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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 .
The seller indicates these were from M*A*S*H toy sets.
View all the information on eBay
“Metal diecast US military jeeps and trailers, 18 Jeeps and 16Trailers, made by Zylmex, 1983. 12 are OD green, 6 are desert camouflaged. First time I saw them was in the 1980’s they sold as part of M*A*S*H* sets. Selling to reduce my collection of soldiers and vehicles. Scale is possibly HO scale. Condition is “Used”.”
UPDATE: Philippos has created some newer jeep models, this time building it based on a pic of a Ford GP that was modified into a crane. However, instead of a Ford GP, he made it a Bantam BRC-40. Here’s the original pic:
https://www.facebook.com/groups/WWIIG503/permalink/10157377382976046/
Here is the model (FB link):
UPDATE: **SOLD** Was on eBay. This photo was floating one of the Facebook groups, but didn’t include the caption, which describes the passengers. This was originally published here Dec 23, 2014.
The question of the license plate came up on Facebook (as in, why does it have a license plate), while the question of “giant jeep” came up in a previous post on eWillys. The thing that’s been a head scratcher for me is that this jeep is carrying three grown men in the front, with space between the driver and the two passengers.
What is for certain is that in May 1941 Charles Payne (exec assistant to Bantam President Frank Fenn), was in Washington to promote Bantam’s efforts (see newspaper article at the bottom of this post).
So, thinking out loud, is it possible that the below verbiage is true, that Bantam made a “giant” or larger jeep to promote its effort to obtain a contract? It would explain why it has dealer plates (as it wasn’t owned by the military). Here’s a comparison with another face-front Bantam:
Photo on the left is a press photo with a standard Bantam BRC-40. The one on the right is the press photo with Congress men and Bantam Rep Charles Payne.
The angle of the jeep on the right going up the steps makes it appear a little larger, so that’s not helpful. One unusual aspect is that it seems to sit taller, with a greater distance between the tires and the front fenders; yet, the spring shacks still have more play in them than the photo on the left. However, all this could be the effect of being on the stairs with six people piled in it.
The license plate, unless enlarged, suggests that the jeep on the left is not giant, but rather a standard sized jeep. Therefore, my suspicion is that this isn’t a larger jeep. So, why the “giant jeep” comment was used by the reporter is still a mystery to me. Thoughts?
From the original eBay ad: “A Vintage1941 Original Photo depicting a Giant Jeep carrying politicians in Washington D.C. The vehicle was made by the makers of the U.S. Army’s newest midget to promote their new vehicle to the suits in Washington. The small four-wheel drive utility vehicles would become an icon of World War II. Original press stamp and caption with a MAY 25 1941 stamp date are on the verso.”
This photo was published in the May 26, 1941, issue of the Star Tribune out of Minneapolis, Minnesota:
This article from May 04, 1941, published in the Dayton Daily News (Ohio) provides additional information on Charles Payne’s visit, but doesn’t elaborate on the “Giant Jeep”, which may have been an Associate Press reporter creation:
This first column describes seven different uses for the term ‘jeep’. It appeared in the November 15, 1941, issue of the News Journal, out of Mansfield, Ohio:
A few days later, this blurb was part of a column called the Daily Knave, published November 18, 1941. It highlights some of the alternative uses of the term “jeep”.
This photo was floating around Facebook. It shows a Chicago Fire Department FC-170 dressed up as a clown carrier. Anyone know where the photo originated (the FB poster didn’t know). He did have a date of 12/5/1962.
UPDATE: We have a video update to David Tracy’s FC-170 adventure
https://jalopnik.com/i-bought-the-worlds-most-hopeless-jeep-bringing-it-bac-1846836392
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Originally published April 1, 2021: (no, this is not an April fools) … This Sunday, David Tracy of Jalopnik plans to buy a vehicle in Chicago, drive to Seattle, pick up an FC-170 he’s bought, get it running, then attempt to drive it home. I’m sure nothing will go wrong with this plan. You can read all about it here:
https://jalopnik.com/my-5-000-mile-road-trip-in-a-275-000-mile-fancy-toyota-1846591932
Here’s an interior look at the FC:
This photo and article featuring a Ford GP was published June 09, 1941, in the Democrat and Chronicle out of Rochester, New York. It highlighted Major Harry Miller’s jeep modification, which added a 37MM gun to the rear of the vehicle.
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Originally posted February 07, 2015: This post emphasized the Camp Lewis connection.
This June 9, 1941, article from the Spokane Daily Chronicle notes the Ford GP belongs to a Fort Lewis unit visiting California for maneuvers.
What I found curious about this advertisement is that it sounds more like one from 1945 or 1946, rather than 1949. Published January 23, 1949, the ad by Fort Worth Willys-Overland seems to be trying to introduce readers to this ‘new concept’ of an automobile. However, it does so without invoking the four-in-one-vehicle concept used in the early years. Had Fort Worth Star-Telegram readers never seen or heard of a civilian jeep?
From this page: https://www.facebook.com/SphinxShrinersMotorPatrol/
Here are a couple 1960s photos of the Shriner Mini Jeep Patrols. These jeep patrols and shiners in all kinds of mini-vehicles still ply the parade routes (This Facebook group includes modern photos and videos of them).
This first photo is from May 12, 1963, and published in the Marshall News Messenger (Marshall, Texas):
This second photo was published in the Tyler Morning Telegraph (Tyler, Texas) on December 07, 1963:
And here’s a 2007 video of them in action:
This article shows a similarly painted WWII jeep, with a “Wrecking Crew” aboard, as the one below. The article is from the April 20, 1950, issue of the Daily Times out of Salisbury, Maryland:
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Originally Published July 22, 2018:
“1966 Press Photo Shriners Ride in Jeep Parade 1960s Downtown Seattle Washington”
