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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 .
Bob sent me an email a few days ago about this jeep he spotted in Endee, New Mexico. The town of Endee is located near the border of New Mexico and Texas on near I-40. The folks on Yelp really like this place.
He wrote, “The wife and I made a weekend trip to Amarillo for a steak at the Country Barn. We spotted this really clean CJ2A at the free car museum at Russell’s truck stop in Endee, NM.”
Here’s another picture I found on Trip Advisor:
Karson took time out from his FEMA/Americorp duties to visit the Aerospace Museum of California, located at the McClellan Air Force Base in McClellan, CA (near Sacramento) on Sunday. (Note: the museum’s website was down at the time I wrote this post).
Naturally, Karson is on constant watch for jeeps — oh the things children must endure to please their parents — and knows to send pictures of jeeps whenever he can. Dutifully, he located two jeeps, one with a Coast Guard theme and the other with a Navy theme. We both thought it ironic that the Coast Guard jeep had Utah license plates, because there wasn’t much coast for it to guard in Utah.
Coast Guard Jeep:
United States Navy Jeep:
Located fifty miles west of Minneapolis in Willmar, MN, the Schwanke Car, Tractor, and Truck Museum has been open since 1998. It features the collection of Virgil Schwanke, who has been collecting vehicles for fifty-five years. He has assembled over 400 units for display, including tractors, cars, trucks, gas engines, gas pumps, signs and more. He recently added a CJ-2A to the museum.
Virgil uses this CJ-2A as a springboard to talk about jeeps during World War II. You can read more in the museum’s blog post.
http://schwankemuseum.blogspot.com
http://www.facebook.com/pages/Schwanke-Car-Tractor-and-Truck-Museum/175089919176654
Dan pointed me to the Miracle of America Museum, mentioning there was an old Ford A vehicle mounted to tracks. The museum is still run by Gil Mangels, who co-founded the museum in 1981 with his wife, who passed away in 2012. The museum is located 70 miles due north of Missoula. Looks like a fun place to visit.
After looking through the eclectic collection of items, I figured they might have a jeep or two. I found a M-38A1, a possible MB/GPW, and M-151.
UPDATE: Originally published 12/24/2012
The Canadian Military Education Centre museum at Chilliwack, Canada, has three nicely restored jeeps. Here is a nice set of pictures that shows a number of the vehicles they have: http://www.flickr.com/photos/unclegal/sets/72157627666293766/with/6142314877/
1942-45 GPW: http://www.flickr.com/photos/unclegal/6142314877/in/photostream/
1942 MB: http://www.flickr.com/photos/unclegal/6142887298/in/photostream/
1942 Slat Grill MB: http://www.flickr.com/photos/unclegal/6142889178/in/photostream/
A couple days ago I was adding the WPC Museum to my list of places to visit on our upcoming trip to the East Coast next May/June (official announcement in January). But, then I learned the museum was closing at the end of this year.
However, John forwarded this link indicating the museum has been sold to the Chrysler Group LLC. So, the 67 vehicles won’t be split up just yet. Unfortunately, the exhibits will only be open on special occasions. And, despite how ‘special’ my wife thinks I am, I don’t think I’m special enough that they’ll open that for me.
I ran across a Salt Lake Tribune article that includes this militarized CJ-2A decoration. The article shares a little bit about Salt Lake Valley’s Grogan’s War Surplus Store. If you are in Salt Lake and have some time to kill, drop by and get your picture taken with the jeep and send it in to me! I’m sure I’ll get down there at some point and do that too :-). The store is located at 5000 S. Redwood Road and marked with a Sergeant Missile at one corner.
http://www.sltrib.com/sltrib/news/55260865-78/store-surplus-military-war.html.csp
UPDATE: This post card was for sale on eBay in 2012.
Even the Smithsonian didn’t get the ‘original jeep’ correct as evidenced by the postcard below. To their credit, this Bantam BRC-60 just might be the next best thing. I compare all three Bantams here.
For comparision, here’s another good shot of a BRC-60:
And this is the original Bantam BRC — Jeep #1. The round fenders and scalloped side are two of the biggest differences:
Mike forwarded a link to this jeep dealer. The Van Buuren’s launched their shop just after World War II ended. It is still family owned. The website has jeeps for sale, projects they’ve completed (including the restoration of a seep), and more.
http://www.bramvanbuuren-jeeps.nl/index.php?lang=en
