The great thing about an unrestored Jeep is you can use it as is or unleash your imagination to make it into almost anything you want. The vehicles are simple as a stone, and parts are widely available. Here on eBay is a 1955 Willys pickup truck for sale, with bidding at $5,200. It is located in Excelsior, Minnesota. The reserve is met so this truck is going to a new home. This Willys pickup reportedly runs excellent. It has new tires and new sheet metal though we don’t know exactly which panels were replaced. Some of the bodywork is in primer; most panels are looking fairly straight, though as we all know paint will magnify any flaws. The trim is missing and there’s no word about its whereabouts, though the seller does indicate that lots of extra parts come with the deal.

By 1955, Willys was installing its Super Hurricane motor in its pickups. This little monster was an inline six-cylinder, 226 cu. in.  developing about 115 bhp (later 226’s were slightly less powerful). It was usually accompanied by a single barrel Carter carburetor. While not speedy, it was a great choice for rock climbing or pulling things out of the ground. The transmission is a three-speed manual and of course, the truck is a 4×4. It also has an electric fuel pump, as well as an 8-volt battery and alternator. This swap from the original 6-volt system is said to aid starting. Some say the Jeep’s lights will burn brighter as well. The odometer reads 30,207 miles.

The interior photo doesn’t offer much information for the buyer – we can’t see the dash, gauges, or pedals. Probably new seat covers and door panels are called for. The fire extinguisher is a nice touch, but make sure it’s up to date. These interiors were always spartan; in 1955 the dash would include a speedo/odo combination, fuel, oil pressure, volts, and engine temp.

For the 1955 model year, the tailgate would say “Willys” in the center and “4 Wheel Drive” to the right side, kinda like this. This tailgate needs work before it’s spiffy enough for paint. Still, this is a good start on the road to either a useful driver or a show truck. What would you do with this one?