Honoring Veterans at Events with a 1947 Willys CJ-2A

This is a 1947 Willys CJ-2A found on a farm along the Yadkin River near Winston Salem, NC. The landowner and myself were walking his farm, which sits on the Yadkin River about 10 miles west of town, in the late summer of 2007. As we went into the woods on a dirt tractor road, there was a clearing with a hay shelter in it. In the corner was this vehicle surrounded and covered by hay bales and hay, but I could see the grille so I knew it was a Willys. I bought it from him the next summer, It had not run since 1971 and was rusted and beat up badly. It was disassembled and restored from the frame up using a lot of research to restored it as close to factory original as possible. We used as many original parts as possible. 

Many components used in the restoration were purchased from Kaiser Willys. The tub had major damage, the engine would not turn over, the tires were flat and dry rotted, the canvas top was dry rotted, every conceivable opening had insect nests in them, too many mud duaber wasps nest to mention. The air cleaner had a mouse nest in it, and in the engine compartment was a blacksnake skin where this particular snake had decided to shed. This Willys had become a mini-ecosystem unto itself. A 16 month restoration process in a shop was followed by approximatle 1 year of further work, and now all components are operating 100%. As many original parts were used as possible, and when a part had to be replaced, it was usually replaced by an original period correct part. The color scheme is 82nd Airborne, 505th Parachute Infantry Division parade colors and recently a military canvas top was made for it. It’s used in local parades, air shows, Boy Scout events, and Triad Flights of Honor at the Greensboro NC / Piedmont Triad International Airport. Some interesting original equipment added are the black out lamp and the left front fender, the gerry can and holder on the tailgate, and a brass Pyrene hand pump fire extinguisher and mounting bracket on the inside of the tailgate. It was quite a project but worth every minute and dollar expended. The original Wagner Lockhead master cylinder and wheel cylinders have been restored and installed.

Kaiser Willys Jeep Blog Story – David Curtis

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