Willys wagon enthusiasts make a pretty good case for it being the first true sport utility vehicle, although I’m sure Suburban lovers beg to differ. Regardless, the formula of a stretched Jeep chassis with a utilitarian enclosed body has been around for a long time! This one isn’t quite original, but still retains much of the flavor that made the caruck (car+truck) a favorite with farmers, ranchers and outdoorsy folks for many years. It’s listed for sale here on eBay with bids topping out so far at $4,500. It will be a long drive home for most of you from Poteau, Oklahoma should you decide to go that route after winning the auction!
The seller is quick to point out that it wasn’t them who decided to repaint the originally maroon vehicle with this somewhat garish orange. Thankfully, the original interior (or at least appearing original interior) is still in place. The outside sheet metal looks great on this wagon!
Maybe a bend back here in the door and bumper? There are parts available for these vehicles, honestly, more than I would have expected. But then again, it makes more sense once you find out like I did that the same basic vehicle not only was sold from 1946 to 1964 in the USA but it continued on until 1970 in Argentina and 1979 in Brazil! That’s 33 years of vehicles for the aftermarket to support!
There is a little bit of rust on the floor of this Willys, but in all reality you could cut this out and replace it with plain sheet metal in an afternoon. I appreciate the seller including detailed photos of the issues in the auction listing.
Doesn’t this look great? Okay, not the orange/dark red, but just the seats and dashboard? I think this is a great classic that is usable as well, and the fact that the VIN calls for a four-cylinder engine but it has the larger, optional six-cylinder doesn’t bother me in the least. But don’t think it’s cushy to drive; the seller states “I have personally drove this rig quite a bit with no issues, does it handle great…nope…manual steering, manual brakes on a vehicle of this size makes it a handful to drive, but nothing you wouldn’t expect from a 70 year old vehicle.” Just what I would expect! Someday I’d love to own one of these Willys, but not today. What do you think?
Well, you are right about the long drive Jamie. Happy to see the overdrive! Pretty nice ride for $4500 bucks. A fun rig if you keep it rural. Happy Easter to all!
Good looking truck, and could be a ton of fun exploring your local off-roads! Built in the day when YOU did the driving, and actually had to pay attention. Just make sure all is safe and enjoy this classic. I tried to teach my all of kids how to drive a stick with varying degrees of success, but at the very least they have the concept down and could drive this beast if they had to. I pity the soft-head generation that is forced to confine their thievery to automatics! GLWTS!
Great Willys. Looks complete, and as stated, with the overdrive, a very fair price.
Hope the new buyer makes it over to OldWillysForum.com
This orange beast would look great sitting next to my 46 CJ2A! Beautiful rig to restore and enjoy!
Same age as me, looks to be in better shape too, except for the Rusty Chassis. Had the same problem with my 95′ Rodeo,
looked mint ended up Junking it.
I grew up in Northwest Detroit, mi There was a Party store on the corner of Fenkell and Hubbell streets named Bud and Franks. They had a Willy truck like this but the color was green. They used the truck to make deliveries in the neighborhood surrounding Thomas M. Cooley High School. The would be seen frequently making a stop at a neighbors house across the street from us delivering beer and cigarettes to a widowed neighbor. Those were in the days before all the delivery agents we have today. I often wonder how many miles this Jeep had on it and who purchased it after the store closed.
Since it no longer has the original engine anyway, upgrade to a SBC. Too bad about the color!
Yep.Would have had a Hurricane, no? Or is it too early? Already over 5 k…..would look a lot better in the original maroon……….
Still..extremely manly!
I would keep it orange and red just to ire people. Looks like a nice enough vehicle. Engine is okay with me. Sit it out in front of my house and see how many letters I’d get from H.O.A. Just love those people, better not let my grass get more than ten days growth or I’ll get a letter for sure.
God bless America
Well John…got keep yer distance from them there comminist housing developments!
oh wait you moved in there voluntarily…never mind.
The Jeep would probably enhance the Stepford wife quality of your surroundings I’m guessing :)
Maybe you can find a guy that has goats and sheep. They can eat the grass and keep it manicured. No lawn mower gas to purchase either!!!!!
In high school in 1973, I paid $700 for a ’52 Willys split window with a used up Studebaker V8 conversion. Bought a Ford 302 with an aluminum bell housing, 10 1/2 inch clutch and a 10 bolt top loader from a local wrecking yard. Fabbed up new mounts and got an adapter plate to mount to the transfer case/overdrive. A nice big winch and warn selectable front locks, plus plenty of torque made it unstoppable. Curtained windows, Supertuner, 4, 6×9 triaxial speakers with nice carpet, upholstery and Petty blue paint made it a ’70’s shag wagon. Sadly, selling it paid for a year of college, but I sure wish I could have kept it.
This actually has a number of sought-after items on it. Combine that with a fairly sound, almost rust-free body, this is quite a catch. Id consider repainting to the fake woody paint scheme that was common in the earliest years of these and enjoy it.
Always wanted of these, and years ago had couple friends that had these as their hunting/back roads exploring rigs! My father had a Willys-Ferguson tractor dealership back in the days when this was new, and one of these days I will find one local! Be great on the country roads around my place!