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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: **SOLD** Was $6500 at one point.
(09/25/2019) Ready to race.
“Sand drag Jeep. Fiberglass body. Brown primer. 454ci Chevy motor. Power Glide transmission and torque converter are fresh. Zero passes. Trans brake, shields and deep pan. Olds rear end. 614 gears, Summers Brothers spool and axles 35 spline. Car goes straight, runs 450’s…fastest pass was 448.8. Turn key.”
UPDATE: Price dropped to $7900.
(03/15/2020) Dash has been customized.
https://www.facebook.com/marketplace/item/809603949562076/
“1959 willys jeep CJ6 has original 4 cylinder motor runs good all new brakes including E brake, 5 new tires and rims, rare jeep and also has rare functioning pto driven winch, currently registered title in my name 8500 or best offer”
The seller thought this was a jeep frame. If so, it’s not one I recognize. Is it something anyone else recognizes?
https://www.facebook.com/marketplace/item/465499284377972/
“Selling a old project not sure what model or year it is looks like it’s a Jeep Frame with a different suspension. Lost interest in project comes with a 350 Chevy with a th400 transmission and a b&m shifter engine has 1.8 roller rockers edlebrock intake , carb, and fuel pump . Also has a mini starter and a msd distributor asking 1500 obo also take trades show what you got to trade”
UPDATE: Still Available. No price listed.
Looks like the seats could use some work.
“1946 Willis Overland, 283 Chevy engine, needs carb rebuilt, stock running gear. Also square body 3/4 ton Chevy 4X4 complete undercarriage /Diesel V8 in running condition. Was going put on Jeep. Package deal. TRADE FOR SIDE BY SIDE 4×4 age and brand not as important as condition, prefer 4 or 6 seat will consider all. I am open to cash or cash + trade offers as well. If I don’t answer right away just know I am considering all offers and will respond to you if your offer is a consideration. “‘
UPDATE: **SOLD** Was $12,000.
The narrowing rear of the CJ-5 body is an unusual modification.
“Registered as 1947 Willys Jeep 1991 Chevy Fuel Injected 5.7 350 350 Turbo trans Scout Shorty Transfer Case Shannon Camble Ind. Stretched Tube Frame and Cage Curry Front and Rear Axel Assemblies Curry U Joints ARB Air Lockers Cannon Eng Drive Shafts Warn M8000 Wench Full Ground Rock Lights On Board Air Compressor and Roll Cage Air Storage Tank Custom Fuel Cell (2) Full Sets Bead Lock Rims w/ Super Swamper 39.5×13.5×15 Tires Boxes of Spare Parts Turn Key Crawler Ready to Go Contact Me For More Information and Pictures $12,500.00 OBO”
UPDATE: **SOLD** was $2200.
(02/03/2020) Those are some unusual rims.
“1951 willys Jeep. Had it started up the other day. Has some rust but a lot less than I expected. Sold with a bill of sale”
UPDATE: Still Available.
(03/16/2020) It’s now a runner, but the price has jumped, too. Last listed in 2017.
https://www.facebook.com/marketplace/item/212843166792728/
“1951 CJ3A Willys Jeep, newly re-built original F134 Hurricane Engine with only 20 hours on it. 4 new tires, winch and heater. I also have a soft top with doors”
This interesting School at War Bulletin from October of 1943 was preserved by the University of Toledo. Pages five and six of the bulletin include a story about the success of the schools-buying-jeeps program. The war department had set a goal of 10,000 jeeps for US Schools for the year 1942. Each state was given a quota, which almost every state exceeded, resulting in the ‘purchase’ of 39,535 jeeps by schools.
You’ll find posted on eWillys various newspaper articles and photos describing the visits of jeeps and military personnel to schools. What I didn’t know was that not only did the jeeps visit the schools, jeeps also were driven “up steps, down steps, into gymnasiums, onto auditorium stages, and around school corridors. Once school in St. Paul, which “bought” 48 jeeps, reports that one of the versatile cars spent a whole day driving through the halls for inspection by the various classes.”
Here’s a break down of the jeeps purchased by schools during 1942:
Here is the full seven page bulletin:
Serval folks pointed me to a Hemmings article by Daniel Strohl that lightly addresses the early claim of a CJ-2A capable of pulling a large trailer at a speed of 60mph, specifically the trailer shown in the iconic photo seen below (a PR photo that appeared in multiple places early in Universal Jeep advertising).
Hemmings article: https://www.hemmings.com/stories/2020/05/01/lost-and-found-overflow-the-little-jeep-that-could
PHOTO CREDIT: Dal Smilie
UPDATE: The cow in this illustration may represent an estate and cattle ranch Canaday owned on St. Croix, USVI.
This 1952 birthday card for Ward Canaday has been persevered at the University of Toledo. One of the signatures is from Barney Roos.
https://utdr.utoledo.edu/islandora/object/utoledo%3A3929
This may be built on an M-38A1 frame. Has an unusual roll cage design. Seems a good value.
https://www.facebook.com/marketplace/item/549671825845221/
“1989 350 vortek from camaro re-cammed, th350 w/ manual valve body and 900 rpm stahl, warn all range OD, dana 44 rear w ARB, dana 30 front w/ ARB, supertrapp exhaust, 4 wheel disc, 4 35″ boggers, 2 35″ buckshot, bellevue winch, on board air system… too much to list”
This one is awfully close to me.
https://www.facebook.com/marketplace/item/979237039115812/
“Selling my M274A5 mechanical Mule. Military vehicle from the 1960s. This is four wheel drive, with 3 speed transmission. Has high/low range. Come with factory lockers. Has the 12 volt electric start upgrade. Runs/drives great!. New canvas seats, new tool box, new battery, etc, etc etc”
UPDATE: Price now $11,500. Was last listed in 2018. This may have been purchased and is now being resold?
https://nh.craigslist.org/cto/d/rochester-1963-willys-cj-5/7116116047.html
“4 cylinder Perkins Diesel (Factory)
3 speed with overdrive
2 speed transfer case
Hubs, New tires
Good body and paint
6’ quick switch plow
Tow bar Full cab
Excellent driver”
UPDATE: Price dropped to $11,500. More pics provided. It may have been a VEC.
(02/10/2019) Not 100% restoration, but looks in good condition
https://www.facebook.com/marketplace/item/272236193944101/
“1946 Willy’s Jeep restored to original run an looks good. Nv title 11,500.”
This has a Koenig half cab. The cargo area has a hinged lid. It runs and may be worth a look.
https://www.facebook.com/marketplace/item/267308234439014/
“… new studded tires, new battery.brakes work. Can start and drive. Needs some electrical maintenance.owner may install new alternator.asking 3500 or best offer. Will trade for good running Honda 4 wheeler.”
This runs and drives. It could be a good price.
https://www.facebook.com/marketplace/item/639175450257299/
“12v system runs good restore or use as is”
Note the license plate … No description provided.
https://www.facebook.com/marketplace/item/619273172188444/
Mike spotted this good price. It runs and appears to included a plow!
https://hudsonvalley.craigslist.org/cto/d/middletown-1963-jeep-willys/7111540269.html
“1963 Jeep Willy’s. Motor runs good. Drive train good. Original 4 cylinder Willy’s motor. Body and frame severely rusted.”
Derek put together a great multiple-article look at the Kaiser’s purchase of the Willys assets.
https://cj3b.info/History/KaiserWillys1953.html
Below you’ll find some added some additional info and research as well.
First, my only quibble with one article is that there is the implication that Willys-Overland was humming profitably along. Despite profits, it’s my understanding that the company was dealing with some cash issues, hence why they (especially Ward Canaday) might have been interested in selling. At the time, Canaday controlled Empire Securities, the single largest shareholder in Willys-Overland. For some background on Empire Securities, read this 1946 Fortune article.
In regards to some of the issues raised in the final article of Derek’s the post, Edgar Kaiser addresses some of them in this 1955 Congressional testimony, particularly one reason the company lost money during the first two years.
Here are a few more reports from 1953, organized by the University of Toledo:
And more from the University of Toledo:
And, here’s Leslie Gould’s take on Ward Canaday in a March 30, 1953, article:
Looks like it is all there (see more examples of this hardtop).
https://www.facebook.com/marketplace/item/2652166735105041/
“Unknown manufacturer. Fits the 1976 and up CJ-5. Top and glass in good shape. Didn’t fit my CJ with my current non factory roll bar, so I’m going a different route”
UPDATE: **Status Unknown** Was $25,000.
I don’t see any of the APU equipment left, so while it’s a rare jeep, it’s also no longer an APU jeep. I don’t see anyone paying the asking price for it. That said, it’s got some interesting mods, including a custom lengthened rear cargo area, a custom spare tire well and holder, what appears to be the Hudson steering mod, and a custom modified top (shortened CJ-6 top perhaps). This also utilizes doors from a late model CJ-5 hardtop by Kelly. The rear portion may even be a modified Kelly CJ-6 top.
“Up for sale is a CJ3A Willys APU Jeep .
This APU Jeep was built for the military Navy and Air Force to start jets by the Valentine Welding Co. they made a total of 75, this is one of two know to still exist, and the only one with a windshield and top .
The newer F head engines were placed in and a custom hood made by the manufacturer
Asking 25k”
Appears solid.
https://cars.ksl.com/listing/6356909?ad_cid=24
“1947 Willyz CJ2A Flat fender, amazing Jeep that has been completely restored, engine has been recently rebuilt, transmission, transfer case rebuilt. I have gone through the axles and brakes and replaced anything that needed replaced. When bought I rhino lined the whole tub and painted the exterior with a textured paint. There is a top that’s on the Jeep in the pictures and then another that has doors and encloses the entire Jeep. It has a heater that makes it nice and toast inside during the winter and on the deer hunt. Any other questions that arise please don’t hesitate to ask. Not going to give this away considering I have way more money into it then I’m asking. Price is OBO but please no nonsense.”
This might be in pretty good shape. There’s a p# on the cardboard in the 3rd pic. Area code should be 208.
https://twinfalls.craigslist.org/cto/d/wendell-1958-jeep-willy/7114908297.html
“4 cyl, rebuilt motor. Bikini top, winch, roll bars, and many other new parts”
UPDATE: Still Available.
(02/24/2020) I like this one. It serviced the Glen Canyon area, which is pretty cool, too.
“1958 Willy’s Custom (Valley Fire Truck Co.) Fire Truck 4×4, 6 cylinder
Title included
Came from the Lake Powell Glen Canyon Dam National Park Service in Page AZ.
NOS: horn button, rear bearings, rear seals, brakes & studs. Some service records etc.
Engine will be test run condition
Features
Water pump
Hose reel
Sprayer
2 intake hoses
Ax”
UPDATE: **SOLD** Was $12,500.
The seller notes that 1955 was the first year Warn offered the five-ring warn hubs. Actually, they (both the locking and the automatic hubs) were offered as early as 1953, according to at least two different ads. One 1953 ad (note the Feb 1953 Motor Trend Magazine for example was a full blown brochure, while this 1953 ad below was included in the September 1953 Popular Science magazine:
All that said, and back to the original purpose of this post, the wagon looks nice, though it does have an updated engine.
https://corvallis.craigslist.org/bar/d/corvallis-1955-willys-wagon-4×4-pto/7114073096.html
“For sale or trade. I am gunsmith so primary interest is firearms but no harm in asking. This is a great Willys that can be driven just the way it is or you can pursue additional restoration. Everything works, 4×4, factory Warn hub locks (first year those were offered), overdrive, front and rear PTO with a winch on the front bumper. Dual fuels tanks. Older paint still looks good, just not shiny. Seats were all just rebuilt (foam and covering) in a canvas looking modern material. Less than 200 miles on a completely rebuilt and balanced Chevy L6 250 with MSD Distributor and Electronic Ignition. Starts and hums along very smoothly. Steering is vintage and next on my restore list if I keep it. Need $12500 in cash or trade value to consider parting with this fun rig.”
