Army Jeeps For Sale - Know What You Are Getting Into!

Written by 55Dodge on October 28, 2008 – 2:26 am -

It is one of the coolest vehicles on the planet! Jeeps have served their country as military workhorses and enjoyed civilian life as daily drivers. Slam it into four wheel drive, lock the hubs and you can go just about anywhere. The modern jeeps have more curb appeal, but it’s the older jeeps that have true character. Are you looking for an army jeep for sale? What does it take to find the jeep perfect for your needs?

Some army jeeps for sale can be found with army surplus dealers, and collectors, they are becoming increasingly rare and expensive however. If you do a search of “army jeeps for sale” or “Willys Jeep for sale” you can find quite a few sites that have listings where you can either bid or buy outright.

Do you know what to look for when finding an army jeep for sale? How much time, money, and work do you want put into this labor of love? More often than not, the army jeep for sale you find will be a project jeep, or to some degree need work Take a look at the body for rusting, once you locate a few jeeps that fit your criteria. Jeeps in the north and south east will probably have more rust issues because of the increased humidity. The northwest and southwest are drier climates and don’t cause rust as often. However, if you do pick up an army surplus vehicle for sale that has a little rust here and there, it isn’t the end of the world. As you look at Jeeps, you will start to find the hidden rust spots. Learn where to look.

Under the wheel well of the quarter panels are common areas to look at. Also take a look under the entire underbelly of the Jeep. When under the Jeep, take a look at the floorboards, these are common rust spots as well. You want to take a close look at the paint, if someone has painted over rust, this is usually easily detected. The paint will be bubbly and uneven over the damaged areas. Sometimes people will try to use Bondo or some other bonding agent to cover the rusted area. The problem is if the bonding agent is too thick, it won’t hold and can actually fall off. If the rust is so bad that you need more than an eighth of an inch or so of filler, then you really need a better plan. One good method is to cut out the rusted part and weld a new piece of metal in its place.

So when you are looking for army jeeps for sale, know what you are getting yourself into and how to remedy the situation. Finding a vintage, restoration ready army jeep for sale can be the beginning of a beautiful relationship, just you and your jeep.

You can read my other post about the history of the willys jeep, for more information. I also have a complete list of Willy Jeeps for sale right now online here.

Tags: Army Jeeps, army jeeps for sale, vintage jeep, Willys Jeep, Willys Overland
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Finding a Willys Jeep or Willys Wagon for sale

Written by 55Dodge on October 19, 2008 – 4:59 am -

Learning the History of the Willys Jeep, In the Beginning…

For decades the Willys name was synonymous with Jeep. Enthusiasts, collectors and off-roaders alike held it sacred. Today, while Willys no longer manufactures Jeeps, the name is still fresh on the tip of every Jeep enthusiast’s tongue. Much sought after Willys Jeep parts are discussed in off road clubs and forums across the nation. If you are fortunate enough to snag a Willys pickup or one of the coveted Willys wagon for sale as a resto project or custom daily driver, you know you have arrived! A Willys vehicle is a piece of Americana, a rare gem standing out from the rest. When looking for a Willys jeep for sale or Willys wagon for sale, it helps to be as well informed as possible. Let’s take a little trip down Memory Lane and see where it all began.

In the beginning…

As most legends start out, Willys began with one man’s dream. In 1908, John North Willys bought the Overland Automotive Division of the Standard Wheel Company. Willys, pronounced WILL-iss, began his career as a bicycle salesman. Within a few years, he had expanded his business and was manufacturing his own line of bicycles. It seemed he had the Midas touch because in later years he began selling automobiles and eventually moved to automobile production. This is where we pick up the story with his acquisition of Overland and in 1912 Willys-Overland Motor Company came into existence.

A Legend is Born

In 1940, with World War II in full swing, Willys contracted to build military Jeeps and the first Willys Jeep rolled off the assembly line. By the end of the war in 1945, had produced somewhere in the neighborhood of 360,000 vehicles. Thus, a legend was born. The Willys Jeep was the rough and tumble granddaddy of the Jeeps we see on the road today. Bare bones, with no frills or extras, these hardy vehicles bore names such as the Willys Quad and the Willys Ma. These vehicles served their country well and today are coveted items for collectors.

Willys Quad

With Bantam and Ford acting as fierce competitors for a large scale military contract, Willys offered up the Quad – and won. With its 60 horsepower “Go Devil” engine that left Ford and Bantam in the dust, the Quad offered the power and performance that was needed. It did require some modifications, however, in order to conform to the Army’s requirements and was pared down to lighten it up a bit. It is the Quad that serves as the landmark for the beginning of the Willys reign and domination over the industry.

Willys Ma

The Ma came along on the coattails of the Quad in 1941. The Ma was a “new and improved” version of the Quad, with a pared down body style and column shift. Willys was tasked with an order of 1,500 and they delivered the little workhorse 1,553 strong. Today only about 30 are believed to still be around and several have found their way into military and automobile museums.

More Willys Jeep videos in my video section

Willys Goes Civic

With the end of the war in 1945, Willys saw the end of the high volume military contract, causing them to look toward civilian life. Willys-Overland began producing the CJ line of Jeeps, the CJ standing for “Civilian Jeep.” The CJ2A model was the first model to hit the streets. Willys trucks, Willys pickups, Willys wagons and the Jeepster were still to come, but the CJ2A started it all.

The CJ2A shared the production line with the Willys MB so it is no wonder that they are very similar vehicles. Like the MB, the CJ2A sported a column shift, tailgate, larger headlights and a side mounted spare tire. There were other features that the CJ shared with the MB such as single piece windshield adjusting arms, and a full floating rear axle. Primarily used for agricultural purposes in the early years, this civilian Jeep was well received and the infatuation only grew from there.

Willys Expands

The first Willys Truck was produced in 1947 and from 1947 to 1965 more than 200,000 rolled off the production line. As Willys pickups, Jeepsters and Willys Wagons expanded the Willys line of vehicles, performance was enhanced and America was bitten by the Jeep bug. Overseas militaries were soon purchasing Jeeps as well.

The Willys Love Affair Phenomenon

The world has fallen in love with the Willys line of vehicles. Whether it is the ever popular Willys Trucks, Willys Pickup or the ever popular Jeep, collectors and enthusiasts avidly seek these gems. There are entire websites and companies devoted to locating Willys Jeep parts and promoting Willys Jeeps for sale. This is no small feat because many of the Willys Jeep parts are rare and quite difficult to locate which can make resto projects a challenge. However, devoted Willys enthusiasts continue to band together and there are several networks that can help Willys Jeep owners find what they need when aftermarket parts just won’t do.

Willys Overland Resources

You can search for a Willys Jeep for sale, Willys Wagon for sale, or Willys pickup for sale right here. While you are here, you can also check out the video seciton for a collection of Willys Jeep & Wagon Vidoes.

So as you seek out your next Willys Jeep for sale, Willys wagon for sale, or Willys Jeep parts for your next resto project, keep in mind the humble beginnings of this legend among automobiles. Because, as the Willys slogan proclaimed, “The Sun Never Sets on the Mighty Jeep.”

Tags: jeeps, Willys Jeep, Willys Overland, Willys Wagon
Posted in Willys Overland | 1 Comment »

Old Chevy Trucks

Written by 55Dodge on October 4, 2008 – 9:30 pm -

A Collectors Guide to Old Chevy Trucks

There is one rule when talking about Chevy trucks and their owners, never come between the two! Dedicated Chevy lovers will not take kindly to any derogatory statements about their trucks. When Chevy claimed the heartbeat of America as their slogan, they nailed it. Old Chevy trucks have and will continue to retain great resell value and a loyal following.

Chevrolet has been manufacturing great trucks since the early thirties and for just as long man has demanded their superior performance and resilience. In recent years, collectors are turning to the years of ‘67 - 72 as is evidenced by the high number of these trucks at antique shows.

I will be focusing on trucks from 1967-1972 in this post. I have posted a great video in my video section on the history of Chevy trucks. It talks about the very early years, definitely worth watching.
I hope you find this information useful. If you are looking to buy an old Chevy truck, my list of trucks available for sale right now is always up to date. You can search for old Chevy trucks for sale here.

But wait, there’s more! ….

Tags: Chevy, Chevy Truck
Posted in '67-'72 Chevy Trucks | 2 Comments »

Used Chevy Truck Parts

Written by 55Dodge on September 27, 2008 – 6:51 pm -

Whether you’re personalizing your truck or getting an old one back into good condition, good quality used Classic Chevy truck parts will add value to your truck.  They can help you make your old truck seem new!  Fortunately, there are plenty of parts on the market.  Just a little research and the right supplier can help you find great parts to improve your vehicle.

While there are a wide variety of options out there, from a trip to the junkyard to a reliable online retailer, some are better than others.  Specialty websites will have the right used Chevy truck parts for your vehicle, and they’ll be in great shape, too.  That’s something you can’t say about junk parts.

My experience has showed me, that the best source for old truck parts is on eBay. Although I do still purchased parts from online retailers, my search will always start with eBay first. I consistently find better deals on the same parts. When it comes to used parts, the selection on eBay is also much more then the local junkyard. It’s worth the effort to go through my  website to see if you can locate the part you are looking for.

For more information on how this site works, and the benefits please see my About Old Trucks For Sale Section

But wait, there’s more

Posted in '67-'72 Chevy Trucks | No Comments »

Old Trucks For Sale

Written by 55Dodge on September 24, 2008 – 4:17 am -

Old trucks work well on just about any kind of road, and the quality of their construction means that a lot of them are still performing well.  That means that many people are looking for old trucks for sale.  Where’s the best place to find them?  Check online for a great selection and even better deals. I am designing OldTrucksForSale.net just for this purpose

From my 10+ years of experience in buying, restoring and selling classic trucks and cars, eBay has become my best resource. Right now I have started the database off with listings from eBay, since this is where I have found the best deals. Soon additional resources will be added. For more information on how this site works to help you find the best deals, please read my About Old Trucks For Sale section.

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