emailNeed to contact me and don't have my email? Click on email button.
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 .
UPDATE: These pics are from a previous eBay ad. This mailer brochure rarely comes up for sale. It folds out to 8.5″x11″. There’s no form number printed.
View all the information on eBay
UPDATE II: Maury forwarded an updated video about the Sand Ship Discovery that was posted to youtube in January of 2020. Loren’s wife provides information on some of the unique details of this CJ-5, modified for difficult terrain and the 6’4″ Loren Upton.
======================
This post was last posted December 26, 2017: This just appeared in our local newspaper. A couple local folks are helping him out. Here’s an accompanying video:
ORIGINAL ARTICLE FROM MAY 10, 2017:
An article from Spokane’s Spokesman Review alerted me to the story of A World Odyssey-The Epic Voyage of the Sand Ship Discovery. This is actually a local story (for me) as Loren Upton, the man at the root of the adventure, has lived in Yakima and the Tri-Cities and worked at the nearby Hanford nuclear reservation.
Between 1984 and 1989, Loren piloted a CJ-5 around the world, surpassing 55,000 miles. The jeep holds a Guiness book of World Record for being the first vehicle to cross the Darien Gap. Some of you might remember the 2014 post about the 1959-1960 venture across the Darien Gap in a Willys Truck and a Land Rover. However, some of that trip was done by floating part of the river.
Loren’s nephew Laurence would like to restore the CJ-5 back to it’s former glory and then take his Uncle on one more world trip. They’ve set up a go-fund-me page and a website with lots of information and photos. Good luck to them!
http://www.outbackofbeyond.com/index.html
These ads were published in conjunction with Willys Limited of Canada.
View all the information on eBay
“You are bidding on a lot of 4 different ads for the Jeep Willys FC-150 from 1957. Ads are in excellent condition. Check pictures carefully.”
This seems a strange item, especially marketed in conjunction with the Civic Opera House in Chicago.
View all the information on eBay
“1954 KAISER WILLY’S BRAND- POCKET NOTE PAD – CHICAGO CIVIC OPERA HOUSE SPONSORED… BLANK NOTEPAD”
Tracy shared pics of his grandfather’s WW2 jeep that was customized at some point, either motor-pool modified or post-war modified. He’s hoping someone might have more information about it.
“This Willys came to me by way of my grandfather, a WW2 veteran of Normandy where, D-Day+1 his unit was shelled by 88’s and he lost his leg.
I have no idea when he, himself, acquired it as I never even knew it existed until I was called to remove it. Since my father never mentioned it to me, it is likely he didnt know either.
I can only assume he had visions of restoring it. Now, that falls to me, and I gladly accept that.
My plan is to do more of a “restification” on it than an all out restoration.
You see, the modifications that have been made are completely, and thoroughly welded in place. As it looks to have been this way since, at least, the era that it was acquired as surplus, if not before, it has really become part of the vehicle’s story and it will remain. The workmanship is very well done and, whoever did these modifications was a very skilled welder/fabricator as all welds, fit, and finish are top notch.
So, I share it here in hopes that I may find information on that history.”
This press photo shows a good shot of a CJ-2A that was likely commandeered by the Chinese Nationalists for use in the defense of Shanghai. The photo is dated May 14, 1949.
View all the information on eBay
Jeeps’ Commandeered For Defense of Shangai: Shanghai, China ………..
Here are some of the 300 jeeps commandeered by the Nationalists in Shanghai from civilian business to be used in the defense of the city. Owners not only had to part with their treasured vehicles, but were ordered to supply drivers, tools and spare tire. The jeeps and more than 400 other trucks are now pooled in Chung Cheng Park awaiting assignment orders. Reports this morning said that the sound of big guns could be heard on the outskirts of Shanghai.
This June 18, 1941, article in the Los Angeles Times discusses how a “trapped jeep” uses a dust cloud to a escape the ‘enemy’.
This Times Record (Troy, New York) article on December 14, 1961, shares the news that the Rensselaer County Sheriff just received a new jeep (FC-150) and boat.
Blaine shared this ‘toy’ jeep he saw on Collectors Weekly. Neither of us had seen it before, but a commenter on that site said it was an “Art Decor piece likely sold at Hobby Lobby.”
“It’s a vintage Jeep Tin Toy that I recently bought. The writing on the hood is “U.S.A. 252678548”. It measures about 11 1/2 inches long, about 4 inches tall, and about 5 inches wide. On the bottom, it has “52” stamped on it. On the hood, it has a star.”
In the May 25, 1941, issue of the Des Moines Register, Iowan reporter Donald Grant describes his first ride in a jeep (Ford GP). Also included is a short article about three Iowan kids who died tragically during the previous weekend.
