emailNeed to contact me and don't have my email? Click on email button.
About eWillys
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.
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 spotted this plastic jeep on a buy-it-now eBay ad, but didn’t recognize it. It looked unusual due to the spare tire placement (CJ-2-like), so I made an offer and scored it. After some research, I learned it is pretty unique.
According to Fred Coldwell (you can see his collection of these below), “in 1945 California Moulders, Inc., Los Angeles 11, California, produced plastic models of the 1944 CJ-2 jeep named the “Agrijeep”. These first 20 CJ-2 civilian jeeps can be identified by their spare tire mounted mid-body on the passenger side, as faithfully reproduced in the plastic models below. These CJ-2 models came in a variety of colors, and the red and white and blue and white model pairs shown below have opposite colored hood, bodies, tailgates and tires. I have yet to find the complimentary models to the blue and yellow and white and green plastic CJ-2 jeeps. These very first plastic models of “The New” Civilian Jeeps are not easy to find, but over the decades I have collected the ones shown here. Enjoy!”
Mine is all one color (I have yet to find a comparable one on the internet), but lacks the windshield. It seems like it got too hot (see the front bumper), so it’s hardly a perfect specimen. There are no markings on it, other than “39” is printed on the box; I’m unclear what that signifies (no company name on the box either).
Other California Moulder models:
This first photo shows Fred’s collection (from this link):
“Selling my unrestored WW2 Willys 1/4 Ton trailer. Needs to be restored. Needs handbrake and brake linkage, wheels are post war, needs landing leg. I have two fenders which are included. Original paint on back side which has not been cut for tailgate. Bottom panel needed. Please look at the pics and ask all questions before bidding. If you want more images, please ask. A;; sa;es final no returns. Located in Central Tennessee, near McMinnville 37110, pick up only. Can arrange delivery a short distance for fee to be negotiated before sale. TN Bill of sale as TN does not title trailers unless used for out of state commercial use.”
“$15,000 Here is the real deal WW2 willys Jeep Jeepney from the Philippines. Was built in the 1960’s with old war Jeeps left behind. This is a real deal with Isuzu diesel and 4 speed transmission. Old owner was a maga millionaire that took his family in the annual parade every year in this. It was part of the Schats bakery collection. Has a clean Missouri title and had over $5000 invested in the running gear years ago. Been sitting maybe 4 years and will run and drive in a few hours.”
UPDATE: This article from August 28, 1941, published in the Daily News (New York City), describes the Bantam BRC-40 T2E1. This is the second generation of of the T2E1, (reportedly, the first generation of the T2E1 had a the full body, which itself was a derivation of the T2, an anti-tank jeep that had the gun between the seats; however, there apparently is some debate on how to define the versions).
Also mentioned below is the Ford Swamp Angel. I’ll have more info on that in an upcoming post.
An article from 1941 appears to describe the T2E1 Bantams shown in photos below (a few more photos here also). The article describes the rifles as 47mm, while the photo captions correctly describe the rifle as a 37mm. Perhaps the difference is that the article was written in July, while the photos were taken late in August? So, maybe, 47mm rifles might have been initially considered? (47mm anti-tank guns were developed by France as early as 1931)
This article was published July 21, 1941, in the Lansing State Journal out of Michigan:
#1 Originally posted 01/31/2014:
This is likely a reprint, but still a good photo of the Bantam BRC-40 T2E1.
“THIS AUCTION IS FOR ONE/1 REDYCUT U.S. ARMY AMPHIBIAN JEEP WOOD KIT IN ORIGINAL BOX
THE KIT LOOKS TO BE COMPLETE.
DIRECTIONS INCLUDED
A NICE EXAMPLE OF THIS RARE WOOD AMPHIBIAN JEEP MODEL KIT.
HARD TO FIND IN THIS CONDITION.”