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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. This section used to be split into jeeps, parts and other categories, but recent changes to eBay will require this information to be recoded.
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: Originally posted in 2012
Here’s some great early mud racing video from Yakima, Washington.
UPDATE: The press photo at the bottom of this post appeared in at least one newspaper, The Daily Banner out of Greencastle, Indiana, on September 4, 1944:
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Original Post August 2014: How’d you like to be the person that drove the jeep to this iconic place?
” 1944 American Jeep Palace Versailles France Press Photo”
UPDATE: This was for sale back in 2013. Looks like the same license plates. Has a fiberglass body.
https://www.facebook.com/marketplace/item/708895246262925/
“53 Willis cj3b. Kinda runs, drives and stops. Needs all new body and full resto or run on farm as is. Has newer gm front disc brake conversion, fuel tank and water pump. Have a title and in my name. $1400 obo.”
Anyone have this brochure?
I don’t have it; but do have these old pics from a 2013 post. The problem is I can’t quite tell what the date (aka form number) is from 1959 or 1960. If you have this brochure, the date would be great. Scans would even be better, but I know that’s not simple for everyone.
I’m also interested in other 1958-1962 brochures. These all have date related-form numbers. I have a bunch, but not all of them. At some point this month I will create a list of what I have and what I need to more fully document the brochures from this era.
Rooney77’s Blue Star Top for sale
UPDATE: This post from 2014 has been updated with additional brochure examples. See all the Blue Star hardtops documented thus far:
(From 2014) This Blue Star aluminum top was built by the Blue Manufacturing Company, founded in Kansas by Max Blue circa 1946. ‘Blue Star’ was the brand name used on several products he produced. There’s some conflicting information, but it appears In 1946 Blue Manufacturing was building aluminum airline parts. About that time, as a hobby, Max began building aluminum boats. He also tried manufacturing and selling jeep hard tops.
Demand was so great for the boats that in 1948 he leased space and built boats full-time. Meanwhile, he either sold or abandoned the jeep top business altogether. Given only a few Blue Star tops have surfaced over the last few years, I imagine he didn’t sell too many of them.
However, Max was able to sell boats. By 1953 the company was building 1,000 boats a year. In July of 1953 he moved the company from Goddard, Kansas, to Miami, Oklahoma. There are various articles into 1960 that talk about the Blue Manufacturing Company. However, the company appears to have ceased boat production in 1964.
A picture of Max Blue in the center of the photo. http://newspaperarchive.com/us/missouri/joplin/joplin-globe/1960/04-17/page-6
This brochure featuring a CJ-2A is the earliest example I have of this top. It was part of an early industrial equipment book.
Here’s another example, this time with a CJ-3A:
Here’s an ad that was featured on eBay.
Here’s an example of the logo badge:
Here is an example of the half tops:
Actual top:
Here are some photos of actual full hardtops:
Jeep 1)
Jeep 2)
UPDATE: Below you’ll find several press photos showing two different angles of the same loading event from 1942.
This press photo shows less of the original picture than the two images further below:
View all the information on eBay
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This version of the press photo appeared in mid-2014:
This version of the press photo was put on eBay in early 2014:
UPDATE: Still Available. The caption and date are slightly different between this current pic on eBay and its predecessor from 2013 (at bottom).
View all the information on eBay
“1942 Press Photo U.S. Army Soldiers ride down London street in Military Jeep. .This is an original press photo. Four American doughboys ride down a London street in a peculiarly American vehicle, one of Uncle Sammy’s jeeps. Note how they are overshadowed by the familiar London double-deck bus. U.S. Army in London Photo measures 6.25 x 9.5 inches. Photo is dated 03-15-1942.”
This version of the photo was auctioned in 2013 on eBay. It has the date of March 13, 1942. The caption includes the verbiage, “A ‘Jeep’ comes to London Town”.
UPDATE: **SOLD** Was on eBay. See alternative press photos of the M-38A1D setup here. This photo also appears on a 1960 spec sheet comparing the M-38A1, the M-274, and the XM443E1.
“This is an original press photo. Davy Crockett, Front Line Atomic Weapon on Jeep. Davy Crockett, the latest front line atomic weapon developed for infantry troops, can be carried by a crew of three or transported easily by Jeep. A recoilless rifle, the David Crockett is a short range weapon capable of lobbing a conventional or atomic warhead into nearby enemy positions. U.S. Army. Photo measures 10 x 8.25 inches. Photo is dated 06-12-1960. ”
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Original Post Feb 14, 2013: The photograph highlights a M-38A1D model also known as the Davy Crocket.
UPDATE II: More Hamm’s stuff thanks to Maury:
UPDATE: Maury shared a TV commercial that accompanied the Hamm’s beer ad campaign shows in the stickers below. For those old enough to remember Grizzly Adams, which I watched as a kid, it sure feels like an episode of that show. It turns out there was a John “Grizzly” Adams (1812-1860), upon whom the movie/show may have been based, who lived a pretty wild life.
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Original Post November 2012: Is this evidence that a Bear is a Jeeper’s best friend? There are two different ebay auctions for this sticker.
1. This seller is offering two stickers for less than the ad below
“2-Vintage Hamm’s Beer Stickers
RARE SET Grizzle w Jeep & Grizzle w Canoe
Cool set with both stickers included.
These are new-unused stickers!
Thank you for looking!”
2.”Up for auction is a rare vintage Hamm’s Beer sticker with a bear riding in a Jeep. Very cool. New old stock. Measures approx. 5.25″ x 5.25″. Multiple available. Please email any questions prior to bidding. Thanks!”
The February 1963 issue of Popular Mechanics included an article about the New Mexico Jeep Derby held annually in Truth or Consquences, New Mexico. It’s a great article about the early days of jeep racing. I’ve also included a video of one Derby race, but the quality is poor. Still, in some clips, you can see just how much the co-pilot shifts his body around the jeep.
View Popular Mechanics February 1963 at Google Books
UPDATE: This photo of Jimmy Crabtree resides in the Free Library of Philadelphia Digital Collections (see bottom image).
PHOTO CREDIT: Free Library of Philadelphia Digital Collections ; PHOTO CAPTION: San Francisco: Jimmy Crabtree, 3, does some repair work on his miniature Jeep, with some aid from a helper. Jimmy’s father, a race car aid from a helper. Jimmy’s father, a race car mechanic, and his uncle made the Jeep for him. It is powered by an electric motor like those used in invalid chairs. Two batteries, one under the hood and one under the rear seat, furnish enough juice for 10 hours driving at 14 mph. Mr. Crabtree estimates it cost about $75 in parts and $2,000 in labor. February 21st, 1948
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Originally posted in November of 2014: The Chicago Tribune featured two kids driving jeeps. The first was about a boy named Richard Aulerich who built a soap box entry and then turned it into a drivable vehicle.
Boy from Detroit turns Soap Box Jeep into drivable vehicle.
A year later Jimmy Crabtree proved a little smarter than Richard. Three-year-old Jimmy had his father make him a drivable jeep, but it seems ladies-man Jimmy made sure it was a two-seater. He wasted no time picking up Susan Spitzer and taking her for a ride.
UPDATE: This video is now included on this website: https://www.motorious.com/articles/news/365606/how-military-waterproofed-willys-jeeps
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Original Post appear July 2014: