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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 .
One of the places this Rice Krispies with a Jeep appeared was in the October 24, 1942, issue of the Saturday Evening Post, pg 6.
UPDATE: This is the original patent for the Jeep-a-Loader! The application was first filed on February 07, 1955, by the Minneapolis Freeman Mfg, Co. (Out of Minneapolis??). I am guessing that the Jeep-A-Loader Corporation was a subsidiary or offshoot from the above parent company. The drawing shows that the Jeep-A-Loader was designed to fit over a CJ-3B (perhaps a CJ-5 as well), though the only one I’ve seen documented is fitted on a CJ-3A.
The filing date likely means this was manufactured around 1955, plus or minus a year. The patent was granted February 11, 1958.
This photo is from 2009:
From June 2008: A reader named Ed sent me some pics of a rare find he just purchased: A front end loader for a jeep from a manufacturer called Jeep-a-Loader. The serial number is 1001. The hydraulics system is powered by a Hy-lo hydraulic pump, which has been used to power other Willys devices. You can see an example of a Hy-lo pump here and here. Here are some pics below.
UPDATE II: Bob Westerman shared a few cage photos he’s found during his research:
UPDATE: Dan tracked down this detailed explanation of the Squirrel Cage: http://weaponews.com/weapons/16209-a-system-for-increasing-the-patency-of-the-squirrel-cage-usa.html
The November 9, 1948, issue of the Evening Star ran a short article on the Squirrel Cage. A February 1949 issue of Mechanix Magazine ran the same photo (and it’s more clear).
The Evening Star photo and caption:
The Modern Mechanix photo and caption:
UPDATE II: Some additional photos of the Esslingen, Germany, recondition facility posted to Facebook. The first one is similar to the final photo in this post, but the details show it’s a different photo (probably earlier given these have soft tops and military markings.
UPDATE: This was originally published in 2013.
The Bechtel-McCone Remanufacturing Process rebuilt from an article in issue #122 of the Army Motors Magazine Winter ’08 by Lloyd White
One topic that appears in my new book is the 1941 attack on Russia by Hitler. Called operation Barbarossa and named for the medieval Holy Roman Emperor Frederick Barbarossa it was the largest invasion in the history of warfare. It included three million soldiers, 600,000 vehicles, and 750,000 horses. For comparison, the D-Day invasion force was approximately 150,000 men. Even a month later, only a million men had landed on the beaches of Normandy.
Supporting these huge numbers required plenty of logistics. For example, the German military had 250 companies of veterinarians that, at the height of the war, were capable of servicing almost 100,000 horses a day. Near the end of the war, horses became vital for the Germans on the Eastern front, as the terrain was often too inhospitable for vehicles, if they had any running vehicles at all.
What does this have to do with jeeps? Well, despite their disposable nature, many people don’t know that the U.S. Army’s Ordnance Department created special facilities to rebuild jeeps (and other vehicles). Facilities were located both in the U.S. and abroad. Here’s some information about the US divisions.
I spent time last night, probably too much, gathering and organizing some information about these programs. The idea and much of this information came from Maury Hurt’s efforts to gather and document reconditioning programs. There are a variety of threads about these at G503. However, what I didn’t see was a place that gathered the information together as I have below. I expect to add to this post over time with more information about the international programs.
Steam cleaning jeeps at Bechtel-McCone’s remanufacturing facility in Birmingham, Alabama.
UNITED STATES REMANUFACTURING:
The following companies remanufactured a total of 16,176 jeeps in the United States according to Charlie Weaver via Jim Allen’s book “Jeep”. There are examples of the data plates applied to the dash of jeeps by the companies below. Unfortunately, I couldn’t find examples for all the companies. Next to the companies are the number of jeeps each is credited with rebuilding.
1. Bechtel McCone 4,986
2. Allison Steel Manufacturing Company Plate 2,865
3. Moore Equipment Co plate and a second one and a third one. 2,443
4. Higgins Plastic Corp 1,850
5. Stewart & Stevenson 1,750
6. W.A. Bechtel plate 1,555
7. Bishop McCormick & Bishop (no examples found) 343
8. International Diesel (no examples found) 267
9. Vancura Motor Company (no examples found) 66
10. A.M. Meyerstein (no examples found) 49
I found these plates in several locations (documented in the links above) and then organized them as you see. I thought it would help people who run into plates, but don’t know what they have.
UPDATE: There’s another Hammock State Park postcard on eBay. The original post is from 2013.
“This is a very cool black/white postcard that shows a jeep “Conducted Tour – Highlands Hammock State Park in Sebring Florida” It is unused, but has a hand written date of 1955 on the back. It is in excellent condition.”
View all the information on ebay
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Original Post from 2013:
Highlands Hammock State Park ran tour trains from at least 1948 – 1962. As the first photo shows, they started with a CJ-2A. It looks like a set of benches on a platform with wheels. By 1962, the park shifted to CJ-5s. It also appears they added sides. I images that was safer. These are all from the State Archives of Florida.
http://www.floridamemory.com/items/show/56346
http://www.floridamemory.com/items/show/56343
http://www.floridamemory.com/items/show/78488
UPDATE II: This brochure is reminiscent of the Argentina jeep pickup, though this one looks much more CJ-5ish. This is currently on eBay.
UPDATE: Maury found a couple related photos. That top looks kind of similar to one of the DJ-3A tops I’ve seen in pics. Nice half doors, too.
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(Original Post 02/02/2015) This is a single page unfolding brochure.
“original part color folder , 9.5 x 3.5 folded , 9.5 x 11.5 unfolded , Spanish text. Produced by Kaiser, Argentina .”
UPDATE: **Status Unknown** Was on ebay
(last listed on ebay in Jan 2015) “This is a custom, one-off Willy’s Jeep. It was made for Henry Kaiser, when he retired to Hawaii and became involved in tourism and land development. He had the custom pink long-wheelbase Willys wagon built for exploring the island. Kaiser’s wife loved pink and all of his construction equipment was painted pink, so that seems to be where the pink color for the Jeep came from. This can all be seen on the following web page, along with a photo (which is the black and white photo provided in the photos of the vehicle) of the Jeep in Hawaii : http://cj3b.info/Siblings/SurreyHawaii.html
We also have documentation from the Kaiser Jeep Corporation stating that this Jeep is an authentic one of a kind Jeep. Please only serious inquiries only and please do not try to convince us that we are wrong about it being a one of a kind, this is most definitely not a railroad Jeep. We know what we have and are willing to answer questions of those with serious inquiries about this vehicle.”
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The seller claims to have documentation to prove that this is the only four door limo-like wagon made. to Willys Country this wagon was once used as a limo for an airport. Whether there was only one built or remains an undocumented issue at this point. Is the wagon above the same one that’s in the photo below? Hard to say for sure.
UPDATE II: It appears there were two models of the Cargo-Personnel Carrier. One brochure shows that the Willys-Overland Export Company was the only entity offering this no-door Cargo-Personnel Carrier internationally (no mention of “Willys Motors” on the end of the last page of the brochure, but the bottom brochure’s last page shows both names). Here are the brochures’ cover pages side by side:
Both are currently listed on eBay. Here’s the first:
View all the information on eBay
UPDATE: This is a complete Willys Cargo-Personnel Carrier brochure.
View all the information on eBay
UPDATE: **Status Unknown** Was $10,000
(08/21/2013) Looks like the windshield bends at the cowl. Not quite stock, looks solid.
“This is a 1946 Willys Jeep. I have the stock wheels that also go with this jeep . I have either restored, replaced or rebuilt all parts on this jeep.The steering is manual on this also.”
UPDATE:**Status Unknown** Was $15,000.
Looks nicely updated.
“1959′ JEEP Willy’s Truck / Custom Built / 2wd / Chevy 350 freshly rebuilt and bored .30 over / Automatic transmission / power steering / dual exhaust w headers / rack and pinion steering / disc brakes on front & drums on back / CD player / tinted window/ 15×10″ wheels on 33’s / added wipers and heater / bed freshly redone/ fresh oil change and serviced / frame coated / freshly detailed / garage kept / real head turner / any questions ”
UPDATE: Still Available.
(12/12/2017) “Sell or partial trade. Killer looking old willys jeep, sitting on a dodge frame and running gears. 39 inch tires on 15×10 aluminum wheels. Set up for a big block dodge, motor is not in jeep, but i have everything to make it run. Have a 1970 model 383 out of a dodge truck. Has auto trans. Comes with headers and side exit exhaust. Jeep is in good shape for the year model. Might trade on other project cars and trucks.”
https://lexington.craigslist.org/cto/d/richmond-1953-willys-jeep-4×4/6787082296.html
UPDATE: Price dropped to $12,500
(05/30/2015) Looks nice.
https://fredericksburg.craigslist.org/cto/d/king-george-1948-willys-panel-truck/6779481955.html
“48 willy panel truck tubbed out with 302 ford motor rack and pinion front with 4 link and coil rearend with 33 inches tires.Very rare panel truck.”
