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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 .
Tom Sterndale has been building a database of existing APUs, a challenging task given how little they’ve been documented. As part of his effort, he hoped to identify these jeeps which were once listed on eBay.
Tom writes, “Help me prove that ebay is not a black hole out there some were sucking up all the Szekely APU’S.
The four pictures of the four wheeled APU is a NC/5 Szekely used by the Navy up until the 70’s. Was on Ebay in 2010 would like to know were it is now.
The pictures of the Tricycle APU’S are NC/1 Szekely’s they were on ebay in 2003 or 2006 I would also like to find them or others like them.
Both the NC/5 and the NC/1 used Willys Jeep as a base.I have found some APU’S like the red and blue ones they all seam to be NA/3 Szekely built for the Air Force. I
I am trying to keep a data base of all units that I can find any body with a Szekely of any type I would like to be put in contact with them.”
Where do I even begin? This is a very rare and authentic piece of military history; it may be your only chance to own a vehicle like this. If you search “APU Jeep” this very Jeep is all over the internet. It is a 1951 Willys Jeep CJ3A, but was specially contracted by the US Navy to be used as a mobile power unit. This is known as an APU (auxiliary power unit). It’s sole purpose was to start early jet-aircraft as they did not have on-board starters. It utilized a PTO-driven generator off the transfercase and fed power through cables to the jet. The equipment was so heavy duty, the Jeeps were equipped with larger engines that weren’t even available to the public yet. Two different manufacturers built these Jeeps: A company named O.E. Szekely which a handful of Jeeps are left, but none have any of the original jet equipment. They are only known by their data plates. The other company was Valentine Welder & Co.
(12/18/2016) Rudy just purchased this rare and unusual O.C. Szekely-built Ford powered four wheel drive APU. It’s got a an Szekely badge and an O.E. Szekely stamped transmission. I don’t recognize the transfercase, which falls to the driver’s side rather than passenger side.
Thanks to some careful research, Rudy discovered that this vehicle was one of eight deliver to the military on August 25th, 1953. Specifically, “”The vehicle is a specially built two passenger 4X4 truck powered by a FORD eight cylinder engine. . . . A generator mounting chassis, located between the seats, supports the two generators and generator drives” and the “transmission that incorporates the transfer case is designed to transfer engine power to the generator drive”. O. E. Szekely dropped off eight of these vehicles to a shipping service on August 25th, 1953.”
“Last week the stars aligned for the Valentine APU. For months, Tom and Arno have dug through vintage photographs and literature to see what the correct generator was for the NA-4 APU. We finally had it figured out: a Jack and Heintz G32. What would you know, a single G32 was actually for sale on eBay! It was unreal.
The owner purchased the generator from California where it was completely rebuilt. His original plan was to build an electric car with it, but the project was never started. Having original paint was the cherry on top!
This weekend I pulled the PTO system off my Jeep and unseized the shifter. Everything else worked great. The generator slid into the shaft like a glove, and the bolt pattern was perfect. I still can’t believe it.”
Nick and tom have been continuing to research the APUs. They have some additional photos and documents to share, along with a story from Dennis Flynn, a former driver of an APU. Below is his tale, along with a photo of him now and of his former self in an APU.
Dennis Flynn photographed in an APU jeep and one of him now.
Dennis wrote,
I was 18 I made 3rd class Petty Officer and was put in charge of a 12 man start/tow crew working the flight deck on the USS Hancock CVA-19, Essex class attack carrier built in 1944 scrapped in 1976.
Early version of the jeeps used in the 40’s and early 50’s, the yellow ones were mid 50’s through mid 60’s. and cut down quite a bit. The rear axle was moved to the front and steering was done using two small wheels mounted in the center rear, the hood bulge was done to clear the carburetor since the body was lowered. ( it was like driving a tricycle backwards ) and they were pretty squirrelly to drive. A governor was placed on them to keep the top end at about 14mph.
My friend of mine and myself had one torn down for a valve job and had the ships machine shop mill the head, port the intake and exhaust and we made up a split exhaust manifold and removed the governor. While at sea and when we were not flying we tried out our work. Jim took off at the front of the ship (The flight deck was 888 feet long) By the time he got to the Island he was going 65mph. Then trying to stop (this had brakes on the front axle only and they were not all that great to begin with). He was doing pretty good with getting it stopped when he started running over the 1” arresting cables on the rear causing the Jeep to bounce and really get sideways. Jim did manage to stop it about 8 feet from going over the aft end of the deck. We were going about 20 knots at the time and the flight deck to the water is 68 feet down. We both got a super royal ass chewing from the ships executive Officer but neither of us got busted. (I didn’t lose my Petty Officer stripes that I had just made, but I was also the Ships Captain’s driver so that might have saved me)
I made up a “Bragging Card” for us stating that we set a world’s record for a gas driven vehicle on a flight deck while at sea. Jim is still alive and is one week older than I am and I turned 74 last October. When you are young you think you are invincible, It was a great memory and thankfully no one was killed.”
Dennis’ “Bragging Card” for setting a speed record in an APU.
Tom unearthed this government quote for 75 Valentine APUs, one of which would have been Nick’s. Given this info, Nick’s Valentine modified APU (#19) might be the only one left in existence.
Looks like it has an APU hood and a blue star hardtop.
“Very Solid Willys, NO RUST!!!!!
OHV 4 Cyl.
31″ tires. Have stock wheels and tires.
Blue Star Aluminum Hard top.
Mastercraft seats.
Very fun to wheel, but sat in the garage last couple years.
Clean Title! So no dealing with trying to get a title.”
Tom Sterndale is looking for more APU jeeps. He’s go some information to help people understand if they have an APU jeep. You can contact him at tosternd@gcasda.org
DO YOU HAVE OR KNOW OF AN APU JEEP?
Description — Auxiliary Power Unit : Shelf Propelled Electric Power Plant : Jet Starter
Data Plate Name — O.E.Szekely & Associates or Valentine Welding Company
UPDATE: According to the Willys Spring Reunion Facebook page, this might make an appearance at the Willys Spring Reunion in May!
Earlier this month Nick put together a video and some more pics that showed him picking up his barn find: the 1951 CJ-3A APU jeep modified by the Valentine Welder and Manufacturing Company. It’s a neat looking rig.
Here’s what Nick wrote: Hidden in a barn since 1962. As of Feb 5th, 2016 this is the only known Jeep of its kind. Valentine Welder purchased frames from Willys Overland, and converted them into what’s called an APU (auxiliary power unit). These were fitted with PTO-driven generators that started early jet aircraft. O.E. Szekely also made APU’s, but this is the only known Valentine and also the only original Navy paint of both companies. After a bunch of research I believe this was used on the USS Wasp (CV-18). I have the original government release paper and maintenance manual. It is truly a museum piece.
The whose-it-what-huh? I’ve did a few searches and added some more info following the jeep photos.
BACKSTORY: A few months ago Nick discovered someone with an APU. We assumed it was a O.E. Szekely modified APU, as that’s the only type anyone had unearthed. That’s why Nick was shocked when he took the time to visit the man with the APU. There, he discovered it was made by the Valentine Welder and Manufacturing Company. Once he saw it, he knew he had to have it. He made an offer and bought it. Nick shared more over at G503:
