Willys Jeeps

Willys jeeps are the old WWII Jeeps that you see in M*A*S*H reruns and about two dozen John Wayne flicks. These vehicles were not manufactured by Chrysler or even AMC, but by a company called Willys Overland Motors, thus the name of the model. The last actual Willys Jeep was produced in 1964, and it had been refined to the point where it more closely resembled today's Jeep Cherokees.

There is a fiercely loyal and very resourceful community of Willys Jeep owners who keep these pieces of automotive history running and available to the public. While several websites actually stock new replacement parts for these vehicles, there are also sources for reconditioned body parts and WWII-era accessories. This community also has some websites that offer something more valuable than just parts. Advice on whether to rebuild or swap the engine on a '53 Willys jeep can be found in one forum, while another will connect owners wanting to buy, sell or swap Rhino grills

As you can imagine, most Willys jeeps are not used for daily driving. You may also anticipate that local veterans groups make use of these vehicles in parades possible. If you happen to make it to a few of those parades and find a few guys who remember driving, repurposing or routinely kicking a Willys jeep, then you've stumbled onto the ultimate treasure trove - Jeep stories. You might hear about Jeep engines doubling as rotisserie motors, Jeep tires being sucked off the wheels in a mud hole (not authenticated), and Jeeps being powered by everything from vodka to, well, recycled vodka (also not authenticated). The stories can't be bought, installed or photographed, but they're a good incentive to keep a Willys jeep around and running for a few more generations.