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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 .
This great photo was shot August 14, 1965, and can be seen at the Denver Public Library Digital Collections.
http://cdm15330.contentdm.oclc.org/cdm/singleitem/collection/p15330coll22/id/194/rec/1
I was looking for something, can’t even remember what at the moment, when I ran across this picture of jeeps at a race in Cripple Creek, Colorado, on Hemmings. That lead me to the Denver Public Library Digital Collections where I found a variety of pics.
Here is one image of kids on a jeep as part of a war bond effort.
http://cdm15330.contentdm.oclc.org/cdm/singleitem/collection/p15330coll23/id/9467/rec/7
Here is a second photo:
http://cdm15330.contentdm.oclc.org/cdm/singleitem/collection/p15330coll23/id/9461/rec/8
The caption on this photo notes these men are wounded vets and are touring the Gates Rubber Plant in Denver.
http://cdm15330.contentdm.oclc.org/cdm/singleitem/collection/p15330coll22/id/36084/rec/20
Here are some post war jeepers exploring mining areas in Colorado in the 1950s.
http://cdm15330.contentdm.oclc.org/cdm/singleitem/collection/p15330coll22/id/14795/rec/23
Jeff was vacationing in France and Belgium when he ran across two businesses located in Carentan: Paratrooper and Paratrooper Vehicles. He thought I might have known about them, but nope I did not know about them. Carentan is a small rural town near the north-eastern base of the French Cotentin Peninsula in Normandy. If anyone else has been here (or can translate the website better than I), feel free to comment!
Jeff writes, “I was just in northern France and Belgium with the family on vacation and was in the Normandy area which incorporated a D-Day beach tour. Stayed in Carentan and came across Paratrooper. I am sure you may have known about them. I visited both businesses which are in different locations. I took some photos of the restoration location, Paratrooper Vehicles and thought you would like to see them.”
Thanks for taking these. I will add this to my list of must visit places when we do our Great European Jeep Tour. When are we doing this tour? I’m hoping in time for the the 70th anniversary of DDay.
Originally posted June 15, 2009 (See, there is even a Power Wagon Museum!)
At some point early in his driving life, my dad owned a red Dodge Power Wagon. I’ve never ridden in one myself, however I found a place where I can explore several different models: The Kempner Power Wagon Museum.
The Kempner Museum is an owner-owned museum, with the owner displaying vehicles and other items he has collected over the years. Recently, the owner, with his wife’s blessing he notes, built a building to house the trucks and other related materials.
This museum does not take a ‘hands off’ approach, rather people can climb into these vehicles, touch and explore them.
The museum is located in Kempner, Texas (museum info), which is roughly 150 miles south of Dallas. I’m adding to my list of places to visit soon.
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.”
Glenn forwarded this unusual and rare Snow Tractor from the early 1940s located at the Wright Museum in New Hampshire.
The M7 was conceived as an Army Air Force rescue/utility vehicle. It was found that most plane crashes occurred on the climb out of or approach to an airport. With the large number of northern bases in remote locations, getting to these aircraft was difficult at best – impossible at worse. Shown above with M19 Trailer.
Manufacturer: Allis-Chalmers
M7 Snow Tractor (SNOCAT)
Crew: 2
Engine: Willys MB, 4cyl. (134.2 c.i.)
Horsepower: 63
Date Manufactured: 1944
Number Produced: 291
Weight: 2, 620 lbs
Range: 160 miles
http://www.ytmag.com/cgi-bin/viewit.cgi?bd=ac&th=139774
http://www.farmcollector.com/Tractors/Allis-Chalmers-M7-The-Abominable-Snow-Tractor.aspx
http://www.wrightmuseum.org/about/photo-gallery/category/4-from-the-frontlines.html
The unofficial Allis-Chalmers Forum: http://www.allischalmers.com/forum/forum_posts.asp?TID=17492&title=allischalmers-snow-cat
From the Wright Museum comes this photograph:
I ran across the cool picture below at roderblog.com during a search for collages. It was taken by Jeff Roder at the Pueblo Weisbrod Aircraft Museum in Pueblo, Colorado. Neither Ann nor I have been there, but I’m sure in our travels we’ll wander through there as the ‘Eilers Bar’ is in Pueblo.
From Roderblog.com:
Here is a photo of the MB that I found on Flickr. It was taken by jwm1049.
While driving to Vancouver on Monday, Ann and I decided to visit the five year old Western Antique Aeroplane and Automobile Museum (WAAAM). So, about noon we pulled off I-84 and drove into downtown Hood River expecting to locate the museum quickly. However, it turns out the museum is located a few miles away from town near the airport. As soon as we realized we didn’t know where we were going, we cranked up the GPS and that guided us up the hill and over a dale or two. We even passed a FC-170 off to our right. Finally, we arrived at Air Museum Road.
Since it was Monday at noon, there wasn’t a flood of visitors, which worked out great for us because the staff could take the time to explain and answer all of our questions. In fact, everyone was noticeably friendly and knowledgeable.
The first thing we learned is that WAAAM has one of the largest collection of working antique planes and vehicles in the country. All the different planes, tractors, jeeps, automobiles, trucks, motorcycles are housed in two giant hangars with multiple exits. In fact, some of the planes and vehicles are privately owned, but stored free of charge at the museum. Owners can come in most any time and take their property out to fly or drive them.
Every month the museum holds a “Second Saturday” event. That’s when volunteers arrive to give rides and show off the vehicles. In May of 2012, a special Military Day will be held on the Second Saturday. That date is May 12th and I’ve been invited to talk a little about jeeps and sign books (and maybe ride in a jeep or two???). It should be fun!
Here’s an introduction to the museum:
httpv://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HCSFuoSiEzo
While I had fun looking at all the cars and planes, it was the jeeps I was there to see. We saw the following jeeps:
1941 MB Slat Grille
Undated MB
Close up of the Poster:
Blaine forwarded this picture of this jeep from the Arizona Wing of the Commemorative Air Force at Falcon Field in Mesa, Az. Since Ann and I will be staying in Mesa and will be down there a couple days before this year’s FC Roundup, we plan to visit the museum.
Unfortunately, upon closer inspection, this is a mix of CJ-3A and M-38 parts. Once again, the reason for a jeep museum. Hopefully, the airplanes are more accurate. Looks like I need to schedule a meeting with the curator.
I’d never heard of the Evergreen Aviation & Space Museum, located in McMinnville. However, Ann visited there a few years ago and says it’s a beautiful museum. Moreover, there is a B-52 there that they allowed her to go underneath so she could describe how they used to load and unload weapons. The Spruce Goose is also there.
Besides all the airplanes, the museum also has a jeep. This picture was taken by Joe Swallia on 2011. Note the hubs. They looks like early Warn hubs.
http://www.flickr.com/photos/swallia23/6529054991/in/photostream/
Interestingly, here is a picture from 2010 which shows a different jeep. You can view it at The Wander Gossage blog. Maybe there are two jeeps there?
