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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 .
One reader asked about a donation in exchange for the PDF. You are welcome to download it for free, but If you want, you can donate a few bucks via PayPal: payment@ewillys.com. The money goes toward the purchase of more brochures (and the documentation/sharing of them).
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Original Post April 26, 2019: Here’s the booklet I won off of eBay.
I just finished reading The Last American CEO, a book about the transition of ‘Jeep’ from Kaiser-Jeep, to AMC, to Chrysler. The principal character and source of most of the material was Joe Cappy, who was the final AMC CEO before AMC was bought by Chrysler.
Among the book’s more interesting revelations, it argues that if it weren’t for an assassination, that Chrysler might never have purchased AMC.
You’ve likely seen this video titled Steel Soldiers. It was something I posted back in 2008. The video was produced at WGTE Public Media. While the video can be viewed via youtube, the higher quality version can be still be seen on WGTE”s website. There are prototype jeeps, jeeps during war, post war jeeps, and even a few scenes at the end of the Yakima Ridge Runners racing around their area.
Maury shared this 1975 Brochure from VAM, a company that produced jeeps, among other products, in Mexico. The photos show the short nose CJ-5, some of which had inline 6 (199 AMC) starting in 1966. One of the pics includes a Surrey DJ-5.
Blaine found a set of NOS Perfect Circle hubs, which look to be private-labeled versions of the Selectro hub manufactured by Dualmatic. Unfamilar with Perfect Circle, I wondered why the company would private label a set of hubs.
It turns out that Perfect Circle had been a leader in the development of piston rings for several decades. In 1963, the company was purchased by the Dana Corporation. It’s possible that relationship led to the private labeling of the hubs. (Read the whole Perfect Circle history here)
These particular hubs should fit the Dana 27 axles, as that was the standard axle on early Scouts (but I’m not expert on the Scouts).
We’ve seen the above hubs branded under multiple names, including Dualmatic, Selectro, Perfect Circle, Free-Lock, and others. But, where did the hubs originate?
Unfortunately, as this point I only have theories rather than actual answers. One theory is that they were developed by Free-Lock, but not patented, prior to Free-Lock’s demise. Somehow, Dualamatic/Husky ended up with the hubs (probably purchased Free-Lock’s assets) and then Dualmatic manufacturing them under the Free-Lock brand, then other brands.
It has the spring system and It appears the entire top of the hub twists. But, there are some differences. The central bolt does not exist to hold the hub in place, instead side bolds secure the top. Maybe someone who has a set of these hubs can compare it to the hub design above? Below is a schematic of a Dualmatic hub for comparison.
This 2-page Car for all the People ad was featured in the Saturday Evening Post on December 21, 1946, pages 56 and 57. You’ll notice the ad has “Makers of America’s Most Useful Vehicles” phrase (the prequel phrase to “The World’s Most useful Vehicles”). it also has a Willys-Overland badge. I’m working on documenting when that bade comes and goes.
On the cover the magazine was a Main Street Christmas scene that included, at the bottom right, a tree tied to the top of a jeep.
“Complete replacement floor pans for willys M38a1 military jeep or pre 1971 CJ-5 jeep. $300 for all (will not sell separately). Set includes everything that is pictured.
Floor pans are powder coated Olive drab green.”