Just what the Doctor ordered. My Willys has seen me through some trying times. When I first found this Jeep I was 32 years old and working as a police officer in a patrol car in Columbus, OH. But my Willys Jeep story doesn’t start there, as a young boy I was very interested in the outdoors. My family had a number of camping trailers over the years, actually we started with tents, then to pop-up trailers and finally to several hardtops. Every vacation was an adventure to a National park or some remote location where we would hike, canoe and just enjoyed the outdoors. In addition to that Dad is an avid hunter and shooter and I spent many days tromping thru the woods with him on great adventures. We alwaystalked about how great it would be to have a Jeep and as a kid I had a toy box full of CJ’s and Jeepster Tonka trucks and Matchboxes.
I loved Jeeps and before I could drive I was saving for a Jeep. In 1976 I bought a 1946 CJ-2A in remarkable condition. I drove the Willys through High School and several years of college and sold it before joining the Army in 1983. I always regretted selling that old Willys and in a few years decided someday I’d find another one. Then life came along and there were lots of things that needed my time and attention a lot more then I needed a Jeep until one evening in 1993 when I rolled slowly down an ally in my cruiser and discovered an old Willys sitting at the rear of a business, very neglected and slowly rotting away. Turns out the owner was a WWII veteran, a retired Colonel who stead fastly refused to sell the old Jeep but he loved to talk about it and his time in the military and his plans to someday restore the Willys. Keep in mind this was 1993 and WWII had ended some 50 + years before so this old soldier was, well old! Over the next year I’d stop into his shop and we’d chat about the Jeep and I never left without asking if he’d sell and I always got the same answer, “No Sir I gonna fix her up one of these days!” Until finally as I headed out of the shop one day I asked, “Ready to sell her to me?” To which he replied, “Nope, not gonna sell her… well, will you give me $200 for her?” I told him I’d be back and 30 minutes later I was the proud owner, for the second time in my life, of an old Willys Jeep. Having a young family there wasn’t much extra money around for a restoration project so I started doing things that didn’t cost much and slowly over time the Jeep started its transformation.
There were a few setbacks along the way, I was called to active duty in the military twice. In 2010 just as the project was nearing completion there was a fire in our home that destroyed our garage and caused a huge set back. Then a very unexpected heart attack caught me completely by surprise because I am an avid bicyclist and runner! Nonetheless, I never gave up on my dream to finish the little Willys Jeep. Finally in 2011 I completed the Jeep and we finally got to get her out on the road and trails. My family loves the Jeep especially my 12 year old son Spencer who just can’t wait to have his turn behind the wheel! We have been to a number of shows including the Bantam Jeep Heritage Festival in Butler, PA. Next year we plan to be at the Spring Midwest Willys Reunion as well as the 2014 Butler show, hopefully with a brand new overdrive. This old Jeep has been just what the Doctor ordered!
If you would like to share your Willys Jeep Story please send us a line. We ‘d love to meet your Jeep.
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Great story and good looking Jeep. I hope Spencer follows in your footsteps and keeps the Jeep and the outdoors an active part of his family’s life too.
Great story and good looking Jeep. I hope Spencer follows in your footsteps and keeps the Jeep and the outdoors an active part of his family’s life too.
Great looking jeep and neat story to go with it.
Is that an aftermarket front bumper or something you made yourself? Either way it looks great and goes well with the Willys.
Great looking jeep and neat story to go with it.
Is that an aftermarket front bumper or something you made yourself? Either way it looks great and goes well with the Willys.
Great looking Willys. Still working on mine, 1955 CJ5…hoping to post pix soon. Enjoy!
Great looking Willys. Still working on mine, 1955 CJ5…hoping to post pix soon. Enjoy!
What size wheels and tires on toy jeep? Love it!!
What size wheels and tires on toy jeep? Love it!!
Nearly exactly my story, up to and including the job, but had to wait 40 years for mine next one. It is a 46 CJ-2A and about ten grand later, it is what and where I want it. Thanks for sharing.
Nearly exactly my story, up to and including the job, but had to wait 40 years for mine next one. It is a 46 CJ-2A and about ten grand later, it is what and where I want it. Thanks for sharing.
Great story and seems we all have something in common besides Willys. My father is a WWII and Korean War Veteran. He told us “war stories” around the campfires when we were kids out camping. His stories were always about something stupid he did in the Army. We didn’t really know all that he had been through until we were going through his VA papers to get him assistance. Two Bronze Stars and a Purple Heart but he never said a word about them, only him rolling a Willys and having another one ran over by a tank. I am a Police Officer in Plano Texas and know all of the Veterans in my beat, young and old and we are a brotherhood as strong as the Police brothers. U found my 57 Willys pickup and it has helped me make it through a lot of difficult times. Your story was close to the heart and I’ll be thinking of you in 3 weeks when I go back to Columbus for deer season. Thanks for your story, a fellow Willys Brother, Veteran and Cop.
Great story and seems we all have something in common besides Willys. My father is a WWII and Korean War Veteran. He told us “war stories” around the campfires when we were kids out camping. His stories were always about something stupid he did in the Army. We didn’t really know all that he had been through until we were going through his VA papers to get him assistance. Two Bronze Stars and a Purple Heart but he never said a word about them, only him rolling a Willys and having another one ran over by a tank. I am a Police Officer in Plano Texas and know all of the Veterans in my beat, young and old and we are a brotherhood as strong as the Police brothers. U found my 57 Willys pickup and it has helped me make it through a lot of difficult times. Your story was close to the heart and I’ll be thinking of you in 3 weeks when I go back to Columbus for deer season. Thanks for your story, a fellow Willys Brother, Veteran and Cop.
Very nice. Looks like a M-38 with the battery box lid on the cowl removed. Did you consider restoring it back to military? It does look very good.
Very nice. Looks like a M-38 with the battery box lid on the cowl removed. Did you consider restoring it back to military? It does look very good.
Cool history and Jeep Bob. Tell me, how tall did you make your hood blocks? I’m having to go extra high on mine to stop the wipers hitting the hood when folded down.
Cool history and Jeep Bob. Tell me, how tall did you make your hood blocks? I’m having to go extra high on mine to stop the wipers hitting the hood when folded down.
I love jeep, jeep is a manly driving vehicle, just getting hold of the steering then only you’ll feel the pleasure of driving the jeep.
I love jeep, jeep is a manly driving vehicle, just getting hold of the steering then only you’ll feel the pleasure of driving the jeep.
Cool wee story & Jeep Bob, Don [New Zealand]
Cool wee story & Jeep Bob, Don [New Zealand]
I am in the process of restoring a 1946 CJ-2A. I have wanted a WWII jeep since I was around 16 years old. I picked up 3 1946 CJ-2A Jeeps in pretty bad shape. I picked the one which was in the best shape and started working on it in Jan. of this year. I am almost done with it. All I have to do now is paint it and put all of the gauges back in and the associated wiring. I figure about one more month and I will have it complete. It has been a lot of work but I am retired so I have alot of free time. Your Jeep looks great and I hope mine looks as good as yours.
I am in the process of restoring a 1946 CJ-2A. I have wanted a WWII jeep since I was around 16 years old. I picked up 3 1946 CJ-2A Jeeps in pretty bad shape. I picked the one which was in the best shape and started working on it in Jan. of this year. I am almost done with it. All I have to do now is paint it and put all of the gauges back in and the associated wiring. I figure about one more month and I will have it complete. It has been a lot of work but I am retired so I have alot of free time. Your Jeep looks great and I hope mine looks as good as yours.
What a happy and heartwarming story. Thanks for sharing it with us. I hope I get to see you at the Midwest spring event
Bill Smith
1952 M38 Rigged and loaded for combat
What a happy and heartwarming story. Thanks for sharing it with us. I hope I get to see you at the Midwest spring event
Bill Smith
1952 M38 Rigged and loaded for combat
Thanks for a great story! I think many of us fell in love with Jeeps as kids.
Thanks for a great story! I think many of us fell in love with Jeeps as kids.
Great story and congrats on a nicely done jeep. It appears that many of us connect our jeep “work” to memories of relatives and friends who influenced our vehicle choice and maybe lifestyle early on. Always makes me smile and eyes sometimes mist over. I can tell you that even the smallest detail of learning obscure willys tricks of the trade last 50 years and more, so the impressions made on the young today will last a long time and trigger memories of times shared with you, When we finally finish our jeeps, it just seems natural to start on another ,kind of like teaching ideas to young people. When they “get” it , just move on to the next lesson. Happy jeeping !
Great story and congrats on a nicely done jeep. It appears that many of us connect our jeep “work” to memories of relatives and friends who influenced our vehicle choice and maybe lifestyle early on. Always makes me smile and eyes sometimes mist over. I can tell you that even the smallest detail of learning obscure willys tricks of the trade last 50 years and more, so the impressions made on the young today will last a long time and trigger memories of times shared with you, When we finally finish our jeeps, it just seems natural to start on another ,kind of like teaching ideas to young people. When they “get” it , just move on to the next lesson. Happy jeeping !
What a great looking jeep. My 46 CJ-2A is a work in progress. I dedicated it to my uncle who was in the Pacific. 129 Div. 37 inf. The Buckeye. Had one years ago and like an idiot sold it. Found one last year that hadn’t run in 40 years. Plugs, Batt carb cleanup and oil change and she started. It has kept me out of the wifes hair, A good time killer. Good job. I was also a cop and thanks for your service…Mike
What a great looking jeep. My 46 CJ-2A is a work in progress. I dedicated it to my uncle who was in the Pacific. 129 Div. 37 inf. The Buckeye. Had one years ago and like an idiot sold it. Found one last year that hadn’t run in 40 years. Plugs, Batt carb cleanup and oil change and she started. It has kept me out of the wifes hair, A good time killer. Good job. I was also a cop and thanks for your service…Mike
Thanks for all the great comments and questions. Here are some answers:
Hood Blocks are made from rubber wheel chalks from Harbor freight. I cut them on a band saw and they are 3″ high.
Tires are 10×31 on 15 in rims. I have a 2.5″ lift from Rancho springs.
Saginaw manual steering, 11″ brakes, dual Master, 12 volt, 12 circuit electrical, Electronic ignition.
Thanks for all the great comments and questions. Here are some answers:
Hood Blocks are made from rubber wheel chalks from Harbor freight. I cut them on a band saw and they are 3″ high.
Tires are 10×31 on 15 in rims. I have a 2.5″ lift from Rancho springs.
Saginaw manual steering, 11″ brakes, dual Master, 12 volt, 12 circuit electrical, Electronic ignition.
Great to hear the full story; however, getting to ride in it this summer was even better, thanks.
Great to hear the full story; however, getting to ride in it this summer was even better, thanks.
Nice story – an example too all old car affecionados. I have 2 CJ-3A’s one for parts the other runs every day all year around. – see my FACEBOOK page:
willys cj-3a swiss army special
Nice story – an example too all old car affecionados. I have 2 CJ-3A’s one for parts the other runs every day all year around. – see my FACEBOOK page:
willys cj-3a swiss army special