The only bad part about writing for Barn Finds is cars like this, where I can barely restrain my acquisitive instincts. I wanted to delete this tip and buy it myself. Here on craigslist is a near-perfect 1946 Willys CJ2A for sale for $8,695 or offer, located in Lewiston, Idaho. Thanks to T.J. for finding this one! Willys-Overland had a rough start to life, allegedly due to poor working conditions that caused its workforce to quit or strike in waves. The company entered bankruptcy during the Great Depression. It emerged in 1936 as a financially wiser organization. Good timing, because it was then in a position to compete for and win a contract with the US government to manufacture military vehicles during WW II. The CJ2A was a civilian version of the military vehicle, starting production in 1945.
The engine used in the CJ2A, as well as the military Jeep, was the “Go Devil” 134 cu. in. inline four-cylinder, developed by Barney Roos (of Marmon and Studebaker fame) from a 1926 Willys Whippet motor. The Whippet motor evolved slightly over the years but remained anemic and unreliable – not a recipe for winning a government contract. Roos re-engineered the motor and added sturdier components, eventually boosting its horsepower to 60 at 4400 rpm. Better yet, it was actually reliable. In this vehicle, the transmission is a three-speed T-90 Borg Warner. Of course it is a 4×4. This engine bay is good enough for a utilitarian vehicle. We are told the odometer reads 63,000.
The CJ came with a myriad of options, and so it is with our subject car. This jeep has a snowplow attachment, a winch, a rear bench seat, and some $1,500 worth of other parts with it. Not that parts are an issue. Or help: the great thing about a vehicle evolved from military use is that every single spec is written down somewhere – no guessing. Weather equipment looks great, not that you’re likely to use it much. As if all the parts and the condition aren’t enough, this jeep has new tires.
The interior is spartan but it gets the job done. These CJ’s were used by farmers, hunters, and adventurers for decades. Now they enjoy a cult following and for good reason. While you’re not going to light the pavement on fire in a CJ2A, you’re the one who’s going to get the phone call when a friend wants to have fun in the sun in some slightly accessible place.
Owned a ’42 Ford and had a lot of fun with it. Not hot on the military color of this one but we did paint ours Air Force blue.
In many ways, this makes more sense to me than a lot of the toys made to do about the same thing, at a more expensive price.
Like Jeeps,( old trucks and Packards) eh? We have much to discuss. Again, can’t add much, done her homework, EXCEPT, what it’s like to actually drive one. They are crude, by the stiffest Jeep standards, and everyday road travel, is NOT recommended. However, in an off road situation, it’s pretty amazing, 75 years later, this vehicle can still do the job, the job it was INTENDED for. In my happy ( far out, man) state, known for off road, it’s wearing thin. The farther back in the hills you go, the worse the roads get. It’s as if, whoever was supposed to maintain them, gave up( or no money to do so, more accurately) It’s “1st gear” in many spots, and takes a LONG time to go anywhere at 4 mph, a PITA, really. It’s exactly the terrain these were made for. Even my YJ is a bit too “cushy” to handle those roads, and I turn around( for fear of breaking, and then having to fix something) . So, a cross town trip to Walmart, you say? Even THAT can be a trip from Hell these days, so rural back roads, or “lower 40”, is about it, and at some point, you’ll have to take a “modern ” road to get there, surely pixxing off someone in a diesel dually pickup. O/D, a rare option helps some, but going over 45mph in the 1st place in these, is risky business.
Note to author: If it’s a Jeep you been a hankerin’ for, go with the YJ. It’s still simple, and much more user friendly. Just whatever you do, DON’T get the 4 cylinder,, :(
I had a 1989 YJ 4 cylinder and it did everything you asked of it. It would even do modern highway speeds of 75 to 80 mph. It basically is a GM Iron Duke engine. Admitted the 6 cylinder and 8 cylinder have more horsepower and maybe more torque. My 4 got good fuel mileage, mid to upper teens. No A/C. Had power steering and a radio, factory hard top as well as soft top. Luxury, NO. Dependable. Very. The CJ2A is good as long as you understand it was designed to do 45 mph and be a workhorse. They made many usefull farm accessories for it. Field plow, harrow, bushhog mower, rake plow, power take off, fording kits. Not like today’s toy jeeps.
Hi John, I agree, the YJ still has many of the original Jeep components, just more civilized. I don’t think the 2.5 ( the 6 cylinder with 2 cylinders lopped off) has anything in common with the “Iron Duke”, also a 2.5. I rip on the 4 cylinder, mostly because in a mountain setting, it runs out of steam pretty quick( more so with a stiff headwind), but on a flat, it seems to do okay, for something shaped like a brick, that is.
There was an entire industry that was dedicated to Jeep implements. There were 3 bottom plows, welders, grader blades, backhoe and trencher attachments, the list went on. It’s no wonder America held it’s own, all that stuff was made and sold in the good ol’ USA.
I have a 46 CJ2A with 20k one family owed miles that was always barn kept and all original . I got a snowplow with it that was never installed and has a hand pump hydraulic lift system that you stand in front and pump . It run’s like my Rolex and rides like my restored 1010 John Deere . Do I drive it ? Yes . Where do I drive it ? Fire roads and ATV trails or to a local pub . I have several high quality collector cars in my “man cave/building” and 75% of first time visitors gravitate to the little Jeep in the corner . It can sit for 2 months and you pull the choke let the starter spin the little flat 4 a few revolutions and pump the gas pedal and she comes to life . Does she have the sound of a big block Buick , Chevy or Olds , the rasp of a supercharged LS3 NOPE . But she sure does sing a sweet little song !
We hauled a 42 Jeep out of a barn in the early 1980s. it was cobbled together in some points, but a real solid body. We got it running and with a new set of Coker WW2 military style tires , we were on our way……we were lucky to hit 45 mph going down the road ! Definitely not made for main street use. My uncle ended up with it and did a ground up restoration on it . Its still in the family, some 40 years later
“not original” not even close!!!!!!!
Diamond plate panels and no glove box? Would that be a repro tub? And what holds that partial top up? Still might be a fun ride on the fire roads and looks pretty clean for what it is.
The gas pedal is at an awkward angle, and clutch and brakes pedals are too far to the center. There must have been a reason for this.