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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 .
Bob shared this article that explains more about the CJ-5 fire jeep (see the original PDF here).
The Epic Willys Adventure Crew has put together a video showing highlights from days 1 & 2 of their 2021 summer adventure. Here’s a 20-plus minute video.
Ray’s put together a nice collection of surreys. You can see them in a pic he sent me. He’s working on the pink Surrey. If you happen to have the steering column shifter rods for a DJ-3A, he’s looking for them.
UPDATE: This also ran in October of 2016. I’ve still not uncovered any more relevant information about these tops. However, I can tell you that the Plastic Turning Company suffered a break-in on March 15th, 1970. the company was located at 511 Lancaster St, Leominster, MA.
In March of 1969, Four Wheeler Magazine featured Plastic Turning Company’s Topless Top. It was built from plexiglass and was offered in a clear and tinted model. The company was based out of Leominster, Massachusetts. Has anyone ever seen one of these out in the wild? I didn’t have much luck searching Google for other images.
The Press photo below appeared in at least one newspaper. On October 18, 1943, the Chillicothe Gazette (Ohio) published this pic and caption:
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Published April 9, 2021: Based on the bumper, I’d say this is a GPW. I had hoped to locate the photo in a newspaper, but had no luck.
“Vintage original 1943 press photo of Grumman TBF / TBM Avenger with Jeep on Wake Island, (approximately 20cm x 15cm), with “Keystone” press stamp & description to rear. OK condition, with wear.”
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This pic and caption came from a 12/2019 ebay auction:
Good photo of a stripped(?) jeep maneuvering a Hellcat aboard an aircraft carrier.
“1943 Press Photo Jeep toying US Navy Hellcat aboard an aircraft carrier. This is an original press photo. Autos – Jeeps – Somewhere off Wake Island – They say there’s nothing new under the sun, but here’s a picture of a Jeep, familiar to all as one of the most useful of the many instruments used in this war to date, at a novel task – that of jockeying a “Hellcat” aboard a carrier. This was one of the “flat tops” used to pummel the Japanese on Wake Island, October 5-6. Note two other similar ships in the distance Photo measures 8.5 x 6.5 inches. Photo is dated 10-15-1943.”
UPDATE: This post ran in October of 2016.
A series of emails about grilles led to the creation of this graphic. I believe my draft below is accurate based on the research I’ve done today, but if you see an error, don’t be shy about pointing it out. The grille I’m least sure about is the 1959 and later DJ-3A grille. I’m looking for more evidence that the late DJs used grilles with horizontal holes for attaching the parking lights, a necessary change because they used different parking lights after sn 14103 in 1959.
As further evidence, the graphic below shows an early and late DJ-3A parking light schematics. This was assembled by Bruce Again and posted at the former jeeosurreygala.com site. I’ve combined what he published and turned it into this image:
The CJ-3B grilles were changed in a similar fashion in 1956. Derek has covered this issue well. And, as you can see below, CJ-5s were also switched in late 1956 or early 1957. Continue reading
Here’s one of those odd, jeep-related stories that has nothing to do with jeep vehicles. In this case, the April 26th, 1943, edition of the News and Observer out of Raleigh, North Carolina, published an article about the answer to a farm problem: JEEPS. The backronym stands for Junior Emergency Everyday Production-Picking Service, a group of mobile boys and girls who offered to help farmers with various farm tasks.
Looks like a slat grille.
View all the information on eBay
“1943 Press Photo American jeep passes workers on a supply route in Italy. This is an original press photo. Italy — An American jeep rolls along the broad supply route in an Italian wilderness that a short time ago was a mere mule-track. Skilled United States engineers literally carved out the road during the battle for Naples, using bulldozers, cranes and Italian laborers to rush through the job.Photo measures 9 x 7.25 inches. Photo is dated 10-12-1943.”
Blaine shared this unusual wagon build from Australia. Note the side mounted air cleaners.
https://www.whichcar.com.au/features/gavan-julie-starr-thomas-1962-willys-jeep-wagon
I don’t remember how I found this video (maybe from Facebook?), but it turned out to be a compelling one. Before his death in 2020, New Jersey resident Robert Max was the last known survivor of the Nazi WWII force laborers. A few years ago, he wrote a book about his experience, then narrated the following forty minute documentary video (playable for free on Vimeo). There’s a pretty interesting twist at the end, too.
Here is Robert Max in a jeep at Camp Atterberry in 1944:
Photo Credit: Jewish Historical Society of New Jersey
Click on this image to go to the video page:
You can learn more here: https://www.northjersey.com/story/news/new-jersey/2021/11/26/nj-jewish-wwii-vet-subject-bob-max-long-march-home-documentary/8718280002/
