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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 wooden Jeeps and Broncos were built by a craftsman named Jack who posted these photos to a website called Cherry Bronco.com (site was live in 2010, but has been down for years). He made wooden vehicles and furniture as a hobby in his spare time.
In the case of the 1977 Cherry Ford Bronco below, as you can see in the before and after pics, the body was pretty trashed and in need of something new. The pieces are all 7/8″ to 1″ pieces glued and screwed together. The bumpers and trim are done in Oak and Ash. A single coat of linseed Oil and three coats of Marine Varnish protect the finish and the owners clean it with furniture polish. Surprisingly, the new wooden body is actually 300lbs lighter than the original metal.
“Gotta go need room nice orig CJ3B body frame, axles, trans transfer case. New old tires Dual rear wheel. Great for restoration or awesome trail Flattie. Excellent grill Radiator, Windsheild, Hood, Dash, Solid 56 Rear CJ5 tub 1/2.”
“1956 Willys Jeep complete rolling frame with original motor, tranny, etc. Solid driveline. Motor is complete, good radiator, original carter carb. Body tub, fenders and windshield frame have been removed. I do have the hood and grille. Frame is in good shape. Has lockout hubs. Would be a good restore candidate or a great parts machine.”
The body looks good from the pics. This is a project.
“This truck is is part way through a body off restoration. Their is no rust and only minor body work left to do. The body it primed inside and out with undercoat on the bottom. It comes with a rare Kaiser Fraser flat top L-6 motor. Photos are old and some more work has been done. Will consider a trade for 400cc + sport ATV.”
(09/28/09) This looks like a nice, stock, early CJ-3B.
“This is a 1953 cj3b that has been frame off restored . The engine has 800 miles on it . The engine was gone through top to bottom . It has been painted back to original color. I am the third owner . I have owned the jeep sence 2003 . The seats are in new condition . It has a heater and a defroster that both work very well . The tires have about 1/2 tread and the spare is brand new”
(11/12/09) For $450, this looks pretty complete. The body is fiberglass.
“i have a old 1963 jeep willys cj5 it has a fiberglass tub and fenders it needs alot of work needs engine, gas tank, brake lines, tires,dash, wireing, seats, the windsheild frame is roted. good for a restortation projected the axle are dana 44 rear dana27 front with 538 gears and a t-90 3spd has a good soild frame. i have a engine to go with it that will runs. i have the mass title to go with it. towing availble at xtra $$. thanks for looking.”
Not sure which parade to watch on New Year’s Day? Then watch the Rose Bowl Parade. One of our reader’s, Kevin, tells me his daughter Alyson will be waving on float #83 (out of 91 floats) in the Rose Bowl Parade, so look for her and wave back! She is Ms. Wheelchair California 2009 and Kevin’s a very proud papa, as he should be. Congrats Alyson, Kevin and the whole family!!
On New Year’s weekend last year, Gerald and his brother towed home a Craigslist find. One year later, they are almost done with a great looking budget build. Gerald tooks some pics and tells the story. Thanks guys — and I agree with you on those tires. They look great!
Gerald writes, This started as a Craigslist ad for a 1948 Willys CJ-2A basket case. He wanted alot more, but after a month of trades and low balls he took the 1000 dollars offer for the lot. Much of the dirty work was done and lots of parts were included. The jeep finally arrived home over new years weekend, January 2009.
Because we didn’t trust any of the work done thus far, our first task was to take it apart the rest of the way. Once apart, we first focused on fitting the body correctly, which was a 10 + year old MD Juan generic (m-38 / mb) body, along with the stock hood and grill. We also fabbed up a rear crossmember and hitch.
As we examined some of the running gear parts, we discovered the rear axle was shot (which we replaced from a spare beater jeep out back) and decided to add new 11 inch brakes for the front (from craigslist). The springs were new, so that saved time and money. We tore down the motor, transmission and transfer case to make sure they were in good shape, and then refit them properly to the frame, including fabbing up some motor mounts.
Then, we went to work on the roll cage, which was partially built out of some bar from our old family jeep along with some new tube. After we got everything mocked up, we tore it back apart to get ready for painting.
There was stripping and sanding, more stripping and sanding, and then, finally, we sprayed it a deep blue. We took the time to paint the underside of the body first, along with many of the parts. Then, we assembles the body to the frame and gave it a final coat.
Next came the small stuff such as gauges, wiring, linkages, fuel system, windshield and exhaust. BTW, I have never seen a head with a fixed rear outlet. Does anyone know if this could be from a truck?
One of the most critical steps occurred this week, almost one year from the start date of the project: The Jeep gets the right set of wheels and tires. As you could see in the earlier pics, the jeep came with some new tires, but we felt they weren’t right (700 15), so my brother sold them on Craigslist.
Instead, he went with these Interco Super Swamper Radials 265 80 16. They are mounted on 8 inch wide alum wheels, which was another Craigslist find. I think these are perfect tires for a Willys in my estimate. He picked them up today in Wheeling, West Virginia, at National tire.
