BF Auction: 1949 Willys Jeep Pickup 4×4

Seller: Lawrence H unter (Contact)
Location: Divide, Montana
Mileage: 63,000 Shown
Chassis #: 35377
Title Status: Missing
Engine: 134-cu.in. L-head Inline-4
Transmission: T90 3-Speed Manual

Willys-Overland Motors was founded in 1908 in Toledo, Ohio, which is where Jeep production is still located in the U.S., over 100 years later. This 1949 Willys Jeep Pickup 4×4 may surprise you once you dig into it a bit and look at the underside photos. It looks like a forgotten barn find, but the mechanical systems have been gone through. This one is located in Divide, Montana, and the seller is listing it here as a Barn Finds Auction!

That’s one cool collection of pickups out in that Montana field, isn’t it? We don’t know the history of this truck, but as is almost always the case with rugged pickups that are over 70 years old, it has its share of dings and dents, and also rust. This isn’t 2026 sheetmetal, be prepared to do some serious pounding and welding when it comes time to straighten out that bed. I believe this truck was “Patomac Gray,” and not because of its gray primer, but because of the interior and engine compartment photos. We don’t know for sure what the color was, however.

Willys offered its famous pickup, a cousin to the Willys Wagon, for almost two decades, from just after WWII in 1946 to 1964. Seeing one in restored condition is always fun, but it’s just as much fun for me to see one looking a little rugged, and thinking about how you’ll start to tackle the restoration. Or maybe the next owner will just keep the mechanical systems maintained and drive it as it looks now? Jeep offered 14 variations on the chassis and body for this pickup, but it’s rare to see anything but the regular pickup as seen here.

The seat has been recovered, of course, and it adds a nice touch to an otherwise pragmatic and tough interior. The driver’s side has new door glass and a rebuilt latch; the outside door handle has also been rebuilt. It has a new heater fan motor, and the gauge cluster has been removed, cleaned, and tested to make sure everything works as it should. I love this truck even more the more I read about it. Check out that array of shifters! Other than some obvious welding needed on the floorboards, the interior would be kept exactly as it looks now, on my watch. Maybe some rubber flooring material after fixing the floors and adding sound-deadening material. This truck has a new gas tank, all-new wiring, new brakes, both differentials rebuilt, a new clutch and throwout bearing, new U-joints, and much more.

The engine has been rebuilt, and it’s a Willys-Overland Go-Devil 134-cu.in. L-head inline-four that had 60 horsepower and 104 lb-ft of torque when new. The seller says it was “bored 0.060; new valves; head milled 0.012; oil pump; fuel pump; water pump; distributor; starter & generator rebuilt by Kaiser Willys.” The BorgWarner T-90 3-speed manual and 2-speed transfer case were also rebuilt. They mention that the engine has slightly lower compression than normal, and they regret not staying on top of it when a shop was rebuilding it to ensure everything was perfect. Hopefully, that’s an easy fix, because the rest of the mechanical systems look amazing. Please check out the photos to see for yourselves. The seller’s reserve is much lower than Hagerty’s #4 fair-condition value, and given all of the incredible work that’s gone into this one, it’s likely a steal. Please check it out and get your bids in on this Barn Finds Auction!