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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 .
It doesn’t look to bad compared to some I’ve seen today.
“1947 WILLYS $1000.00 O.B.O. Great shape for restoration. Body & frame very solid. Not much rust. What you see in the pics is mostly just missing paint. Not rust. Motor & Hubs had been rebuilt years ago. Hasnt been ran in a few years But use to run great. Needs gas tank & brake work. Dont think it would take much to get it running.Family lost interest in it & left it to me. ”
“Body: While this is not a gleaming show truck, it is a good looking and solid Willys pickup. The paint is quite presentable and the truck does look nice. As with any older paint job you will find the nicks, scratches and stains. I do not see any signs of significant rust, this is a very solid example of a ’55. If you are after perfection, look elsewhere. If you are after a decent truck that looks good, this could be your truck! Please take a good look at the photos as they are very representative of this truck. If after looking you would like more information please email or call us at 360-416-4995….”
The truth in advertising here? “1952 Willys Overland CJ-3A runs, drives, might stop.” I can’t say I’ve ever seen a grille damaged quite like that. Check out the gear shift in the third pic. It’s also a mix of CJ-2A and 3A.
“Here’s the good: This vehicle runs well. -Starting is accomplished using the factory center foot pedal starter engagement. -The following have been replaced recently (last 4 months) -fuel tank, intake, exhaust manifold, intake valves, head gasket, spark plugs, points, condenser, master cylinder, filters, and oil. -the carburetor and fuel pump have been rebuilt recently. -starts, steers, shifts, rides fine. doesn’t stop well right now. (wheel cylinders need rebuilding, i have the rear kits.) -transfer case works well and is twin stick case. (high/low and 2/4 wheel drive.)”
One source argues that the Topeka Hiway Mowers were built by ‘Shorty’ Meinhardt, who founded Meinholt Machine and Welding in Topeka Kansas. Shorty’s grandson Dean Fechter now runs the business. According to Meinhardt’s cousin, the first mower they built rolled over and broke Shorty’s back. But, that didn’t stop them from building more tractors.
Yet, according to at least one data plate, the Topeka Hiway mower was produced out of Irwindale, California, a product of the American Hoist & Derrick Company. Can anyone clear up the discrepancy between producers of the mower?
I have kept records of all of the people I know who have these mowers and information about the style, age and attachments. So far I have found three distinct styles. The oldest style appears to date to the late 1930s and uses Ford-style sheet metal and running gear. Examples are owned by collectors near Seattle, Wash., and Hartsville, Tenn.
The second style closely follows a CJ Willys/Jeep and uses a Continental 4-cylinder flathead engine, 3- or 4-speed transmission, and Dana 18 transfer case. The mower attachments on these were either a sickle bar or rotary. I think later mowers of this style included a windshield. I have found two examples of the later style Topeka Hi Way mower. One was recently sold by the Montana Highway Dept., and the other is in Lyons, Colo.
Most, if not all, of the mowers were painted yellow. To date, I have recorded the names and addresses of 11 owners in eight states. Just today I added two more contacts. By including my previous letter in your magazine, you have generated many of my contacts. I’d like to receive information from your readers about anyone who has one of these mowers or knows where one might be found. Thank you for producing such a wonderful magazine and assisting me in researching the Topeka Hi Way mower.
Here are some examples of the jeep version of the Topeka Mower:
“RARE WILLYS TOPEKA MODEL. ASSEMBLED IN TOPEKA KANSAS. ALL HYDRAULIC WITH POWER STEERING. HAS A CONTINENTAL FOUR CYLINDER INDUSTRIAL ENGINE WITH ABOUT 1100 HUNDRED HOURS. FOUR WHEEL DRIVE, TWO WHEEL DRIVE, HIGH LOW RANGE, FOUR WHEEL IN AND OUT AND HAND THROTTLE FOR THE REAR HYDROLICS SUCH AS LOG SPLITTER, DISC ETC. FOUR WAY PLOW, HEATER, WITH DEFROST AND REMOVEABLE CAB. GREAT FOR THE SUMMER ALSO. A SICKLE BAR OR ROTARY MOWER CAN BE ADDED ON THE RIGHT SIDE. HAS REAR HYDRAULIC REMOTES FOR ATTACHMENTS. TITLE NOT NEEDED AS ITS CONSIDERED AS A MOWER OR YOU COULD GET ONE AS IT HAS ALL THE STREET LEGAL ITEMS. NEW TIRES AND RUNS AND DRIVES GREAT.”
I’m sure the February temperatures that have blown into this month Boise are the ones that are rippling across the US. Jim shared with us the effects of storms at his place, along with a note that it dropped to -15 last night …. brrrrr. Jim, I’m assuming you’ve put that new/old snow plow you got to work?
Jim wrote, “Not a single bit of anything on the ground 2 days ago, then we got slammed! Its gonna be a white Christmas around here for sure!”
“I am selling this rig only because of seriously failing health. I bought it nearly three years ago so I could fiddle with it and drive it as a hobby. It gets a lot of attention wherever it goes.I can still drive it but can no longer work on it. The previous owner was a mid seventies retired MP who had restored three Willys MB’s. This 1942 was his third and he said it was time to let it go. I liked it so much I had it shipped in a covered trailer all the way from Ruffsdale, PA to Baton Rouge, LA. I was an MP myself in the mid 60’s so I had a lot of Jeep time in the M151 but always wanted a WWII version. It and the trailer have been garaged before and since my acquisition. The Jeep speaks for itself. It’s in really good condition. It was not cleaned up in any fashion prior to the pictures being taken. Didn’t even wash it. I didn’t “shiny” anything up under the hood to try to put a fresh look on it…..
The trailer is a rare Bantam. One source has it as a very early post war where the first two hundred were produced with a military style seamed axle, combat wheels, and were painted olive drab. This trailer fits. The Bantam letters on the data plate are block rather than Italic placing it wartime or immediate post war. It also has the heavy three position shoe and thick lunette for the military pintle hitch, chains and hooks. It’s also got blackout lights. Go figure ….”
This is highly customized. One of the more unusual customizations is the unusual change to the grille.
“1942 Willy’s Jeep, 327 Motor, 400 Auto, Posi-front & rear. 36 inch Tires. New-Carb, Fuel Pump, Starter, Aluminum Radiator, Electric Fan, and Much More. Clean….and Strong Runner. Will Consider trades for Motorcycles, Guns, ATV’S and Classic Cars”