Vehicle Description
1950 Willys 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
1930's, when the United States military was searching for a vehicle
that was light, rugged and could travel over rough terrain. By the
early 1940's, 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 1950
Willys Model CJ3A showing 1,506 unverifiable miles as the title
reads Mileage Exempt. These were strictly utilitarian vehicles
intended for and marketed to agricultural and industrial
businesses. But this one has had a makeover and won't be playing in
dirt anytime soon. Not to say it isn't capable, but do you really
want to scratch that paint?
Exterior
Not one, not two, but three coats of Burnt Orange Metallic paint
coat this little CJ and is topped by another three coats of
"sealant". We've seen this color on modern GTO's, on resto-mods,
and even Volvo S60's, but this is a first! And black is a fine
accent choice found on the bumpers, the embossed Willy's on the
hood, the hood hardware and the Jerry can mounted on the back.
15-inch Chrome Nugget wheels carry 235/75R15 tires which are wider
than what the car was likely born with and gives it the appearance
of goat-like surefootedness. The classic face includes polished
headlight rings over bullet shaped marker lights. In between the
light and mounted on the utilitarian bumper is a SmittyBilt winch
under cover, while a tow hitch is mounted out back. The windshield
is hinged and can be set down on the padded blocks on the hood for
true open air motoring. The paint and accompanying hardware are in
great shape and the only imperfections we find is some flaky rust
on a bottom edge, and some uneven filler just above the step
up.
Interior
Basic in their original configuration, front bucket seat pads are
covered in black vinyl and that continues on the back bench, all in
great shape. The 3 spoke black plastic steering wheel is in fine
condition and leads to a simple black dashboard with embedded
gauges towards the center. A grab handle and information plaque
resides just in front of the shotgun rider. Black rhino coating
creates a grippy floor surface where shifters and range selectors
are based, also simple and black knobbed. Finally, a rollbar rises
high and triangulates to the back for support. Bikini tops and
doors come with the car to shield you from the elements.
Drivetrain
Under the hood, a clean and rebuilt 198ci Buick derived odd fire
V6. The newer 2-barrel carburetor now has an automatic choke and
the entire fuel system including pump, lines, and sender have been
replaced by our consignor. A Borg Warner T90 3-speed manual
transmission is on board and at some point, has had a new clutch,
pressure plate, and throw out bearing. Via the Dana 18 transfer
case, power can be split between the axles with a Dana 44 in back
and a Dana 25 in front with 4.88 gears. Drum brakes are found on
all four wheels.
Undercarriage
Plenty of typical surface rust underneath but nothing of major
concern and generally clean. Dual exhaust includes a stock style
mufflers and plain steel pipes exit out back. Leaf springs
suspension is found front and rear.
Drive-Ability
It's a Willys thing. Having this much fun on a little 4x4 should be
illegal! It's no wonder these went civilian and are still going
strong, in one configuration or another. Anyway, the engine runs
great and has some pick-me-up. Our consignor notes that second gear
must be held in place with some pressure so we follow orders before
heading to third which apparently is capable of 55 mph. There is a
bit of a grind going into second gear and the fuel gauge is
inoperable and hasn't been ever since the tank was replaced.
Meanwhile, all the other functions work as they should. While
Classic Auto Mall represents that these functions were working at
the time of our test drive, we cannot guarantee these functions
will be working at the time of your purchase.
CJ's are wildly popular, from the earliest models like this one, to
the predecessor military versions, to the now vintage CJ7's of the
80's. They are fun, capable, cool, and did we mention, fun? This
little CJ3A won't take up too much of your garage but give you
volumes of good times. Car shows, parades, Jeep gatherings! This
burnt orange beauty has many missions ahead! Will you be enlisting?
Call soon!
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.
There is no guarantee of mileage. A $299 Dealer Administrative fee
is not included in the advertised price.
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
automotive professionals about amazing cars and their history. Tune
in each week to the Classic Auto Mall Podcast wherever you enjoy
listening. You can also watch on YouTube!
