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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: The price has dropped to $1800. This appears to be a very good price on an MB.
“Willys Jeep needs a new home. Has a brand new battery. Please call 360 263-3259 or 360 951-3409 after 5 PM..”
This CJ-2A has a fiberglass body. The roll bar is attached to the back wheel wells. I’m pretty sure that’s not a good idea.
“1947 Willys CJ2A Jeep, clear Illinois title. Runs great 4WD works, restored about 10 years ago, fiberglass body, x-tra parts that go with it. ALWAYS stored indoors!! Ready to go for spring, get’s lots of looks!! Price is negotiable, would consider trade for Grand Marquis, or Crown Victoria or ??. Let me know what you got? I’m about 1/2 hour from the Wisconsin border. Call with questions 815-403-6895 – ask for Ryan.”
UPDATE: **SOLD** Was $8000
“1951 WILLYS JEEP M38 – $8,000.00 OBO. 26k miles. Third owner (first owner was the US Army), kept in the barn, runs and drives great, 7.50×16 tires. Everything is ORIGINAL to the jeep (OD green paint still underneath) except the carburetor/air cleaner, top, seats. Have the backseat also. Great piece of history – absolutely a blast to drive – gets lots of attention wherever it goes!!”
I spent some time earlier to day trying to track down what came before the Spicer 18 transfer case. Unfortunately, I can’t find anything such as a Spicer 12 or a Spicer 3 anywhere. If the Spicer 18 was the Dana Corp’s first try at a transfer case, then it’s entirely reasonable to say they hit a homer with it, as it stayed in the jeep (though ratios and other minor changes were made) from 1941 to 1971, when the jeep started using a center pumpkin and the Dana 20 transfer case.
So, here’s some interesting facts I learned during my searches.
Here’s some other links about this early history:
This looks like a good price on a nice, upgraded CJ-5.
“1959 Jeep Willys,4 speed,new 289 motor,clean title,runs and drives good,$1900 call 916-676-5123”
UPDATE: Was $400. **SOLD**
Here’s a parts jeep. With the Dana 30 front and AMC 20 rear. The paint job is unusual. The back of this body appears solid (no tailgate). I’m wondering if that’s a DJ body.
“1947 Flat Fender Willy’s Jeep CJ 2A with roll cage. No transmission/transfercase. Mounts for small-block Ford (289 / 302). Original axles plus Dana 30 front and AMC 20 rear. Need the space more than I need the Jeep. $400 / obo.”
UPDATE: WAs $7750. **SOLD**
“1953 Willy’s CJ3B. 4 cyl. Straight w/ new paint, tires, and battery. Starts and runs perfect. $7,750 OBO. * Will trade for a snow plow rig or dozer of equal or greater value.”
UPDATE: Price has dropped to $2200. This appears to be a good price. There’s a different pic on the craigslist Ad.
“Has A 69 dauntless v6,3spd,pwr sterring sitting on 31 *10.5 *15’s. I’ve rhino linned the inside ,It’s been converted to 12v. Park it on the concrete doesn’t leak, 4wheel drive works great,runs & drives great , real head turner;oh ya it’s 55 years old & not perfect call Ron (727)-768-6132”
UPDATE: **SOLD** Was $800.
No engine and tranny.
“Hard to find Willys Jeep FC 150. A 1957 the first year made. This was bought by the Forest Service. Has some rust issues but a hard to find truck. The last owner install a Chevy 327 V-8. The motor doesn’t run and there’s no transmission, missing the seats. The bed that’s on the truck is worthless but the original rear fenders are in nice shape. go figure. This is a perfect truck for that head turning hot rod”
UPDATE: **SOLD** Was $1200
This is the second FC listed by this seller.
“Hard to find Willys Jeep FC 170. A 1957 the first year made. This was an old movie camera truck. The bed is missing. The cab is in real nice shape compared to most FC’s. Great cab corners and no rust around the windshield. The original 226 motor, trans and transfer case is there. There was a PTO that was removed so that’s why you see a hole in the back of the trans. All it needs is a plate made to cover the hole. The motor doesn’t run. Cracked windshield and door glass.”
Tom’s looking for some options for putting a smaller steering wheel onto the original mid 50s steering column. I did a quick search, but didn’t locate any specific products.
I’ve always used later model tilt columns with the steering wheel shown to the right. It requires an adapter that slides on to the column (don’t have a pic of that).
Anyone else know of other options?
Here’s a favorite CJ-3B that Jim owned, sold, but now wished he kept.
Jim writes, “This was super nice rig, built frame off, all stock, all new, immaculate, my girlfriend drove it alot and we should have kept it but was offered huge money and couldn’t say no.”
UPDATE: **SOLD** Was $2200
At first I thought that was rust on the body, but I think that’s the paint job.
“it is alot of fun….It has a ford 200 strait 6 skyjacker lift runs strong needs love.”
Here’s a very usual jeep.
“No title, strickly trail rig, Motor trans and transfer case all work good. dana 44 front and dana60 in rear with 488 gears. four link rear 3link front. Full hydraulic steering no sterring box.5 point harness x2 in front. winch mount, 700r4 trans, lockouts, axles are welded, needs brake booster or master cylinder. I will need a $500.00 deposit within 24 hours of end of auction.”
Check out the top on this flattie. It looks really well executed. I wonder if the windows roll down a little or not.
“Custom made fiberglass top (Removeable) Steel doors(Removeable) New wheel cyls,master cyl,steel brake lines brake shoes.new tires,700 miles on them .Moved gas tank to rear,new gas line .FOUR wheel drive is in very good shape,front wheel lockouts I added a front steering dampener, Drives good for the age it is,goes down the road good.Motor is a 1973 pinto 2000 cc motor,Original willys 3sp trans&drivetrain,clutch is in good shape.Body was patched up,they did good job.Heater is old add on with new core,homemade windshield defroster,Dual two speed wipers.Under carrage painted chassie black.Carb choke needs fixed,after warm runs good.HAS 6ft old style meyers plow,(not power angle)Besides the choke the only problem I know of is on transfer case PTO yoke seal bad.THIS JEEP IS FOR SELL LOCALLY SO AUCTION MAY END EARLY.”
No pics. A project.
“It is a 1942 Jeep that is i mid restoration and curently apart. It still has all the parts and a few extra. If your interested let me know and I can take pictures.”
Ok, so 80% restored doesn’t classify as almost finished. It’s a bit pricey for what appears to be a hefty project still. The body appears in pretty decent shape though.
“Here is your chance to own an ORIGINAL 1941 Willys, 80% complete!! It has primer on it and is ready to be painted, NO RUST!! NO BODY PUTTY, all original parts except for the wheels. Here is what is new: Brakes, Gas Tank, Windshield frame, Carb, Battery, Plugs, All bought from Swamps. All the gages work and are the ORGINAL gages, even the seats are original but need to be re-covered…. “
The sale job on this just cracked me up.
Ergo, why does the seller make the above claims if not an expert? I mean, I know why; it’s just funny to me.
I ran across some extensively photographed and discussed body and framework (boxing in the frame) on the CJ-2A page forums. There are plenty of pics and four or more videos. There’s also some interesting discussions about dealing with hat channels: to fill or not to fill, that is the question (page 3 of the forum). So, if you are doing some body work on a CJ-2A, you’ll find this interesting.
The pic on the right show’s Mike’s first attempt at welding thin body metal. After some additional grinding and filler it looks like it will turn out great.
View the all information at the ‘started body work’ topic on the CJ-2A Page forum
UPDATE: New pics on the new ad
Clearly there’s been some mods to this vehicle. For example, the axles do not appear stock, it’s got a tilt column and, of course, a 400 small block.
“47 willys cj2a 400 sml blk, 3 spd, dual fuel tanks, leather wrapped rear hoop roll bar, tilt colum, newer top, tow bar….nice condition,will need some minor TLC…$6500 OBO…part trade gold mining equip,guns..cash is best,Thanks 208 305-5779”
UPDATE: **SOLD** Was $7500
Well, it looks good and things look straight, but I suspect the price will slip. It’s not quite military and not quite civilian, but probably a fun little run around rig.
“1948 Willys Jeep Kaiser CJ2A. The frame and replacement body were sandblasted and epoxy primed. The 4 cyl 134 ci engine was professionally rebuilt, and runs good. New items in the last three years include: shocks, leaf springs, 16″ military tires, gauges, poly gas tank, radiator, starter, brake lines, wheel cylinders, master cyl, exhaust system, wiring harness, carb rebuilt, O.D. Green paint, etc, etc. The tires only have about 20 miles on them. This was a civilian or farm jeep that was made to look like the military version. With some numbers, stars, and other finishing touches this coulf be a very nice parade jeep”
The history channel series Modern Marvels did a fine show on the history of the jeep. There’s some great bits of info, pictures and videos. I think it’s worth watching, even just to watch the video of the experimental ‘jeep helicopter’. The youtube version of this episode is divided up into 5 sections. The nice feature is that once you start watching the first one, each successive video will be launched automatically.
My only contention with the show is that one narrator suggests that Willys invented four wheel drive. Actually, four wheel drive had been around for about 50 years. I wrote the following several months ago (though didn’t post it):
“A four wheel drive system for vehicles was patented 48 years before the development of Bantam’s BRC (Bantam Recon Car aka Mark I), the very first jeep (followed by 69 prototype BRC-60s aka Mark II), the precursor to the jeep and the decision behind the military to issue a call for prototype 1/4 vehicles (to which three companies responded: Ford (Pygmy), Bantam (BRC-40) and Willys (Quad). Porsche developed a four wheel drive electric car prototype in 1900, 2 Dutch brothers built a four wheel drive Spyker race car in 1904 (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Spyker). The Four Wheel Drive Auto company of Wisconsin built 20,000 four-wheel drive trucks for the British and American Armies during World War I.”
Now, maybe Bantam invented the modern transfer case. Of this, I’m less sure. I haven’t found any evidence that certifies the inventor of the transfer case.
Other links:
I believe this is a rancho BW overdrive. Here’s a pic of one installed on an M-38a1. This was posted a month ago.
As a side note, I ran across a thread that suggested Rancho made an adapter plate to mount a rancho BW overdrive onto a Dana 20 tranny (‘herk’ comment 12/07/2007). I thought that was interesting. Sierra also made an overdrive for the Dana 20. Here’s an article on various overdrives from JP Magazine.
“used for a Jeep. Been sitting around need to get rid of it. Call Randy 775-266-4776 leave a message I’ll return calls in evening. Thanks”
UPDATE: **SOLD** Was $15,500.
“For Sale 1948 Willys Jeep CJ3A, Government Green. Body: New body panels welded in, New gauges (except speedometer), 5 new tires & tubes, new seats, changed over to 12 volt. Engine: New distributor & water pump, Bored .060, Crank turned .020, New pistons, valve guides, ring gear, clutch, and pressure plate. Transmission: New bearings & synchronizer, new brake lines, master cylinder, & wheel cylinders. “
UPDATE: **SOLD** Was $2000
“1952 Willys is complete with 12 volt conv, newly remanufactured engine ($1000 in machine shop receipts available)under the hood, new clutch, throwout bearing, etc. Needs re-installation of manifolds, distributor, electrical to drive off. Jeep has 4 wheel drive along with the power take off, a CJ-2 type fold-down windshield, and a ‘hard top’ from a later model available to keep the weather out. Some rust but no rotted out floor pans. Good Texas title and current registration, Complete maintenance/assembly manual on CD, must sell.”