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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 .
We had a long but enjoyable day yesterday. We picked up the DJ-3A, #56337 10538. Naturally, it will needed more work than it showed, partly because whomever owned it before Lloyd beat the thing up. But, the engine spins, the column-shift transmission shifts. and it’s got plenty of original parts to make it work the trip.
We also had a great time viewing Lloyd’s creations, which I’ll feature on Wednesday, and had a great evening with Robin, who shared his collection of jeeps with us.
Yes, that front grille was pushed inward, I have some ideas for pulling it back out again.
The color isn’t quite right on this, but this is pretty close to what it should look like. I don’t believe mine came with the chrome front bumper.
It was a long day of driving yesterday. I dropped off the motorhome in McKenna, picked up a truck there, stopped by my parents to grab some chains and help out mom. Then I made a quick trip to North Bend where Mitch Carter lent me his trailer (BIG THANKS to him). Next I drove to Pasco to pick up Ann. After that, we hit the road, driving over the very dark pass in pouring rain at about 50mph …. couldn’t see a damn thing! Eventually we broke free of the rain and arrived in Missoula in the wee hours of the morning. Robin, I’ll text you later today. Let’s meet after we pick up the jeep if that works.
September 4, 2016 • CATEGORIES: Event, Features, Racing • TAGS: Fiberglass, Parkette. This site contains affiliate links for which I may be compensated.
Saturday morning in Ethel started with a driver’s meeting at 8:30am. This has been standard practice for decades, the intent being to let driver’s know of any changes to the schedule, heats, classes, and courses. Some folks always have a skip in their step, others, like me, not born as morning folks, view it as the crack of dawn. Eventually my caffeine kicked in and things began to make sense.
After the driver’s meeting is a parade of jeeps, something that I never remember doing. Most of the racers line up and slowly drive the obstacle course. Not only do you get to see the course first hand, but it seems like a great group activity.
The line was pretty long. If you look near the top of the photo you can see the beginning of the parade of jeeps.
The jeeps returning from their loop on the track.
Here’s a short video:
Once the parade was finished it was time to race. About that time, the drizzle began to fall, adding some extra water to the already muddy track. The kids lined up to race first. During that time Jeff Miller introduced himself to me. We’d exchanged emails not long after I started eWillys. At that time he shared his Jewel’s Stainless Jeep with readers. Jeff has been a regular reader of eWillys since.
For much of the 1990s Jeff raced a jeep, but then he put racing on hold. It wasn’t until this year that he finally assembled another racing so he could reenter the sport. Like me, he’s fond of the Bobcat and Parkette bodies, so it’s no surprise that his race uses a Parkette shell. The jeep is a little more old school, powered by a 331 Stroker connected to a Ford Toploader and Dana 20. Not much is jeep other than that Dana 20. The hood is a piece of aluminum that a shop rolled for him so the angles from the grille to the body would look correct. It’s a nifty, clean piece. Holding the hood to the fenders are some original, stamped, Jewels stainless latches. As you can imagine, my shirt was wet from my drool. It’s a beautiful rig and it’s obvious he’s proud of it.
“1944- Gen. Douglas MacArthur, who personally led his troops in the invasion of Leyte, waves a greeting to his men during an inspection a few hours after the landings.”
Yesterday I made my way from the warm dry eastern Washington desert to the ‘wet’ side of the State. I was not surprised when I hit light rain as I approached the western slope of the Cascades.
At the top of 4500ft White Pass. Beyond the motorhome is the White Pass Ski Area. Let the rain commence!
However, by the time I arrived at the Ethel property where Overbored Racing & R.A.C.E are holding their Labor Day Weekend race, the rain abated, replaced with some sun. Hopefully the weather holds!
My camping spot for the next couple of nights.
I’m here at the invitation of Rob Stafford, who suggested I attend, baiting me with a couple of rides in a race jeep. That’s a hard thing for me to pass up. I haven’t raced since 1986- Memorial Day 1986, not that I’m counting or anything-and I still miss it. Thanks to my mother-in-law, whose motorhome I borrowed, I could attend. Sadly, Ann isn’t with me as she had a prior engagement in Spokane. Continue reading →
SLAG is now available! I want to thank everyone that helped make this book possible, from its inception through the research and writing, to the proofing. Many people aided me along the way. While I always hoped I could create something like this, I was unsure it would ever happen.
This final version differs from the version I published in limited form two months ago. The title has been altered slightly to (hopefully) position it more accurately. And, I have divided the book into two parts, to better reflect the shift from Anton Eilers and the competitive environment of mining and smelting to Karl Eilers, his years with the smelting trust and his eventual showdown with the Guggenheims.
One reader of the book pointed out that it was a complex read, but then noted that if a person wants to understand some of the real history behind America’s Industrial Revolution, this is a must read. I hope many others feel that way as well.
This March 1957 article from Popular Mechanics highlighted the 1957 Jeep Jamboree in Texas. A few days ago a press photo showing the photo of the DJ-3A (just the front of it) landed on eBay for sale.
He writes, “I have a couple of Wheels on a Bantam T3-C Trailer that I was hoping some of the military guys might recognize and help me identify. The Wheels are def military (I think) as the original coat of paint is olive drab. They are a solid disc looking type wheel, but unlike the civilian type we’re used to seeing on the 45 and early 46 CJ2As. The tires are also a mystery and was told by a military collector he believes they weren’t made in this country . They are 6.00-16s and are marked MALOYA Switzerland Type M. Another friend says he thinks he may have seen this type rim on a Military Searchlight Trailer but wasnt sure.
I spent the past week cleaning up my parents’ garage, opening up the ceiling, removing cobwebs, fixing insulation, and hanging seven new light fixtures (found 4 foot 3-light florescent light fixtures for only $10 a piece with working lights!). With the book done and the garage cleaned, I can get to the business of completing Biscuit.
One thing I still need for Biscuit is a Buick (or GM/GOP) scattershield. Anyone know of one for sale? eBay and Craigslist has been a bust.
That DJ-3A in Montana popped up on Craigslist again. If the floors are solid, Ann and I have decided to get it. Our goal is to get it running and worry about everything else later. If everything goes as planned, we’ll take our jeep to Montana next week, rent a trailer, and bring the jeep back.
This weekend Rob Stafford invited me to Overbored’s PNW4WDA jeep race in Ethel, Washington. So, I’ll be staying in the camper there for a couple days (Ann will be in Spokane, so it’s just me). There will be racing Saturday and Sunday. If you ever wondered about jeep racing, come by and say hello (I believe visitors can get in for $10 or so).
I just wish they showed more of the jeep! Is that a “Jeep” Dispatcher logo on the side? (see logo at the bottom). Looks like that jeep could be a DJ-3A. As for the Jeep Jamboree event, this one was help in Texas near South Padre Island. The same photograph below was featured in this article: http://www.ewillys.com/2012/08/25/1957-jeep-jamboree-from-texas/ (It seems I never scanned the article, I only posted the eBay pic, so I will get that done!)
“This is an original press photo. Jeep Jamboree relay race required the driver to bring back to his teammates a pennant that had been erected about 50 feet out in the surf. This fellow chose to keep his car dry and get himself wet by making the retrieval on foot.Photo measures 8 x 10.25inches. Photo is dated 12-09-1958.”
Steve discovered these 11″ canvas bags from Harbor Freight were an inexpensive solution for storing his tools under his DJ-3A spare tire. The first photo shows the bags. The second photo shows them under the tire.
