RI Willys
- Thread starter Kirkski
- Start date
chrispyny
Well-known member
That looks awesome. Keep up the great work.
Your thread motivated me to consider a new restoration myself. I was bidding on a 1951 barn find on a local auction site. I desperately want a 40's/50's jeep to restore and make full military. Unfortunately I stopped last week when the auction began to come to an end and the high bid ended up being almost $1,300. After taxes and 18% auction fee, i would have been over $1,500 easy on a civilian non military jeep that required a complete tear down restoration.
Had i some kind of connection to the jeep, fine. But this needed new everything and i would have had $10,000+ easy in parts costs alone.
Keep us posted.
Your thread motivated me to consider a new restoration myself. I was bidding on a 1951 barn find on a local auction site. I desperately want a 40's/50's jeep to restore and make full military. Unfortunately I stopped last week when the auction began to come to an end and the high bid ended up being almost $1,300. After taxes and 18% auction fee, i would have been over $1,500 easy on a civilian non military jeep that required a complete tear down restoration.
Had i some kind of connection to the jeep, fine. But this needed new everything and i would have had $10,000+ easy in parts costs alone.
Keep us posted.
ttpete
Well-known member
You won't likely find a decent military Jeep that's inexpensive today. There's too much interest. Over 15 years ago, I had to pay $5000 for an original sound unrestored M38A1. It had been surplused to a volunteer fire department in Kansas and used very little and was still in military paint.
chrispyny
Well-known member
Excellent.....
Strouty
Well-known member
Looking great!
hoho98925
ALLIANCE MEMBER
Great project, gonna be a nice rig.
RickP
Well-known member
Nice progress! It's really coming along and looking good.
pfmg
Well-known member
Nice JOB RI Willys, love the history of it. what color it that? Looks similar to mine 3A
Im in Mass, Check us out over East Coast Willys, we have a couple of all Willys runs during the year, one is up in NH in June
Im in Mass, Check us out over East Coast Willys, we have a couple of all Willys runs during the year, one is up in NH in June
pfmg
Well-known member
I knew it was Anvil
i might have a seat, i'll check. But sign up over on our site and ask, i sure someone local does if i dont.Just under 200 miles on my shake down runs and just a few weeks here and there. Otherwise, everything seems fine...
Little rough sitting on a board... ouch
Nice to see all the waves and hear the comments... also was having coffee in a local shop and watched someone snap pics of MY ride!! That was awesome...
Little rough sitting on a board... ouch
Nice to see all the waves and hear the comments... also was having coffee in a local shop and watched someone snap pics of MY ride!! That was awesome...
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chrispyny
Well-known member
Congratulations on a gorgeous restoration. However in order for me to appreciate your hard work, I would require a larger pictures as the ones you have included are very very small and do not do your hard work justice.
Stuart in MN
Well-known member
It came out great! For no particular reason I started watching early Jeep restoration videos on Youtube the other day, so now I'm kind of obsessed with them - I drove past a house today with a nice looking flat fender in the front yard with a For Sale sign on the windshield, I almost stopped to look (as if I need any more projects. 
)
Just click on the pictures and they blow up to a good size.
)Just click on the pictures and they blow up to a good size.
kbs2244, Not sure if the modifications were factory, what lead me to believe they are is that the rolls are just like factory, the right threshold was lowered and the door frames I have fit perfectly. I do know it was like this in 1954 when my Uncle picked it up.
Chrispyny, If you click the thumbnail it should bring up a bigger picture. I always struggle with photos on Forums... bugs me its on its side...
brownbagg Thank you, I'm pleased with the results, while not perfect there is still character in the Jeep and my grandkids will enjoy it
Stuart in MN, Great fun, I always wanted to restore something and I am glad I did. Not everyday you get to restore the actual first vehicle you ever steered. Flatties get a lot of attention, there are not many around, at least in Rhode Island...
Chrispyny, If you click the thumbnail it should bring up a bigger picture. I always struggle with photos on Forums... bugs me its on its side...
brownbagg Thank you, I'm pleased with the results, while not perfect there is still character in the Jeep and my grandkids will enjoy it
Stuart in MN, Great fun, I always wanted to restore something and I am glad I did. Not everyday you get to restore the actual first vehicle you ever steered. Flatties get a lot of attention, there are not many around, at least in Rhode Island...
IndyGarage
Well-known member
Great job. I love the old Willys - I know what you mean by the rough ride.
jackson1701
Well-known member
I love your thread. I hope to one day restore my father-in laws 56. It's been sitting in the same spot in his backyard in the desert since the late 80's. Were you able to take your uncle for a ride? I remember your post from a year or two ago saying he was up there in age.
View media item 69863
View media item 69863
Well, I have been driving the Jeep around quite a bit, just about 750 miles on her since I put her together
The town where I grew up and my Uncle lives asked him to be in the Memorial Day Parade as the oldest Male resident and the oldest WW2 Vet! I was pleased he asked me to take him in the Jeep... however the parade ended up being cancelled due to rain.
I hope we can try again next year!
Not to be daunted I took a ride to his home on Friday and was able to take him for a short ride after lunch. My cousin took the picture so looks kinda funky.
Next pic is the Jeep at the Point Judith lighthouse in Rhode Island
The town where I grew up and my Uncle lives asked him to be in the Memorial Day Parade as the oldest Male resident and the oldest WW2 Vet! I was pleased he asked me to take him in the Jeep... however the parade ended up being cancelled due to rain.
I hope we can try again next year!
Not to be daunted I took a ride to his home on Friday and was able to take him for a short ride after lunch. My cousin took the picture so looks kinda funky.
Next pic is the Jeep at the Point Judith lighthouse in Rhode Island
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jackson1701
Well-known member
This was an awesome update kirkski, so nice to see your uncle in the jeep! Thanks for the service he and his brother gave to our country!
Well, looks like the Jeep is morphing into a daily driver, I have over 2100 miles on it since I put it together. My youngest daughter asked if she could use it for her family pictures this Fall... proud papa
Fall is coming her fast to Little Rhody, I need to get a shed started but the weather or work has gotten in the way. I was going to go with a 12 x 16 and park the Jeep in it, now I am thinking I am going to go 12 x 20. Can never be too big I guess!
Took this picture of the Jeep in front of the house I grew up in... memories
Fall is coming her fast to Little Rhody, I need to get a shed started but the weather or work has gotten in the way. I was going to go with a 12 x 16 and park the Jeep in it, now I am thinking I am going to go 12 x 20. Can never be too big I guess!
Took this picture of the Jeep in front of the house I grew up in... memories
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Strouty
Well-known member
Yours came out looking great, now it can make new memories to go with the old ones!
My buddy is going to be working on a Willys very similar. He is being paid by a friend to get it in working condition, looks like they are buying an entire tub.
My buddy is going to be working on a Willys very similar. He is being paid by a friend to get it in working condition, looks like they are buying an entire tub.
Banjorear
Well-known member
Me too. I learned to drive @ 12 using my dad's CJ-2A. Loved that thing.
eae197
Well-known member
Kirkski, your jeep is very nice and I like it even better being driven. That's what they were built for. Keep the memories rolling.
ndnchf
Well-known member
I just read through the whole thread. Wow - what a great experience, thanks for taking the time to document and share your progress. I really enjoyed it.
Just found this thread, I love the story and that you were able to finish it and give your uncle a ride. There's lost of old cars out there, too much of the stuff you see now is just is just being restored then bought and sold...they have no real soul. Thats Jeep has soul, I'm sure the story about the ride with your uncle will be told..and told.
xtremek
Well-known member
I missed seeing the final assembly , my loss. The Willys turned out really nice, well done. 
I know you did it for you, but it really is kind of cool when people admire your work.
, my loss. The Willys turned out really nice, well done. I know you did it for you, but it really is kind of cool when people admire your work.Thank you all for the fine comments, I really appreciate it
Strouty Pretty much making memories on a daily basis with it now. Grandkids love the thing as much as I do. They will have many to stories to share about it I hope. PS your thread inspires me to document more of what I do, and make more friends! Thanks for that!
eae197 Thank you!
ndnchfThank you so much, I am glad you enjoy it.
az45I am glad you did, I really do feel privileged to have this Jeep, everyone that sees it smiles and has a story to tell. I really like that.
xtremekTrue enough, I am so glad to have it, but there is validation in people appreciating the Jeep and the people that see it and understand what it took to get it there encourage me to do more.
Strouty Pretty much making memories on a daily basis with it now. Grandkids love the thing as much as I do. They will have many to stories to share about it I hope. PS your thread inspires me to document more of what I do, and make more friends! Thanks for that!
eae197 Thank you!
ndnchfThank you so much, I am glad you enjoy it.
az45I am glad you did, I really do feel privileged to have this Jeep, everyone that sees it smiles and has a story to tell. I really like that.
xtremekTrue enough, I am so glad to have it, but there is validation in people appreciating the Jeep and the people that see it and understand what it took to get it there encourage me to do more.