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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 .
UPDATE: I found what I believe is another Israel Kaiser brochure which highlights the Compact Tender design. This truck looks more like a modified wagon than a truck. The bed does not appear independent of the cab.
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Original Published Dec 05, 2010: Congrats to Or who spotted some information from a “Kaizer-Ilin Industrys Ltd” marketing document at the Israel Cars forum. He and I have both searched for any official piece of evidence that the vehicles we were seeing were really produced and this represents the first step in that process. We still don’t know how many were produced, nor how many years they were produced, nor in how many countries they were produced (though they have appeared in both Israel and the US).
The document below is from 1963. Or translates it the following way:
Moreover, Or spoke with some of the folks at the Israel Cars forum and discovered that the Compact Tender is built on the Panel/Wagon frame (104.5″ wheelbase) rather than the long pickup frame (118″ wheelbase).
Thanks to the guys at the Israel Cars forum for posting this Ad:
This appears to be a wagon with the back chopped and a canopy added to it. Thanks to John for spotting this oddity. Listed as a ’46, given the grill and speedometer, I’d guess this is a late ’56.
“RAT ROD or YARD ART, WAS A WAGON, NOW SHORTENED** HAS FRT FENDERS, HOOD & GRILLE****BE DIFFERENT. DONT COPY CAT*** SHEET METAL ONLY, NO TITLE *** BILL OF SALE”
January 18, 2023 • CATEGORIES: Features, Jeep Rods, Unusual • TAGS: Odd Body, Tender. This site contains affiliate links for which I may be compensated.
UPDATE: Dwayne posted some more pics of his truck on Facebook. You can see them below:
This image was posted a few days ago by Dwayne Brown. I am guessing the the back bed is a modified wagon back? It reminds me a little of the “Tender” wagons. Looks like a great rig!
This could make a neat looking build. It has a “Tender” look about it. But, rather than cutting down just a wagon, this one combines a truck with a wagon rear.
“1959 Willys, Jeep, 2WD, custom made fleet side bed,
No front fenders, No seat, Custom bumpers, Center line wheels, new tires but older.
V8 318, AT, motor and trans are good but not running now.
Good start on Rat Rod project, Hot Rod, pickup, truck.”
Andy shared this cut down wagon that looks like a “Tender” wagon. It’s listed as a 1949, but actually looks to be 1960 or later.
“parting out a 1949 willies jeepster. frame is actually solid believe it or not. motor has oil, transmission seems to be shift through gears. cab is shot but doors are solid! email zip code for shipping quotes. nightcrawlertow.com”
“1956 Jeep Willy’s LS1 with nitrous Aluminum radiator and trans cooler Power steering 4×4 King coil overs KC Hilite running lights and rock lights Led whip/mount near tailgte Stereo with Bluetooth All gauges work perfectly Driven right around 600 miles since built completed Custom interior Full paint exterior and interior with fully painted finished bed 17” Black Rhino wheels 37” tires Licensed with tags up to date, and clean title This truck is well built and well thought out, not a backyard build. Paint is in great condition and it turns heads everywhere.”
“No title, project that I must sell for taxes. No negotiation, no trades. 1972 350 v8 2 bolt main to rebuild, 1978 turbo 350 tranny, np205 transfer-case. Motor has a grand in parts but needs a crank and one piston. Transmission and transfercase worked great when pulled but have set for two years. Not one single item will get sold separately. It’s all or none..”
Mike spotted this Tender-like custom wagon for sale. I don’t have any contact info for it, but there is a reversed phone number on the For Sale sign in pic #3.
(03/12/2017) Cool build. It’s by far the nicest “Tender” build I’ve seen.
For most of us the classic car world is about standing out with some attitude, and it doesn’t get more custom or unique than this. After all a 1950 Willys Jeep Pickup is already going to draw a crowd, but when it has been fully custom built with a new V8, overdrive transmission, upgraded suspension, custom interior, A/C, and much more, then you will always be the coolest custom everywhere you go.
The handsome, upright body says Jeep as loudly as any CJ, and it’s a familiar face the world over. But this icon is also instantly recognizable as a fully built classic. After all, a rare unibody pickup with an extended cab is a cool sight. Plus, it’s the purple and beige gives this nearly 70-year-old steel a healthy dose of modern luster and shine. The gloss does a great job of highlighting all the ribbed details that came in the panel stamping (they were originally for strength, but now just increase the cool factor.) The old and new world styles blend on the brightwork where the grille, trim, and bumpers combine nicely with the 15-inch Boyds alloy wheels and bright exhaust tips. Plus, the rear bed has both form and function with the color-matched tonneau, marine-grade carpet underneath, and bright LED taillights. In total, you can tell someone spent extra time and effort creating this cool Willys.
Since then, I’ve been searching for an original US version of the Tender, but have not found one. So, while not beyond the realm of possibility, I highly doubt this is an original 1954 Tender for the following reasons.
The seller of this truck is describing it as a 1954 Truck and the serial number is claimed to be 55168 10001. However, as of 1954, the serial number system used was the 654 XX2 prefix system (the “X”s standing for various letters) to describe 4WD Willys trucks. It wasn’t until 1955 that Willys Motors adopted the 55168 system, but that year that prefix started with 55168 5001. At some point, there was a 55168 10001 produced, but that would have been late into the1955 year.
Consistent with a 1955 build, the 1955 55168 trucks model was defined as a cab only version of the Willys truck accompanied by the Super Hurricane engine, same as the truck herein. The “bed” of the truck could have been built from a wagon, so that might be consistent, too.
However, the speedo shown wasn’t produced until late 1956ish. The Willys emblem used on the hood and on the glove box looks more like an Aero emblem than a jeep emblem. The hockey-stick styling of the external chrome didn’t appear until 1960(?). Meanwhile, the two piece windshield was discontinued in 1960. So, there are major inconsistencies.
I’m sure there are other issues that folks can add to this list.
“This 1954 Willys was built as a 1955 model and is Serial #0001. A piece of Willys Jeep history, this example has 2,122 original miles and is equipped with 4-wheel drive. It’s powered by a Super Hurricane 226ci 6-cylinder engine backed by a T90 3-speed manual transmission and Dana 18 transfer case. The exterior was repainted in its correct shade of tan.”
