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 .
“Press Photo Pfc. Johnny Shoemaker conducts Berlin tour in jeep to nurses. This is an original press photo. Pfc. Johnny Shoemaker, of Hattiesburg, Mississippi, shows points of interest to four American nurses making a sightseeing tour of Berlin in a jeep. In the background is the “Dome” famous cathedral, and on either sides are the horses in front of the Imperial Palace.Photo measures 8.5 x 7inches. Photo is dated –none.”
UPDATE: Rather than a V-7, this might be a Woodie Top.
====================================
Originally posted 04/09/2020:
John spotted this CJ-2A in a Westchester, NY, local history book. As he read through it, he spotted the jeep with it’s unusual hardtop. He was wondering if I knew what it was. (is that possibly the Yorktown Heights train station?)
My best guess is that it is a modified V-7 Body Works hardtop (modified on the lower door along with the front corner extension that appears to go down to the step). Here are some links and photos for comparison:
As part of a discussion on hubs on Facebook, someone from Australia posted a photo of his CJ-6 that came with these unusual hubs. They are similar in external design to the Dualmatic/Selectro, have only 3 “bumps” or “tabs” rather than the standard six around the side of the hub. There’s no brand name on the hub or any other identifying characteristics. A search on Australian 4WD sites and on the Australian patent site did not reveal any information.
Anyone ever seen these?
For comparison, this is a Sears private branded Dualmatic/Selectro (sears branded) hub in the first pic and a Free-lock branded hub in the second pic.
This was taken in Durkee, Oregon – about 1 block from the Durkee, Post Office. (I am not sure if the Post Office is still open). You can actually see this vehicle in Google Street View if you look in the field at the southeast portion of the intersection of Old US Highway 30 and Oxman Ranch Road in Durkee. ….
Doug sent this beautiful photo of a Jeep Rambler hybrid he spotted on Flickr. One commenter called it a Jambler. All-in-all, this combo could have looked a lot worse! Note the builder even stenciled ‘JEEP’ onto the back tailgate.
“1942 Press Photo Army Commander Lieutenant General Walter Krueger in “War” Jeep. This is an original press photo. When a three star general roams the maneuver country, no cushioned limousine will do the job. Lieutenant General Walter Krueger tries out the two way radio with which his “war” Jeep is equipped. As commander of the Third Army, General Krueger will use the Jeep directing the strenuous maneuvers in the battle-tough Louisiana area.Photo measures 8.5 x 7inches. Photo is dated 07-29-1942.”
I’m sure someone else has more info on this Willys Malibu.
Ford developed the Falcon Station Wagon in 1959, so it’s possible that the Malibu and the Falcon were developed completely independently, but it sure looks like one could have influenced the other.
In 1961, this prototype was considered (was an actual vehicle ever built?) with a CJ-5 looking grille:
In 1961, Willys Motors came out with a different prototype wagon, the J-100, with a more familiar face.
However, the original Malibu grill concept wasn’t completely abandoned. In 1966 (Thanks Mike), the luxurious Super Wagoneer was introduced with a grille very similar to the 1959 Malibu prototype (with a small hood bump as a nod to the Wagoneer styling).:
Later, in 1974, AMC Jeep used the same look on the new Jeep Cherokee line.
UPDATE: I posted this Thor post over a decade ago (how times flies). Below is a look at the switch used to engage the Thor “Lectro-Matic” Hub, which came from this post. Since the below post was first published, there’s also been some history about Thor Products on a shared on another post.
==========================
Originally posted January 2010:
Dan dropped this into my inbox this evening. It’s a detailed look at the Thor “Lectro-Matic” Hub (or lectromatic hub). Dan completed this 18 page document, with disassembling the hubs and discussing each step. You can download the PDF here. Great work Dan!
Dan writes, The Thor “Lectro-Matic” hubs off of my 1955 CJ-5 were a bit of a mystery. These must have been some of the first “push button” 4WD systems to come out. There was little to no information on them so I decided to take them apart and see just how they work. Here is what I have learned.
When my Dad said that they were electric, I assumed that they had a little motor that would “spin” them in or out of engagement. What I realized was that they were more like a solenoid or electromagnet.
There is a coil of wire on the wheel side of the hub. When power is applied to the coil it becomes a magnet and draws itself to the axle side of the hub. There are little “teeth” machined into the facing sides of the hub. These teeth engage and the axle side of the hub turns the wheel or magnet side of the hub. A wire is ran through the back of the backing plate through a hole and provides the electricity to the magnetic coil. A contact mounted on a spring transmits this electric power through a slip ring inside the brake drum to the hub.
I imagine that the hubs could be engaged while the vehicle is moving, but I think this would cause the teeth to slip for a moment and lead to premature wear of the teeth. A toggle switch or a maintained push button could be used to turn the hubs on and off. One could even use a limit switch on the 4WD lever of the transfer case to automatically turn them on when the vehicle was shifted into 4WD. The hubs would only remain engaged as long as power is applied to the magnetic coil. If you left the switch on and had run power directly off of the battery to the switch, it would eventually drain your battery after the engine is shut off. If you ran power from the ignition switch to the on/off switch, your hubs would automatically disengage as soon as you shut off your engine.
If for some reason they didn’t want to work, there was a little screw on the outside face of the hub that you could turn to manually engage or disengage the hubs (as you can see below).
On the top of the hub you can see the wire that passes through the brake drum to power the magnetic coil.
These sold on eBay a few days ago for $16. It’s the second set that has sold on eBay in as many weeks.
“Offered is a Vintage Willys Overland Jeep 3 Pc Cufflink & Tie Clip Set … This set is NOS and was part of a lifelong Willys Overland Jeep executive’s estate. It is marked/made by Mercury Industries on the back of the tie clip. Crisp and clean! Sorry, no box”
(10/28/2019) John shared this ad. The plow was used behind a CJ-2A.
“Ames Plow Company 45 antique single bottom plow. It was used on the rear of a Jeep CJ2A back in the mid 40s. Its been stored indoors for 70+ years.
Good condition $650”