1949 Willy CJ3AFor consignment, a John Willys-Overland company produced 1949 Willys Model CJ-3A with a title verified 4,393 actual miles. These were strictly utilitarian...
1949 Willy CJ3A
For consignment, a John Willys-Overland company produced 1949 Willys Model CJ-3A with a title verified 4,393 actual miles. These were strictly utilitarian vehicles intended for and marketed to agricultural and industrial businesses. Thus we can assume this Jeep spent a good deal of its life on a farm and not going very far and we know in recent years it's been used mostly for parades and nice day drives. All that has kept the mileage low!
Exterior
Desert Tan coats the panels of this car and is reminiscent of a more recent conflict where Humvees prevailed. It contrasts well with the bright red steel wheels, all five of them including the side mounted spare. An Olive Drab canvas top harkens back to military Jeeps and looks great against the tan. The classic face includes chrome headlight rings and matching marker lights. A substantial tow rope is tied around the black bumper ready to pull neighbors and bovine out of mud. The back bumper includes a tow hitch which likely pulled farm carts full of supplies. A single taillight is out back because on your own property, that's really all you need. In general, the paint and top are in good condition but not without imperfections that include a structural crack in the fender, bubbling, chips, and some distorted paint by the gas fill neck.
Interior
Canvas doors with plastic windows open fully to allow access over a low sill. The olive green front bucket seats are covered in cloth and there is also a small rear bench seat. Most surfaces, as a utilitarian vehicle, are uncovered leaving tan painted metal to dominate the interior surfaces. The plastic steering wheel shows some age with cracks and has 3 thin spokes leading from the hub. A very basic gauge package is in the center of the painted dash with all of the essential data points. The floor mounted shifter is skinny and tall like my Uncle Larry, and next to it are shorter range selectors. Some rubber weather mats cover the painted floor and as Porky Pig says, “That's all, Folks!”. A simple and utilitarian interior is absolutely part of the charm!
Drivetrain
A 134.2 cubic-inch L-head four-cylinder engine is under the non padded hood and is what we would call very clean driver quality. They were rated at about 60 horsepower, fed through a 1-barrel carburetor, and gears were shifted through a Borg Warner T90 3-speed manual transmission, engaging all wheels via a Dana 18 transfer case. The front axle is a Dana 25 with 5.38 gears mated with the rear axle where a Dana 44 also houses 5.38 gears. Drum brakes all around for the red wheels.
Undercarriage
We're not sure when this car was restored, but it's highly likely it hasn't seen a farm road since. Super clean underneath where that tan body paint continues on the belly. Black painted components look very good including a guard over the driveshaft. A single exhaust flows from the engine, encounters a stock style muffler, then exits behind the right rear wheel. The front and rear suspension are comprised of leaf springs.
Drive-Ability
This tough mudder isn't going to win any races, but with less than 5,000 miles, it may win the mileage contest for CJ3A's in the country. It's got that distinct early Jeep whine and torques along with good movement and confident tracking. These tires would likely do well on gravel and probably feel more at home, but they do just fine on our more civilized landscape. The fewer creature comforts mean fewer things can break, and everything here works as it should, although the driver's door is a bit tricky to get latched securely.
Rugged and vintage SUV's are all the rage. From classic Ford Broncos to International Harvesters, the bare bones 4x4's of yesteryear were intended to get civilians out of ditches and through harsh environments. And unless you live on a farm or in the mountains, your harshest environment might be the parking lot at Target. So here's one you can enjoy for car shows, parades, or put it back in service as a trail going four wheeler where it will prove its capabilities 75 years later!
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