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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 .
UPDATE: I was too enamored by the white walls to notice these weren’t willys rims. Thanks Jim!
You gotta love the white walls.
“I have five 51 willys jeepster wheels up for sale.They are 5 lug wheels and with alittle cleaning they will look brand new again (978)758-1936”
http://boston.craigslist.org/nwb/pts/2238838510.html
This looks like a good price.
“Set of 4 jeep wheels and tires off of a 1946 CJ2A. Tires are in great shape with alot of tread left. Asking $100.00 for the set. 541-935-5722”
http://eugene.craigslist.org/pts/2217386846.html
UPDATE: **SOLD** Was $5000.
Josh spotted these rare Trax for sale.
“SELF BUILT TRAX. FOR JEEP TJ TRAX ONLY FOR SALE. MAY FIT OTHERS THEY HAVE A 5 ON 4.5 BOLT PATTERN. WILL NOT WORK WITH MANUAL HUBS.”
Are there four here for sale? These look like a set I own.
“Here is an old style true Turbine wheel set..15″ by 10″ wide. Fits the big 5 lug pattern that Ford trucks used…also Jeep and Dodge. These go very well with your bigger AT and MUD TIRES.. These really make a truck sharp. Tires are no good.. I think I have the center caps..very dirty in pictures will clean up nice. $100 is firm on these.You dont see many of these around anymore.please call 270-834-9834”
http://bgky.craigslist.org/pts/2191300544.html
Just like one set of mine.
“these are in perfect shape and fit any 5lug 5×5.5 like ford bronco f100 f50 international scout ihc Suzuki samurai dodge ram etc $ 150 obo or trade for tires ( 425 232 8055 )”
http://seattle.craigslist.org/sno/pts/2199177076.html
I admit that sometimes I’m entirely clueless. Today was a perfect example, for today I got my Desert Dogs mounted onto a 2nd set of Hurricane Rims that have been holding down the garage floor for more than two years.
The last time I got a set of offroad tires mounted on a set of rims was 27 years ago. Those too were desert dogs. I had inner tubes added to the tires so that the air pressure could be dropped to 10 – 15 lbs when jeeping; using inner tubes was a very normal thing to do.
So, now you will understand that when I pulled up to Les Schwab Tires (btw, Les Schwab, the company founder, was an early fan and seller of the Desert Dogs) and told the guy at the counter what I wanted to do, I didn’t think much of it. He walks out, looks at the rims, looks at the tires, and tells me he doesn’t think the tires will actually fit the rims. Frankly, he was looking at me like I just dropped in from planet Mars. Fortunately, I’m used to people looking at me like that. I told him that Les himself would have mounted Dogs to rims similar to what I had. He took it all in and seemed to think that maybe my request was possible. So, I asked him for an estimate to mount the tires and add inner tubes.
He gave me an estimate ($91 to mount and balance them) and said he didn’t know if he could get some inner tubes, because running inner tubes on tires like that would cause them to heat up and explode (the inner tube explode that is). Now it was my turn to look at him like he was from Mars.
However, to his credit, he was courteous the entire time and spent extra time attempting to locate inner tubes, finally finding four tubes at a cost of $38 …. that’s $38 a piece. After some quick addition I concluded that would cost me almost $160 just for tubes!! I told him thanks, I would see what else I could find for inner tubes.
So, I left, went home, and hopped on my beloved internet, hoping I could find a better price. After a half our of searching the internet and finding nothing, I had an idea. I would call Bucks, a local 4×4 shop, to see what they used. They said they rarely use inner tubes. The last time they used them, they got the tubes from Commercial Tire.
It turns out, in a world of tubeless tires, the use of tubes, once standard practice, has evaporated. Worse, no one told me!
My next step was to call Commercial Tire and see what they could do. The guy on the phone was helpful and said tubes would probably cost about $23 for my tire size, however I’d need to check the stem size of the rim as the tube price he was quoting was for a tube with a thick stem.
I figured I had nothing to lose, so I drove over to Commercial Tire and asked for some tubes. They looked at my stem size and determined I needed a rare inner tube. Several employees started making calls and one finally found four tubes at a warehouse somewhere and that was all they could find. The price would be $35 a piece.
I still thought that was crazily high, so asked them to just give me a quote on mounting the tires. They said they wouldn’t mount them because they were older than 6 years. So, my trip to Commercial Tire was a waste of time; and it confirmed that the world of tires had changed while I had been away from jeeps.
I left Commercial Tire and made the decision that I would mount the tires without tubes and give that a try. Since Les Schwab was willing to mount the tires, I decided to just take the tires back to them and get them mounted. Then, I took the mounted tires home and put them on the jeep.
So, maybe putting 18 year old shoes on Biscuit isn’t the smartest decision, but I couldn’t resist. They probably have 5000 miles of road wear left, maybe a little more. However, I had to do this to complete my image of what Biscuit would be: a fiberglass flattie with an old school look.
Here are a couple images of the new, old tires. I do prefer the pure aluminum color of the other rims, rather than having the black within the splines. So, I plan to polish the rims at some future point and take off that black.
Gerald spotted these unusual tires. The theory behind these tires is similar to the “Sawdust tires” that were produced and sold a couple decades ago. Sawdust tires were recapped tires with sawdust (sometimes walnut shells were used too) embedded within the rubber mold so that as the rubber wore, the sawdust was exposed. These tires were only good for a year, but according to internet reports, worked quite well. Apparently, they were also much friendlier to the pavement than studded tires, though studded tires work better. Here’s a brief thread about them.
According to their history, the Green Diamond Tire of North America arrived in 1999. As of 2009, the company is under new management and seeking to build a manufacturing location in the Western US. Probably one reason for the Western Location is that a large number of Big O Tire retail outlets are selling the tires in Colorado. The company’s western headquarters is currently located in Denver.
UPDATE: **SOLD** Was $225.
Not a pad price.
“This is a pair of 31×15.50×15 Goodyear Wrangler XT Terra Tires mounted on 15″ steel rims with Ford 1/2 ton and Jeep 5 bolt pattern. The rims are straight and the tire sidewalls are free of cracks. There are tubes installed and lots of tread left. Price is $225.00 USD for the pair or best reasonable offer. Cash only.”
UPDATE: **SOLD** Was 250.
“Get that great 70’s retro look for your muscle car, pickup or 4×4. Wheels are 15×10 w/ 5 on 5 1/2 bolt pattern and in great shape. Tires are 31×10.50 all terrains with about 40% tread. Buy the wheels and you get the tires for free”
Here are some classic tires.
“Set of five (5) brand new Kelly Springfield mud / snow tires. Perfect for your 4WD restoration – including spare: Willys, 1950’s Ford, 1950’s Chev. These are no longer available; would be $150 each if you could find them $400. 503 957 9091.”
http://portland.craigslist.org/clc/pts/2069330184.html
This looks like a good price.
“3 ea. Goodyear Wrangler Terra Tires Size: 15.5-15
2 of the tires are mounted on Chrome Chevy 5-bolt Rims.
So thats 3 tires and two 15 in. Chrome rims all on one money $150.00
Also includes the two Chrome Center Caps for the Rims.
Cash Only.
Do not E-Mail on this as it is being listed by a friend.
Contact : Jason at 810-625-6918 Don’t hesitate to leave a message will get back to you ASAP.”
http://flint.craigslist.org/pts/2050837133.html
You can probably pick these up for even cheaper.
“I have a set of 1/2 ton slotted wheels, cleaning my shop up and need them gone! They are 8.5 wide and 3 inch off set, they need a good polished job or get them powder coated. they look excellent when coated in extreame chrome! make me an offer!!! 360-431-3363.”
http://portland.craigslist.org/clk/pts/2060619807.html
These appear in good shape.
“Up for sale is 4 15×7 turbine style wheels.5 on 5 1/2 bolt pattern. Fits F150, Dodge, & Jeep (CJ Series) Good Shape, needs cleaned. $150.00 o.b.o. Phone 724-859-1746 Must Sell!!!!”
http://pittsburgh.craigslist.org/pts/2044992237.html
I’d guess these to be 5×5.5.
“15 x 10 wide aluminum turbine unilug wheels very cool looking $100 for the pair call 903-436-4097”
http://dallas.craigslist.org/dal/pts/2013551387.html
I can’t tell if these are hurricane, turbine, or something else.
“i have four turbine wheels in ok shape 1 has a cosmetic blemish two of the four tires are ok 235/75/15 other two are flat unsure why about 30% tread wheels are 5 on 5.5”
http://portland.craigslist.org/mlt/pts/1938486639.html
The rims appear to be 5 x 5.5 rims.
“
set of 4 complete with wheels. 31-15.5-15 817-228-3980″
http://dallas.craigslist.org/dal/pts/1902522105.html
Nice looking 5 x 51/2 Hurricane Rims, though the price seems a bit crazy. The lettering on the tire looks like it has been sprayed blue?
“I have a set of 4 hurricane mag wheels and tires, one set is a set of 2 that have BRAND NEW 295/50/15’s the other 2 wheels have a set of 295/50/15 hancooks with halph tread on them,still very nice. these rims are 5 x 5.5 that are coming off my 1979 ford f100 custom. if you want some rims that will make heads turn, these are it! please call rob at 207-320-3069 or text.”
http://maine.craigslist.org/pts/1900834771.html
Brett found this jeep with no drive train, but some tires with plenty of tread left.
“new rubber no power train”
http://www.ksl.com/index.php?sid=0&nid=443&tab=list/view&ad=2984749
As I have mentioned a few times, I grew up in the Wandering Willys Jeep Club. In 1971, the club lead an effort to record all the members from Clubs in Region one of the PNW4WDA, their names, addresses, phone number, jeep types, jeep names, their jobs, and assorted other info. As far as I know, this was the first and last directory of its type created.
One of my favorite finds in the directory was an early Ad for Bobcat Fiberglass bodies, complete with the watermark logo of a bobcat (which I didn’t notice until I scanned the ad). Below is the Ad with owner Fred Weis listed as the contact person. Apparently, sometime later Bobcat products were owned by H.C. Van Wagner, as shown by this business card embedded in one of my fenders (yes it is still there).
Below is the original Ad, followed by a later business card. One interesting bit of info is that I haven’t seen any Bobcat CJ-3B bodies (that I know of).
Here are some Bobcat Products:
This is supposed to be the first Bobcat body produced:
Here is an example of a raised hood:
Here’s a body .. note the wide rim around the rear edge of the body. Also, the step doesn’t cut in to the body at the end and there are no drain holes by the step. (similar to mine)
Here’s an example of the body that I purchased, which was a light body racer.
“Note the much wider edge (maybe 2” wide). This body was hacked up a little bit,
but hopefully cleaned up nicely for the guy who purchased it:
The price is right on these. They appear to be 5×5.5 bolt pattern.
“15×7 Aluminum Turbine Wheels. 4 inch back space. I don’t have any caps or lugs for these wheels. These wheels are in very good condition. Please call Greg at 320-293-5690 or 320-253-8789 with any question or to take a look.”
http://stcloud.craigslist.org/pts/1817519879.html
UPDATE: **SOLD** Have turbine rims. Was $400.
Rims not included. The tires appear in good shape.
“Set of four Goodyear Xtra-Trac Terra tires, size 31 X 15.50-15 nylon, like new, $400 (not including rims).”
Here are terra tires with some beef on them.
“set of 4 complete with wheels. 31-15.5-15 MAKE OFFER 817-228-3980”
http://dallas.craigslist.org/dal/pts/1790296732.html
UPDATE: **SOLD** Were $100.
“4 DESERT DOG TIRES ON 15 INCH WHEELS 5 LUG 31’s 100.00 509-521-1420”
UPDATE: **SOLD** Was $125
There are two rims of two different sizes.
“set of turbine rims with chrome caps. 2-15″ x 8″ & 2-15″ x 10”. big ford bolt pattern (5 bolt). $125”
I can’t remember seeing hurricane rims like this with the ribs extending into the bolt area.
“These are 5 lug wheels with a 5 1/2 inch bolt pattern. $150. Call 503-256-5240 or 971-219-0678 and visit http://garydunnchevparts.com”
http://portland.craigslist.org/mlt/pts/1765065396.html
