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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 .
Roger Martin pointed me to a Facebook photo from the 1964 movie Ride the Wild Surf. Pictured is Shelley Fabares (who had a higher billing than her female co-star) and Barbara Eden. The beach party movie also starred Fabian and a DJ-3A Gala.
This is a video clip from the beach scene:
Here’s another short video clip of a Gala in the movie:
These photos popped up one Facebook recently, likely pulled from the Just A Car Guy blog. I believe these were originally from some kind of video of Disney driving, because I was able to find an animated gif on Pinterest of the same event. I could not locate the original video, but I’m sure it is digitized and out there on the net somewhere …
The Coast Guard’s “Invader Jeep” (with photos here and photos/article/film here) was apparently also called the “Miracle Jeep”. The designer was Chief Petty Officer Charles D. Benjamin.
For starters, this short news reel clip has a reference to it in the Descriptive Log as a Miracle Jeep: https://www.historicfilms.com/tapes/14555_1773.97_1798 . Here’s a screen shot:
The March 18, 1944, issue of the Dayton Herald refers to the Coast Guard Super jeep as a “Miracle Jeep” as well:
The June 25, 1944, issue of the Indianapolis Star also refers to the jeep as the “Miracle Jeep”.
Here’s another, less exciting video with more safety equipment. I don’t understand why they are racing with the windshield in place? And, I’m glad when I raced I didn’t have so many people so close to the track.
UPDATE: According to Jordi, this Spanish language news film describes a jeep race in Belgium.
No helmets, no safety equipment … craziness! This video from Europe shows some gutsy folks running WWII jeeps hard through the mud. (if the video embed doesn’t work, go here).
Rodes i fang 1958 from Peter G Mozzone on Vimeo.
Bill shared this link from Hemmings published today showing jeeps going over Black Bear Road.
They aren’t jeeps, but they are definitely off road (and through buildings). Thanks to Roger Martin for sharing this unusual video. The race took place in 1920s New Zealand according to youtube.
Bill shared this post from thedrive.com about a youtuber named DJ (youtube channel Limitliss) putting a Turbo 1.3 liter Suzuki Hayabusa engine into a jeep-rod build. He was originally going to install a ZX10R, but found it to be too damaged to proceed, so he switched to the Suzuki engine.
Here’s Limitliss’ ‘reveal’l of the jeep build, but it’s not the first episode (call it episode 0):
This is episode 1:
You can follow the rest of the build here: https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLNbNJv69UAARr6Sqxaq-RqBM10eKKaYkp … there are currently 19 episodes.
UPDATE: I’ve added two newspaper photos to this post about Kent. One shows him signing copies of his autobiography. The other depicts him with a huge walking stick, one I’m sure could come in handy while exploring ‘his’ beloved canyons.
Even today, Kent’s shadow looms large over the area. Just this last week the Moab Museum screened the “My Canyonlands” film about him.
June 17, 1971, The San Juan Record: Kent Frost signing books.
February 11, 2004, The San Juan Record: Kent Frost holding a walking stick.
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Originally published April 1, 2013:
(Above: Kent Frost on the front of his CJ-5 probably helping the driver negotiate an awkward angle)
(Originally Published April 2011) Without a doubt, my favorite part about running this website are the unexpected, interesting people to whom I’m introduced (if only virtually). One of those people is Kent Frost, a product of the Four Corners area and whom we caught glimpses of in Alan’s color photos of the 1961 Four Corners trip.
Doug commented on one of the Four Corner posts that he had read a book by Kent Frost called “My Canyonlands”, published in 1971. I’m very happy that Doug mentioned the book, because I ordered it and have enjoyed it immensely. Kent describes all kinds of adventures and early trips into remote areas of the four corners region. He loved to explore and hike, later jeep and river run, and that remote area has given him a lifetime of experiences.
UPDATE: Gil’s hoping to reconnect with he Shakespeare family, so I’m reposting this in the hopes some family member might see it.
Original Post January 18, 2017 — Bill shared the video below from Jack and Doreen Shakespeare. Together, the couple recount their 1958 journey in a late 40’s wagon from Australia to England. The trip took them 114 days. Fortunately for us, they filmed much of the trip. It’s a great story.
This combat footage begins with footage of the rear of a jeep.
Mike shared this vintage 1958 video from Brazil.
How to Share With Just FriendsHow to share with just friends.
Posted by Facebook App on Friday, December 5, 2014
I was surprised to see that this June 24, 1943, article from the Colfax County Call out of Schulter, Nebraska, preceded Dick Ryan’s traveling jeep rodeo where jeeping jumping was also performed. This article appeared in multiple Nebraska newspapers in June of 1943.
Shown in this photo is Robert H. Storz, who is in the jeep, while watching is Lt. Col. Scruby. I can’t tell if Storz is a passenger or the photo is reversed. It looks to me that Storz may be a passenger, based solely on the placement of the tie-rods. But then, who is the driver?
Who was the driver if not Storz? I’m not quite sure, other than according to the article the driver was a former member of Jimmy Lynch’s Death Dodge drivers. Jimmy Lynch’s Death Dodge drivers performed car stunts at fairs and other events prior to WWII.
According to Youtube, “Lynch’s shows for Dodge served to advertise the many advanced design features that made the 1939 Plymouth his choice to survive the severe abuse inflicted on the cars in those performances, including the famous “Roll of Death” in which the car did a full roll over the roof. Lynch would remain loyal to the Chrysler Corporation throughout his career as a daredevil as can be seen in this very entertaining film.”
You can see Jimmy himself in this short video (to see the car stunts go straight to the 7:15 mark).
There are more video examples of Jimmy and hit Dodge exploits on youtube.
Eagle-eyed reader Chuck spotted an eWillys sticker on the cowl of an M-38. The still image below was captured from the video at bottom of the August 23, 2020, Jeep Invasion.
See the full video here:
Mike pointed out that the 1999 movie Holy Joe, starring John Ritter and Meredith Baxter, included a Willys wagon. I believe the moral of the story is that if you do good in the world that someone will restore your wagon for you? At least, that’s what I got out of it!
Based on various angles, I believe this was a 1961ish 2WD Maverick, but I am open to other thoughts.You’ll note the ‘restoration’ of the wagon does not reflect an original paint scheme. The wagon makes several appearances. Here are the three longest ones.
The 11:09 minute mark before ‘restoration’:
The 51.25 minute mark before ‘restoration’:
The 1:31:37 minute mark (near end of movie) after ‘restoration’:
This 1966 Wagoneer commercial from Kaiser-Jeep. According to the commercial’s poster:
“1966 Kaiser Jeep Wagoneer Commercial. The young boy in the commercial is Radio Personality from New Jersey, Dan Klein as a child. He recalls the woman playing the part of the Mother as a Mrs. Emily Mooney. The Husband is Thom Whims and the little girl is Tricia Murphy Duffy. I don’t really understand the commercial, a driver-less jeep wandering on the beach??? … And I LOVE the kid dressed up like a camouflage solider, this was when it was not politically incorrect to dress that way! I don’t think any car company would show that in a commercial now a days. The famous Industrial designer, Brooks Stevens is credited with it’s design. He did much work for Kaiser Industries and also Studebaker. This was one of his timeless designs that still looks good today. The commercial itself was filmed in 1965. The location is the shores of Avalon New Jersey, USA. Apparently according to the young girl in the film, the shots took hours and it was an extremely hot day.”
This video from 2019 proved popular enough that several folks have sent it to me. Stock jeeps can do some impressive things, especially when driven by someone who knows what their jeep can and can’t do.
In his pursuit of CJ-5 Farm Jeep information, Barry shared the story of two CJ-5s jeeps used with a hay bailer out of California. The post includes many stills and a some youtube video from the jeeps in action.
https://www.farmjeep.com/robert-millers-hayfield-hero-jeeps/
https://www.farmjeep.com/robert-millers-hayfield-hero-jeeps/
This video shows the testing of a jeep and truck.
Harmen-Jan of the Netherlands shared this video of farm life footage filmed in the Netherlands between 1920 and 1960. At the 15-minute-mark there is footage of a WWII jeep piling what I believe is hay(?) and at the 19-minute-mark there is a brief look at the same jeep pulling an overloaded wagon. In between (and before and after both marks), plenty of back-breaking-work is documented.
Check out Bob’s PTO powered ice cream machine. Well done Bob!
This M-38 with a 106MM Recoilless rifle (dubbed the M40). Below is a short video, followed by a press photo that is available on eBay.
Press Photo from eBay:
View all the information on eBay
“1971 Press Photo US troops test jeep-mounted 196mm M-40 anti-tank rifle in MD. This is an original press photo. Guns – Artillery. Crewmen drive the new jeep-mounted 106mm recoilless rifle into firing position during recent tests at Aberdeen Proving Ground, Maryland, in this picture released Tuesday in Washington, D.C., Department of Defense. The battalion anti-tank weapon, designated the M-40, reportedly has greater range and more destructive power than any other weapon available at battalion level.Photo measures 8.5 x 7.75inches. Photo is dated 10-12-1971.”
This 1973 Busch Beer commercial includes multiple shots of a post 1972 CJ-5. I don’t remember this commercial, yet it feels oddly familiar.
Here’s the original source: https://media.dlib.indiana.edu/media_objects/6h440x06f
Chris spotted this wonderful video showing the capabilities of ‘Jeep’ Audiovisual unit. There are lots of great details, including how to use the PTO to power the generator which operates the equipment. So cool! Thanks to Indiana University for preserving this unique film!
If for some reason the video doesn’t work correctly, go here: https://media.dlib.indiana.edu/media_objects/1r66j7359
UPDATE: These various photos show the early testing of Mighty Mites.
(02/29/2020) This photo appears to show one of the prototype Mighty Mites. It’s hood number (179849) is 3 numbers away from another Mighty Mite (179846) that appeared in the press video at the bottom of this post.
“1954 Sikorsky S-56 Helicopter Backing Jeep into Cargo area … Press Photo”
Here’s the Mighty Mite press video:
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Originally Posted May of 2018: The hood and windshield on this jeep are different from the standard Mighty Mite. This may have been an early prototype. See the photo at the bottom for another view of a vehicle that may be one until earlier than the vehicle in the press photo. (the one in the press photo is #179849).
“1954 Press Photo Jeep being loaded into Sikorsky XHR25 helicopter, Connecticut. This is an original press photo. Three loaded jeeps or 26 men can be carried by a new giant helicopter demonstrated at Bridgeport, Connecticut, Monday. The Sikorsky XHR25 is being built in quantity for the armed forces. It has twin engines, retractable landing gear and rotors that fold, making it easy to handle aboard aircraft carriers. It will fly faster than 150 miles an hour. (Aero-Helicopter) Photo measures 10 x 7 inches. Photo is dated 01-19-1954.”
This is #197848 (from G503): http://forums.g503.com/viewtopic.php?t=195524
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Originally Posted September 2018: Cool, but odd photo, given the roadway behind it. Lots of competing visual angles.
“This is an original press photo. Light enough to be airlifted by helicopter but tough enough to pull through knee deep mud, the mighty mite is to be produced by American Motors Corp. for the military forces. The mighty mite weighs 1,300 pounds less than the jeep and is 43 inches shorter. It is capable of climbing an 87% grade and can do 57 miles an hour on the highway. Its powerful aluminum die cast, air cooled engine enables the vehicle to carry a payload of 500 pounds while towing another 1,000 pounds over rough terrain. United States – Army – Equipment – Vehicles Photo measures 9 x 7.25 inches. Photo is dated 12-05-1954”
