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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 .
In his pursuit of CJ-5 Farm Jeep information, Barry shared the story of two CJ-5s jeeps used with a hay bailer out of California. The post includes many stills and a some youtube video from the jeeps in action.
The following two Polaroid photos show a CJ-6 available for a jeep tour of Hell’s Half Acre in Wyoming. The tour was located at Hell’s Half Acre’s post office, which opened in 1940. This page contains a photo of the post office from 1947; souvenirs were available, but no jeep tours at that time. The post office appears to have been leveled sometime in the 1990s or later.
UPDATE: A newspaper article from May 20, 1950, published in the St. Louis Globe-Democrat, provides more information about the jeep-driving circus chimp named Nero. He passed away later in the year.
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Originally Posted January of 2013: This 1950 postcard shows some chimpanzees driving a battery powered jeep. They were part of a Chimpanzee show at the St. Louis zoo started in 1925. Chimps were taught to ride bicycles, tricycles, motorcycles, ponies, a Great Dane, and more. You can learn more about them in the January 8, 1951, issue of Life Magazine.
“VINTAGE POSTCARD – CONDITION: VG. DATE/ERA: 1950s-60s. Standard Size 3.5×5.5.”
You can view some additional pictures at Jalopy Journal (scroll part way down the page). The quality seems good enough that they may be from Life Magazine, but I tried, but failed to locate their original source. Here is one of the images.
On December 13, 1950, several newspapers announced that Nero had passed away. Here’s an article from the Southern Illinoisan:
This 1961 photo of a lengthened CJ-2A pest control jeep with a sprayer unit can be found in the Wyoming Digital Archives. Given CJ-2L’s, those extended CJ-2As that appear to have been modified in Spokane and sometimes re-stamped as CJ-2L, were sold out of both Spokane and Montana (see ad examples at the bottom), it is highly probable this could have found its way from either location.
This particular jeep likely has a Porter-Reed aluminum half-cab.
This January 1953 ad seems the clearest in terms of a long-wheel-base CJ-2A. Other dealers in the Spokane and Missoula areas carried “lengthened”, “extended” or “long-wheel-base” CJ-2As as well. I believe the ‘extended’ jeeps were likely ones with extended rears, though whether that meant a permanent extension or a bolt on extension is not clear to me.
Fields Motor Company was in Dishman, Washington, which has since been absorbed by suburban Spokane.
January 19, 1951, Spokesman Review
Here’s an example from 1949. Sandifur Motors was profiled earlier this year:
December 11, 1949, Spokesman Review
Here’s an example of one ad from 1951. Burhart was a dealer out of Spokane, Washington.
“Almost all original. From West Colorado, very minimal rust for 70 years old.
It ran when I bought it, and it ran a few months ago, before I changed the carburetor with the correct aftermarket carb from Kaiser Willys. I can’t get it to start, I think the starter is bad.
It’s not road ready, it’s a project still, but it’s not far away, depending how original you want to keep it.
A LOT has been done to this Jeep, thousands of dollars spent. My loss, your gain, selling it, because planning a big move.
What’s not original:
Carburetor
Alternator (converted to 12 volts)
Seat frames (fabricated professionally)
The body’s floor (replaced with steel plate and steel channels by a professional fabrication shop)
Windshield is new safety glass
**it comes with the rare heater option “
“1947 willys cj2 Jeep. Has a motor out of a cj3/5 in it. Ran 10 years ago when it was parked in barn but needs work now. Tires are flat, won’t hold air. Bring a trailer and come get it. Have title”
Maury shared this Kelly hardtop for sale. It looks like it will need some metal work.
“Kelly All-Metal Cab For 1955 – 1975 Willys Jeep CJ-5. Condition is Used. All glass is good with no cracks. The top has surface rust. The doors have rusted through in places on the exterior panels. The door glass is not broken. I am not sure but I think this is a 200 series cab. It was made by Kelly Manufacturing Co. of Charleston, WV. This cab was on a 1959 CJ5. Local pickup only.”