emailNeed to contact me and don't have my email? Click on email button.
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 .
Glenn would like to learn more about this jeep. If anyone knows more about it or knows whose it is, can you let me know.
UPDATE: **SOLD** Was $15,000
“1951 Willys Overland Station Wagon, two wheel dr. with overdrive One owner, very good condition.
All original including new paint color. Completely reconditioned inside including header seats, new paint.
Ready to drive. Probably one of a few originals left in the country.”
UPDATE: Sadly, Todd Hansen’s body was located. You can read more here.
http://www.ocregister.com/news/hansen-378206-county-body.html
UPDATE: **SOLD** Was on eBay
(09/27/2012) This has a column shift and some square washers, but it missing other VEC elements.
“I have a 1945 CJ-2A for sale with a clear Ohio title# The vehicle is located in NE Ohio 44691# It has been redone# This vehicle is #373 of 1824 made in the closing days of WW2 for civilian use# It shares many parts/traits with the military jeeps of the era# It is a very rare vehicle# All numbers match on the frame horn, dash plate and under hood# I believe the tailgate ACM is #376# The date stamps on the axles, etc#indicate the jeep was probably made on or just prior to the day we dropped the bomb on Hiroshima# The L134 engine has been rebuilt #red# and is not original to the vehicle# It carries at least 40 lbs# of oil pressure at idle and 60 lbs# when driving# There are no issues with the engine# I recently replaced the fuel pump#The jeep tracks straight down the road with no wobble# It is a 3 speed on the column as it should be# It will sometimes jump out of second gear only on deceleration# I have not found it a problem to warrant a rebuild# Low/high 4wd work as they should# It is a 6 volt system# All wiring has been replaced, all gauges, etc# work with the exception of the horn #the relay works so it is in the horn proper## There is a rear seat which has been redone as have the others# There is no rust and it leaks very little oil# The gas tank, fuel lines are new as is the radiator and hoses# There are many new parts and a receipt book comes with the vehicle# All window glass has been replaced as have the seals# The brakes are exceptional# There are no tool indents, that panel was replaced as were several other body panels when it was redone however the floor, tailgate, windshield, fenders, hood, grille and dash are origional# Standard rear hitch seems quite heavy duty#”
Hard to tell much from the pics.
“Needs Repair. As is. Came with my 1954 CJ3B.”
http://houston.craigslist.org/pts/3406784266.html
I ran across this article yesterday. Some college students at the Ontario, Canada, college of Notre Dame plan to restore a 1943 Willys. The picture comes from the Welland Tribune’s online article.
http://www.wellandtribune.ca/2012/11/08/revved-up-about-the-past
UPDATE: Kudos to Greg Zyla for updating his column with the history corrections I suggested. You can read about it here: http://www.hamburgreporter.com/article/20121105/NEWS/121109944/-1/sports
(Published 10/30/2012)
I ran across this article about Jeep History: http://www.enterprisenews.com/lifestyle/columnists/x255960865/Greg-Zyla-Jeep-American-Bantam-and-Willys-Overland
If you read the article, you will see there are a few of the usual historical errors. I wrote a letter to the author with some thoughts on corrections. I’ve included them below to help those that aren’t as familiar with jeep history. I’ve also included them just in case I got something wrong.
1. The first jeep sold by Willys-Overland in 1945 to the public was the Willys CJ-2A. Very Early CJ-2A production units used some left over parts from the military versions, making VEC CJ-2As highly collectible among civilian jeep collectors.
2. The Willys Quad was the first prototype Willys-Overland developed in 1940 (the second Prototype was the Willys MA).
3. The Willys Quad wasn’t exactly a ‘copy’ of the Bantam BRC, although there were similarities, partly because Willys got to look at the Bantam plans before shipping the Quad.
4. Ford’s first Prototype was the Ford Pygmy. A second prototype was the Ford Budd (http://www.ewillys.com/2009/03/12/the-1940-buddy-a-ford-pygmybudd-prototype/ ). Their third prototype was the Ford GP (which doesn’t stand for General Purpose, but for G=Goverment and P=80″ Wheelbase). The WWII production jeep was the Ford GPW (the W standing for Willys Design).
5. Willys and Ford battled over the name Jeep. Willys didn’t win the right to use the name Jeep until the 1950s, which is the reason the hood and windshields of the CJ-2As and the CJ-3As were stamped Willys. There are a few rare CJ-2s that are stamped “JEEP” ( http://www.willys-overland.com/index.htm ).
6. While the original Bantam BRC is considered the first jeep, the jeep in the photo accompanying the article is a Bantam BRC-40 which was the third Prototype. (see the three different bantams here http://www.ewillys.com/2011/08/14/the-three-bantams-brc-brc-60-and-brc-40/ )
7. I am not aware that Bantam imported parts from England. I will have have to ask some friends about that.
8. Despite having arguably the worst of the three designs, Ford initially won the Army Quartermaster contract. However, there was enough push-back that the contract was transferred to Willys-Overland and Ford assigned as a second-source status.
NOTE: After reading this again, I probably should change the term prototype type to pilot for everything but the BRC, as the BRC was the real prototype/proof of concept, but that’s a little nit-picky for our purposes.
UPDATE: **SOLD** Was $800.
Walter spotted this CJ-2A. How about that unique rack on the front? Given that bumper, this was some kind of purpose-modified jeep. The body doesn’t appear too bad either. Maybe that rack was on a car truck?
“This is a 48′ Jeep Willys. This is a project that I wanted to restore myself but I just dont have enough time. It needs a full body restoration but it has its original drive traine. I do have have the title. Please no txts or emails.”
I’m taking the night off. More tomorrow.
Ann and I arrived safely in Pasco after a sunny/rainy/snowy/windy day driving through the panhandle of Idaho, then west to Pasco. We spotted and photographed a couple jeeps, ate some good food and visited with family; so it was a complete day!
More tomorrow on this possible CJ-2L Bruce spotted. Note rare Desert Dog PCV tires (not that they are in good shape). They have a tighter tread than the standard Desert Dog tires.
Yeah, I didn’t quite get to them last night.
Ann and I spent all of yesterday photographing a wedding, so I never got a chance to do updates. I’ll throw some up in a little while and regular updates will commence tomorrow.
– Dave