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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 .
This cool-looking oddball is a long-parked FC that has a hunting bed on the back.
“1958 Jeep fc170 with hunting bed Truck has been parked since 1976 Will need brakes,tires gas tank, carb rebuilt ect but is pretty much complete Has a little bit of rust here and there but a good solid truck for the most part Has a super hurricane 6cyl flat head and a 3 speed manual Pto winch 4×4 Clean Fl title asking 4500 obo or possibly trade for something cool that runs and drives no bikes or boats”
This February 9, 1946, article shares the news of the Lincoln, Nebraska, police department’s new surplus jeeps. These war surplus jeeps out of nearby Fort Crook were equipped with radios obtained from the Omaha police department.
The Oakdale Minnesota fire department was formed in 1953 with one old CJ-3A Fire jeep and some Fords. The below poor-quality still was taken from a history video of the Oakdale fire department. It shows the CJ-3A.
A March 30, 1947, article in the Metropolitan Pasadena Star-News introduced the Forest Service’s ten new CJ-2As to California readers. These vehicles were equipped with two-way radios to aid fire control.
The article notes that a Weasel was being tested, along with the development of a four-wheel-drive vehicle that would be better for forest fire fighting, but I could find no references on the internet to an offload vehicle designed by Ira Funk.
“This Willy’s CJ-2A was sold new on April 5th 1949 by West Motor Company, Steubenville, Ohio to the Wheeling Steel Corporation plant also in Steubenville. It was put to use by inside the plant and was outfitted by Howe with a hose reel. Its second life was with the Pleasant Hill Volunteer Fire Dept. They removed the reel and installed an 80-gallon water tank and was used as a brush truck. The third owner acquired it in 2005 and treated this Willys to a restoration. The tank was removed and restored to how you see it photographed, back to an inside plant, pumper Fire Truck. Lot’s of era correct parts we sourced and now this Willys is loaded from bumper to bumper with firefighting equipment. “Next Day Fire Department” is sure to be a hit anywhere it is driven or displayed.”
Joe shared these two Albany Police Department police photos posted by Albany’s Times Union online newspaper. The CJ-2A riot jeep is pic #30 of 35. The Wagon is pic #2 of 35.
Roger Martin shared this photo of, most likely, a CJ-2A or CJ-3A that was modified and outfitted with a camera. He spotted on Facebook. It was used on the set of the original Road Warrior Movie.
Gayland spotted this unusual setup for painting tall places from a jeep. This was published on page 114 of the January 1950 issue of Popular Mechanics. Just hope it isn’t a windy day!
UPDATE: Jerry contacted me about a locomotive jeep he would like to restore (see near bottom). He noted that it was used at Tinkertown and found this older post while hoping to learn more. So, this post is a complete redo of an early post that focused just on photos in a January 1950 issue of Popular Mechanics.
One of those carnivals was a traveling kiddie carnival called Tinkertown. Articles show it existed at least from 1950 through 1952, operating in Monrovia, Wilmington, Los Angeles, and other LA area towns.
The fourth known jeep was a jeep turned into a locomotive. It’s the one Jerry now owns (along with two of the tram cars), one he’d like to restore. It’s in surprisingly complete condition. He’s hoping to learn more about the manufacturer and/or Tinkertown. Here’s a photo of his train:
This June 20, 1946, photo and caption on the Gustine Standard shows six jeeps purchased by the city of Merced for Mosquito Abatement. I didn’t realize jeeps were used so early for anti-mosquito work in California.
