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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 .
Here’s the second half to the Universal Jeep Booklet. The pages I shared yesterday are underneath these. I’ll get them reordered at some future point.
UPDATE: I’ve added some photos of an actual Portarator.
Merton Day obtained this brochure years ago. It’s not a jeep specific item, but it is easy to see how one of these generators hooked to a jeep could prove useful. The Portarator was installed in the engine compartment for power tools or other electric devices (such as a margarita blender, should the mood strike).
B&B manufacturing produced other Portarator products, as this brochure demonstrates, but I couldn’t find any Portarator’s for sale. Here’s the brochure Merton saved:
We know a couple of these exist. One sold back in 2014.The fire truck has “Blitz Wagon” on it, while the company marketed it as a “Blitz Buggy” The company that produced these was the Hi Pressure Fog Equipment Company.
“This is an original advertisement,NOT a reproduction, no rips or tears. Size of ad is app 5 X 5.”
View all the information on eBay
The same company also made this alternative version. Anyone recognize the vehicle? This ad also appeared in a 1951 magazine accord to the seller.
View all the information on eBay
UPDATE: **SOLD** Was on eBay
“Here I have a very nice Willys Jeep Rarity:
WILLYS MOTORS INC.
Special Equipment Price List
APPROVED
Jeep
EQUIPMENT
SWEEPSTER ROTARY BROOMS
This lot 2-Piece lot includes:
* Single Sheet Price List, Dated January 1, 1960
* Single Sheet Flier SWEEPSTER ROTARY BROOM
All forms measure about 8 ½ x 11 inches.”
This rare Warn Hub Selective Drive owner’s manual was saved for decades by Merton Day. His Grandson, Frank Day, generously sold this along with some last-of-a-kind Free Lock hub information to me.
This owner’s manual is one long, two-sided brochure measuring 20 1/2″ x 2 7/8″ that folds up into a 2 7/8″ x 2 7/8″ square (the top is to the far right of the first image below). Here is the original version. This could be called the front:
And the back.
To improve readability, the images have been halved. Front:
Back:
There’s not date on this brochure, but I’d guess 1956 or slightly later. There’s no sense that the CJ-5 is “new” in the brochure.
UPDATE: **SOLD** Was on eBay.
I haven’t run across that Warn logo with the jets flying.
“Near Mint
WARN HUBS
SELECT DRIVE
NO. WD-255
SERVICE and REPAIR
MANUAL
YOUR JEEP WILL TAKE OFF LIKE A JET!”
This August 1961 Jeep Family brochure called “You Can’t Hide from the Fact” featured a hippo trying to hide behind a small tree. It’s not clear to me why they used all the cutesy animal references during this time period. This is Form No. DM61-08.
There’s a bunch of information inside this. I’m not sure how much jeep information there is or not.
“Purchased from an estate sale of a Vietnam veteran that was a mechanic there…as the story goes. This binder is in very good condition for it’s age. No breaks or signs of visual wear. It is packed full, as seen in the last picture, of all different types of service type manuals from the mid 60’s to early 70’s as best as I can tell. There are some Willys, Chrysler, Ford, Jeep, Renault, Chevrolet, tons of other service information. So much information that would be impossible to list it all. All pages are also in very good condition. Very interesting piece of history!”
View all the information on eBay
According to the CJ-3B Page, the Post Office experimented with several different types of jeeps for mail delivery. However, finding photos or history of these jeeps has proven difficult. Last week I acquired this awesome photo stamped December 18, 1955, showing a DJ-3A with a hardtop, no tailgate, and no sides to make entry easier.
Then, on eBay, this brochure has been available for a couple months. There’s no date on the brochure itself, but the seller claims it is from 1955:
Both documents show what appear to be the same hard top and same side cut body, but the jeeps in the photos aren’t quite the same. Unlike the top jeep, the bottom jeep has the same hubcaps as the early DJ-3As, but has custom parking lights. The top photo has the side mirror on the right side, while the bottom jeep has the rear view mirror on what would normally be the driver’s side. The seats are colored slightly differently. So, are these two jeeps both experimental models?
What surprises the DJ guys the most is that we weren’t aware the low cut body was available as of late 1955. None of the marketing materials show that body as an option in 1956, as this early brochure demonstrates:
So, the search for information about early dispatcher mail jeeps continues. Anyone have more photos or information about these early post office jeeps?
