1953 Jeep Willys CJ-3B w/ Extras Fully Restored Drivable Full History

1953 Willys CJ-3b Description

Charlie sent this story about his project, and I titled it "Charlie's Garage" because there are photos of the Jeep from just about every angle, so we also get to see just about every corner of his well-equipped and spotless shop.-- Derek Redmond

I had been eyeballing the Jeep on my cousin's farm in Western Nebraska for more than 8 years and finally talked him out of it, or he talked me into it, I don't know which. Gary and Naomi Bruns of Chappell, Nebraska were the second owners of the Jeep and they used it around their vacation home at Lake McConaughy which is also in Western Nebraska. Anyway, my cousin Gary let me have it and I brought it home to Holbrook, Arizona in June of 2007.

I waited about two weeks and then began to take it apart. The disassembly was nasty and dirty and not too much fun. I even managed to find amouse nest in the bellhousing. While working on it one day in my shop a mouse ran from the bellhousing to a far corner of the shop where I lost track of him. I told a friend who was helping me that it was a Nebraska mouse and he asked me how I knew. I told him the mouse was wearing a red sweater and saying "Go Big Red".

Things got better and I had the frame and some other parts sandblasted by Bebe Powdercoating in Taylor, Arizona. Another friend sealed the axles, transmission, and transfer case.

Still another friend helped me overhaul an F-head out of a '57 Jeep pickup. Theradiatorwas re-cored and of course new hoses and thermostat were used along with a new water pump. I ended up using a new Solex carb but still have a little grief with it. I used a GM alternator and converted it to 12 volts. Also a starter button was installed on the dash with a solenoid on the inner right fender.

The original engine had sat out on the farm with the head off for about 25 years or so and the pistons were rusted in the block. It will be rebuilt and installed in the future.

I spent the winter of '07 putting the Jeep together and spending a lot of money for parts replacements. All the brake and steering parts are new and I even learned how to ream the bushings in the Ross steering gear so the sector shaft fit properly. The Jeep drives fairly well considering the technology.

I did have to get a new tub for it but ended up takingthe dashout of the original tub and putting it into the new one.

When I had a rolling chassis I tried to back it out of the shop and the clutch wouldn't disengage so I could put the tranny in gear. After pulling the tranny and transfer case (two times) it was discovered that the pilot bushing was too tight and it would not let the clutch disengage.

Then came the body work and painting. I now know that I am not a body man and have developed a great amount of respect for those who are. I did, however, buy an hlvp spray gun and painted the Jeep myself. It didn't turn out too bad. From there it was downhill. I put in new Classic Instruments, and a speedometer from Willys Overland. The dash looks great and it also works well, even put in an electric wiper on the driver's side.

I had the rolling chassis working in May of '08 and got a surprise visit from Gary and Naomi. Gary drove the chassis up and down the alley behind the shop and had a great time. Two weeks after the visit Gary died of heart failure and did not get to see the finished Jeep. I think of him a lot while driving the Jeep.

The Jeep is very fun to drive and all the townspeople remark how nice it looks. It has been a great project. CJ3B.info has provided an enormous amout of good information, as well as my friend Colin Peabody of Phoenix, Arizona. Colin and I go back to 1968 when we both started the academy for the Arizona Highway Patrol. -- Charles Cleveland

Production of the Willys MBbetter known as JEEP, began in 1941, shared between Willys, Ford, andAmerican Bantam. 8,598 units were produced that year, and 359,851 units were produced before the end ofWW ll. Willys-Overland ranked 48th among United States corporations in the value of World War II military production contracts.In total, 653,568 military Jeeps were manufactured.

The origin of the name "Jeep" has been debated for many years. Some people believe "Jeep" is a phonetic pronunciation of the abbreviation GP, from "General Purpose", that was used as part of the official Army nomenclature. The first documented use of the word "Jeep" was the name of a characterEugene The Jeepin thePopeyecomic strip, known for his supernatural abilities (e.g., walking through walls). It was also the name of a small tractor made byMinneapolis-Molinebefore World War II. Whatever the source, the name stuck and, after the war, Willys filed a successful trademark claim for the name.

In 1952, Willys re-entered the car market with a new compact car, the Willys Aero.Also in 1952, CJ3B Jeeps went into production. By 1968, over 155,000 were sold.

I have all the paperwork and receipts, including the manual, for this Jeep

EXTRAS INCLUDE

Roll Bar

Original cushions

Ammo locker

Spare tire

Extra original used parts

Spare Woodland Green paint

This is a FUN car !!!

Jeep has been fully restored to original condition.......including the original paint color

Completelydriveable.......and ready for fun.

Come take a spin and.......drive it home today !!!!

ENGINE............F-Head

# of cyl..............4

Bore..................3 1/8

Stroke...............4 3/8

Piston Disp.......134.2 cu. in.

Compression.....6.9:1

Horsepower......72

Torque..............114 lb-ft

Wheelbase........80"

Tread.................48 7/16

Road Clear........8"

Height................66 1/4"

Length...............130"

Width.................68 7/8"

GV Weight.........3,500#

Cooling sys........12qt

HAVE FUN !!!!!!!

1953 Jeep Willys is being sold in "as is" condition.

No warranties, implied, written or expressed come with this vehicle.

Vehicle is non refundable

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Full payment and removal is due no later than 7 days after auction ends.

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Vehicle must be picked up within 7 days after auction ends.

We will work with a vehicle transportation carrier if need be. We are notresponsiblefor vehicle transportation

This car comes with NOwarranties, at all.

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The balance is due within 7 days from the close of auction.

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On Apr-24-16 at 14:14:57 PDT, seller added the following information:

Sorry........actual mileage is closer to 6,000 since restoration per the owner.