emailNeed to contact me and don't have my email? Click on email button.
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 .
MODEL E CJ-3B Version: Based on the ice-delivery-chain-system design on the front, I’d say this is a CJ-3B version of Model E. You can learn more about the CJ-3B versions here.
December 09, 1956, Boston Sunday Globe.
MODEL E CJ-5 Version: This model was the last one to include the jeep body, in this case a CJ-5 body.
March 09, 1955, The Gazette out of Montreal, Canada.
MODEL F: This photo and caption shows a good example of the final jeep-related Zamoni Ice Resurfacer.
December 06, 1957, The Record-Argus out of Greenville, Pennsylvania.
I suppose the timing of this article is appropriate, given those of us in the north half of the blue ball are plunging into winter quickly (at least the weather in Washington State feels wintery), as a recent Smithsonian Magazine article on the Zamboni Company featured several photos I hadn’t seen of Jeep-based Zamboni vehicles. Here’s the article: https://www.smithsonianmag.com/innovation/how-zamboni-changed-game-ice-rinks-180973352/
The article also included this ad featuring the CJ-3B as Model D from the Zamboni Company’s archives:
This is a unique item that Roger Martin spotted. If you are a CJ-5 collector, you probably don’t own a CJ-5 chassis sporting an original Frank Zamboni-created Model FH!
“This is a 1959 FH model zamboni built by Frank Zamboni himself. The serial number is FH197 less than 20 of these were ever built. It is the high capacity model designed for outdoor ice rinks. It needs a complete restoration it’s built on a Jeep cj5 frame and Jeep 4cyl concerted to propane. It was running and being used in Lake Placid up until about 6 years ago when a new machine was purchased. At that time this one started to be stripped down to restore bc it’s such a fascinating piece of history, but have run out of time to put into it. I am going to put the listing up for 7 days no reasonable offer will be refused”
“I have a model HD zamboni for sale. It is gas engine with only 2,000 hrs on the meter. Runs and looks good. Ideal for club rink, outdoor rink, city rink. Has Willy’s Jeep parts used throughout that have had very little exposure to outdoor elements. Came out of Kemper arena in Kansas City, MO.”
UPDATE: We had a busy, long weekend, Normal updates resume on Tuesday morning. In the meantime, here’s a rerun from 2010.
Eureka, Utah is a very small town. I imagine it was even smaller when Frank Zamboni was born in 1901. From those humble beginnings, Frank grew up to create one of the most iconic service vehicles ever: The Zamboni® Ice Resurfacer. I’m not sure why they have entered the public’s imagination in the way they have, but if you say Zamboni®, people know what the vehicle does.
In fact, the Frank J. Zamboni company is legitimately concerned about the name Zamboni® passing from being a description of an Ice Surfacer into a noun, which can spell death for a Trademark. You’ll note on the website that Zamboni® is quickly followed by Ice Surfacer for that specific reason. In addition, there’s an extensive discussion of the Zamboni® trademark here.
By now, you are probably asking yourself what all this has to do with jeeps? For about 7 years, from 1942 through 1949, Frank Zamboni attempted a variety of experiments to create a good ice resurfacer, mostly using different Jeep models. Below is a summary of the Zamboni® history from the company’s website coupled with pics I’ve found all over the web. The CJ-3B Page also has some information.
Model A was Frank’s prototype ice re-surfacer. In 1949, he built the model below (which has been restored and still exists at Paramount Iceland in California):
2. Model B introduced the jeep to ice surfacing. In 1950, apparently Frank decided he needed something more portable, so he came up with Model B, which used a War Surplus Jeep (I’m assuming MB?). If you look closely below, you can see Frank connected a U joint to the steering column and then added another steering rod so that you could steer from behind the jeep. According to the Frank J. Zamboni Corp:
In 1950, Olympic skating star Sonja Henie’s traveling ice show was practicing at Paramount Iceland, and she saw the Model A in action. She had to have one and asked Frank if he could build one in time for an upcoming Chicago performance. The deadline was tough, but Frank worked day and night, then loaded all of the resurfacer parts into a U-Haul® trailer. He towed the trailer to Chicago behind the Jeep he would install the parts on and assembled the Model B there.
Glenn found this rare item. I don’t know much about the V4s that power these rigs.Might be an interesting motor to check out. I can’t tell if this is a variant of the Model F or a Model G. You can learn more about the Zamboni/jeep relationship here.
“1964 Zamboni ice-resurfacer, needs TLC, runs, goes, manuals included. These machines were made on a Jeep running gear. Dana front and rears, 3 speed manual with spicer transfer case, drive shafts etc. Will consider parting out if sale of whole machine doesn’t take place. Has V-4 air cooled motor that runs great and has propane setup. Would make a great lumber mill power plant.”
This has a few jeeps parts and many more non jeep parts.
“It was used up to the point of having one cylider run rough; then the unit was replaced with another used Zamboni of newer vintage. This unit fits into the 1964 to 1969 HD and HDA catagory of Zambonis . most of us remember these at the ice rinks when we were alot younger.
This is the familiar looking unit that most NHL ICE rinks had back in the 60’s and 70’s. This would be a fantastic unit for promotion / parade / or for your local ice rink once motor repaired.
This unit has the air-cooled 4 cylinder Wisconsin VH4D engine. The motor is tired on one cylinder , it does run,it was last run in december 2011. It does have the 5 bolt wheel jeep cj5 diffs, but is the 1964 up non jeep framed type Zamboni . It has the 3 speed manual transmission (Jeep FC 150) , It has 4 studded tires. it rolls and steers properly.
It has been used up to recently at the Keremeos BC ice rink, with former use at the Osoyoos BC rink.”
This Zambonia Ice Resurfacer is old enough to be built on a jeep frame.
“We have a used Zamboni that needs a new home. In good used condition, 4wd jeep frame with 1600 VW engine. Located in Livermore CA…. may trade for WWII Stuff.”
