emailNeed to contact me and don't have my email? Click on email button.
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 .
So, you wanna shoot guns, dig with backhoes, race a suzuki, work a jackhammer, and drive a dozer all in one day? Where do you go? How about a Disneyland for Dudes?
The most recent edition of Wired Magazine ran a very interesting article about the Mannerspielplatz, which I roughly translate as a “play place for men” (I knew those 3 years of highschool german would come in handy someday). I went to the Mannerspielplatz, but even my rudimentary German isn’t quite enough to translate all the things you can do at this unique German park.
However, it did get me thinking — could you pull off something similar in the U.S.? Of course, the version in my head has an jeep/4×4 focus, but adding some big machinery along with some old automobiles, a tank or some other cool stuff might really be fun. Frankly, there’s all kinds of vehicles I always wanted to drive but never have had the chance. If the insurance and liability issues could be successfully negotiated, which I’m sure they could, then this could be a really cool idea.
The next time you are in Perth, Australia, make sure you stop by and see Ben Carlin’s SEEP named Half Safe. Ben Carlin and his wife navigated their SEEP around the world back in the 1950s. I found two website’s that chronicle the adventure: David Brooks shows pictures along with the story and Leisure Wheels has a large article with a single pic. Below is the beginning of the story and below that are a few pictures. Ben Carlin also wrote two books about his adventure “Half Safe” and later ““The Other Half of Half-Safe”.
FROM DAVID BROOKS WEBSITE: “Ben Carlin (1912 – 1981) was born and attended school in Western Australia. While awaiting demobilisation after service in India in World War II, Ben noticed a US amphibious jeep among other war debris, and remarked “You know, Mac, with a bit of titivation you could go around the world in one of these things”. For some never-explained reason, Ben was not certified insane on the spot, and eventually fulfilled his dream ….”
“The AirGeep was first flown on 12 October 1958. Apparently it proved grossly underpowered, barely able to fly over a fence, and it was sent back to the shop, where the piston engines were replaced by a single 317 kW (425 HP) Turbomeca Artouste IIB turbine engine. The upgraded AirGeep flew in late June 1959. It weighed 1.1 tonnes (2,500 pounds) and could carry a payload of 550 kilograms (1,200 pounds), including the pilot.
The AirGeep was put through trials for both the Army and the Navy over the next few years. The engine was upgraded again to a Garrett / Airesearch 331-6 engine, which had a higher power-to-weight ratio. For Navy trials, which began in June 1961, the rotorcraft was fitted with floats, and redesignated the “PA-59 SeaGeep”.
* Piasecki wanted to build a bigger and better AirGeep, and the Army Transportation Research Command obliged them by issuing a contract for what Piasecki called the “Model 59K” and what the Army called the “VZ-8P(B) AirGeep II”, which made its first flight in the summer of 1962.
The AirGeep II was similar to the AirGeep, except that the aircraft was “bent” in the middle so that the rotors were tilted fore and aft, it seems to improve forward flight characteristics. The AirGeep II used twin 298 kW (400 SHP) Turbomeca Artouste IIC turboshaft engines, once again linked so that if one failed the other would drive both rotors. One engine could also be coupled to the landing wheels to drive the machine on the ground. The increased power allowed a maximum take-off weight of 2.2 tonnes (4,800 pounds). The pilot and observer had “zero-zero” ejection seats, allowing safe escape if the machine was on the ground and standing still, and there were apparently seats for additional passengers.”
As we learned, the rotabuggy was a bit of a failure. However that didn’t stop the military from investigating some type of ‘flying jeep’. Now, I don’t know if the military really called it the Aerial Jeep or whether it was Life Magazine’s attempt to sell magazines, but the result is a pretty unusual flying machine:
After discovering Snow Canyon State Park was full yesterday, we decided to hold up in a motel last night. Because of the crazy winds, camping didn’t sound all that great anyway. Today, the winds have died down and we’ve found a new area to try: Cedar Pockets, Az, a small area a little ways from I-15 in the northwest corner of the state. It’s off of that one exit in the middle of the plunge through the tight rocky canyon as I-15 descends from St. George, Utah, to Littlefield, Az. So, we’ll see what we think of that spot. I expect no cell service there, so if there aren’t any updates for a few days, that is why. However, I will re-run some older feature stories each day for fun.
I wanted to extend our thanks to everyone who made our visit at this year’s Roundup memorable and fun. And a special thanks to Jesse for inviting me to attend, despite the lack of my own FC. Also, I really appreciated everyone who told me how much they enjoyed reading this website. Your feedback makes my efforts worthwhile!
On Saturday I was able to win a raffle price, 2 headlight gaskets (courtesy of Roy). After winning them, I announced my grand plan to build an FC around the gaskets. Yes, we’ll build from the front of the FC (fc-150? fc-170? something else) to its rear. I expect this is going to be a slooowwww project.
I even found the perfect FC project in Tucson as we drove out of town on Sunday morning; well, drove is a stretch. More like, plodded along due to an overturned semi in Black Canyon whose delivery of vegetables will likely be delayed (though the local rabbits should have some good forage for a while). Unfortunately, Tucson was in the opposite direction from where we were going and I suspect this incredible deal will be gone by the time I could ever make it back down there.
1961 FC-170 $450: (SOLD quickly after I posted it; it was in Tucson). Check out the early hubs on this, too.
So, until our FC is complete, I will just have to enjoy looking at and riding in other people’s FCs. Here’s some random pictures from the event. Thanks again to everyone and I look forward to the FC Get Together in Washington. If you don’t have an FC, find one and join the fun next year!
In this article by Lesley Panilla, Alexander Wetmore Stands Next to a Jeep at Rio Las Tablas, Panama, 1948. “After a number of visits, correspondence in the collection indicates that Wetmore was using the same Jeep during successive visits. Eventually they painted SM-INS in the front bumper marking it for Smithsonian Institution use (see SIA2008-3201).”
I also have both front & rear differentials/drive lines & L-134 Engine/Transmission/Transfer Case. This Engine assembly is not original to this 1948 CJ2A, it looks older. There are no markings from willys on the Head. Take a look at my other posting & tell me what it is.
I believe this to be 1941 thru 1944 War Jeep Engine.
Please make offer if interested. two zero eight 7nineone0five1nine”
Well there is value here. But, please, a moment of silence for that poor CJ-2A; it may never have been a real soldier, but it looks like it got blown up just the same.
“I have 2 old willys mj jeeps. And a frame with rears and trans.”
It looks like a parts jeep. Did someone really think that rollbar system would work?
“51 willys with all original running gear but engine. I have a 4.0 inline six and a dana 35 rear with a dana 30 front that go with it. the axels are out of a cherokee and the front needs to be changed to leaf spring setup. i bought this with a bill of sale. I also have a front and rear bumper,front pictured. 2200.00 obo. 662-871-9two one 9.”
Dan had this M-677 up for sale. A scammer attempted to use photos of the vehicle (though not the exact ones below) in a scam.
“1964 Jeep M-677 Forward Control 4 door, M-677 Four door Military crew cab Forward Control. One of the rarest and most sought after Jeeps. This is one of around 30 known.
Original 3 cylinder Cerlist Diesel motor. This is a rare military version of the FC 170 but with extra doors.”
