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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 .
Here’s a great shot of some early Jamboree folks. The seller mislabels Georgetown, CA, as Georgetown, UT.
“STANDARD SIZE CHROME ERA POSTCARD VIEW – 3.5″ X 5.5″
Published by Eastman’s Studio (Susanville, CA).
CONDITION: Minor corner nicking. Clean and good original color. Postally unused.”
View all the information on ebay
UPDATE: **SOLD** Was on eBay.
Here’s a rare Surrey in Jamaica.
“Chrome postcard is in very good condition with chipped corners and edges, a scuff at the top near the left side and corner wrinkle at the top right. Back is numbered H-10 and 72397 and is addressed to M. Forward, Beverly, MA. Publisher is Novelty Trading Co. and photo is credited to Hannau.”
Only one jeep in this ad, but it’s in front.
“Original Vintage 1950’s Magazine Advertisment
Condition Scale: Fine
This collectible magazine ad is about: 7 3/4″ X 11”
View all the information on ebay
Need DJ-5 or postal jeep parts? You might try this resource I just stumbled across.
<– Day 2 Sun. May 5th: Cowboys, Vistas, and Pirates | Trip Overview | Day 5 – Wed. May 8th: Don’s 1962 Wagon and Mr. Jangles –>
On Monday May 6th we drove east on I-94 from Theodore Roosevelt National Park to Bismarck, North Dakota.
We spent two days visiting a family that used to live across the street from Ann Pasco.
On Tuesday evening, we left Bismarck to spend the night in Fargo, North Dakota.
By the time we arrived in Fargo it was dark and cold. We toured the town very briefly (learning years later we missed downtown entirely).
On the morning of May 8th, we left Fargo for St. Paul.
<– Day 2 Sun. May 5th: Cowboys, Vistas, and Pirates | Trip Overview | Day 5 – Wed. May 8th: Don’s 1962 Wagon and Mr. Jangles –>
George forwarded this blog post about the Chang 46. It started production in 1959 and ended in 1963. There weren’t many made. They started with 38 in 1959 and by 1963 only 1390 were produced.
http://www.carnewschina.com/2012/01/18/history-chinas-first-jeep-th-changan-changjiang-46/
Marc spotted this interesting photo.
“San Francisco Car wreck photograph / 1947 Willy jeep on it’s side
this photo measures 8 x 10 inches. It is an original not a copy. There is some wear. This photo was used in the newspaper and has writing on the back. Shipping is free in the US”
View all the information on ebay
<– Day 1 – Sat. May 4th: Miracle of America Museum, Polson, MT | Trip Overview | Day 3 & 4 – Mon. May 6th & Tues. May 7th: Bismarck, North Dakota –>
UPDATE: Busted! On our way out of the National Park we spotted the ‘pirates’ car off to the side in a parking area parked by itself. We believe they were arrested and their car left there, because there was no sign of them 🙂
Our goal for today (Sunday) was to reach Theodore Roosevelt National Park at the western edge of North Dakota. Since we spent most of our time driving through Eastern Montana, I’d love to share that experience with you, but I had my nose buried in my computer, so I didn’t see much. Occasionally, Ann would point out something of interest and I would look up. But, I had my reading glasses on, so everything looked pretty blurry beyond the car. However, the weather was beautiful and sunny, the temperatures a perfect seventy degrees. Fortunately, she didn’t see too much interesting either. Just lots of rolling grassy hills. I can see why cowboys like it here.
We saw this sign at a rest stop
I have to say that I will gladly take those endless grassy hills and the sunny weather over last week’s weather along I-94: it was closed due to a blizzard. Yikes!
Around 3:30pm we reached the campground at the National Park. We found a nice campsite and got it set up, before touring the 25(?) miles long loop trail.
<– Trip Overview | Day 2 – Sun. May 5th: Cowboys, Vistas, and Pirates –>
Saturday May 4th, our two month trip begins! We will be on the road until the end of June.
For the first leg of our East Coast trip our principal objective today was to make it to the Miracle of America Museum just south of Polson, MT. We left Pasco at 10am knowing it would take 5 1/2 hours to drive there and a 1/2 hour stop for lunch (we had to stop for some pho at our favorite place in Coeur D’ Alene, ID). Doing the math, we realized we’d arrive at the museum at 4pm, which gave us an hour to look around it before it closed at 5pm. Simple math, yes? . . . Wrong.
Our first day of driving, from Pasco to Livingston, Montana.
The first sign of trouble occurred as we crossed into Montana from Idaho on I-90. I was driving when I spotted a sign that informed us we were Entering Mountain Time Zone. Oh crap! I forgot all about the time change. A quick review of the math meant that we’d arrive at 5pm, just as it closed.
However, there was a caveat. The website indicated that the museum stayed open until 8pm during the summer, but never defined what days were considered summer days. So, as we descended out of the pass towards Missoula, Ann gave the museum a call at 3:30pm and it went like this:
Ann: Hi, how late are you open tonight?
Museum: Depends. Where are you now?
Ann (shocked): We are approaching St. Regis, Montana.
Museum: Ok, I’ll keep the museum open for you. I have some paperwork to do anyway.
With that simple phone call, Gil Mangels volunteered to keep his museum open so we could look around the place all by ourselves! I called at 4:40 to update him and say we wouldn’t be there until 5:15. He said that wouldn’t be a problem.
We finally arrived at 5:20pm, just as the last remaining visitor left. We walked inside and there was Gil ready to take our money ($5 each – BARGAIN!) and explain where everything was. We thanked him for staying open and said we didn’t want to use too much of his time. He said just take your time.
We weren’t there five minutes before we knew we had a problem. There was so much cool stuff to look at that we couldn’t move ourselves along fast enough. Gil and his late wife have done a wonderful job of creating a feast for the eyes. Ann and i were giddy school kids pointing things out to each other, reading stuff, and having a blast. We were there forty five minutes and still hadn’t made it through a 1/4 of the complex yet.
We didn’t want to impost on Gil, so we chose to go to plan B: See the jeeps real quickly, photograph them, and then return later this summer so we could spend all day looking around the place.
Before we left, we got a chance to spend some time talking with Gil. When we explained about eWillys, Gil explained he grew up on a nearby farm and his parents had an old flattie, but he couldn’t remember the model. He said they did everything with it.
Gil belongs to the Military Vehicle Preservation Association and he restored the M-38 below that he proudly displays in one of the rooms. It’s a very nice restoration. It was featured in the MVPA and GIl was kind enough to copy the article for me, but I haven’t had time to go through it yet.
In addition to the M-38, there are two more M-38A1s, a Slat Grille MB, and a M-151, a Mule, and a Jeepster for visitors to see. There is a Pedal Jeep in the toy section, a few hot wheel-like jeep toys. I also spotted several posters, cards and brochures in the war-related areas.
The Miracle of American museum is a gem. It reminded me of my experience to House on the Rock in Wisconsin, where each corner was a feast for the eyes. But, unlike HOR, there’s a better educational and museum experience. I can see why it’s been called the Smithsonian of the west. There is enough wonder — cool stuff, historic stuff, and odd ball stuff — to keep a whole family entertained. Military buffs, car buffs, farm buffs, motorcycle buffs, history buffs (how about a whole shed of old washing machines?) will love this place. It is worth the trip, especially since you get to talk to the guy who made it happen.
Here’s a bunch of pictures we took:
