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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 .
The Valley Fire Truck Company, based in Bay City, Michigan, converted basic willys truck chassis’ into Fire Trucks. Below is a rare ad from 1957 for their fire trucks.
I learned about these over at the airfieldinformationexchange.org forum. The CJ-3B Page covers these as well in more depth. There are pictures of these at an FAR site as well: http://www.rafanddfsa.co.uk/Photgraphs.htm#Oldies
This might make an interesting project. Someone started stealing parts, so the seller wants this to go to a deserving jeep enthusiast.
“Vintage Willys truck (old San Diego Convair Airplane assembly plant fire truck) bought to restore but illness in family prevents continuing so would like best offer. Have trailor to go with it. Sold as is you haul. Drove up some time ago but now some slime balls have started helping themselves and stealing parts and I would like to have jeep enthusiast or someone passionate about old jeeps continue my dream to restore to factory spec. Will negotiate, I need Lake Arrowhead cabin landscaped cleaned and exterior house painted to make attractive to sell. Great home mechanic project.”
http://inlandempire.craigslist.org/cto/2995635150.html
Kerry spotted these pics on a friend’s facebook page. They are part of the Fotos Antiquas de Medellin and may have come from this Facebook page.
UPDATE: **SOLD** Was KR45000.
Here’s a 1957 fire truck from Norway that is still in great shape. This jeep is located in the far north of Norway.
Here’s the Norwegian ad (click here to translate):
Veteran/brannbil fra 1957 selges pga plassmangel. Flott bil og samleobjekt for den interesserte. I 2011 ble den kjørt fra Sarpsborg til Hammerfest uten et feilslag, Har desverre ikke tatt bilder innvendig men di kommer om noen dager det er tank i bilen tror det er plast nyere rør og kuleventiler følger med en bensindrevet pumpe til å kjøre trykk fra tanken, det er slangetrommel i bilen og to sitteplasser helt bak samt hjelm fra den tiden…har også satt inn 3 brannslukkere fra 60/70 tallet av typen Nu Swift bak i bilen, det er også gammeltypen hampslanger både 2 1/2 ” og 1 1/2″ med nord kupplinger.
Har tatt bilder under bilen og det er ikke rust, startet forøvrig på første forsøk etter å ha stått ute sin første vinter. Har redusert prisen dersom hurtig avgjørelse på salg. Det er en 6 sylindra motor Flatsix Hurricane”
Steve discovered this image in the New Jersey State Police Museum archives. The museum was kind enough to allow us to publish it.
Steve rights, “I did some research with our museum staff and found this picture from 1951 of a state trooper driving a WW II Willys MB that had been converted for police use. Looks like it may have been used in rural areas as a sorta fire jeep. See the large fire extinguisher on the left fender skirt …. Coincidentally, one of our troopers (Trooper Joseph C. Walter Jr. #685) was killed in the line of duty in a motor vehicle accident on 9-7-52, I believe in that very same jeep.”
UPDATE II: See the latest — The Van is headed West.
From August, 2011: Glenn recognized the Willys Van for sale. Even more impressive, he found a brochure for one! Well done! He bought the Sales Folder off eBay about a year and a half ago. Mfg. by Plaza Motors, Inc. Englewood, NJ and was Willys-Overland Factory Approved.
Based on the emails between Colin and Glenn, there were at least three groups of Willys-Overland Delivery Trucks produced:
1) One group was produced during or just prior to WWII (as seen below)
Here is a 1942 Panel Delivery Truck:
2) One group was produced during post WWII and pre 1950, which appears to include the Willys Van owned by Mike. The brochure provided by Glenn also appears to be related to this second group.
3) One group was produced between 1951 and 1953, based on these serial numbers.
The numbers below are for post 1950 FJs. This one appears to be a pre-1950 FJ. We are still awaiting a serial number.
1951 FJ 451 GC1 10001— none
1953 FJ 452 GC2 10001—10065 65 built
1954 FJ454 GC2 10001—10012 12 built
The Polo Fire Department’s Website has nice shots of their Fire Jeep online. According to the website, this is a “1946 Willys Jeep with front mount pump an pull behind water tank. This vehicle is used for small fires at the park and to try to hold ground until Polo Fire arrives on scene from some 6 miles away. They also use it to clean shelters and other structures in the spring.”
FEATURED JANUARY 2011
I was trying to locate some more interesting willys-related museums, but instead stumbled across the atlantic, landing in the Netherlands (back in time no less). The result were these 2 great images of old Fire Jeeps with extended rears and wonderful details. There are a few more smaller images of these jeeps at the Netherland focused website Brandweerforum. They have some other non-jeep firetrucks there as well.
FEATURED SEPTEMBER 2010
I didn’t know they made Willys postal right hand drive wagons! The Smithsonian’s Postal Museum Exhibit has some great images of early original vehicles used to deliver mail.
From the website, “In August 1953, the first postal jeeps rolled off the Willys Motors assembly line. The model, the first U.S. car in three decades to have right-hand drive, was soon being tested on postal routes around the country.
Carriers used these right-hand drive vehicles to save delivery time on their routes. They were able to more easily reach the mailbox without having to park and go around their cars, or reach over the passenger’s seat to deliver the mail.”
