body on 1974 CJ5 4×4 with custom woody back. Std. transmission 3 spd., 4.2 6 cyl. engine. 20″ extended frame. Runs good. Needs new tires and windshield wiper motor. Many new parts.”
Fort Custer, Michigan, appears to have been a testing ground for Ford and Willys prototypes. Along with the articles below, there are press photos posted from years passed. You’ll also note that some of the press photos have captions that are printed identically, but pencil-marked up differently. It’s possible someone was selling those as originals when they may not have been.
Here’s an article and a photo showing a couple Ford GPs being run hard, originally printed in the March 09, 1941, issue of the Battle Creek Enquirer:
It didn’t take long for the offload vehicles to become a hit with soldiers. This article appears in the March 25, 1941, issue of the Detroit Free Press:
====================================
And, just to set the record straight, at Fort Custer a jeep was a jeep and not a ‘peep’.
====================================
These press photos have been gathered from older posts. First, a couple Willys MA photos from eBay:
This was posted on ebay in June 2017: “1942 Photo WW2 Era Fort Custer MI Versatile Jeep Military Push Ball Game Rare. You are bidding on an original Press Photo from a newspaper archive. The photograph measures 6×7 inches and is dated 9-25-1942.”
This post began as a single newspaper photo and caption titled “Learn About Blitz Buggies” that Mario posted to Facebook. Just before I readied the post, I figured I’d see if there was a better quality version of the photo he posted.
To my surprise, when I searched for “About Blitz Buggies”, the results returned numerous seemingly press release photos over the summer and fall of 1941. No credit for the photos are provided. Given the titles are mostly identical and all showed various soldiers “working” (but probably posing) in front Ford GPs, I can’t help but wonder if this was a subtle campaign by Ford Motors to encourage the adoption of the Ford GP “Blitz Buggy” by the military.
So, here are some random newspaper photos from 1941 (there are many more during 1941).
June 26, 1941, Manhattan Mercury out of Kansas:
June 17, 1941, Montgomery Advertiser out of Alabama (looks to me like the same person as above, yet the caption shows a different name):
July 13, 1941, Akron Beacon out of Ohio:
August 16, 1941, Star Gazette out of Elmira, New York:
August 24, 1941, Austin American out of Texas (that Ford logo looks a little too obvious):
This September 28th, 1941, article covered the ‘cold shoulder’ given to American Bantam by War Department.
This photo of a Bantam BRC-40 advertising for the Butler County, Pennsylvania, war chest is undated. It was posted to Facebook by the Butlers Standard Eight, a group the preserves early vehicle related information pertaining to Butler County.
UPDATE: Don makes some good points in his comment below as to why there might not be any MBs pictured.
The January 1942 issue of Scientific American included an article titled “Meet the Jeep”, one I’ve been waiting about 7 years to snag. For some reason, though MBs were already being produced, no images of the MB were included. Instead, the first image shows a Ford GP. The second photo shows a Bantam BRC-40 T2E1.
UPDATE: **SOLD** Was Make Offer. Seller had an offer for $15k, according to the ad.
“I have a 41 ford gp for sale or trade. Feel free to make offer I currently have a 15k offer feel free to offer anything you might think I’d want.”
Another nice Bantam BRC-40 for sale.
http://www.nsjp.biz/bantam-prototype-jeep-for-sale.html
“100% Fully Restored and One of a kind!
This is from our private collection.
This Restoration is Beautiful, it is certainly Show or Museum Quality.
We spared no expense on the details.
This vehicle is 100% fully operational & complete.
Vehicle is located in Columbiana OH, Zipcode 44408.”
UPDATE II: This is now located at the NMMV Museum in Dubois, Wyoming. It was priced at $110,000.
UPDATE: I wasn’t sure on the price for this, but it seems this is the asking price for a nicely restored BRC-40 these days. More pics here: https://ibb.co/album/b7Nv1F
“This is a completely restored Bantam BRC witch is show quality. Original correct in every part. May be nicest one in existence Please send me an email for link to picture page or follow link below.
Will consider trades, offers, or just negotiate price.”
If you collect prototype images and other things, the unusual card in the middle of the three below would be a cool find.
View all the information on eBay
“This is a set of 3 cut out and color cards from Nabisco Shredded Wheat on How America Travels. It includes an Army Jeep, Navy Battleship, and Navy Patrol Bomber. They are in good condition with some light stains. The cards are numbers 27, 33, and 36.”
Nice front end shot of a Ford GP.
View all the information on eBay
“1942 Press Photo US soldier pictured with “jeep” and “peep” vehicles in Kentucky
This is an original press photo. Trucks – US – Fort Knox, Kentucky – The Armed Force hopes this picture will end the confusion between the “jeep” and “peep.” The tough little puddle-jumper on the right is affectionately known as the “peep” by men of the army’s Armored Force, while the large command car at the left is the original “jeep,” named after the Popeye comic strip characterPhoto measures 10 x 8.25inches. Photo is dated 01-11-1942.”
A Ford GP is leading the way through Panama …
View all the information on eBay
“1942 Press Photo Jeep parades over Panama roadway under construction. This is an original press photo.
Panama: Under the supervision of the United States Public Roads Administration fourteen hundred men are at work constructing a trans-Ishmanian highway which is scheduled for completion (with all weather paving) by the end of March 1942 if the work is not hampered by rain during the present “dry season.”
An Army motorcade of “peeps” and “jeeps” traversed the colon-madden Dam section of the road on February 2nd transporting Army, highway, civil officials and press correspondents. They made the round trip from the Pacific to the Atlantic and then back. Concrete paving for the road is being placed at the rate of one mile of single strip each day. Concrete is carried by barge up the tropical foliage line Rio Gatun to it’s intersection with the highway.
In some places bulldozers and other heavy equipment have to make 100-foot cuts through hog backed hills and also make fills in sheer-dropping, water torn ravines. Photo shows-part of the “jeep” parade over a section of road which has not as yet been laid with concrete. The road is entirely within the Republic of Panama. Photo measures 9 x 7.25 inches. Photo is dated 02-06-1942.”
UPDATE: **SOLD**
Great action photo of a Ford GP.
“1941 Press Photo Army lieutenants give new jeeps test drive at Fort Bliss, Texas. This is an original press photo. Fort Bliss, Texas. Under modern conditions of mechanized war, the once lumbering and awkward tank has emerged as a machine of many types and variations, from small steel speedsters to the huge 80-ton land battleships which flatten trees and grind buildings to powder. These have created new problems in defense, and Uncle Sam’s new army is not going to be caught napping in this department.
One outfit devoted to blasting the blitz battle-wagons is the new anti-tank troop of the First Cavalry Division at Fort Bliss. Formed only last January with 31 regular Army men, the troop now has 4 commissioned officers, 31 non-coms, and 121 men, all of whom are draftees from Michigan, Illinois and Wisconsin. Most of the men have had mechanical experience working in automobile plants, which stand them in good stead in operating and caring for the scout cars and motorcycles with which the troop is equipped.
These pictures show the outfit in action during a recent tactical problem. Lieutenant Jack Berg (left) and Lieutenant M. M. Roland send one of the new jeep reconnaissance cars hurtling over a bump on a test drive. The baby blitz buggy is a Ford-built Bantam with four-wheel drive. Photo measures 9 x 7.25 inches. Photo is dated 07-16-1941.
==========================
Originally Published Feb 11, 2013.
“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″.
