~ Sent to us by Donielle Aluisi
After watching a friend start the restoration process for his CJ-2A earlier this year, I gained a special love and interest in the Willys flat fenders, but I didn’t believe I’d ever have one of my own. Fast forward a few months, and my friend sent me the sales ad for the 1948 Willys CJ-2A I now own and affectionately call “Norman”. When I purchased “Norman” in May of 2023, he had been non-operational for as long as I have been alive… 28 years! Now that he’s back in the DMV system, I’ve started my restoration process by removing the wild camouflage paint job that he came with. I’ve also been taking note of all work that needs to be done. As a young woman in agriculture, I take on a lot of projects and wear a lot of hats, but Norman is my first venture into vehicles. I am already learning so much from this restoration and I look forward to the day when I have him running and working with me on the ranch!
- Donielle Aluisi Kaiser Willys Jeep Blog Story – If you would like to share your Willys Jeep Story please send us a line. We’d love to meet your Jeep.
Like Us. Facebook
Looking for, Willys Jeep Parts, Willys Jeep replacement parts, Willys Jeep body parts and much more for your 1941-1971 Willys vehicle, you have come to the right place!
Greetings and congratulations! I have a CJ-2A and was with my parents when they bought it in 1946 but was only three and don’t remember it! I have very, very deliberately left my completely stock as I always considered it a “legend” and wanted to be true to it. As you plan Norman’s future you might remember the “C” in CJ-2A stands for civilian and it appears many folks forget that and go full military with the look. Also, so many upgrade the engine and go to 12 Volts and it is no longer the legend it was.
I drove mine in High School and college so it has been through a lot! LOL. Out here in Idaho I only drive Jeep in the summer as the top has been removed and the dogs much prefer no top and the windshield flat on the hood.
One of these days I’ll gather some photos and send them in and tell a bit of the history. I helped my mother do the first valve job on Jeep as she had trained as an aircraft mechanic for WWII and I, only recently, gave my mother’s torque wrench away and the fellow that has it has a garage and made a display box for it.
Best of luck! Joe Stokes, Idaho Falls, ID