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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 July 19, 1956, issue of the Auburn Journal reported on the Auburn Chamber of Commerce’s sixth annual jeep trip to Lake Tahoe.
Here are some Canadian FC ads on eBay. One describes a contest in 1957.
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“1950’S WILLYS JEEP FC-150 PRINT ADS (3). Good to fair condition. One of the ads is a 1957 full page ad measuring 8.5 x 11 inches. The other two are half page ads.”
Here’s something unusual.
View all the information on eBay
“Vintage Jeep Willys Kaiser CJ2A CJ3A CJ5 Jeepster Wagon Pickup lubricant can NOS”
This cautionary sign about speed was placed atop this wrecked jeep.
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“Original WW2 photo (3.3 x 2.25 inches), slightly curled from age. No writing on the back. The sign reads “Here lies the body of G.I. Joe – He broke his neck while on the go – His nickname was ‘Speedy’ his last name Burney – He’s had it, brothers – His Sentimental Journey”.”
This press release was part of a package of press releases and photos from eBay. It’s appears to be a press kit of some kind. There are four press releases total, each varying in size. This 14-page version A is the largest.
What is “pulling stone boat”? Apparently, the post-war jeep could do that better than the war-jeep (page A-6).
This first CJ-3B focused ad was published in the April 09, 1953, issue of the Barre Daily Times out of Barre, Vermont. It demonstrated how the Universal ‘Jeep’ “Pays its way Fast!”. It was paid for by Vermont-Willys, INC.
April 09, 1953, in the Barre Daily Times out of Barre, Vermont.
This next ad appeared two weeks later in the April 21, 1953, issue of the Sentinel out of Carlisle, Pennsylvania. It was sponsored by the William Peiper Garage.
Maury shared this recent article from Motor Trend o the history of the jeep. The author does a pretty good job with it.
https://www.motortrend.com/news/1944-willys-mb-jeep-review-americas-real-sports-car/amp/
I don’t recognize this hardtop, but there’s quite a few rivets for a non-production top.
https://detroit.craigslist.org/wyn/pts/d/dearborn-heights-willys-jeep-steel-top/7192597944.html
“Original steel top & doors. MB, M38, CJ2 & 3, maybe others. From a CJ3.”
This June 03,1942, photo shows some men taking a ‘peep’ at the Will Rogers theatre to see if it suited their needs for a show. Whether the writer of the cutesy headline was aware that some folks were calling jeeps ‘peeps’ isn’t clear.
June 03, 1942, in the Fort Worth Star-Telegram.
While doing research on Maynard Roberts I happened upon the story of the first Japanese citizen who attended college after WWII. There’s no jeeps involved in this story, but I thought it was an interesting story and an unusual, gutsy move by the family of Robert Johnstone.
Yukimasa Nishiyama was a former Kamikaze pilot who won a scholarship from a family in Pennsylvania, a scholarship funded by the death of their son, Robert Johnstone, during WWII in the Pacific. It was the family’s way to honor their son by using the insurance money paid to them to fund the scholarship for a Japanese citizen to attend Lafayette College. They wanted to bridge the divide between the two countries.
His story made the news when he first arrived. In 1948 his story made the October 4th issue of Life Magazine, complete with photos. This story about Yukimasa was published in 1950:
January 23, 1950, article in the Pomona Progress Bulletin.
After college, Nishiyama went on to work for AMP, a Harrisburg, Pennsylvania, company for three decades before retiring. You can read more about his life and experiences in this 1989 article.
September 14, 1989, in The Morning Call out of Pennsylvania
September 14, 1989, in The Morning Call out of Pennsylvania
I could not find any more information about his life following 1989.