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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 .
I knew there were aluminum bodies for flatties, but I discovered today that Aqualu manufactures a wide range of aluminum bodies, including a flattie, CJ-5, CJ-6 and more. Check out all the different bodies at their website.
Here’s a couple images from the Library of Congress showing President Roosevelt cruising the American troops in Morocco.
Here’s one image: http://hdl.loc.gov/loc.pnp/fsa.8e01227
Here’s a second image: morocco2: http://hdl.loc.gov/loc.pnp/fsa.8e01229
A trip to the local Military show turned out to be just what Paul needed. BTW Paul, you don’t owe us anything. You are putting on a show for us up there in “The Last Frontier (which is the official state nickname)”. No doubt there’s a few readers who might benefit from this mod.
Paul, take it away! “This past weekend the local military vehicle collectors had a show at a car dealership near my house for the general public and it was free so I went. Before leaving the house I grabbed my camera and a steel tape just incase I ran across a shining gem of a radiator nestled among the antique olive drab metal. In addition to the WWII Willys and Ford Jeeps on display, the Dodge command cars, M 38’s and M 38 A1’s there were a couple of M 151’s and one of them had it’s hood up. Naturally I began checking out the radiator, first by eye and then measuring the height, width and thickness and ending up on my back under this Mutt where I noticed the radiator was a bottom mount. Most interesting!
The original M 38 radiator is a bottom mount with a top mount brace rod, it’s 21 1/4 inches wide by 19 inches high and 5 inches thick. These dimensions are overall and they include the radiator cap. The core dimensions are 13 inches high by 20 inches wide and 3 inches thick.
The M 151 radiator is a bottom mount with a top mount brace rod, it’s 20 1/2 inches wide by 19 inches high and about 4 inches thick (I didn’t measure the metal shroud so I’m guessing here) and once again these measurements are overall. The core is 13 1/2 inches high by 19 1/4 inches wide by 2 inches thick.
Both radiators have a drivers side inlet (top) and a passenger side outlet (bottom).
Gentlemen, we have a winner !!!!!!
For the past 55 years E. A. Patson Parts and Equipment has been dealing in new and used surplus military vehicles and parts here in Anchorage but Elmer Patson is 86 years old (his son, Rod, is only 63 but he’s been working at the business since he was 12) and would like to retire so everything’s for sale. I asked about M 151 radiators and they have both new and used radiators. I was able to borrow a used radiator so I could do a bit of metal massaging and fabricate a lower mount and the top brace rod and when the snow melts some and they can get into one of their outbuildings where the new radiators are stored I’ll buy one of those. For now this used radiator will allow me to continue my progress with the Willys resurrection until the end of March when I’ll officially declare the winter to be over and it will be time to do outside (summer) projects.
Thanks again to all the Willys fans for their much appreciated suggestions, ideas and help. I look forward to the day when I can return the favor, but until then I owe you. “
Here’s a short article about a Veteran of WWII named Mr. M C White. He was assigned a Jeep with only 7 miles on it during the war and proceeded to drive it for 3 years, through battles all over Europe. I don’t see a period at the end of the last sentence, so I suspect this article might be longer than it appears?
This article is from the front page of the July 19, 1946 issue of the Mt. Pleasant, Ia, Newspaper [The Mt. Pleasant News]. Thanks to Bruce for the article.
Paul continues to make progress on his Stainless M-38. However, he recently ran into a problem getting the radiator he needs.
He needs some ideas or suggestions.
I’ll let him explain:
Paul writes, “I’ve run into a bit of a problem with my perpetual Willys project and I need information and ideas. I ordered a brand, spanking new radiator from KaiserWillys for the Buick odd fire engine I installed in my M38 thinking this was the best way to prevent overheating and additional problems down the road. Boy, was I wrong!
The KaiserWillys catalog lists the Buick 225 radiator as being 17 inches high, 21 and 7/8 inches wide and 1 and 1/2 inches thick which is just about the perfect size for the space available under the hood. Just to make sure I checked their online site and discovered a cautionary note mentioning this radiator could be either 17 inches or 22 inches wide and I was to let them know which width I needed. To avoid any misunderstandings I called KaiserWillys and, after confirming the 17″h X 21 7/8″ w X 1 1/2” t, I placed an order for a radiator. I even called back after I ordered it just to confirm the dimensions. As I mentioned in a previous email I was told the radiator wouldn’t be done until the end of Feb. (I ordered the radiator the 15th of Feb.) and I was very surprised and pleased when the UPS guy delivered the radiator the afternoon of Feb. 19th. The next day I carefully removed the radiator from the box and placed it into position. Not only didn’t the radiator fit but the radiator cap was about 5 inches above the level of the hood. Not good at all.
How’d they mess that up?
The radiator was 21″ high, not the needed 17″ so I called KaiserWillys again and it turns out the dimensions listed in their catalog, the dimensions listed on their web site and the dimensions they gave me over the phone are all wrong. Not only did the radiator have to be sent back but Mike told me they won’t deal with radiators for the Buick 225 engine and he was sorry but he knows of no source for this radiator. I’m not trying to pin the blame on anyone, I just want to find a this radiator which will fit my Jeep and allow me to attach an electric fan on the engine side without hitting the waterpump pulley.
My questions to you are
1. do you know the original size of the CJ5 radiator with the Buick V6 and did the Jeepster (Commando actually I guess) use the same size radiator?
2. Do you know where I might be able to purchase a used radiator (new would be better but I don’t think that will happen) even if it needs to be recored?
I realize I could notch the front crossmember and move the radiator forward (after trimming the shroud) but I’ll save this as a last resort. The chances of me finding an original V6 powered Jeep here in the Great White North are pretty slim but I’m going to look anyway.”
My ideas
I told Paul that I ran a Pinto radiator with a buick 225 in my first Jeep. I’ve also found some new radiators for sale for various 1980s buick cars. Here’s what I wrote Paul, “I found some other options using thefind.com. I searched for ‘buick v6 radiators’. Here’s a radiator for a buick regal that is $89. It is an aluminum 20-3/4 x 16-7/8 x 1-1/4, 1 ROW (and I’m assuming that is 20-3/4 wide, which isn’t safe to assume as you well know). http://www.shepherdautoparts.com/autoparts/all_aluminum_radiator/buick/regal/w5HDm8OWw5TDl8K7w5rDksORw5HCosKi.htm.”
Anyone else have ideas?
While you think about it, you can marvel at more of Paul’s handiwork – A table made with stainless legs and Ancient Kauri wood, along with a wall hanging from the same wood. About it he writes, “Naturally the table legs are fabricated from stainless in a truss pattern. Each leg is made up of 30 individual parts (not counting the attaching hardware) and by the time I was all done fitting and filing these parts I’d spent 78 hours just making the legs. The wood took many more hours because ultrafine sanding is necessary to get the best grain activity> After sanding the wood to 1500 grit I applied numerous coats of clear marine varnish (Interlux 95), wet sanded the varnish to 3000 grit and then finished it off by hand polishing the varnish.”
UPDATE: Kevin from the UK wrote me today to say that he spotted the same CJ-2A Kevin saw while on vacation on Maui in 2002. Too funny! He also took a picture and provided it for our viewing pleasure. Thanks Kevin!
Steve was visiting Hawaii a few years ago and spotted this VEC CJ-2A on the island of Maui in Hawaii. There can’t be too many of these on the island!
UPDATE: John informed that he successfully adopted a 1959 CJ-5 that will complete his ‘family’. It looks like it’s a great, straight CJ with a good foundation for a rebuild. Congrats John!
John writes, “Dave, Our new family arrival, a 59 cj5. This unit came without eng. & trans & fer. It will get a Dauntles & org. trans & fer, & O/D. I’ll replace all floor pans , the rest of the tub is very good. It will get a four point cage. Disc front brakes, 11″ rear. Painted to match its stable mates.”
Here’s a few pics:
John shared this ‘family’ photo with me. He noted that he’s hoping to adopt a 1959 CJ-5 to complete the family. You can see pics of ‘Brownie’ (CJ-3A) here. And, some closeups of Brownie here.
UPDATE: **SOLD** Was $15,000
I can’t imagine there are too many Russian amphibious vehicles in the United States. Apparently this is the 4wd version of the Luaz.
“Used, made in USSR amphibious , lightweight , air-dropable ( with parachute of course 😉 helicopter-transportable military vehicle.Used as a light medevac vehicle . 3 seats, or driver + 700 lbs cargo. Powered by air-cooled 1,2 liter gasoline engine, Runs on unleaded gas with lead substitute.4×4 , manual transmission,locking differential, off-road gear. Front winch =300 lbs load. Speed on road 50 mph water – 5 mph.Can cross lakes, river with current up to 7 mph. Can swim up to 900 ft.Has 12 Volts bilge pump on board Has clean Oklahoma title, Drivable, but brakes need be fixed, Canvas in fair conditions need to be replaced. Some rust, vehicle was on storage for last 12 months.I hate to sell it, but wife says ,, Too many army cars here “This is real deal Is 90% orginal just like army vehicle supposed to be, Used by former East -German NVA parachute regiment . Has maintenance manual in German.”
Thanks to Tommy for forwarding me this unusual story. The story is that Californian Tom Wright had an opportunity to save these bumper cars from the Long Beach Pike Amusement Park from going to the dump. According to the coolthings.com website, “he took out the Harley motors, replaced it with 750cc Honda and Kawasaki boxes, and redesigned them to pass city driving standards. His fleet now consists of eight crazy-looking street bumper cars (culled from different amusement parks), all licensed to give your hottest ride a run for its money.” The rumor is that these could theoretically hit 160mph. Personally, I will let someone else find that out!
The below image is from the coolthings.com website and the other pics are from an email circulating around the internet.
Gerald reports that Lego has put out some Toy Story Flat Fender Toys. He found some other Lego flatties, too.
