Vehicle Description
1949 Willy CJ3A
World War II saw the creation of one of America's most beloved
vehicles, the Jeep. Now primarily produced for consumer use, the
Jeep was once a military workhorse designed to move troops, help
the wounded and more. The story of the Jeep begins in the late
1930s, when the United States military was searching for a vehicle
that was light, rugged and could travel over rough terrain. By the
early 1940s, the Jeep's design was complete and offered to the
civilian world, and the rest is history.
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 thatinclude 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!
Classic Auto Mall is home to more than 1,000 classic and
collectible vehicles for sale via consignment in a climate
controlled 336,000-square foot showroom (that's more than 8
acres!). The largest single location consignment dealer of classic
and collectible vehicles in the country is located in Morgantown,
Pennsylvania, just 1-hour west of Philadelphia off Exit 298 of the
I-76 Pennsylvania Turnpike. For more information visit
www.classicautomall.com or call us at (888) 227-0914. Contact us
anytime for more information or to come see the vehicle in
person.
With so many great cars, you know we have a lot to talk about, and
we do that each week on the Classic Auto Mall Podcast with host
Stewart Howden. Stewart discusses new inventory as well as trends
in consignments and car prices, while interviewing celebrities and
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