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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.
There are plenty of interesting, unusual, historic and surprising stories related to Jeeps and their owners. In addition, some of these features have nothing to do with jeeps. This link will display all featured stories starting from the latest.
Looking for parts and not sure where to go? There are a variety of large and small new and used parts sellers both online and offline.
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 .
This report on the 1959 Jeep Cavalcade was published in Grand Junction’s The Daily Sentinel, August 25, 1959.
This seller added a few customizations to this Struck Mini-Beep. It’s the first one I’ve seen for sale west of the Mississippi.
https://www.facebook.com/marketplace/item/563279231502761
“This is a wood kit using plywood and wood boards. Craftsman 19 hr power and riding lawn mower axles. LED lights as well as a winch. Trailer was made from a child carrier. LED’s function. This was a project started by an ole friend, I finished it. Lots more options can be added for Parades or family functions”
When looking over the 1960 Jeep Cavalcade brochure, I noticed it was the 3rd annual event. However, the 1959 brochure doesn’t mention it being the 2nd annual event. A newspaper clipping from 1958 solved that question. It turns out there was a 1958 advance trail exploration in 1958 to prep for the 1959 event, though it seems to have been more of a low key event when compared to the 1959 and 1960 cavalcades. This short newspaper article in the June 1, 1958, issue of the Fort Collins Coloradoan explains it:
This article appeared in Grand Junction’s Dailys Sentinenl on August 23, 1959:
UPDATE: Will Corbett shared this 1959 ‘Jeep’ Cavalcade “Rush to the Rockies” Centennial event brochure with Gone-Gpn on Facebook. It is a tri-fold brochure that opens up with a full-page on the back. I’ve pieced together the back page from two separate pages, so it isn’t quite a perfect example.
This is the front of the brochure:
This is the back of the brochure:
This image shows the back of the brochure when fully opened:
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Originally Posted October 18, 2018:
This information covers the 1959 Jeep Cavalcade “Rush to the Rockies” Centennial. The 1959 Cavalcade was part of the 100th anniversary of the John Gregory’s Central City May 1859 strike, which led to a wave of hopeful miners descending upon what would become the Denver area. The Centennial was celebrate throughout Colorado through a variety of celebrations and merchandise (like these bottles and this Centential booklet).
A subsequent ‘Jeep’ Cavalcade was organized for 1960, as shown in this brochure.
Photo from the Denver Post. Both Life Magazine and the Denver Post covered the event. Note the white wagon above. It appears in a couple of the color photos below.
Some folks attached these flags to their rigs.
Here are photos of the 1959 Jeep Calvacade that appeared in the December 28, 1959, issue of Life Magazine (the one below).
This jeep has been modified with a truck bed. It’s listed as a 1958, so maybe it was originally a DJ-3A or maybe it is a modified CJ-3B or CJ-5.
https://www.facebook.com/marketplace/item/197222075670198
“I am selling my one of a kind custom Willys Jeep. This Jeep has a CJ3A front end with a custom stepside Willys pickup style bed. It is powered by a Ford 302 v8 with a T150 three speed manual transmission. That is paired to a Dana 18 transfer case that puts power to a Dana 44 rear axle and a Dana 35 front axle. The Jeep has 33” tires with front locking hubs. Jeep runs, but needs a new battery and fuel, possible the carb cleaned. I’m asking $4750 or best offer.”
Steve shared this one. The seller indicates they are parting it out, but it also has a price of $5000.
https://philadelphia.craigslist.org/pts/d/richboro-1961-jeep-fj3-fleetvan-engine/7345781077.html
“Complete part out of FJ3 FLEETVAN
Call with needs”
Might be worth a look, especially if it includes the winch.
https://www.facebook.com/marketplace/item/198013002250705
“1953 Jeep m38 only 47,000 made-$3,500”
The writing on the door suggests this was a ranch vehicle out of Meeker, Colorado. The Koenig half top looks in good shape.
https://www.facebook.com/marketplace/item/343935637272342
“Rare barn find. Original 1960 “Farm Hand” CJ5. Original, removable, fully enclosed cab. Runs and drives well. 4 wheel drive works well also. Front rods and steering updated with new old stock (got rid of “death wobble”). New and correct fuel pump, plus and electric fuel pump for cold morning starts. Great patina and original Colorado farm logo on the doors.”
UPDATE II: Hans shared this photo of a Willys Rail truck’s speedometer. The Auf Schiene appears to translate as “on track”, meaning the interior speedometer should be used while driving on a track.
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UPDATE: This article features the third Delaware & Hudson Hy-Rail Jeep Truck. It appears to be either #152 or #162. The article appeared in the July 30, 1957, issue of the Press and Sun Bulletin out of Binghamton, NY:
I am happy to report that rumors of my imminent demise were grossly exaggerated, though said rumors likely evolved from my own posts. So, you can place your pall-bearer suits (or jeans and t-shirts) and your mourning outfits back on their hangers. It looks like I will be around for a little while longer!
Of course, God, with a sense of humor unmatched, plucked me off that frying pan (the first bed they gave me seemed hard as one) and dropped me into the fire, that being the record heat we had around here. For all my Arizona brethren, you can have your crazy 115+ temps! Though, I will say the hot temps made it very easy to stay inside and get well.
Back on the fateful day when I checked myself into the emergency room, and once they determined my near death seemed avoidable, I had plenty of time to kill and a full charge on my phone: dangerous bedfellows! Yet, I didn’t know if I was out-of-the-woods totally, so I figured I might as well let folks know that, as my father used to say in his understated manner, ‘there’s a problem’. Thankfully, I now feel reassured enough to say that, there is currently no longer a problem (knuckles meet wood).
But, that doesn’t mean eWillys will be back anytime soon. I’m enjoying this extended break. It may be that eWillys never returns to its original format. Instead, I’ll take this time to figure out a way that the site can be of use without the time demands of the past.
Before I go, I once again have to thank everyone who shared their stories about eWillys. It is always gratifying and humbling to see strange idea of mine evolved into something worthwhile.
Finally, I will leave you with two posts below, both oddities deserving of attention.
Dave