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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 .
It is winter time and that means only one thing: time for the Wandering Willys Jeep Club to complete their annual Winter run over the Naches Trail in search of Fish & Chips (You might remember their 2009 trip report here). The restaurant of choice was a local favorite called Gold Creek Station Restaurant.
I’ve snagged a few pics from their website. You can see pics of the entire trip here.
Of course, you gotta have the initial line up …
UPDATE: I did a little more research and finally found this photo at the CJ-3B Page. There is a complete discussion of the history of the CJ-3B, including a note that the CJ-3B has a custom body extension and a Sears top was purchased that was also custom extended. It’s a good story to read.
I’m not sure where this image might have originated, but I spotted it at expeditionportal.com.
When I last heard from Egon in early 2010, he was considering mounting a flat fender body onto his CJ-5. However, during the intervening months he had the opportunity to purchase a mostly restored CJ-3A, which was originally brought to Europe for the Swiss Army.
The body on this flattie was replaced about 12 years ago, while the transmission and engine are original to the Jeep. He spent time this year finishing the project, adding a roll bar, new rims and new tires. He plans to use his new toy to hunt and explore in and around his Liechtenstein countryside.
I’ve also included a couple pics Egon sent me about a recent hunting trip to Russia where he spent time with some friends. In his email about the trip, he mentions the All-Wheel-Drive Niva, about which I was unfamiliar; So, I researched the Niva, which lead to this post. He notes that the Niva functions well on the Russian terrain of Kirov, however it is a little small for a hunter and all his gear.
After Restoration
As part of the ongoing series on jeeps tipped on their sides for repair, a reader named Warren reports that the first episode, season 1, 14:51 minutes into the show of the Rat Patrol features a brief view of one of the characters working on a Jeep on its side. I don’t have a copy of the video, but here is a snapshot courtesy of Warren.
I’m not quite sure how, but I stumbled upon this pink wagon from the Haxadecimal.com site which was listed on ebay in 2006. This is one of a wide variety of unusual vehicles you can find at that site.
After last night’s post, I figured readers needed something more humorous. So, during some searches today, I stumbled upon some funny definitions of tools. It turns out these definitions have landed on a number of forum sites, however not many sites attribute this clever bit of writing to the original author, Peter Egan. Thanks to Swapmeetdave for doing some research into this.
Without further ado here are a few of these …
Electric Hand Drill: Normally used for spinning steel Pop rivets in their holes until you die of old age, but it also works great for drilling rollbar mounting holes in the floor of a sports car just above the brake line that goes to the rear axle.
Mechanic’s Knife: Used to open and slice through the contents of cardboard cartons delivered to your front door; works particularly well on boxes containing convertible tops or tonneau covers.
Drill Press: A tall upright machine useful for suddenly snatching flat metal bar stock out of your hands so that it smacks you in the chest and flings your beer across the room, splattering it against the Rolling Stones poster over the bench grinder.
Hacksaw: One of a family of cutting tools built on the Ouija board principle. It transforms human energy into a crooked, unpredictable motion, and the more you attempt to influence its course, the more dismal your future becomes.
Additional ones I found here, though they could be from Peter as well …
Pry Bar: A tool used to crumple the metal surrounding that clip or
bracket you needed to remove in order to replace a 50¢ part.
Hose Cutter: A tool used to cut hoses too short.
Two-ton Engine Hoist: A tool for testing the tensile strength on
everything you forgot to disconnect.
Dammit Tool: Any handy tool that you grab and throw across the garage
while yelling “DAMMIT” at the top of your lungs.
It is also the next tool that you will need.
Earlier this year, Greg reported that a MB and trailer sold at a Mecum for $32,000. Now he has the pics to prove it. That’s dedication! 🙂
Rich forwarded this image of an old FC with a big load from this website. Cool pic!
UPDATE: The original NelleBelle sold for $116,000 at Christie’s in the summer of 2010, which is much higher than the $20k-30k it was estimated it would bring.
Jim forwarded this for our viewing pleasure. So if I understand this correctly, this is a replica of Nellybelle, but wasn’t actually in the show? You can learn much more about NellyBelle and Roy Rogers and the CJ-3B Page.
‘This is the 1946 Willys CJ-2A Jeep named NELLYBELLE II, and made to replicate the jeep NELLYBELLE from the ROY ROGERS TV show from the 1950’s. It has been on display at the Roy Rogers/Dale Evans Museum in Branson,Mo. This is a piece of History of the 50’s Hollywood television history. It’s in excellent condition as it was at the museum as it has been garaged since we bought it. It starts fine but will smoke some,tires are a little dry.Has new brakes and drums, a new fuel pump. Beautiful piece of memorabilia to expose at parades,auto show,etc..”
Mark recently hit the 1 year anniversary with “Her Royal Highness” (That would be his Jeepster, not his wife). He’s been updating her throughout the year. Here he comments on his rear seat find.
Mark writes, “Halloween night marks the end of Year one for the 49 Jeepster I named “Her Royal Highness”. I’m a middle-age crazy rookie that knew very little about rebuilding an auto when I started (some strong arguments that I still don’t) [ed note: some days, I don’t feel to smart either!]. I decided to leave the aged patina Windsor green paint for now because there’s very little rust and it doesn’t look that bad. She’s a great runner and a fine Sunday truck.
I wanted to put in tan leather buckets to improve comfort and to be able to call her the original “King Ranch Willys”. A few days ago I saw an ad for 1999 Mitsubishi Eclipse seats, ‘$20 bucks and wife wants them out of my garage’. So, I went over to check out the seats. I discovered the buckets were trash, but the back was practically new. I bought it and carted it home.
Wouldn’t you know, that back seat fit into the back of the Jeepster like it always belonged! A couple of cleats, some zip ties, a little leather remnant from the fabric store over some 3/8″ ply and here you go. The seat backs fit on the original back frame with a little ingenuity. Folded down it makes for a convenient map table. The front buckets are still in my cross hairs and they will be found eventually, but who knew that backseat would fit so nicely, 50 years later!”
Here’s a reminder of “Her Royal Highness”
Here’s what it looks like with no seat:
Here’s the seat installed:
Here’s the seat folded down:
