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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 thought this ad was interesting, as it promoted the chance to win two free trips to Japan, an offer that probably had little appeal, other than in Hawaii.It was published in the March 12, 1959, issue of the Hawaii Tribune-Herald.
Blaine found this unusual CJ-5. The seller claims it was special ordered by Henry Kaiser, then given to the Boy Scouts. Hopefully, the seller can substantial the claim. Even without that pedigree, this is an awfully stock jeep in very good shape.
https://sfbay.craigslist.org/nby/cto/d/santa-rosa-1960-jeep-cj/7329715935.html
“This is a 1960 CJ five with 35,000 original miles. The jeep is from Hawaii. Henry J Kaiser gave this jeep to the Boy Scouts in Hawaii. The Boy Scouts sold raffle tickets as a fundraiser. When the jeep was about a year old. It wound up in Paso Robles. The man owned it past away. I Purchased a jeep 15 years ago. The stoop is always been under cover in store and in storage. It is in great condition. The color of the jeep, is the same colors as the Royal Hawaiian hotel in Hawaii. Which was also owned by Henry J Kaiser. The main body of the jeep which is painted a darker pink is the same as the hotel The light pink that is used on the grill. He’s also the same color as the trim color on the hotel. The color of the seats are the color of the tile roof that is on the hotel. This is also the same colors of used on Kaiser s Sand and gravel trucks. This jeep has an absolutely fabulous history. and I believe that it is the only CJ five. In these colors as it was a special order by Henry J Kaiser and sell.”
The Miami Herald published a column by writer Robert C. Ruark On July 28, 1948. Apparently, he wasn’t much of a fan of the civilian jeeps, calling them “ladies”.
UPDATE: This post was originally published din 2014. Since then, I learned more about Ted, but had spread it out across various posts. Ted’s trips, and his subsequent movies, have been added to this post.
First Published November 2014: In 1955, Theodore Bumiller set out for an around-the-world adventure in a Willys Wagon. He captured his trip in photos and video. I attempted to learn more about his trip, but I only learned that his daughter is now a noted author (maybe someone else will have more luck). I emailed her to learn more about her father’s adventures, but have yet to receive a reply.
Following the trip, Ted made his first film: a 30 minute movie titled “Around The World By Jeep”. He traveled around exhibiting it. The ad below, published in the January 3rd, 1970, edition of the Toledo Blade shows he was still touring and showing his film fifteen years after he’d made his trip.
Anyone ever seen the movie?
In the late 1950s, Ted created a second movie: “The Four Seasons of Scandinavia”, an exploration of the four seasons in Scandinavian countries. As far as I can tell, it doesn’t have anything to do with jeeps.
This article from the April 15, 1959, issue of The Sun (out of Stark County, Ohio) explains more:
Ted’s daughter Elizabeth wrote a book and included an acknowledgement to Ted and his wife Ruth Ann for teaching her how to travel and for inspiring her to explore the world. In it she mentions a third film by Ted, “Eternal India”.
This photo shows a CJ-2A with a Worman hardtop.
View all the information on ebay
“5” x 3 1/2″ picture from around 1948. The Willys logo on the jeep is blurry in the picture.”
This December 06, 1958, article in the Tulare Advance Register highlights the Tulare County Four-Wheel Drive Club with pics and text. It’s not a club that I recognize, but the club was pivotal to the formation of the California Association of Jeeps Clubs in 1959 (later known as the California Four Wheel Drive Association). I tried to find a club logo or sticker, but couldn’t locate any example.
Here’s the 1958 article (spliced for easier viewing):
Just a couple updates for Friday.
Gary informed me that Lawrence Elliot of North Carolina passed away recently. Lawrence was a long time jeep mechanic, who owned jeeps up until he passed. He also rebuilt bell cranks, installing bearings into them to improve their behavior.
Ann, Maury and I had a chance to spend time with Lawrence and check out his jeeps back in 2018. Below are Lawrence and I posing at the back of his Willys Truck.
According to Bob Western, it looks like Pennsylvania will allow this year’s Great Willys Picnic to be hosted on Sunday, June 13th.
https://www.facebook.com/events/2371874076451461/
This in-depth article on the use of jeeps and planes includes a variety of photos. It appeared in the April 08, 1951, issue of the Nevada State Journal.
The CJ-5 Camper, with its own axle, always seems a pretty odd and unique build. But, Blaine found some other camper designs, with their own axle, that make the CJ-5 look practical.
https://www.coastresorts.com/boards/index.cfm/fuseaction/thread/tid/29713156/print/true.cfm
Here’s one example:
