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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 .
These two photos shows a CJ-2A with a modified body made of wood. While there are several similar “woodie” bodies (see all wood-related bodies here), the photos below appear to show a unique build.
“Two original photographs of Woody automobile. The engine hood reads – Willy. I believe these were mock up advertising photos. The upper photo is mounted from the back – see photo. The lower photo is glued to the board. Photos measure 3 1/2 x 4 3/4 inches. Mounting board is 8 x 10 inches. Please ask questions.”
Blaine spotted this 1947 adorable photo of Lance Borman that’s located at the Smithsonian Institution. It shows Lance in a Good Humor Ice Cream-themed toy jeep.
“Lance Borman / Baby Parade / Lake Mohawk [ink on verso)] [photoprint], July 1947
Photograph of child, wearing Good Humor unifrom and cap, in toy truck with “Good Humors” [sic] ice cream sign. Photographer unidentified. Lake Mohawk, New Jersey?
In Box 1, folder 6.
Silver gelatin on paper, 10 x 8″.
Local Numbers: AC0451-000003.tif (AC scan no.)
“1941 Press Photo Colonel Herbert Lawes & the Duke of Kent ride a jeep in MD camp. This is an original press photo. George. Duke of Kent. The Duke of Kent, youngest brother of King George VI, inspected defense facilities in the Baltimore and Camp Holabird, Maryland area today. He toured the Glenn L. Martin airplane plant which is making millions of dollars worth of aircraft for the Royal Air Force, and later inspected Canadian troops at Camp Holabird transport school. Photo shows left to right: seated in an Army reconnaissance car: Colonel Herbert Lawes, Commanding Officer of Camp Holabird, Maryland, United States Army Quartermaster Depot.; Duke of Kent. Photo measures 8.5 x 6.75 inches. Photo is dated 8-26-1941.”
The press photo was published in several newspapers, including the Charlotte Observer on August 29, 1941.
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Originally Posted 12/16/2019: The Duke of Kent got a ride in a Ford GP as part of his visit to Baltimore, Maryland.
“1941 Press Photo Colonel Herbert Lawes shows The Duke of Kent an Army Jeep in MD. This is an original press photo. George … Duke of Kent. The above soundphoto, transmitted to San Francisco, shows The Duke of Kent, youngest brother of King George VI, when he toured Glenn L. Martin airplane plant at Baltimore, Maryland, and Camp Holabird, Maryland, during inspection of defense facilities in this area. Shown inspecting Army reconnaissance car “Jeep” – near Camp Holabird transport school. Left to right, Colonel Herbert Lawes, Commanding officer of Camp Holabird and the Duke of Kent.Photo measures 9.75 x 7.25inches. Photo is dated 8-26-1941.”
UPDATE: This article from August 28, 1941, published in the Daily News (New York City), describes the Bantam BRC-40 T2E1. This is the second generation of of the T2E1, (reportedly, the first generation of the T2E1 had a the full body, which itself was a derivation of the T2, an anti-tank jeep that had the gun between the seats; however, there apparently is some debate on how to define the versions).
Also mentioned below is the Ford Swamp Angel. I’ll have more info on that in an upcoming post.
An article from 1941 appears to describe the T2E1 Bantams shown in photos below (a few more photos here also). The article describes the rifles as 47mm, while the photo captions correctly describe the rifle as a 37mm. Perhaps the difference is that the article was written in July, while the photos were taken late in August? So, maybe, 47mm rifles might have been initially considered? (47mm anti-tank guns were developed by France as early as 1931)
This article was published July 21, 1941, in the Lansing State Journal out of Michigan:
#1 Originally posted 01/31/2014:
This is likely a reprint, but still a good photo of the Bantam BRC-40 T2E1.
UPDATE: **SOLD** Was on eBay. This photo was floating one of the Facebook groups, but didn’t include the caption, which describes the passengers. This was originally published here Dec 23, 2014.
The question of the license plate came up on Facebook (as in, why does it have a license plate), while the question of “giant jeep” came up in a previous post on eWillys. The thing that’s been a head scratcher for me is that this jeep is carrying three grown men in the front, with space between the driver and the two passengers.
What is for certain is that in May 1941 Charles Payne (exec assistant to Bantam President Frank Fenn), was in Washington to promote Bantam’s efforts (see newspaper article at the bottom of this post).
So, thinking out loud, is it possible that the below verbiage is true, that Bantam made a “giant” or larger jeep to promote its effort to obtain a contract? It would explain why it has dealer plates (as it wasn’t owned by the military). Here’s a comparison with another face-front Bantam:
Photo on the left is a press photo with a standard Bantam BRC-40. The one on the right is the press photo with Congress men and Bantam Rep Charles Payne.
The angle of the jeep on the right going up the steps makes it appear a little larger, so that’s not helpful. One unusual aspect is that it seems to sit taller, with a greater distance between the tires and the front fenders; yet, the spring shacks still have more play in them than the photo on the left. However, all this could be the effect of being on the stairs with six people piled in it.
The license plate, unless enlarged, suggests that the jeep on the left is not giant, but rather a standard sized jeep. Therefore, my suspicion is that this isn’t a larger jeep. So, why the “giant jeep” comment was used by the reporter is still a mystery to me. Thoughts?
From the original eBay ad: “A Vintage1941 Original Photo depicting a Giant Jeep carrying politicians in Washington D.C. The vehicle was made by the makers of the U.S. Army’s newest midget to promote their new vehicle to the suits in Washington. The small four-wheel drive utility vehicles would become an icon of World War II. Original press stamp and caption with a MAY 25 1941 stamp date are on the verso.”
This photo was published in the May 26, 1941, issue of the Star Tribune out of Minneapolis, Minnesota:
This article from May 04, 1941, published in the Dayton Daily News (Ohio) provides additional information on Charles Payne’s visit, but doesn’t elaborate on the “Giant Jeep”, which may have been an Associate Press reporter creation:
This photo was floating around Facebook. It shows a Chicago Fire Department FC-170 dressed up as a clown carrier. Anyone know where the photo originated (the FB poster didn’t know). He did have a date of 12/5/1962.
This photo and article featuring a Ford GP was published June 09, 1941, in the Democrat and Chronicle out of Rochester, New York. It highlighted Major Harry Miller’s jeep modification, which added a 37MM gun to the rear of the vehicle.
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Originally posted February 07, 2015: This post emphasized the Camp Lewis connection.
This article shows a similarly painted WWII jeep, with a “Wrecking Crew” aboard, as the one below. The article is from the April 20, 1950, issue of the Daily Times out of Salisbury, Maryland:
